Tantalizing Strawberry Crunch Sheet Cake Recipe

Luscious Strawberry Crunch Sheet Cake Recipe for Sweet Fans

Forget bland desserts that leave you wanting more – this strawberry crunch sheet cake recipe delivers pure summer bliss in every single bite.

Layers of tender cake burst with fresh strawberry flavor and a delightful crispy topping that adds irresistible texture.

Classic ingredients combine in a surprisingly simple method that turns ordinary baking into an extraordinary experience.

Strawberries shine as the star of this delectable dessert, creating a perfect balance between sweet and crunchy elements.

The golden crumble topping provides a satisfying contrast to the moist, fruity base that melts in your mouth.

Baking enthusiasts and dessert lovers will adore how quickly this crowd-pleasing treat comes together.

Grab your mixing bowl and get ready to wow everyone at the next gathering with this showstopping strawberry sensation.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Calories: 240 kcal

Servings: 13

Strawberry Crunch Sheet Cake – What Goes In

For Strawberry Crunch Topping:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Provides structural base for crispy texture, choose unbleached for best quality.
  • Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create golden crumbly surface, select fine-grain for smooth consistency.
  • Milk Powder: Enhances richness and depth of flavor, look for fresh sealed package.
  • Cornstarch: Creates delicate crumbly texture, opt for non-GMO varieties.
  • Baking Powder: Helps topping rise and become light, check expiration date for maximum effectiveness.
  • Salt: Balances sweetness and intensifies overall flavor profile, use fine sea salt.
  • Unsalted Butter: Binds ingredients and creates rich golden color, select high-quality European-style butter.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds complex aromatic notes, choose pure extract over imitation.
  • Strawberry Powder: Delivers concentrated fruity essence, select vibrant red powder.
For Cake Base:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Creates tender cake structure, use fresh flour for best results.
  • Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create soft crumb, select fine-grain.
  • Baking Powder: Ensures consistent rise and light texture, verify freshness.
  • Salt: Enhances overall flavor complexity, use fine-grain.
  • Unsalted Butter: Delivers rich moisture and flavor, select high-quality.
  • Eggs: Provide structure and binding, choose fresh room temperature eggs.
  • Buttermilk: Creates tender, tangy cake texture, select full-fat version.
  • Vegetable Oil: Ensures moisture and softness, choose neutral-flavor oil.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and warmth, use pure extract.
  • Strawberry Flavor: Intensifies fruity profile, select high-quality concentrated flavor.
  • Food Coloring: Creates vibrant pink hue, use gel-based for intense color.
For Buttermilk Frosting:
  • Heavy Cream: Creates luxurious smooth base, select high-fat content.
  • Buttermilk: Adds tanginess and complex flavor, choose full-fat version.
  • Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness, select fine-grain.
  • Milk Powder: Enhances richness and stability, choose fresh sealed package.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds aromatic complexity, use pure extract.
  • Salt: Balances sweetness, use fine sea salt.
  • Unsalted Butter: Creates creamy smooth texture, select high-quality European-style butter.

Strawberry Crunch Sheet Cake Equipment Checklist

  • Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer: Perfect for creaming butter and creating smooth, fluffy frostings and batters.
  • Large Mixing Bowls: Essential for combining dry and wet ingredients, giving you plenty of room to mix comfortably.
  • 13×9-inch Baking Pan: The key vessel for creating your beautiful sheet cake.
  • Parchment Paper: Ensures easy cake removal and prevents sticking.
  • Baking Sheets: Needed for creating the crunchy strawberry topping.
  • Whisk: Great for blending dry ingredients and creating smooth cream mixtures.
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons: Crucial for precise ingredient measurements.
  • Spatula: Helps scrape batter and spread frosting evenly.
  • Wire Cooling Rack: Allows cake to cool properly without getting soggy.

Strawberry Crunch Sheet Cake Instructions

Strawberry Crunch Sheet Cake

  • Strawberry Crunch Base

Create a delightful crispy layer by mixing flour, sweeteners, and milk powder on a baking sheet. Bake until golden and crumbly, then dust with strawberry powder for an extra burst of flavor.

  • Cake Foundation

Blend soft butter with sugar until creamy, incorporating eggs and buttermilk. Combine dry ingredients gently to create a smooth, vibrant pink batter that promises a tender, moist texture.

  • Creamy Frosting Layer

Whip together a luscious cream mixture that combines tangy buttermilk with sweet sugar. Fold into softened butter until the frosting becomes light and cloud-like, ready to blanket the cake with silky smoothness.

  • Final Assembly

Spread the velvety frosting across the cooled cake, creating a perfect canvas. Sprinkle the crunchy strawberry-infused topping generously, adding a delightful texture that transforms each bite into a sensory experience.

  • Serving Suggestion

Allow the cake to rest briefly, letting the flavors meld and the frosting set. Cut into generous squares that showcase the beautiful layers and promise a celebration of strawberry sweetness in every mouthful.

Tips & Flavor Ideas for Strawberry Crunch Sheet Cake

  • Preserve the strawberry crunch topping in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, maintaining its crispy texture and preventing moisture absorption.
  • Enhance the strawberry intensity by adding a tablespoon of freeze-dried strawberry powder directly into the cake batter for a more concentrated fruity profile.
  • Let buttermilk and eggs sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before mixing to ensure smoother batter integration and more even cake texture.
  • Create an elegant finish by lightly drizzling white chocolate or adding fresh strawberry slices on top of the frosted cake for extra visual appeal and flavor complexity.
  • Prepare the strawberry crunch topping and cake layers separately up to 2 days in advance, storing them wrapped tightly in the refrigerator to streamline party preparation and reduce day-of stress.

