If you adore the wonderful marriage of chocolate and strawberries, then you are in for a real treat with this Strawberry Chocolate Cake with Homemade Strawberry Jam and Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe. This cake isn’t just any dessert; it’s a celebration of rich cocoa layered lovingly with luscious homemade strawberry jam and wrapped in a silky cream cheese frosting. Every bite combines a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and creamy that will have you smiling from start to finish. From the moist chocolate layers to the fresh strawberry bursts, this cake is sure to become a favorite in your baking repertoire and a star at every gathering.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These simple yet essential ingredients come together to create a chocolate cake that’s moist, flavorful, and beautifully balanced with fresh strawberry jam and luscious cream cheese frosting. Each component plays a key role in building layers of taste, texture, and vibrant color.
- Fresh or frozen strawberries: The heart of your homemade jam, offering natural sweetness and bright fruity flavor.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the jam and the batter perfectly without overpowering.
- Water: Helps cook down the strawberries into a thick jam consistency.
- All-purpose flour: The base that gives structure to the cake.
- Cocoa powder: Brings rich, deep chocolate flavor and beautiful color.
- Baking powder and baking soda: Leavening agents that ensure a tender, airy crumb.
- Salt: Enhances and balances all the sweet flavors.
- Unsalted butter: Adds moisture and richness for that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Oil (canola, avocado, or grapeseed): Keeps the cake extra moist and tender.
- Brown sugar: Introduces a subtle caramel note to complement the chocolate.
- Large eggs: Provide structure and richness, binding the ingredients flawlessly.
- Milk: Adds moisture and lightness to the batter.
- Cream cheese: The creamy star of the frosting, giving tangy sweetness and smooth texture.
- Powdered sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting to perfect consistency.
- Vanilla extract: Elevates the frosting flavor with warm, comforting notes.
- Fresh strawberries (for garnish): Adds a fresh, eye-catching finish and extra berry burst.
How to Make Strawberry Chocolate Cake with Homemade Strawberry Jam and Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Step 1: Make the Homemade Strawberry Jam
Start by combining your strawberries, granulated sugar, and water in a small pot over medium-high heat. Stir frequently as the mixture gently bubbles away, thickening into a luscious jam. This fresh jam is what sets this cake apart, infusing a genuine strawberry sweetness that no store-bought jam can match. Once thickened, allow it to cool completely before moving on.
Step 2: Preheat Your Oven and Prepare Cake Pans
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare two 6-inch round cake pans by greasing and lining them with parchment paper. This ensures easy removal and helps the cakes retain their perfect shape while baking.
Step 3: Mix Your Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. These dry ingredients form the foundation of the cake’s texture and chocolate flavor, so thorough mixing is key for that uniformly wonderful crumb.
Step 4: Combine Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, beat together the melted unsalted butter, your choice of oil, brown sugar, eggs, and milk until smooth and well blended. This mixture brings softness and moisture to your cake, ensuring every bite is tender and rich.
Step 5: Bring It All Together
Slowly stir the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until fully combined but do not overmix. Dividing the batter evenly, pour it into the prepared pans and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. You’ll know the cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool completely before assembling.
Step 6: Assemble with Jam and Frosting
Once your cakes have cooled, spread a generous layer of your homemade strawberry jam over one layer. Carefully place the second cake on top, then smother the entire cake with a thick, velvety cream cheese frosting. The frosting perfectly balances the tanginess of the jam and the richness of the chocolate cake.
Step 7: Garnish and Finish
Top your cake with fresh strawberries for a visually stunning and delicious final touch. These add a refreshing pop and hint of natural sweetness that ties the whole dessert beautifully together.
How to Serve Strawberry Chocolate Cake with Homemade Strawberry Jam and Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Garnishes
Fresh strawberries are a natural, vibrant garnish that amplify the fruity notes of the jam and add an irresistible burst of color. You can also consider adding a sprinkle of cocoa powder or a few mint leaves for additional visual appeal and subtle flavor contrast.
Side Dishes
Serving this cake alongside a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of freshly whipped cream creates a wonderful balance of warm and cold. A cup of freshly brewed coffee or a glass of sparkling rosé also pairs beautifully, enhancing the overall dessert experience.
Creative Ways to Present
For an extra wow factor, serve individual slices with a drizzle of melted chocolate or a spoonful of the leftover homemade strawberry jam. You can even turn this into mini parfaits by layering cake crumbs, jam, and frosting in stemmed glasses for an elegant twist that’s perfect for dinner parties.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep any leftover cake wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This keeps the cream cheese frosting fresh and prevents the cake from drying out. It should stay delicious for up to 3-4 days.
