The strawberry shortcut cake was more than just a recipe; it was a fun and simple way to bring a little magic to the kitchen. The marshmallows floating to the top and turning a gooey goodness felt like a sweet surprise waiting to happen. Each ingredient, from the soft buttery batter to the bright strawberries and colorful Jell-O, added its own special touch.
Strawberry Shortcut Cake Recipe
On a sunny afternoon I decided to make a dessert from August 1996, a strawberry shortcut cake recipe. It was a simple recipe with a fun twist: as the cake baked, marshmallows would rise to the top, turning into gooey goodness. How could I not give it a try?
I prepped everything: mini marshmallows, eggs, butter, milk, vanilla, sugar, flour, strawberry Jello, frozen strawberries, baking powder, and a pinch of salt.
First, I lined the pan with marshmallows. Then, I mixed the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients to make a creamy batter. I poured it over the marshmallows.
Next, I combined strawberry Jell-O and frozen strawberries for a vibrant topping and spooned it over the batter. As the cake baked, the warm, fruity smell filled the room, making it clear that something amazing was happening in the oven. The marshmallows rose to form a spongy, gooey layer. The finished cake was golden with a fruity strawberry touch, pure magic ready to share!
It wasn’t just a dessert, it was a cheerful reminder that a little creativity and a touch of nostalgia can make any day special.
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⭐Why You'll Love This Strawberry Shortcut Cake Recipe
- Simple and Easy: This recipe is perfect for beginners! With basic ingredients and simple steps, it’s great for a quick dessert or a family get-together.
- Moist and Delicious: Strawberries and gelatin make it super moist, while the marshmallows and cake batter add sweetness and a soft texture.
- Make It Your Own: You can switch up the gelatin flavor, add fresh fruit, or toss in some nuts and toppings to match your taste.
- Serve Your Way: Enjoy it warm with vanilla ice cream for a cozy treat, or let it cool and add whipped cream for a fancier touch.
🧾Strawberry Shortcut Cake Ingredients
Here’s the breakdown of what’s in this strawberry shortcut cake recipe:
- Mini Marshmallows: They melt into a gooey, caramelized layer that adds sweetness and a fun texture at the bottom of the cake.
- Frozen Strawberries: These bring natural strawberry flavor, moisture, and a pop of vibrant color. You can easily swap them for fresh ones if you like.
- Strawberry Gelatin: It boosts the strawberry flavor and adds a slight gel-like consistency, blending perfectly with the fruit.
- All-Purpose Flour: Gives the cake structure and a soft, light texture, making it stable and fluffy.
- Sugar: Sweetens the cake, helps it brown, and keeps it tender and moist with a golden crust.
- Baking Powder: Helps the cake rise, making it fluffy and airy.
- Salt: A tiny pinch balances the sweetness and brings out the strawberry and vanilla flavors.
- Butter: Adds richness, moisture, and a velvety texture while binding everything together.
- Milk: Makes the batter smooth and moist while adding a gentle richness.
- Vanilla Extract: Rounds out the sweetness with a warm, sweet aroma that complements the strawberries.
- Eggs: They bind the cake, help it rise, and add lightness and richness for the perfect texture.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
👩🏻🍳How to Make Strawberry Shortcut Cake
These step-by-step instructions and photos will help you to visualize how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for a printable version of this recipe.
1. Grease a 9.5 x 7.5 inch (24 x 19 cm) baking pan and spread marshmallows evenly in the pan.
2. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. In a bowl, mix sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla, and milk, then blend on medium speed until smooth.
4. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ones and beat for 2 minutes until smooth.
5. Evenly pour the batter over the marshmallows.
6. Combine the thawed strawberries with the dry gelatin.
7. Spread the strawberry mixture evenly over the batter.
8. Bake in a preheated oven at 175°C (347°F) or 155°C (311°F) fan-assisted for 40-45 minutes, until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
📖Variations
- Use Fresh Strawberries: Dice fresh strawberries, toss them with a little sugar and strawberry gelatin, and layer them on the cake. It gives a fresh, fruity flavor with a firmer texture.
- Try Other Berries: Add raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries for a colorful mix. Use mixed berry gelatin or stick with strawberry to tie it all together.
- Add a Citrus Twist: Mix 1-2 teaspoons of lemon zest into the batter and swap in lemon gelatin for a tangy, refreshing kick.
💭Tips for Recipe Success
Pour Gently: When adding the batter, pour it carefully over the marshmallows to keep them in place. Spoon the strawberry and gelatin mix evenly on top for a balanced flavor.
Make Ahead: This cake tastes even better after a few hours as the flavors come together. Bake it early and serve at room temperature or slightly warm.
Store Leftovers: Keep leftovers in an airtight container, room temp for 2 days, or in the fridge for up to 5. Warm slices in the microwave for 10–15 seconds to enjoy again!
🍓More Strawberry Recipes to Try!
If you love using strawberries when you are cooking, then check out the following recipes for inspiration:
- Strawberry Pudding
- Eton Mess
- Strawberry Confiture
- Strawberry Tiramisu
- Strawberry Shortcake
- Strawberry Tart
🍰More Dessert Recipes!
Here are more of my favorite dessert recipes! Try these:
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📖 Recipe
Strawberry Shortcut Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 60 g Miniature Marshmallow
- 280 g Frozen Strawberries
- 85 g Strawberry Gelatin
- 270 g All-Purpose Flour
- 200 g Sugar
- 3 teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 113 g Butter
- 300 ml Milk
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
- 3 Eggs
- 300 g Heavy Cream
Instructions
- Generously grease a 9.5 x 7.5 inch (24 x 19 cm) baking pan.
- Evenly spread marshmallows on the bottom of the pan.
- Mix the thawed berries with the dry gelatin and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, combine sugar, softened butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and milk, and blend at medium speed until well combined.
- Add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients and beat for 2 minutes until well combined.
- Pour the cake batter evenly over the marshmallows.
- Spoon the strawberry mixture evenly over the batter.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 175°C (347°F) or 155°C (311°F) fan-assisted, for 40-45 minutes until golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- Serve warm or cool with ice cream, or whipped cream, or more fresh strawberries for added flavor.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Sandra says
This is the perfect recipe for busy bakers. The strawberry shortcut cake ingredients make it so easy to whip up a delicious cake without spending hours in the kitchen.