Gooey Strawberry Earthquake Cake (Printer-friendly)
Moist strawberry cake with creamy cheese filling and white chocolate swirls creates a stunning marbled dessert thats irresistibly gooey.
# What You Need:
→ Cake Base
01 - 1 box (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)
# 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 batter evenly into prepared pan.
03 - In a separate bowl, 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 the cake batter, creating distinct mounds across the surface.
05 - Sprinkle diced strawberries and white chocolate chips evenly over the top. Add shredded coconut if desired.
06 - Use a butter knife to gently swirl the cream cheese mixture through the batter, creating a marbled pattern without over-mixing.
07 - Bake for 40-45 minutes until edges are set but center remains slightly wobbly. The cake should be gooey inside when done.
08 - Cool in pan for at least 30 minutes before slicing. The center will set further as it cools but remain pleasantly gooey.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The center stays impossibly gooey while edges bake into tender cake
- Fresh strawberries cut through the richness perfectly
- White chocolate pools create pockets of pure joy
02 -
- Overbaking destroys the gooey center so trust the wobble test
- Cold cream cheese creates lumps that never fully disappear
- Swirling too much blends everything into an ordinary cake
03 -
- Line your pan with parchment paper for effortless removal
- Spray your knife with cooking spray between cuts for cleaner slices