Strawberry Earthquake Cake (Printable Version)

Gooey strawberry cake with cream cheese swirls, white chocolate chips, and coconut baked to cracked perfection.

# What You'll 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 Layer

05 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
06 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - 2 cups powdered sugar

→ Add-Ins

08 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped
09 - 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
10 - 1 cup white chocolate chips

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan thoroughly.
02 - Combine strawberry cake mix, eggs, oil, and water in a large bowl. Beat until completely smooth and well blended.
03 - Pour cake batter evenly into the prepared baking pan, spreading to corners.
04 - Sprinkle chopped strawberries, shredded coconut, and white chocolate chips evenly over the surface of the batter.
05 - Beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, continuing to beat until creamy and fully combined.
06 - Drop large spoonfuls of cream cheese mixture randomly across the top of the cake.
07 - Gently swirl a knife through the cream cheese mixture and batter to create marbled patterns. Take care not to overmix.
08 - Bake for 45 minutes until edges are set and center remains slightly wobbly.
09 - Let cake cool for at least 30 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The cream cheese layer stays irresistibly gooey even after cooling, creating pockets of tangy sweetness in every forkful
  • Strawberries and white chocolate chips caramelize slightly in the oven, adding depth you cannot get from a regular cake mix alone
02 -
  • The center will look underbaked when you remove it from the oven, but that wobble is exactly what creates the luscious texture everyone loves
  • Room temperature ingredients for the cream cheese layer are nonnegotiable, as cold cream cheese creates stubborn lumps that ruin the smooth swirl effect
03 -
  • Run your knife under hot water before swirling to create cleaner, more defined ribbons throughout the cake
  • If the cream cheese layer feels too thick to dollop easily, warm it in the microwave for ten seconds to reach the perfect consistency

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