Gooey Strawberry Earthquake Cake (Print version)

Moist strawberry cake swirled with cream cheese and white chocolate. A gooey, impressive dessert perfect for any occasion.

# What you'll need:

→ Cake Components

01 - 1 box (15.25 ounces) strawberry cake mix
02 - 3 large eggs
03 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
04 - 1 cup water

→ Cream Cheese Filling

05 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
06 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - 2 cups powdered sugar
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Add-Ins & Toppings

09 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, diced
10 - 1 cup white chocolate chips
11 - 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut (optional)

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan thoroughly.
02 - Whisk strawberry cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and water in a large bowl until just combined. Pour batter evenly into prepared pan.
03 - Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract; beat until creamy and fluffy.
04 - Drop spoonfuls of cream cheese mixture randomly over cake batter.
05 - Sprinkle diced strawberries and white chocolate chips evenly over top. Add shredded coconut if using.
06 - Use a butter knife to gently swirl cream cheese mixture through batter for marbled effect.
07 - Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until edges are set and center is slightly wobbly. Do not overbake; cake should remain gooey inside.
08 - Cool in pan for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between the tender strawberry cake and rich cream cheese pockets creates something magical in every bite
  • White chocolate chips melt into little puddles of sweetness that balance the tangy cream cheese perfectly
  • You can assemble everything in one bowl and still get compliments that sound like you spent hours
02 -
  • Underbaking slightly is intentional because this cake relies on that gooey center for its signature texture
  • The center will continue cooking while it cools so do not panic if it looks underdone when you pull it out
  • Room temperature ingredients are nonnegotiable for smooth cream cheese swirls
03 -
  • Use light cream cheese if you want to feel slightly better about eating half the pan yourself
  • Freeze diced strawberries for 10 minutes before adding so they hold their shape better while baking

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