Homemade Strawberry Cake with Buttermilk
If you’re a fan of fresh strawberries, then this homemade strawberry buttermilk cake is the perfect dessert for you! Made with real strawberries and buttermilk, this cake is moist, flavorful, and perfect for Spring. When they come into season, strawberries are my favorite fruit to bake with, and this recipe is a great way to use them.
Whether it’s for Mother’s Day, Easter, or any occasion when strawberries are in season, this family favorite is a wonderful choice. I love that this is a simple dessert that comes together quickly but doesn’t lack in flavor or deliciousness! In this post, we’ll explore some tips and tricks to make the perfect homemade strawberry buttermilk cake that is full of natural strawberry flavor and SO good!
Use Fresh Strawberries for Maximum Flavor:
The key to a delicious strawberry cake is using fresh strawberries. When they’re in season and at their peak of ripeness, they’ll have the best flavor and natural sweetness. Hull and halve the strawberries for the cake, and then you can slice some for the topping.
Buttermilk for Moisture and Tenderness:
Buttermilk is an important ingredient in this cake as it adds moisture and a tender crumb. It also helps to activate the leavening agents, resulting in a light and fluffy texture. Make sure to use buttermilk at room temperature to ensure it mixes well with the other ingredients in the cake batter. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can easily make a substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to 1 cup of milk and letting it sit for a few minutes until it thickens and curdles.
Ingredients needed for Homemade Strawberry Cake with Buttermilk:
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Butter
- Sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Egg
- Buttermilk
- Fresh strawberries
- Whipped Cream
Supplies needed for Homemade Strawberry Cake Recipe with Buttermilk:
- Large Bowl
- 8-9 inch cake pan
- Electric mixer
- Rubber Spatula
Tips for a perfect cake that releases from the pan easily:
To achieve perfectly baked cake layers, make sure to prepare your cake pans properly. Grease and flour the pans, and line the bottoms with parchment paper for easy removal of the cake. This will prevent the cakes from sticking to the pans and ensure they come out cleanly. Also, remember to preheat your oven to the correct temperature and bake the cakes in the center of the oven for even baking. Rotate the pans halfway through baking to ensure they bake evenly. The cake will be golden brown when done and a toothpick inserted into the center will come back with a few moist crumbs.
Mixing the Cake Batter and Dry Ingredients:
In a large bowl with a hand mixer, or the bowl of a stand mixer, use a medium speed to ensure that the ingredients are well combined without over-mixing. You especially want to be careful when adding the flour mixture. Mix just until you no longer see dry spots or streaks in the batter. Over-mixing can result in a tough cake, so be careful not to go too fast or mix too much.
Pour batter into the prepared pan and place the halved strawberries right on top of the batter. The baking time will be around 20 minutes but may depend on your oven.
While the cake bakes you can make the whipped cream (the perfect topping and my favorite,) and slice the strawberries. I like to drizzle them in honey to release some of the juices.
Get Creative with the toppings:
While this strawberry buttermilk cake is delicious on its own, you can take it to the next level with creative frosting and filling options.
Cream cheese frosting pairs wonderfully with the sweet and tangy flavors of the strawberry cake. You can also make some strawberry puree, use strawberry jam, or more fresh strawberries for an extra burst of flavor. Either mix it into the whipped cream or frosting to make strawberry buttercream!
Another option is to add some chopped fresh berries to the frosting for added texture and flavor. A simple whipped cream with fresh strawberries on top of the cake is always wonderful too!
Any pink lovers in your house? Crush up some freeze-dried strawberries to make “strawberry powder” and add them to your whipped cream or frosting for extra real strawberry flavor and a touch of pink color!
Want to make the cake in advance? You can cook the cake and wrap it with a layer of plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for up to a week before serving. You could also place the wrapped cake into an airtight container and freeze for up to a month!
Homemade Strawberry Cake with Buttermilk
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 2/3 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1/2 cup well-shaken buttermilk, room temperature
- 1 cup strawberries, sliced
For the topping:
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 2 cup diced strawberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle. Butter and flour an 8-inch round cake pan.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Beat butter and 2/3 cup sugar with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes, then beat in vanilla. Add egg and beat well.
- At low speed, mix in flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour, being careful not to over-mix.
- Spoon batter into pan, smoothing top with a spoon. Scatter berries evenly over top and sprinkle with remaining 1 1/2 Tbsp sugar.
- Bake until cake is golden and a cake tester/toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack and cool until room temperature.