Freezing
You can freeze this cake either before assembling (freeze the layers wrapped in plastic) or after frosting. For the best quality, wrap tightly with plastic wrap and then foil to prevent freezer burn. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving for the best texture and flavor.
Reheating
Since this is a frosted and jam-filled cake, reheating is generally not recommended. Instead, bring refrigerated slices to room temperature before enjoying, allowing the frosting to soften and the flavors to shine through beautifully.
FAQs
Can I use frozen strawberries for the jam?
Absolutely! Frozen strawberries work just as well as fresh ones for the jam and often provide great value and convenience without compromising flavor.
Is it possible to make this cake dairy-free?
Yes, you can substitute dairy ingredients like butter and cream cheese with plant-based alternatives to make this cake suitable for dairy-free diets, but expect slight changes in texture and flavor.
How long does the homemade strawberry jam last?
Refrigerated homemade strawberry jam will stay fresh for about one to two weeks. Make sure to store it in a clean, airtight container to maintain its best quality.
Can I use a different size pan?
Using a larger pan will affect baking time and cake thickness. If you don’t have 6-inch pans, a 9-inch pan can work, but watch baking time carefully and expect a thinner cake.
Is this recipe suitable for beginners?
Definitely! The recipe steps are straightforward, and working with familiar baking basics makes it accessible even if you’re new to layered cakes. Plus, the result is impressively delicious!
Final Thoughts
There is something truly magical about this Strawberry Chocolate Cake with Homemade Strawberry Jam and Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe that makes every celebration feel special. With layers of rich chocolate perfectly complimented by fresh strawberry jam and the smooth cream cheese frosting, it’s a dessert that delights every sense. I encourage you to dive in and bake this cake for your next gathering or simply to spoil yourself—you won’t regret a single bite!
Print
Strawberry Chocolate Cake with Homemade Strawberry Jam and Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This decadent Strawberry Chocolate Cake combines rich cocoa-flavored layers with a fresh strawberry jam filling and creamy strawberry-flavored cream cheese frosting. Perfectly moist and bursting with fruitiness, this homemade cake is ideal for celebrations or a special dessert treat.
Ingredients
Strawberry Jam
- Fresh or frozen strawberries – 1 ½ cups (for jam and filling)
- Granulated sugar – ½ cup
- Water – 2 tablespoons
Cake
- All-purpose flour – 1 ½ cups
- Cocoa powder – ¾ cup
- Baking powder – 1 teaspoon
- Baking soda – 1 teaspoon
- Salt – ½ teaspoon
- Unsalted butter (melted) – ½ cup (1 stick)
- Oil (canola, avocado, or grapeseed) – ¼ cup
- Brown sugar – 1 cup
- Large eggs (room temperature) – 2
- Milk (room temperature) – ½ cup
Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
- Cream cheese (softened) – 8 ounces (1 package)
- Powdered sugar – 2 cups
- Vanilla extract – 1 teaspoon
- Fresh strawberries (for garnish) – ½ cup, sliced
Instructions
- Make the Strawberry Jam: In a small pot, combine the strawberries, granulated sugar, and water. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens to a jam-like consistency. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 6-inch round cake pans with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Prepare the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and cocoa.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate larger bowl, beat the melted butter, oil, and brown sugar until well combined. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the milk until the mixture is smooth.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually stir the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, folding gently until fully incorporated without overmixing. The batter should be smooth and slightly thick.
- Bake the Cake: Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool completely in the pans before removing.
- Assemble the Cake: Once cooled, spread a generous layer of the homemade strawberry jam on top of one cake layer. Carefully place the second cake layer on top.
- Prepare and Apply Frosting: In a bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Spread this strawberry cream cheese frosting evenly over the top and sides of the assembled cake.
- Decorate: Garnish the cake with fresh sliced strawberries on top to add a fresh and vibrant finishing touch.
Notes
- If fresh strawberries are not available, frozen strawberries can be used for the jam by thawing them first.
- Ensure all refrigerated ingredients like eggs, milk, and cream cheese are at room temperature for the best texture.
- You can substitute the 6-inch pans for 8-inch pans, but baking time will need adjustment.
- To enhance the strawberry flavor, consider adding a teaspoon of strawberry extract to the frosting.
- Store the cake in the refrigerator due to the cream cheese frosting; remove from fridge about 30 minutes before serving.
