Everything is bigger in Texas—and sheet cakes are no exception. In the Lone Star State, they do things differently than the rest of the country when it comes to single-layer cakes. This strawberry sheet cake is loaded with fresh strawberry flavor and perfect for large gatherings because this sheet cake is the size of Texas!
What is Texas Sheet Cake?
While most bakers prepare sheet cakes in 13-by-9-inch cake pans, it’s common in Texas to see sheet cakes baked in actual sheet pans (also known as jelly roll pans).
The original Texas sheet cake recipe is made with a thin, decadent, ultra-moist layer of chocolate cake topped with a poured fudge icing and chopped walnuts. This strawberry sheet cake recipe is a variation on the classic, swapping the chocolate cake for a strawberry-flavored sheet cake made using a simple box of white cake mix, strawberry gelatin and chopped strawberries.
Finished with a light mascarpone buttercream made with fresh pureed strawberries, it’s sweetened with just enough powdered sugar to draw out all the natural sweetness of the berries.
Editor’s Tip: If you’ve never added gelatin to cake before, you’ve been missing out. Not only does the gelatin flavor and color the cake, but it also impacts the cake’s overall texture, making it ultra moist, tender and lighter than air. Find more tricks for cooking with gelatin.
How to Make Strawberry Sheet Cake
This recipe makes about 36 pieces of sheet cake.
Ingredients
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
- 1 box white cake mix
- 1 package (3 ounces) strawberry gelatin
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, finely chopped
Frosting:
- 1 cup butter, room temperature
- 1 cup mascarpone cheese, room temperature
- 1/2 cup fresh strawberries
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 to 4 cups powdered sugar
Editor’s Tip: This is the best white cake mix, according to our Test Kitchen experts.
Tools You’ll Need
- Jelly Roll Pan: This odd-sized pan is one worth having in the pantry if you’re a regular baker.
- Stand Mixer: Whether you’re making cake batter or frosting, a stand mixer is a must!
- Icing Spatula: For a professional-looking finish, use an offset spatula like this to spread the frosting.
Directions
Step 1: Prep a half-sheet pan
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of an 18-by-13-inch half-sheet pan with parchment (not waxed paper) and grease with butter or cooking spray.
Step 2: Whisk together dry ingredients
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
In a large bowl, combine cake mix, gelatin, sugar and flour.
Step 3: Add wet ingredients
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Add water, oil and eggs; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium 2 minutes.
Step 4: Fold in strawberries
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Fold in chopped strawberries. Transfer to the prepared sheet pan.
Step 5: Bake sheet cake
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Bake the strawberry sheet cake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 14-16 minutes. Cool completely.
Step 6: Pulse berries
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
For the frosting, pulse the strawberries in a food processor until almost smooth—a few small bits and pieces are fine.
Step 7: Make strawberry frosting
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Next, in the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter and mascarpone until fluffy; 3-5 minutes. (If you don’t have mascarpone, use light cream cheese instead.) Then, mix in the salt and strawberries.
Gradually mix in enough confectioners’ sugar to reach your desired consistency and level of sweetness.
Step 8: Frost cake
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Spread frosting over the top of the cooled cake.
Step 9: Decorate and serve
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Decorate the strawberry sheet cake with fresh strawberries, as desired, and serve.
How to Store Strawberry Sheet Cake
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
This strawberry sheet cake may be stored in the refrigerator, covered tightly, for up to 5 days. Remove from fridge 30-60 minutes before serving to allow the cake and frosting to come to room temperature. For best results, we suggest not topping the cake with fresh berries until you’re ready to serve.
Our Best Sheet Cake Recipes
Texas Sheet Cake
This chocolaty delight was one of my favorites growing up. The Texas sheet cake is so moist and the icing so sweet that everyone who samples it wants a copy of the recipe. —Susan Ormond, Jamestown, North Carolina.
Also, if you want to make a cake that's just as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside, a
surprise cake is just the ticket.
