Gooey Strawberry Earthquake Cake (Print Version)

Moist strawberry cake swirled with cream cheese filling and white chocolate chips creates this decadent, gooey dessert that's perfect for any occasion.

# What You 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 Filling

05 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
06 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - 2 cups powdered sugar
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Add-Ins & Toppings

09 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, diced
10 - 1 cup white chocolate chips
11 - 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut (optional)

# How-To:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray or butter.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together strawberry cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and water until just combined. Pour batter evenly into prepared pan.
03 - In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract; beat until creamy and fluffy.
04 - Drop spoonfuls of cream cheese mixture randomly over the cake batter, distributing evenly across the pan.
05 - Sprinkle diced strawberries and white chocolate chips evenly over the top. Add shredded coconut if desired.
06 - Use a butter knife to gently swirl the cream cheese mixture through the batter, creating a marbled pattern. Do not overmix.
07 - Bake for 40-45 minutes until edges are set and center is slightly wobbly. The cake should remain gooey inside.
08 - Cool in pan for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving to allow the filling to set.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of tangy cream cheese swirls and sweet strawberry cake creates an irresistible flavor contrast
  • This cake practically bakes itself into gorgeous formations that look impressive with zero effort
  • Each bite delivers pockets of melted white chocolate and fresh strawberry bursts
02 -
  • The center should still be slightly jiggly when you remove it from the oven because residual heat completes the cooking
  • Room temperature ingredients for the cream cheese filling are nonnegotiable for the right texture
  • Over swirling will blend the layers too much and youll lose that signature earthquake appearance
03 -
  • Use light-colored metal pans for the most even baking and prevent overbrowning the edges
  • If your strawberries are especially large, cut them into smaller pieces to prevent them from sinking to the bottom

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