Dreamy Strawberry Crunch Sheet Cake Recipe: Sweet Picnic Delight

Strawberry crunch sheet cake converts ordinary dessert into a vibrant culinary adventure that tickles taste buds with unexpected textures and sweet memories.

Layers of soft, tender cake create a delightful foundation for a spectacular treat that promises pure indulgence.

Crispy, golden crumbles add a delightful contrast against smooth, luscious strawberry-infused surfaces that beckon you to take a bite.

Delicate fruit notes weave through each mouthwatering slice, offering a harmonious blend of comfort and excitement.

Summer’s favorite berry takes center stage in this crowd-pleasing dessert that sparks joy and celebration.

Rich, inviting aromas will fill your kitchen with warmth and anticipation of something truly special.

Minimal effort yields maximum satisfaction in this crowd-pleasing dessert that elevates your baking skills.

What’s So Special About Strawberry Crunch Sheet Cake

• Burst with Strawberry Sweetness: This cake delivers an intense, vibrant strawberry flavor through carefully crafted ingredients like strawberry powder and strawberry flavor, creating a delightful fruity experience in every bite.
• Crave-Worthy Textural Contrast: The recipe offers an amazing crunch from the baked strawberry topping, perfectly complementing the soft, tender buttermilk cake and creamy frosting, providing a multi-dimensional sensory delight.
• Foolproof Baking Adventure: With clear, step-by-step instructions and precise temperature guidelines, this recipe welcomes bakers of all skill levels to create a professional-looking dessert without intimidating techniques or complex processes.
• Quick and Impressive Celebration Treat: Requiring just 18-22 minutes of baking time and simple preparation steps, this sheet cake becomes an ideal dessert for gatherings, potlucks, or spontaneous sweet cravings that need minimal effort but maximum flavor.

Strawberry Crunch Sheet Cake Ingredient Breakdown

• All-Purpose Flour: Essential base for cake structure, choose unbleached for better texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps with cake tenderness.
• Baking Powder: Crucial leavening agent for cake rise and lightness.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor balance.

• Buttermilk: Adds moisture and tangy flavor, brings tenderness to cake.
• Vegetable Oil: Ensures cake remains soft and prevents dryness.
• Large Eggs: Provide structure and richness to cake batter.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, classic flavor depth.

• Strawberry Powder: Creates intense strawberry flavor and vibrant color.
• Strawberry Flavor: Boosts natural strawberry taste.
• Red Food Coloring: Optional for enhancing cake's visual appeal.
• Unsalted Butter: Key for frosting and crunch topping, choose high-quality.
• Milk Powder: Adds richness and depth to frosting and crunch topping.
• Cornstarch: Helps create crumbly texture in crunch topping.

Your Guide to Making Strawberry Crunch Sheet Cake

Step 1: Prepare Strawberry Crunch Topping

• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Milk powder
• Cornstarch
• Baking powder
• Salt

Add melted butter and vanilla, mix until crumbly. Refrigerate mixture for 25 minutes. Spread crumbles on prepared baking sheet. Bake until light golden, about 30 minutes. While warm, sprinkle with strawberry powder. Let cool completely.

Step 2: Create Cake Batter

• Buttermilk
• Vegetable oil
• Vanilla extract
• Strawberry flavoring
• Red food coloring

Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 18-22 minutes until golden and springy.

Step 3: Whip Buttermilk Frosting

• Heavy cream
• Buttermilk
• Powdered sugar
• Milk powder
• Vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Beat softened butter until pale. Gradually incorporate cream mixture. Mix until light and fluffy. Adjust consistency as needed.

Step 4: Assemble Cake

Allow cake to cool completely. Spread frosting evenly across cake surface. Generously sprinkle strawberry crunch topping over frosting. Slice and serve.

Tricks for Better Strawberry Crunch Sheet Cake

• Chill Crumble Perfectly: Refrigerate the topping mixture for 20-30 minutes to ensure a crisp, even texture that breaks into delightful chunks when baked.
• Measure Ingredients Precisely: Use dry measuring cups for flour and powdered ingredients to guarantee the right cake consistency and prevent a dense, heavy texture.
• Control Baking Temperature: Watch the crunch topping closely while baking, rotating the pan halfway through to achieve an even golden-brown color without burning.
• Enhance Strawberry Flavor: Use high-quality strawberry powder or freeze-dried strawberry pieces for an intense, authentic fruity taste throughout the dessert.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: Allow eggs, butter, and buttermilk to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before mixing to create a smoother, more evenly blended batter.

Keeping Strawberry Crunch Sheet Cake Delicious for Days

• Refrigerate: Store leftover cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent drying out and absorbing other food odors.
• Freeze: Wrap individual cake slices tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• Reheat: Bring refrigerated cake to room temperature for 30 minutes. For a warm slice, microwave individual pieces for 10-15 seconds or warm in a preheated 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes until just heated through.

