Name: Southern Strawberry Cream Cheese Butter Cake
Ingredients: 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened; 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened; 2 cups granulated sugar; 4 large eggs; 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour; 1 tsp baking powder; ½ tsp salt; ½ cup whole milk (or buttermilk for tang); 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 cup fresh strawberries, finely chopped (drain excess moisture); 4 oz cream cheese, softened; 1 cup powdered sugar; 2–3 tbsp strawberry purée or jam; ½ tsp vanilla extract; Optional: pink food coloring for a rosy finish

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cake:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
½ cup whole milk (or buttermilk for tang)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup fresh strawberries, finely chopped (drain excess moisture)

For the Strawberry Cream Cheese Glaze:

4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
2–3 tbsp strawberry purée or jam
½ tsp vanilla extract
Optional: pink food coloring for a rosy finish

Instructions

Step 1: Prep and Preheat

Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Grease and flour a bundt pan or 9×13 baking dish. You can also line the base with parchment if using a rectangular pan.

Step 2: Cream the Butter and Cream Cheese

In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and cream cheese together on medium speed until smooth and creamy—about 2–3 minutes. This step is crucial for a silky, moist cake base.

Step 3: Add Sugar and Eggs

Gradually add sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 more minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Step 4: Mix Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with the flour. Mix on low speed until just combined—do not overmix.

Step 5: Add Flavor and Strawberries

Stir in vanilla extract and gently fold in the chopped strawberries with a spatula. Be careful not to crush the berries, and blot them dry beforehand to avoid excess moisture.

Step 6: Bake the Cake

Pour the batter into your prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 60–70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 15–20 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

Step 7: Make the Glaze

While the cake cools, beat together cream cheese, powdered sugar, strawberry purée (or jam), vanilla, and food coloring (optional) until smooth and pourable. If it’s too thick, add a little milk.

Step 8: Glaze and Finish

Once the cake is fully cooled, drizzle the glaze generously over the top. Add extra chopped strawberries or sprinkles if desired for a festive look.

Notes

Be sure to drain your strawberries well and chop them finely. Excess liquid can make the batter too moist and lead to uneven baking. You can even toss them in a little flour to help distribute them evenly throughout the batter.