Gooey Strawberry Earthquake Cake (Printable Version)

Moist strawberry cake swirled with cream cheese filling and white chocolate chips creates this irresistible gooey dessert.

# What You’ll Need:

→ For the Cake

01 - 1 box (about 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 tsp 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)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
02 - Whisk together strawberry cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and water in a large bowl until just combined. Pour batter evenly into prepared pan.
03 - 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 cake batter.
05 - Sprinkle diced strawberries and white chocolate chips evenly over top. Add shredded coconut if using.
06 - Use a butter knife to gently swirl cream cheese mixture through batter for marbled effect.
07 - Bake for 40-45 minutes, until edges are set and center is slightly wobbly. Do not overbake; cake should remain gooey inside.
08 - Cool in pan for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving.

# Top Tips:

01 -
  • The center stays deliciously gooey even after cooling, creating that perfect lava cake texture everyone fights over
  • It looks impressive and rustic straight from the oven, like you spent hours when it actually took minutes
  • The strawberry flavor stays fresh and bright thanks to both the cake mix and real fruit folded throughout
02 -
  • Underbaking is better than overbaking with this cake, the residual heat continues cooking the center as it cools
  • The cream cheese swirls sink during baking, so if you want them visible on top, keep them closer to the surface when you add them
  • Room temperature ingredients are nonnegotiable for the filling to achieve that smooth, creamy consistency
03 -
  • Run your knife under hot water and wipe dry between slices for the cleanest cuts
  • If your strawberries are particularly large, cut them into quarters to prevent them from sinking to the bottom
  • A glass baking pan lets you see the beautiful swirling action happening as it bakes

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