A Rich, Moist Southern Butter Cake with Cream Cheese and Fresh Strawberries
This Southern Strawberry Cream Cheese Butter Cake is the perfect combination of a classic buttery Southern cake and sweet, juicy strawberries. Rich cream cheese and butter give the cake an incredibly tender, moist texture, while fresh strawberries add bright fruity flavor throughout.
Finished with a luscious strawberry glaze, this beautiful cake is perfect for Sunday dinners, holidays, birthdays, afternoon tea, or any special occasion. Every slice is buttery, creamy, fruity, and completely irresistible.
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 226 g (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
- 226 g (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
- 300 g (1½ cups) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 300 g (2½ cups) all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1½ cups fresh strawberries, finely diced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, for coating the strawberries
For the Strawberry Glaze
- 1½ cups fresh strawberries, chopped
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Garnish
- Fresh strawberries
- Powdered sugar
- Whipped cream
- Fresh mint leaves
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Instructions
1. Prepare the Oven and Pan
Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C).
Generously grease and flour a 10-inch Bundt pan, making sure to coat all the grooves carefully. You can also use baking spray with flour.
Set the prepared pan aside.
2. Prepare the Strawberries
Wash and thoroughly dry the strawberries before chopping them.
Place the diced strawberries in a small bowl and gently toss them with 2 tablespoons of flour. This light coating helps prevent the strawberries from sinking to the bottom of the cake.
Set aside.
3. Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together:
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
Set the mixture aside.
4. Cream the Butter and Cream Cheese
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and cream cheese together using a stand mixer or electric hand mixer.
Beat for approximately 2–3 minutes, until completely smooth and creamy.
Gradually add the granulated sugar and continue beating for another 3–4 minutes, until the mixture becomes pale, fluffy, and light.
This step is important because properly creaming the butter, cream cheese, and sugar helps create a tender cake.
5. Add the Eggs
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add the vanilla extract and mix until incorporated.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
6. Add the Flour and Milk
With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients, alternating with the milk.
Begin and end with the flour mixture.
Mix only until the batter is combined. Do not overmix.
7. Fold in the Strawberries
Gently fold the flour-coated strawberries into the batter using a rubber spatula.
Be careful not to crush the strawberries too much.
The finished batter should be thick, creamy, and evenly distributed with strawberry pieces.
8. Bake the Cake
Pour the batter into the prepared Bundt pan.
Smooth the top with a spatula and gently tap the pan on the counter once or twice to remove large air pockets.
Bake for approximately 70–85 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the deepest part of the cake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
If the top begins browning too quickly, loosely cover the cake with aluminum foil during the final portion of baking.
9. Cool Completely
Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 15–20 minutes.
Carefully invert it onto a wire rack and allow it to cool completely before adding the strawberry glaze.
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Make the Strawberry Glaze
10. Cook the Strawberries
Add the chopped strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice to a small saucepan.
Cook over medium heat for approximately 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the strawberries become soft and release their juices.
In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water until smooth.
Pour the mixture into the saucepan while stirring constantly.
Continue cooking for 1–2 minutes, until the strawberry mixture thickens.
Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
Allow the glaze to cool slightly.
11. Glaze the Cake
Place the cooled cake on a serving plate.
Spoon the warm strawberry glaze over the top, allowing it to slowly drip down the sides.
For an extra beautiful presentation, decorate with fresh strawberries and a light dusting of powdered sugar.
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Tips for the Perfect Strawberry Cream Cheese Cake
Use room-temperature ingredients: Soft butter, cream cheese, and eggs combine more evenly and create a smoother batter.
Dry the strawberries well: Excess water from the berries can make the cake batter too wet.
Don’t overmix: Once the flour is added, mix only until combined to keep the cake tender.
Don’t rush the cooling process: A Bundt cake needs time to firm up before being removed from the pan.
Grease the Bundt pan thoroughly: Pay special attention to all the ridges and grooves.
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Variations
Strawberry Lemon Cake
Add 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon zest to the batter for a bright citrus flavor.
Strawberry Pecan Cake
Fold ½ cup chopped toasted pecans into the batter along with the strawberries.
Strawberry Cream Cake
Serve each slice with a spoonful of whipped cream and additional fresh strawberries.
Strawberry Chocolate Cake
Add ½ cup mini chocolate chips to the batter for a delicious chocolate-strawberry combination.
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Storage
Store the finished cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days because of the cream cheese and fresh strawberry topping.
Allow individual slices to sit at room temperature for about 15–20 minutes before serving for the best texture.
The unfrosted cake can also be wrapped tightly and frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and add the strawberry glaze before serving.
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Serving Suggestions
Serve this Southern strawberry cake with:
- Fresh whipped cream
- Vanilla ice cream
- Fresh strawberries
- Strawberry sauce
- A cup of coffee
- Sweet tea
- Vanilla or strawberry latte
Final Thoughts
This Southern Strawberry Cream Cheese Butter Cake brings together everything that makes a classic Southern dessert so special: rich butter, creamy cream cheese, a tender homemade crumb, and plenty of sweet strawberries. The strawberry glaze adds an extra burst of fresh fruit flavor and makes the cake beautiful enough for any celebration.
It is the kind of old-fashioned dessert that looks impressive on the table but is surprisingly simple to prepare—and one slice is almost never enough! 🍓❤️