strawberry cake filling ideas

Easy Strawberry Cake Filling Recipe: How To Guide

Many cakes are delicious on their own but when you add additional fruit fillings they can be really amazing! Strawberries in particular are such a versatile fruit and they complement so many desserts.

Fruit filling also divides the cake and frosting helping to even out taste and texture. My favorite cake filling is the Strawberry Cake Filling recipe below, which is the perfect complement to your next cake. Try it and see for yourself!

Why Strawberries as a cake fruit filling?

strawberries in bowl

Strawberries are the most favorite fruit

In the grand symphony of fruits, strawberries undoubtedly play the sweetest melody in my heart. These ruby-red gems are not just a feast for the eyes but a bounty of health, bursting with flavor in every bite.

They’re the stars of any gathering, infusing joy and color into the simplest of moments. Imagine a world where strawberries elevate the ordinary, transforming cakes from mere desserts to masterpieces, gracing everything from elegant fillings to playful toppers.

Envision them, covered in luscious chocolate, creating edible art. Strawberries are more than a fruit; they’re a medium for culinary creativity, a delightful muse for bakers and decorators alike.

Easy Strawberry Cake Filling Recipe: How To Guide - CakeLovesMe - Recipes, Cake Baking Tips and Tricks - strawberry cake filling -

Strawberry Cake Filling – the perfect dessert pairing

Adding strawberry cake filling to your next cake is easy and it pairs well with other icings and frostings. Strawberry cake filling can be paired with strawberry cake of course but also with chocolate cake, vanilla cake, lemon cake, white cake, cheese cake, and even watermelon cake…there are many options. What is your favorite?

Easy Strawberry Cake Filling Recipe: How To Guide - CakeLovesMe - Recipes, Cake Baking Tips and Tricks - strawberry cake filling -

Adding strawberry cake filling to your next cake is easy and you can pair it with other icings and frostings. Keep in mind the following key tips listed in the recipe below. Always read the recipe in its entirety so you are prepared and you don’t miss anything important.

For more thoughtful ideas and baking/kitchen preparation these 15 Top Cake Baking Tips and Tricks are essential for me and I know they will help you too.

Easy Strawberry Cake Filling Recipe: How To Guide - CakeLovesMe - Recipes, Cake Baking Tips and Tricks - strawberry cake filling -

If you’re a stickler for perfection and don’t want to waste any part of the strawberry when coring or cutting I recommend using a berry huller/stem remover. It seems like so much of the strawberry is wasted trying to get the stems off, cores cleaned out, and/or sliced for decoration.

Tips for filling cakes

Amount of filling

To decide the amount of filling for your cake, consider the desired effect: overflowing sides or neatly encased within frosting. The cake’s size and layer count guide the quantity needed. This recipe suits 2-3 layers for a generous fill or 3-4 layers for a thinner application.

Create a frosting dam on the edge

When frosting a cake, balance is key. Avoid too much fruit filling between layers to prevent oozing or bulging through the frosting. Create a frosting dam around each layer’s edge, piping a single ring to contain the filling. This simple step ensures elegance in every slice.

strawberry cake filling

Strawberry Cake Filling Recipe

Easy how-to recipe for making a strawberry cake filling
5 from 4 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 75 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 3 1/2 cups Fresh strawberries or Frozen whole berries no juice
  • 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • 3 tbsp Corn starch
  • 1/2 cup water

Instructions
 

  • If using fresh strawberries wash, cut stems, hull cores, cube, or mash down with a potato hand masher tool or something similar before/during cooking. This makes it easy to reduce down.
    Easy Strawberry Cake Filling Recipe: How To Guide - CakeLovesMe - Recipes, Cake Baking Tips and Tricks - strawberry cake filling -
  • If using frozen whole berries (no juice, no stems) just defrost to room temperature, drain excess water, and cut/mash before the reduction process.
  • In a large saucepan combine fruit, sugar, and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until almost boiling. Continue mashing and stirring for a few minutes.
  • Separately mix cornstarch with water until the cornstarch is completely dissolved. Add to the pot of strawberries, stirring constantly until light boiling, water is burned off, and thickened like a loose jam. Takes a few minutes. (if needed turn the heat low, stirring a few extra minutes to cook off loose liquid)
  • Turn off the heat and let it sit while it continues to thicken more. Completely cool before using-cannot be warm at all-room temperature or chilled.
  • Shelf Life
    Store in an air tight container after completely cooled.
    Stays fresh in the frig for 5-7 days and 3 months in the freezer.
    Once thawed do not re-freeze.

Video

Notes

Depending on how you’re filling your cake you must decide how much filling you want in between the cake layers.  Do you prefer it to flow over the sides or covered by outer frosting and not overflowing?  Cake size and the number of layers you’re using will give you an idea of how much filling you need.  This recipe will fill in between 2-3 cake layers.  If you want just a thin layer of filling this recipe could fill in between 3-4 cake layers-but again it will be thin.  
*If you are covering a cake with outer frosting be careful not to overload the fruit filling in between the layers.  You do not want it oozing or bulging out from the cake sides through the frosting once the cake layers settle.  Always make a frosting dam edge around your cake layer.  Pipe a single layer around the outer edge to prevent filling leakage.  Repeat this step for each cake layer. 
*Remember – when you’re doing a fruit reduction it takes your amount down by 1/4-1/2 so if you need more filling double the recipe.  

Nutrition

Calories: 75kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 131mgFiber: 2gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 10IUVitamin C: 50mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 1mg
Keyword cake, filling, fresh, strawberry
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Additional Resources

If you love strawberries please take a look at my Watermelon Cake with fresh strawberry puree and fresh strawberry buttercream frosting! Yes, you can use strawberries to make watermelon cake.

Strawberries are not only great as a cake filling but they’re also amazing as a dessert glaze. Try this strawberry glaze on cheesecake. It’s a crowd-pleaser!

Heavenly Raspberry Cake Filling Recipe
Add some pizazz to your cakes with this Heavenly Raspberry Cake Filling Recipe and watch everyone swoon with every bite!
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heavenly raspberry cake filling recipe
Easy Strawberry Glaze Recipe for Cheesecake
Simple but delicious strawberry glaze recipe for cheesecake
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Easy Strawberry Cake Filling Recipe: How To Guide - CakeLovesMe - Recipes, Cake Baking Tips and Tricks - strawberry cake filling -
strawberry cake filling ideas

Thanks for visiting & Happy Baking!

Be sure to check out some of my other cake decorating and baking posts for new inspo

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