Hi👋 I’m MARILYN, a 34-year-old FROM UNITED KINGDOM. Cooking is my passion, and I love sharing delicious, easy-to-follow recipes. Join me on marilynrecipes.com to explore a world of culinary delights, from comforting classics to innovative creations. Let’s make cooking fun and enjoyable for everyone! Cooking is about more than just food it’s about sharing stories and making memories.
I’ll never forget the first time I made this Strawberry Sheet Cake with Crumb Topping. It was a rainy Saturday afternoon, and I wanted something sweet that felt homey and comforting. The smell of fresh strawberries mingling with buttery crumb topping filled the entire house. My little niece helped me sprinkle the crumbs, and we both ended up tasting more than we put on the cake. From that moment, this cake became our family favorite for birthdays, tea parties, and cozy weekends. Today, I’m excited to share this recipe with you. You’ll find it simple, full of love, and bursting with strawberry goodness.
This recipe features ripe strawberries folded into a moist, tender cake, all topped with a crunchy, buttery crumb. Every bite is a balance of sweet, soft, and slightly tangy strawberry flavor with a rich, golden topping. Over the years, I’ve refined this Strawberry Sheet Cake with Crumb Topping to be perfectly simple yet incredibly satisfying. Whether you’re baking for your family, friends, or just yourself, this cake is sure to bring smiles to your kitchen table.
Why I Love Making This Recipe
There’s something magical about Strawberry Sheet Cake with Crumb Topping. I love how it comes together in one pan, making cleanup easy without compromising flavor. The crumb topping adds that extra layer of nostalgia it reminds me of my grandma’s kitchen, where every dessert was made with care and a pinch of love.
I also adore how versatile this cake is. You can enjoy it warm from the oven, letting the strawberries shine, or chilled with a dollop of whipped cream. The cake’s soft texture pairs beautifully with afternoon tea or as a delightful dessert after dinner. Every time I make it, I feel like I’m sharing a little piece of happiness with my loved ones.
Ingredients & Little Kitchen Secrets
Here’s everything you’ll need to make this scrumptious Strawberry Sheet Cake with Crumb Topping:
Cake Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, diced
Crumb Topping Ingredients:
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ½ tsp cinnamon
Little Kitchen Secrets:
- Toss strawberries in a teaspoon of flour before adding to the batter. This prevents them from sinking.
- Cold butter in the crumb topping gives a better crunch when baked.
- If fresh strawberries are out of season, frozen strawberries work too just thaw and pat dry.
How I Make It, Step by Step
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream softened butter with sugar until light and fluffy using an electric mixer.
- Beat in eggs, one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract.
- Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
- Gently fold in the diced strawberries coated in flour.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- For the crumb topping, mix flour, sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over the cake.
- Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes before serving.
How I Serve It at Home
I love slicing this Strawberry Sheet Cake with Crumb Topping into generous squares and serving it with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For a festive touch, I sometimes drizzle a simple strawberry glaze over the top. It’s perfect for a weekend family dessert, a birthday, or even a picnic treat. The crumb topping stays slightly crisp, while the strawberry cake remains tender and juicy every bite feels like a warm hug.
Storage, Reheating & Make-Ahead Tips
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: Warm slices in the microwave for 15–20 seconds to bring back that fresh-baked feel.
- Make-Ahead: You can prepare the cake batter and crumb topping the night before. Keep the batter in the fridge and bake the next day, just add a few extra minutes to baking time.
100-Word Short Version
This Strawberry Sheet Cake with Crumb Topping is a family-favorite dessert that’s moist, flavorful, and easy to make. Fresh strawberries are folded into a tender cake, topped with a crunchy, buttery crumb. It bakes in a single pan and is perfect for birthdays, afternoon tea, or cozy weekends. The crumb topping adds a nostalgic touch, and the cake pairs beautifully with whipped cream or ice cream. Quick to assemble and packed with strawberry goodness, this cake is a simple way to share warmth and sweetness with your loved ones. Perfect for making memories while baking.
Recipe Card Section
⏱️ Time
- Prep: 15 minutes
- Cook: 40 minutes
- Total: 55 minutes
🛒 Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, diced
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (topping)
- ½ cup granulated sugar (topping)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted (topping)
- ½ tsp cinnamon
👩🍳 Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch pan.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
- Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
- Beat in eggs and vanilla.
- Alternate mixing dry ingredients and buttermilk.
- Fold in floured strawberries.
- Pour into pan, smooth top.
- Combine crumb ingredients and sprinkle over batter.
- Bake 35–40 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool 15 minutes before serving.
📝 Notes
- Coat strawberries in flour to prevent sinking.
- Cold butter in the topping gives extra crunch.
- Can use thawed frozen strawberries if fresh aren’t available.
🍽️ Nutrition (per slice, approx.)
Calories: 280, Sugar: 24g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Carbs: 38g, Protein: 3g, Fiber: 2g
Strawberry Sheet Cake with Crumb Topping
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Strawberry Sheet Cake with Crumb Topping is a cozy, moist cake bursting with fresh strawberries and topped with a buttery, crunchy crumb. Perfect for family gatherings, birthdays, or a sweet weekend treat, this cake brings warmth, flavor, and love to your kitchen.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, diced
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (topping)
- ½ cup granulated sugar (topping)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted (topping)
- ½ tsp cinnamon (topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch pan.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
- Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
- Beat in eggs and vanilla.
- Alternate mixing dry ingredients and buttermilk.
- Fold in floured strawberries.
- Pour into pan, smooth top.
- Combine crumb ingredients and sprinkle over batter.
- Bake 35–40 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Coat strawberries in flour to prevent sinking.
- Cold butter in the topping gives extra crunch.
- Can use thawed frozen strawberries if fresh aren’t available.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Conclusion
Making this Strawberry Sheet Cake with Crumb Topping always brings warmth to my kitchen. It’s simple, comforting, and reminds me of why I love baking: sharing love and creating memories. From the buttery crumbs to the tender strawberry cake, every bite feels like a cozy hug. I hope your family and friends enjoy it as much as mine does. Baking isn’t just about the end result; it’s about the joy, laughter, and love we share while making it. Happy baking!