Go to Recipe
Graduation Sheet CakeThe surface of this graduation sheet cake is perfect for decorating in any way you like. We use it year-round for special events. —Patsy Dean, Sealy, Texas
Plum Poppy Seed CakeYou can also use nectarines or even apricots in this recipe, but plums and poppy seeds are the most traditional Polish version of this dessert. One tip: Do not push the plums into the batter. Just let them sit on top. They will sink in a bit as they bake. —Lisa Kaminski, Wauwatosa, WI
Honey Berry Sheet CakeI adapted a traditional honey cake recipe for this dessert. I wanted something that would show off all our amazing local honey as well as tasty summer berries. This also works perfectly as a Fourth of July cake, with the blueberries in the top corner and the raspberries in stripes—you wouldn't need as many blueberries, but you would need more raspberries. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah
Lemon Sheet CakeLemon pie filling lends a splash of citrus flavor to a convenient cake mix, and a rich cream cheese frosting gives it sweetness. My family likes this lemon sheet cake cold, so I cut it into squares and freeze it before serving. —Alyce Dubisar, North Bend, Oregon
Zucchini Walnut CakeWhat gardener doesn't have extra zucchini? When it is abundant, I shred and freeze plenty so I have it on hand to bake this moist zucchini cake with walnuts all year long. The cream cheese frosting is yummy, and the big panful always goes fast at a picnic or potluck. —Marie Hoyer, Hodgenville, Kentucky
Pumpkin Sheet CakeThe pastor at our church usually cuts his message short on carry-in dinner days when he knows this sheet cake is waiting in the fellowship hall. (I think he prays for leftovers since he gets to take them home!) This moist cake travels well and is also easy to prepare.
-Nancy Baker, Boonville, Missouri
Carrot Sheet CakeWe sold pieces of this to-die-for carrot cake at an art show. Before long, we sold all 10 cakes we had made! —Dottie Cosgrove, South El Monte, California
Yummy Chocolate CakeMy husband and I are trying to eat lighter but still crave sweets. This moist, healthy chocolate cake really helps with that. With the rich frosting, it makes a decadent treat! —LaDonna Reed, Ponca City, Oklahoma
Cream Cheese Sheet CakeThis tender, buttery cream cheese cake with a thin layer of fudge frosting is perfect for a crowd. It's always popular at potlucks and parties. It's not uncommon to see folks going back for second and even third pieces. —Gaye Mann, Rocky Mount, North Carolina
LAUREN HABERMEHL FOR TASTE OF HOME
This sheet cake recipe is a variation on the classic Texas sheet cake, made using a box of white cake mix, strawberry gelatin and chopped strawberries. It's finished with a light mascarpone buttercream made with fresh pureed strawberries. —Lauren Habermehl, Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Go to Recipe
Pineapple Sheet CakeThis sheet cake is perfect for serving to a crowd. It keeps so well that you can easily prepare it a day ahead and it will stay moist. I often bring it to church potlucks, and I have yet to take much of it home. —Kim Miller Spiek, Sarasota, Florida
Shortcut Tres Leches CakeMy mom's favorite cake is tres leches, a butter cake soaked in three kinds of milk. I developed a no-fuss version that’s rich and tender. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California
Chocolate-Peanut Butter Sheet CakeI love peanut butter and chocolate, so I combined recipes to blend the two. This chocolate peanut butter cake is heavenly served plain or topped with ice cream. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas
Peanut Butter Sheet CakeI received this sheet cake recipe from a minister's wife, and my family loves it. —Brenda Jackson, Garden City, Kansas
Banana-Pecan Sheet CakeA dear friend of mine gave me this sheet cake recipe, and I make it often, especially for potlucks. Sometimes I make it ahead, freeze the cake and then frost it before the party. —Merrill Powers, Spearville, Kansas
All-American Sheet CakeMy sweet and tangy sheet cake piled with fresh whipped cream and juicy fruit is so good, you might just want to eat it for breakfast. —
James Schend,
Dairy Freed
