This chocolate cake with strawberry filling is the perfect summer bake. The rich chocolate cake layers are frosted with strawberry cream cheese frosting and filled with more fresh strawberries.
Strawberries and chocolate is a classic and delicious combo. So what better way to enjoy this combo than in cake form. This chocolate cake with strawberry filling is everything you’d want in a strawberry chocolate cake. Moist chocolate cake layers, strawberry cream cheese frosting and lots fresh strawberries! It’s the perfect cake for any occasion. So what makes this cake so special? Let’s start by break down the cake layers.
- From the bottom – you got a deliciously moist and chocolaty cake layer that is topped with strawberry cream cheese frosting.
- Then you got that same delicious cake layer. Now this cake layer is topped with strawberries and cream. See all those strawberries in the middle? You’ll be mixing lots of fresh strawberries with a little bit of frosting and whipping cream. This creates a light, fluffy and loaded with strawberries filling.
- Top this off with the last cake layer and strawberry cream cheese frosting. Then add sliced strawberries on top.
And one more thing, this chocolate cake with strawberry filling is pretty simple to make. Because what baker doesn’t like a simple cake that looks and tastes amazing?! So lets get started!
Ingredients needed
For the cake
- Eggs: Too add structure and flavor.
- Sugar: To add some sweetness
- Oil: To keep the cake moist
- Sour cream: To add moister to the cake
- Cocoa powder: To add chocolate flavor.
- Coffee: To bring out the chocolate flavor
- Vanilla extract
- Baking soda and baking powder: To ensure the cake rises
- Flour: To bring structure to the cake.
For the filling and frosting
- Cream cheese: Any cream cheese will work. I prefer using full fat cream cheese.
- Powdered sugar: To add some sweetness
- Freeze dried strawberries: To give the cream cheese frosting a delicious strawberry flavor.
- Heavy whipping cream: To make the frosting light and fluffy.
- Fresh strawberries: Chopped strawberries will be added to the cake.
Making the strawberry cake
How to make the cake layers:
- Whisk dry ingredients: In a small bowl whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and baking powder. Set aside
- Whisk wet ingredients: In a mixer bowl beat eggs, sugar and vegetable oil for 2-3 minutes. Add the sour cream and vanilla extract. Beat until just combined.
- Add the coffee and flour. First you will add half of the flour. Mix until just combined. Then add half of the coffee and mix until just combined. Add the rest of the flour, mix until just combined. Then add the rest of the coffee. Mix until combined. Do not over mix.
- Bake. Pour cake batter into 3 8 inch cake pans. Bake for 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes in pan. Then transfer to cooling rack and cool completely.
How to make the frosting:
- Prepare heavy whipping cream. Beat heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form and set aside.
- Prepare the freeze dried strawberries and fresh strawberries: In a food processor process the freeze dried strawberries until fine powder. Set aside. In a separate bowl chop the strawberries and set aside.
- Make the frosting: Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Add the freeze dried strawberries and beat until fluffy. Add about ¾ of the heavy whipping cream and fold until combined.
- Make the filling with strawberries: Take about ¼ cup of the frosting. Fold together the frosting, remaining heavy whipping cream and fresh strawberries together.
How to assemble the cake:
- Place first layer on cake stand. Frost with frosting. Place second layer on cake stand and frost with the fresh strawberry filling. Place third layer on cake stand and frost top and sides with remaining frosting.
Where can I find freeze dried strawberries and can I substitute them?
Freeze dried strawberries can be found at your local grocery store. They are usually located by the snacks aisle. Be sure to get freeze dried strawberries and not dried strawberries. Dried strawberries are more chewy and don’t grind into fine powder. Freeze dried strawberries are crispy and grind into fine powder. Freeze dried strawberries are the perfect addition to frosting because it gives the frosting a good strawberry flavor without making the frosting runny. I would not recommend substituting them for anything else.
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PrintRecipe
Chocolate Cake With Strawberry Filling
This chocolate cake with strawberry filling is the perfect summer bake. The rich chocolate cake layers are frosted with strawberry cream cheese frosting and filled with more fresh strawberries.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Yield: 8–10 slices 1x
- Category: dessert
Ingredients
For the cake layers
- 1 ⅓ cup all purpose flour
- ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ⅔ cup vegetable oil
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup sour cream
- ⅓ cup strong coffee
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 ½ tsp. baking powder
- ¼ tsp. baking soda
For the frosting and filling
- 2 (8 oz.) cream cheese cheese, softened
- ⅔ – 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream, divided
- 1.2 oz. freeze dried strawberries
- ~ 1 – 1 ¼ cup diced strawberries
Instructions
Making the cake layers
- Pre heat oven to 350 F. Line three 8 inch cake pans with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a small bowl whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and baking powder. Set aside.
- In a mixer bowl beat eggs, sugar and vegetable oil for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the sour cream and vanilla extract. Beat until just combined.
- Next add the flour and coffee. First you will add half of the flour. Mix until just combined. Then add half of the coffee and mix until just combined. Add the rest of the flour, mix until just combined. Then add the rest of the coffee. Mix until combined. Do not over mix.
- Pour cake batter into prepared cake pans. Bake for 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes in pan. Then transfer to cooling rack and cool completely.
Making the strawberry cream cheese frosting and strawberry filling.
- Prepare heavy whipping cream. Beat heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form and set aside.(Heavy whipping cream will be divided between the filling and frosting.)
- Prepare the freeze dried strawberries and fresh strawberries: In a food processor process the freeze dried strawberries until fine powder. Set aside. In a separate bowl chop the strawberries and set aside.
- Make the frosting: Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Add the freeze dried strawberries and beat until fluffy. Add about ¾ of the heavy whipping cream and fold until combined.
- Make the filling with strawberries: Take about ¼ cup of the strawberry cream cheese frosting. Fold together the strawberry cream cheese frosting, remaining heavy whipping cream and fresh strawberries together.
Assembling the cake:
- Place first layer on cake stand. Frost with strawberry cream cheese frosting. Place second layer on cake stand and top with the fresh strawberry filling. Place third layer on cake stand and frost top and sides with remaining strawberry cream cheese frosting frosting.
Keywords: Chocolate cake with strawberry filling, chocolate strawberry cake, strawberry cream cheese frosting
Dalma
Hi I would like to know if I double up the ingredients do I use a bigger cake tin like 10 inches?
Thank you.