Serving Up Strawberry Crunch Sheet Cake

  • Sweet Picnic Companion: Perfect for outdoor summer gatherings with friends, this cake travels beautifully and becomes an instant conversation starter at potlucks.
  • Berry Dessert Centerpiece: Elegantly slice and arrange on a beautiful serving platter, highlighting the vibrant pink hues and crunchy strawberry topping for a stunning presentation.
  • Brunch Showstopper: Serve alongside fresh berries and whipped cream, creating a delightful mid-morning treat that complements coffee or mimosas with its delicate strawberry flavor.
  • Celebration Dessert: Transform individual cake squares into a festive birthday or bridal shower centerpiece by adding edible flowers or decorative sprinkles for extra charm.

Storing Your Strawberry Crunch Sheet Cake

  • Smart Storage Solutions
  • Refrigerator Haven: Keep the fully assembled cake covered in an airtight container for up to 4 days. The cool environment helps maintain the frosting's texture and prevents crumb drying.
  • Counter Charm: When serving within 24 hours, store the cake at room temperature in a cake dome or loosely tented with plastic wrap. This keeps the cake moist and crunch topping crisp.
  • Freezer Magic: Individual cake slices can be wrapped separately in plastic and stored in freezer bags for 2-3 weeks. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for best taste and texture.
  • Topping Tactics: Store extra strawberry crunch topping in a sealed container at room temperature for up to a week. Sprinkle fresh on individual slices just before serving to maintain maximum crispness.
Print
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Tantalizing Strawberry Crunch Sheet Cake Recipe

Tantalizing Strawberry Crunch Sheet Cake Recipe


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4.9 from 18 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Yield: 13 1x

Description

Sweet indulgence of strawberry crunch sheet cake brings classic dessert comfort with delightful texture. Creamy frosting and crunchy topping create perfect balance for memorable summer gatherings.


Ingredients

Scale

Strawberry Crunch Sheet Cake Ingredients:

Strawberry Crunch Topping:

  • 3 tbsps (21 g) freeze-dried strawberry powder
  • 0.75 cup (95 g) all-purpose flour
  • 6 tbsps (75 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsps (16 g) whole milk powder
  • 1 tbsp (8 g) cornstarch
  • 0.25 tsp baking powder
  • 0.25 tsp fine sea salt
  • 6 tbsps (84 g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 0.5 tsp vanilla extract

Strawberry Buttermilk Cake:

  • 1 tbsp Amoretti Natural Wild Strawberry Artisan Flavor
  • 1.75 cups all-purpose flour
  • 0.5 tsp baking soda
  • 0.5 tsp baking powder
  • 0.5 tsp fine sea salt
  • 0.5 cup (113 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 0.33 cup (80 g) buttermilk, at room temperature
  • 2 tbsps (28 g) vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 12 drops red food coloring (optional)

Buttermilk Frosting:

  • 1 cup (226 g)

Instructions

  1. Crumble Preparation: Blend flour, sugar, milk powder, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl, then fold in melted butter and vanilla to form a textured dough.
  2. Crumble Chilling: Refrigerate the mixture for 20-30 minutes to solidify, then spread evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  3. Crumble Baking: Bake at 250°F for 30 minutes until achieving a delicate golden color, then dust with strawberry powder while warm and allow to cool completely.
  4. Cake Batter Creation: Whisk dry ingredients separately, cream butter and sugar until fluffy, then gently incorporate eggs, buttermilk, oil, vanilla, strawberry flavor, and food coloring.
  5. Cake Baking: Pour batter into a prepared 13-by-9-inch pan and bake at 350°F for 18-22 minutes, ensuring a clean toothpick test indicates doneness.
  6. Frosting Development: Whisk cream, buttermilk, sugar, milk powder, vanilla, and salt, then beat butter separately and gradually merge the mixtures to create a silky buttermilk frosting.
  7. Final Assembly: Once cake has cooled completely, spread frosting generously across the surface and sprinkle the prepared strawberry crunch topping evenly.

Notes

  • Chill the Crumble: Refrigerating the dough for 20-30 minutes helps develop a more textured, crisp topping with enhanced flavor complexity.
  • Temperature Precision: Bake the crumble at a low 250°F to prevent burning and ensure a delicate golden color without compromising texture.
  • Mixing Mastery: Avoid overmixing the cake batter to maintain a tender, light crumb that melts in your mouth.
  • Frosting Finesse: Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting and ensure a smooth, professional finish.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 50 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 13
  • Calories: 240
  • Sugar: 20 g
  • Sodium: 180 mg
  • Fat: 12 g
  • Saturated Fat: 7 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 31 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 45 mg
Mia Reynolds

Mia Reynolds

Food Writer & Home Cooking Specialist

Expertise

Easy Home Baking, Recipe Writing and Storytelling, Local and Seasonal Ingredients, Baking for Beginners

Education

New England Culinary Institute (NECI), Montpelier, Vermont

  • Certificate: Baking and Pastry Arts Certificate
  • Focus: Hands-on baking skills, pastry basics, and creating delicious, approachable baked goods.

Community College of Vermont, Winooski, Vermont

  • Degree: Certificate in Food and Beverage Management
  • Focus: Essential knowledge of recipe development, ingredient sourcing, and food business basics.

Mia Reynolds fell in love with baking as a teenager experimenting in her family kitchen. Her passion took her to New England Culinary Institute, where she learned practical pastry techniques, and later to Community College of Vermont to deepen her understanding of food management.

Mia combines clear, simple baking instructions with heartwarming stories, making home baking approachable for everyone.

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