Pairing Notes for Strawberry Crunch Sheet Cake

• Pair with Chilled Rosé Wine: The delicate strawberry flavor of the cake harmonizes beautifully with a crisp, light rosé wine, enhancing the dessert's fruity notes and providing a refreshing contrast.
• Complement with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: A scoop of creamy vanilla bean ice cream alongside the cake creates a luxurious texture contrast and amplifies the strawberry's sweetness with its smooth, rich profile.
• Serve with Fresh Mint Tea: A hot cup of fresh mint tea cuts through the cake's richness, offering a clean, herbal counterpoint that brightens the overall dessert experience and cleanses the palate.
• Match with Champagne Cocktail: A sparkling champagne cocktail with a hint of strawberry liqueur elevates the cake's festive feel, adding a celebratory touch and complementing the dessert's delicate fruity essence.

Versions of Strawberry Crunch Sheet Cake You’ll Enjoy

• Berry Bliss Remix: Swap strawberry powder with crushed freeze-dried raspberries for a tangy, vibrant alternative that adds beautiful pink hues and intense berry flavor.
• Citrus Sunshine Spin: Incorporate lemon zest into the cake batter and use orange-infused buttermilk for a bright, refreshing citrus undertone that complements the strawberry notes.
• Chocolate Strawberry Dream: Mix cocoa powder into the cake batter and sprinkle dark chocolate chips throughout for a rich, decadent version that elevates the classic strawberry profile.
• Tropical Fusion Fusion: Replace some buttermilk with coconut milk and add shredded coconut to the crunch topping, creating a tropical-inspired dessert with exotic undertones.

Strawberry Crunch Sheet Cake Recipe

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4.9 from 8 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Strawberry crunch sheet cake delivers pure summer bliss with its layers of moist vanilla cake, fresh strawberries, and crispy streusel topping. Sweet strawberry glaze and creamy frosting complete this irresistible dessert that promises to delight your taste buds at any gathering.

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Ingredients

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Strawberry Crunch Topping:

Dry Ingredients:

• 0.75 cup (95 g) all-purpose flour
• 6 tablespoons (75 g) granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons (16 g) whole milk powder
• 1 tablespoon (8 g) cornstarch
• 0.25 teaspoon baking powder
• 0.25 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 3 tablespoons (21 g) freeze-dried strawberry powder

Wet Ingredients:

• 6 tablespoons (84 g) unsalted butter, melted
• 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract

Strawberry Buttermilk Cake:

Dry Ingredients:

• 1.75 cups all-purpose flour
• 0.5 teaspoon baking soda
• 0.5 teaspoon baking powder
• 0.5 teaspoon fine sea salt

Wet Ingredients:

• 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 tablespoons (28 g) vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon Amoretti Natural Wild Strawberry Artisan Flavor

Additional:

• 1–2 drops red food coloring (optional)

Buttermilk Frosting:

Wet Ingredients:

• 1 cup (226 g)

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Instructions

1. Craft a delicate crumble mixture by combining flour, sugar, milk powder, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl.
2. Incorporate melted butter and vanilla into the dry ingredients, creating a textured, crumbly dough.
3. Refrigerate the dough for 20-30 minutes to enhance its consistency.
4. Spread the chilled crumble onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, ensuring even distribution.
5. Bake the crumble at 250°F until it transforms into a light golden hue, approximately 30 minutes.
6. While still warm, dust the crumble with strawberry powder for an intense fruity essence.
7. Allow the crumble to cool completely, developing a crisp texture.
8. Prepare the cake batter by whisking together dry ingredients in a separate bowl.
9. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, creating a smooth base.
10. Gently fold in eggs, then gradually incorporate half the dry ingredients.
11. Mix in buttermilk, oil, vanilla, strawberry flavor, and food coloring to enhance the cake’s moisture and flavor profile.
12. Fold in the remaining dry ingredients until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
13. Transfer the batter to a buttered and parchment-lined 13-by-9-inch baking pan.
14. Bake at 350°F for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick emerges clean when inserted.
15. Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting.
16. Whisk cream, buttermilk, sugar, milk powder, vanilla, and salt until achieving a silky smooth consistency.
17. Beat butter until it reaches a pale, creamy state.
18. Gradually incorporate the cream mixture into the butter, creating a luscious frosting.
19. Adjust the frosting’s texture by beating or modifying its temperature as needed.
20. Generously spread the buttermilk frosting over the cooled cake.
21. Sprinkle the prepared strawberry crunch topping evenly across the frosted surface.

Notes

• Prep ahead by chilling crumble dough to ensure perfect crispy texture and easier handling during baking.
• Use fresh, high-quality strawberry powder for intense flavor and vibrant color in the crunch topping.
• Control cake moisture by not overmixing batter and checking doneness with a toothpick for perfect springy consistency.
• Achieve smooth frosting by bringing butter to room temperature and gradually incorporating cream mixture to prevent separation.
• Allow cake to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting and ensure clean, professional decorative finish.
• Store cake in refrigerator and consume within 3-4 days for optimal taste and texture preservation.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 366
• Sugar: 29 g
• Sodium: 220 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 75 mg