Make this easy sheet cake and you'll be rewarded with layers of sweet strawberry cake, fluffy cream, and a crunchy cookie topping. Our recipe for strawberry crunch cake is a delicious way to dress up a boxed cake mix. Once it's done, pile on a cream cheese frosting and sprinkle with crushed cookies. It's the perfect spring dessert.

What Is Strawberry Crunch Cake?

This strawberry sheet cake recipe is inspired by the classic ice cream bars you may have had as a kid. The bars are inspired by strawberry shortcake and feature a strawberry center, creamy vanilla coating, and a crunch coating. Here, we've reimagined those flavors as a sweet strawberry and cream cake.

Strawberry Crunch Cake Ingredients

There are three parts to making this strawberry crunch cake recipe. Here's what you'll need for each step.

Cake

• Cake Mix: Grab one box of strawberry cake mix for this recipe. You'll also need milk, oil, and eggs like most boxed cake mixes call for. This helps keep the finished cake extra-moist.
• Gelatin Mix: A package of strawberry gelatin is our secret to the most intense strawberry flavor.
  

Cream Layer

• Cream Cheese: You'll need a block of cream cheese to make the fluffy topping. Let it come to room temperature before mixing with the other ingredients.
  
• Sugar: Use powdered sugar for the creamiest texture in this recipe.
• Vanilla: Adding vanilla extract to the cream helps play up the strawberry shortcake flavors.
• Cream: Thin the mixture and add fluffiness with heavy cream.

Crunchy Topping

• Crushed Cookies: We used crushed shortbread cookies for the topping but you could also substitute crushed vanilla sandwich cookies.
• Strawberries: You'll need freeze-dried strawberries for this recipe. Look for them next to the dried fruit or fruit snacks in the grocery store.

How to Make Strawberry Crunch Cake

This strawberry cake recipe requires just 15 minutes of prep thanks to a few shortcut ingredients. Here's a quick look at how to make it.

1. Mix the cake mix and strawberry gelatin and combine with the remaining cake ingredients. Bake and cool completely.
2. Mix up the cream cheese layer and spread it on the cake.
3. Crush the cookies and freeze-dried strawberries together and sprinkle it on the cake.

How to Make Strawberry Crunch Cupcakes

You can easily make this into a strawberry crunch cupcake recipe. Simply pour the cake batter into a lined muffin tin according to cake mix directions. Bake and cool the cupcakes completely. Frost with the cream mixture and sprinkle on the crushed cookies.

How to Store Strawberry Crunch Cake

Store any leftover cake in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Do not leave the cake at room temperature.

If you are making the strawberry crunch cake ahead, bake it and cool it. Wrap in plastic and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Do not frost until ready to serve.