For my friend’s birthday this year, she requested a special cake combining strawberry shortcake and cheesecake. Here’s what I created for her celebration:
Cheesecake can be quite challenging to make, so instead of a traditional recipe, I developed a faux cheesecake filling that pairs perfectly with a simple vanilla cake.
While baking a vanilla cake from scratch is straightforward, I’ve found a trick to enhance a boxed mix to achieve a homemade taste. It’s not only easier but also provides a more stable base for stacking.
Ingredients:
Cake:
- 1 box Vanilla Cake Mix
- 1 cup All-Purpose Flour, sifted
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 cup Sour Cream
- 4 Eggs
- 1 tbsp Vanilla Extract
- ½ cup Vegetable Oil
- 1 cup Whole Milk
Cheesecake Filling:
- 8 oz Cream Cheese, softened
- 1 container (8 oz) Cool Whip, thawed
- ½ cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Strawberry Filling:
- ¼ cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 lb Fresh Strawberries, diced
Frosting:
- 8 oz Cream Cheese, softened
- 1 cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 & ½ cups Cold Whipping Cream
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Instructions:
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease and line three 9-inch cake pans with parchment paper.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine all cake ingredients and beat with a hand mixer until smooth. Divide evenly among prepared pans and tap pans gently on a towel-lined surface to remove air bubbles. Bake for 20-24 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10-15 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack lined with parchment paper.
Step 3: While cakes bake, prepare strawberry filling. Toss diced strawberries with sugar and chill until assembling the cake, reserving a few whole strawberries for decoration.
Step 4: For the cheesecake filling, beat softened cream cheese until fluffy. Add sugar and mix until smooth. Fold in thawed Cool Whip and vanilla extract. Refrigerate until ready to assemble.
Step 5: To make the frosting, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and whipping cream, beating until mixture resembles whipped cream.
Assembly: Place one cake layer on a serving plate, spread with ⅓ of cheesecake filling, leaving a small border. Top with half of the strawberry filling. Repeat with the second cake layer and remaining fillings. Finish with a third cake layer upside down for a flat top. Dollop whipped cream frosting on top, leaving sides exposed for a naked cake look. Garnish with reserved strawberries.
Enjoy this delicious creation! Feel free to leave a comment if you try it out.
