Gooey Strawberry Earthquake Cake (Printable)

Moist strawberry cake with creamy cheese filling, fresh berries and white chocolate swirls.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cake Base

01 - 1 box (15.25 ounces) strawberry cake mix
02 - 3 large eggs
03 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
04 - 1 cup water

→ Cream Cheese Filling

05 - 8 ounces 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 Make It:

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

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The contrast between moist strawberry cake and tangy cream cheese pockets creates an irresistible texture in every bite
  • Its practically foolproof, even when the surface looks like a disaster
  • The white chocolate swirls turn a simple box mix into something that tastes completely homemade
02 -
  • The wobble is intentional, underbaking slightly creates that gooey lava cake texture everyone loves
  • Let it cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes or the pieces will fall apart when you slice them
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients combine more smoothly, so set everything out an hour before baking
  • Use a light touch when swirling, heavy-handed mixing creates muddy colors instead of distinct marbling

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