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If a strawberry shortcake and a cheesecake had a delicious disaster of a baby, this would be it. Strawberry Cream Cheese Earthquake Cake is the kind of dessert that looks like it exploded in the oven… and tastes like heaven anyway. It’s gooey, messy, rich, fruity, and ridiculously easy to throw together. If you’ve got a box of strawberry cake mix and a craving for something sweet, buckle up.
Video: Let’s Make Strawberry Cream Cheese Earthquake Cake
What’s An Earthquake Cake?
Let’s clear this up before we dig in. Earthquake cakes are usually layered desserts that crack, bubble, and erupt while baking, creating gooey pockets of flavor in every bite. They’re named for their cracked, chaotic appearance. Traditional versions use chocolate cake mix, but this one flips the script with a berry-bright twist. Strawberry cake mix brings the nostalgia, while the cream cheese swirl adds creamy decadence that’s somewhere between cheesecake and frosting.
You don’t frost this cake. It basically frosts itself while baking. The cream cheese mixture sinks and swirls through the cake like molten lava, creating sweet, tangy ribbons that balance the sugary strawberry base.
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Cake
It starts with a box mix. No judgment, just convenience. Strawberry cake mix is the shortcut star here.
Cream cheese magic. The rich cream cheese layer is the kind of thing you want to eat straight from the bowl (no one’s stopping you).
Texture overload. Coconut and chopped pecans add just the right amount of chew and crunch.
Low effort, high drama. You dump, swirl, and bake. That’s it. No electric mixer. No fussy layers. Just glorious, gooey imperfection.
A Cake That’s Easy as Pie
You’ll mix the cake according to package directions and spread it in a greased pan. Then you’ll blend the cream cheese with butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth, and dollop or swirl it right on top of the batter. As it bakes, the cream cheese sinks and creates those signature earthquake-style craters and ribbons.
It looks wild. It tastes even better.
How To Serve Strawberry Earthquake Cake
This cake is rich enough to serve on its own, but if you’re feeling fancy, go ahead and top it with a little whipped cream or a few fresh strawberries. Serve it warm and gooey with a spoon, or let it cool and slice it into bars. It’s great at room temp, even better cold from the fridge, and next-level with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Make Ahead and Storage
Strawberry Cream Cheese Earthquake Cake holds up beautifully for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Store it tightly covered, and enjoy it straight from the pan. It’s the kind of cake that gets better after a night of rest—the flavors settle in, and the texture becomes even more luscious.
Your New Favorite Cake
This cake doesn’t need layers, decorations, or even a serving plate. Just a fork. It’s quick, messy, and downright irresistible.
When you want a crowd-pleasing dessert that delivers maximum impact with minimal effort, Strawberry Cream Cheese Earthquake Cake is the move.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly coat a 13×9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
In a large bowl beat cake mix, eggs, water, and oil with an electric mixer on medium until combined. Pour batter into prepared pan.
In a medium bowl beat powdered sugar, cream cheese, melted butter, vanilla, and salt with a mixer on medium until well combined.
Drop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture over the cake batter. Using a knife, swirl the cream cheese mixture into the batter. Sprinkle with chopped strawberries and (optional) white chocolate chips.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until the center is set. Serve with whipped cream and additional sliced strawberries.