Easy Strawberry Upside Down Cake Recipe
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Strawberry Upside Down Cake is an easy and delectable cake recipe that is the perfect dessert for any spring or summer menus. It’s simple enough to prepare and even easier to enjoy, especially topped with fresh whipped cream or cool vanilla ice cream on a warm summer day.
When summer rolls around, and strawberries are in season, I turn into the Forrest Gump of strawberries. While Forrest waxed on about shrimp, my list of all things strawberry begins to build as soon as the dogwoods bloom. Whether it is fresh Strawberry Salsa, Frozen Strawberry Squares, Strawberry Lemonade, a pie piled mile-high with strawberries, Strawberry Slab Pie (from Miss in the Kitchen), or even a fresh Frozen Strawberry Margarita, I just can’t seem to get enough of the bright red fruit.
One of the strawberry creations that is always at the top of my list when fresh strawberries are available is this scrumptious Strawberry Upside Down Cake. This Strawberry Upside Down Cake is a basic vanilla cake made with strawberries in the fashion of the classic Pineapple Upside Down Cake we have all enjoyed throughout the years. And boy, is it delicious! Plus, it is super easy to make. Yay for easy cake!
Ingredients for Strawberry Upside Down Cake
- butter
- brown sugar
- fresh strawberries
- all-purpose flour
- baking powder
- granulated sugar
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- ground cinnamon
- whole milk
How to Make Strawberry Upside Down Cake
The ingredients for this cake are basic enough, and the preparation is simple cake making. A little prep time and measuring, a bit of mixing, plus about 40 minutes of bake time, and you will have a warm strawberry cake perfect for any occasion in about an hour. While the cake is baking, you can whip up some fresh cream. Strawberries and cream are always in season, right?
See the full details recipe below for all measurements and temperatures. But here’s the basic gist of things:
- Begin by melting some butter in a baking pan in the oven. Then whisk brown sugar into the melted butter. Place the baking pan in the oven for a minute to melt the sugar a little bit. Carefully remove the pan from the oven and whisk to blend. Next, arrange sliced strawberries evenly over the top of the mixture. Set aside to cool while preparing the batter.
- Begin the batter by whisking together flour and baking powder. In a separate mixing bowl, beat together softened butter and granulated sugar until slightly lightened in color. Next, add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Be sure to scrape down the bowl as needed. Finish the wet ingredient mixture by beating in vanilla extract and cinnamon.
- Finally, alternate adding in the dry mixture of flour and baking powder and milk into the butter, sugar, and egg mixture, mixing until just combined. Again, always scrape down the bowl as needed. Spoon batter over arranged strawberries in baking pan and carefully spread evenly in pan. That’s it! Bake according to recipe instructions below.
Strawberry Upside Down Cake tastes so much like strawberry shortcake. So think strawberry shortcake warm out of the oven. Oh yes. Grab your fork! But first, top a slice of this cake with more fresh sliced strawberries, plus a dollop of fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for a strawberry dessert that would surely make Forrest run for a piece (or two). Run, Forrest, run!
More desserts you will love:
Frozen Strawberry Squares
Carrot Cake Recipe
Holiday Pavlova Wreath
Chocolate Hazelnut Torte
Easy Strawberry Upside Down Cake Recipe
Strawberry Upside Down Cake
A delicious cake recipe made with fresh strawberries that is the perfect dessert for any spring or summer menus.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup (6 oz, weight) butter, softened and divided
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 10 ounces strawberries, sliced
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup whole milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350-degrees F.
- Melt 1/4 cup butter in a 9-inch round or 9x9-inch square baking pan in oven until melted. Carefully remove from oven. Whisk brown sugar into melted butter until combined. Place baking pan in oven for 1 minute. Remove from oven and whisk to blend. Arrange sliced strawberries evenly over top. Set aside.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour and baking powder. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl beat together remaining 1/2 cup softened butter and granulated sugar until slightly lightened in color, about 2 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla extract and cinnamon.
- Alternate adding in the flour/baking powder mixture and milk, mixing until just combined. Scraping down bowl as needed.
- Spoon batter over strawberries in baking pan and carefully spread evenly.
- Bake at 350-degrees F until wooden pick or cake tester comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes then invert onto serving plate. Scrape out any remaining syrup from pan and drizzle over cake.
- Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Originally published April 27, 2016.
I haven’t seen upside down strawberry cake before! Looks super delish!
In oven right now!! Looks delish!!
I hope you enjoy it, Heather!
Sounds yummy!!
This is such a creative idea! Love the pictures too, Amy!
I’ve never thought to do strawberries in an upside down cake- yum!
FABULOUS! I made one for Mom and one for Ma in Law. Used mom’s old 9 inch cast iron skillet and they came out like a dream.
So happy to hear that y’all enjoyed it! It’s a new favorite of ours.
Can I use 1% or 2% milk instead of whole?
Yes, you can, Laura.
Would frozen work instead of fresh? Or stick with fresh?
Ahh, it’s a sign from the cake gods! I’m going to make this tonight for a camping trip-birthday for my 8 year old who adores strawberries. I think it will travel beautifully, store well in the cooler and I can make fresh whipped cream ahead of time. I’m going to cheat a little bit though. I have zero time & a box of vanilla bean cake mix from Trader Joe’s which is pretty good stuff. I will report back if anyone is interested in the results. I will of course use fresh strawberries from local farmers market! Cheers!
Making this. It is taking much longer to bake than 35 min.
I made this last night and it was a hit! My whole family went back for seconds!
Fantastic! I’m happy to hear that everyone enjoyed it, Michele.
Could I use almond milk?
Can I use a box cake mix?
This is the first time I made it hope it good. It for a fundraiser hope feed back come back good
My husband loves this for his birthday cake. Not too sweet and he can have a little vanilla ice cream with it. Thank you! 🙂
great recipe and love how the strawberries get pressed into the cake with the whole upside down treatment, thank you!
I had the same question as Tabitha. I want to make this-looks-incredible-cake; however, when strawberries (fresh) are no longer in season and are then priced right up there equal to the National Debt. I hope Amy might consider answering the query. She probably has already addressed it, but I did not see it.
Hello Delaney, I have not tried this with frozen, but they may work if you thaw them and pat them dry. If you try it, please let me know how it turns out.