For the topping:
- While cake bakes, toss chopped strawberries with 1 teaspoon honey and let sit and get juicy for at least an hour.
- Using a cold bowl and cold beaters, whip the cream until stiff and stir in the remaining teaspoon of honey. Spread the whipped cream over the top of the cake and top with the macerated berries.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Gourmet
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g
What a lovely cake! It just screams summer!
I love the idea of trying this recipe with peaches for the summertime!
Wow! That cake looks incredible! I love that it can be adapted for whatever berries are in season, too.
Yum, i love strawberry season!!
I have been needing some strawberry recipes. I just planted six strawberry plants!
Fruit in a dessert = health food :-)
This recipe is great for Strawberry season!
This cake looks lovely!!! I really need to bake with strawberries more! Liked their fb too!
I need a dessert for the weekend and this looks perfect! Thanks for posting. LOVE strawberries.
You just reminded me to get planting some strawberries… moving kind of threw off my usual schedule. Awesome giveaway too, I was just saying this morning that I need some new cake pans.
Such a great looking cake and giveaway!
yum. i love strawberries.
Fuity desserts in the summer are so great. Very healthy with the fresh fruits. Thanks!
Can’t wait to try this cake!
This cake looks fantastic. Thanks for the giveaway chance too!
This cake looks like a great Springtime treat. Thanks for the giveaway!
This cake is the epitome of summer!!!!
I love easy berry cakes! This ones looks scrumptious!
FB Liked their link. GREAT giveaway!
And great looking recipe. I love baking with strawberries!
I loooooove the look of this cake!! So pretty.
What a great recipe! And for a great cause! This will be perfect for a belated Mother’s Day dessert since I couldn’t spend Sunday with my mom. And she just happens to love strawberry shortcake!
Looks yummy …I will be making this for sure!
I just got a ton of fresh, amazing looking strawberries yesterday….now I know exactly what to do with them! FB Liked :)
What a perfect and delicious way to use ALL of the strawberries in my fridge! Thank you so much!
I can’t wait to try this! looks delicious!
Strawberries and cake are two of my favorite things in the world! this looks great :)
I “whipped” cancer 19 years ago and thank God daily for each new day I get.
Um, yummmm! I always love a good cake with berries! Something not too sweet, but just right. And to add a touch of whipping cream? Thank you. I’ll definitely be giving this a try. (:
I can’t wait to try this cake. It looks delicious. I am going to make it for my husband this weekend.
This cake looks so yummy – and easy to make!!!
This sounds like the perfect summer treat! Not too sweet and the tartness of the strawberries add a refreshing effect. Definitely trying this.
I love this cake!
This looks so wonderful! Also, I’m dying over the paisley oven mitt. I need one, it’s so cute!!!!!
That cake looks delicious! My husband would love it. I would also love to win!
Love your recipes! I’ve emailed you several times and you always email right back. I love trying new recipes and so far they’ve all turned out great. Today I’m making strawberry margarita cupcakes. Can’t wait!
This looks so yummy, can’t wait to try it!!
What a great giveaway for a wonderful cause, Audra! This cake looks absolutely fabulous and it’s so nice that you got to create it with your mama, too!
This looks amazing and easy! This would be a great dessert to serve at an upcoming bbq. Thanks for the idea!
Wow, that cake looks great for the summer!
This looks delicious! I also liked “Help Whip Cancer” on FB
That cake looks delish!!
I so want that cake!!
What a great cause and the cake looks like something I want to try right away!
definately a keeper! want to try both with strawberries and again with peaches!! Yummmmmmmm
I enjoyed the last yummy bite this morning (for breakfast no less). It was fun baking with you!!!
I love this!!! Can’t wait to give it a try!
Love this idea as an alternative to strawberry shortcake!
Recipe looks wonderful! What a great giveaway.
I cannot wait to make this recipe! I just picked up buttermilk for pancakes this AM and will use the rest for this cake. Great giveaway and great cause!
This looks yummy! and it sounds like a great giveaway!!!
“Liked
and shared it…does tha count as two entries?? :)
Thanks!
I’m going to make this – it sounds YUMMY. I’ve got strawberries, need to get the buttermilk. thanks for featuring such a great cause too!
This looks like the perfect dessert! I wish I had this recipe for mothers day and I would have requested it from my hubby :-D
I have liked the Help Whip Cancer Facebook page. Such a great cause!
those strawberries look delicious!
