Strawberry Earthquake Cake (Printable version)

Decadent strawberry cake with cream cheese swirls, coconut, and white chocolate chips creating a gorgeous cracked appearance.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Cake Base

01 - 1 box (15.25 oz) strawberry cake mix
02 - 3 large eggs
03 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
04 - 1 cup water

→ Cream Cheese Layer

05 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
06 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - 2 cups powdered sugar

→ Add-Ins

08 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped
09 - 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
10 - 1 cup white chocolate chips

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan thoroughly.
02 - Combine strawberry cake mix, eggs, oil, and water in a large bowl. Beat until completely smooth and well incorporated.
03 - Spread cake batter evenly in the prepared pan. Sprinkle chopped strawberries, coconut, and white chocolate chips uniformly over the batter.
04 - Beat cream cheese and butter together in a separate bowl until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, continuing to beat until creamy and fully blended.
05 - Drop large spoonfuls of cream cheese mixture randomly across the top of the cake.
06 - Gently swirl a knife through the cream cheese and batter to marble. Avoid overmixing to maintain distinct layers.
07 - Bake for 45 minutes until edges are set and center remains slightly wobbly.
08 - Allow cake to cool for at least 30 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • The contrast between light strawberry cake and rich cream cheese swirls is pure magic
  • It looks impressive and dramatic but comes together in under 20 minutes of prep
  • The gooey center stays fudgy for days, making leftovers even better than fresh
02 -
  • Over swirling will blend the cream cheese completely into the batter instead of creating distinct marbled pockets
  • The center should still be slightly jiggly when you remove it from the oven as it continues cooking while cooling
03 -
  • Use light cream cheese if you want to cut some calories without sacrificing flavor
  • Room temperature ingredients prevent the cream cheese mixture from seizing up

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