This looks amazing – what a pretty cake! Thank you for your efforts to raise money for a cure….
Sounds so light and delicious! I love strawberry cake, I mean REALLY love strawberry cake!!! :)
I’m so sorry to hear about your Mom, Linda. I agree- a cure for cancer needs to happen soon.
That is amazing Amanda!
You too Mommy! Love you!
I agree- enough with Komen! :)
Yes for being a survivor!!!
Saying a prayer for your Mom!!
I love simple and delicious recipes like this!! And i like that this is totally something the kids would enjoy helping create! Look forward to making this :D
I’ve made a similar cake several times over the last few months. So easy! I usually swap out the vanilla extract for almond, though. And thank you for calling my attention to Pamper Chef’s Campaign. I know a lot of people who will jump on board!
Liked on facebook, wonderful giveaway!
I liked on Facebook. Thanks for the giveaway and the great recipe.
Making this today for my Dad! Thank you so much for being such an entertaining blogger to follow!
Thanks for the chance! I liked on FB!
family74014 at gmail dot com
Cake looks so good!
This cake looks so delicious…can’t wait to make it for my fiancé when he returns from deployment! :-D
Love this cake and love the idea of $1 for every new like!
That looks so yummy and I liked the page on Facebook!
I love simple cakes! Sometimes a large 3-tiered cake isn’t necessary. LOVE this Audra!
Superdelicious and summery! I just LOVE strawberries, well most berries a matter of fact:-)
This cake looks so good!!!
yum, i can’t wait to try it!
Looks like a yummy recipe! :)
great recipe and great cause! thanks for sharing!
thanks good site
hope i win!!
Looks great must try the recipe and THANKS FOR SHARING!! <3
Looks amazing!
And it’s fresh strawberry season! Can’t wait to try it!
Beautiful cake for an occasion
Love this! I have been looking for something different from the standard shortcake. Living in Florida and loving to bake, I have access to some very fresh strawberries, so i am always looking for new recipes.
The cake looks awesome, can’t wait to try this for my next family gathering!
Excellent cause and recipe, liked and shared…
This looks amazing!
This recipe looks so yummy I can’t wait to try it!!!
Yumm! I can’t wait to try this! Thank you :)
What a great idea. The cake looks so delious. Can’t wait to try it out.
This cake looks AMAZING! We will be having this tonight ;-) Thanks for the recipe!
i am printing this recipe as i write! sounds yummy!!
Looking forward to making this cake. It looks wonderful!!
I am making this cake tonight! Thank you!!!! I also liked your page and am very impressed!
Great job, looks beautiful! :) Love it — *Michelle
I Love, Love, Love strawberries and cake! I will be making this for this upcoming Memorial Day weekend, farmers market here I come. Thanks alot for sharing! {Suzette}
What an easy cake to make and soooo good !!! Everyone loved it !!
Such an easy cake to make and everyone loved it !! Thanks :)
I can’t wait to try your recipe! It looks so delicious. Strawberry cake is my fave!
Sounds like a recipe my grandmother used to make.
Mmm, i cant wait to make this and share it with my family and friends, thanks for the recipe
Always need new cake recipes, definately will try it. Thank you :)
Can’t wait to try this in my new Kitchenaid!
That looks great! I’m going to make it this weekend :)
Looks like a wonderful summer dessert!
This cake looks delicious
omg. that looks fabulous. I’m waiting for the strawberries in my backyard and then look out world! lol.
I can hardly wait to try it!
Looks and sounds delicious. I plan to get the ingredients and make it for a specialty dessert to be served this weekend. I love recipes with buttermilk and can hardly wait to try it. My mother-in-law used to churn butter in Maine 3-4 times a week and I was always on hand for fresh buttermilk. It adds a special delicious element to foods.
Looking forward to trying this. Love strawberries!
Sounds delish…..can’t wait to try it!
This is my kind of cake recipe… I’ll have to try it with the cherries off my dad’s tree!
Just came home from the store with strawberries! Perfect timing! Can’t wait to try it!!!
I am anxious to try this recipe.
Looks great keep up the good work
Looks yummy!
This cake looks so delicious. I cannot wait to try it. :)
O…M…G!! This cake is fantastic. I used fresh mango because they’re in season right now. This will definitely be a go-to recipe for me.
I love your recipes! Especially your banana bread, which I think I have whipped up at least a dozen times in the past 6 months! This recipe sounds great, but j have a question. What exactly is buttermilk? Is it the same as yoghurt? Thanks!