Strawberry Upside Down Cake

by Sabrina Snyder

Published on Last updated

8 Comments

5 from 3 votes
12 servings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Cooling Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
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Strawberry Upside Down Cake is an easy delicious summer-time cake with a sugary sweet fresh strawberry topping baked on a moist vanilla cake.

Fresh ripe strawberries are an easy way to give Pineapple Upside Down Cake a bright, fruity twist. This sweet berry cake is sure to be one of your new favorite summer Cake Recipes!

Strawberry Upside Down Cake slice on plate

Pineapple Upside Down Cake is probably the most well-known of these old fashioned cakes but upside down cakes, also known as skillet cakes, have been around for centuries. Baking a moist cake over fresh fruit and then inverting it has been an easy way to get a stunning cake long before Dole introduced us to canned pineapple slices.

One of the best things about upside down cakes is that you can make them year round with whatever ripe seasonal fruit you have on hand. This Strawberry Upside Down Cake recipe is perfect for when plump, juicy strawberries on sale all summer long.

This recipe seems like a lot of ingredients and steps, but it’s actually very simple. When you break it down, it’s basically a quick strawberry topping mixture and a vanilla cake batter layered and baked in the same pan. The total time to make Strawberry Upside Down Cake, from gathering ingredients to enjoying it with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream, is about an hour and half. 

This Strawberry Upside Down Cake is gorgeous and tasty on its own, but you can serve it with Whipped Cream or pipe Buttercream Frosting on the edges once it has cooled. For the brightest strawberry topping, serve your cake within 30 minutes of baking. Baked fruit tends to lose color over time, but it definitely won’t lose any of the delicious flavor!

Strawberry Upside Down Cake top-down view on cake stand

What is an Upside Down Cake?

An upside-down cake is a type of cake that is baked with its toppings at the bottom of the pan. The ingredients for the topping, which often include fruits and a sugar glaze, are layered in the bottom of the cake pan before the batter is poured over them. After the cake is baked, it is inverted onto a serving plate so that the fruit and sugar topping, now caramelized and glossy, is on top. The most well-known version is Pineapple Upside Down Cake, but you can really do it with any kind of fruit you like.

How to Make Strawberry Upside Down Cake

  • Prep: Preheat the oven. Spray a springform pan really well with baking spray. You can also use regular cooking spray and dust it lightly with flour.
  • Strawberries: In a large bowl, combined the strawberries, cornstarch, and the sugar for the topping. Mix really well so the berries are completely and evenly coated. Pour the berry mixture in the bottom of the pan, lightly shaking pan to even out if needed.
  • Batter: Cream the butter in a stand mixer until it’s light and fluffy. Begin adding the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated. Whisk the milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla in a large measuring cup. Sift the flour and baking powder in a different bowl. Turn mixer on the lowest setting and begin adding the flour and milk mixtures alternately, ending with the milk, until combined.
  • Bake: Carefully spoon the batter over the strawberry mixture in the baking pan. Spread with a spatula gently to even out. Bake the cake until golden and an inserted toothpick comes out clean with moist crumbs.
  • Flip: Let cool for 5 minutes, then invert the pan on a cake plate or serving platter. Let cool another 30 minutes before removing the pan.

More Delicious Strawberry Desserts

FAQs for Strawberry Upside Down Cake

Can I use frozen berries for upside down cake?

If it’s not strawberry season, but you are still craving Strawberry Upside Down Cake, you can absolutely use frozen strawberries instead! Make sure to thaw the berries and pat them dry. Too much moisture will make the topping syrupy and not get caramel-like.

When should you flip an upside down cake?

An upside-down cake should be flipped shortly after it is removed from the oven, ideally within the first 5 to 10 minutes. This is because the topping can stick to the pan as it cools and solidifies, making it difficult to remove cleanly. However, ensure to use oven mitts or a towel when flipping the hot cake to avoid burns. 

How do I know when Strawberry Upside Down Cake is done baking?

Strawberry Upside Down Cake is going to be more moist than your normal vanilla sponge cake. To tell when it’s done, use the toothpick method. When you insert a toothpick into the center of the cake, about halfway down, it should come out clean with moist crumbs and no wet batter.

Strawberry Upside Down Cake cross-section on cake stamd

Key Ingredients

  • Sugar: Sugar plays a double role in this sweet summer cake. It coats the strawberries to draw out the juices and caramelizes as it bakes. It also sweetens and moistens the actual cake.
  • Corn Starch: Cornstarch is needed to thicken the strawberry juices and sugar to prevent the cake from becoming soggy.
  • Strawberries: Fresh summer strawberries have a fresh, sweet, and slightly tart flavor that contrasts nicely with the sweetness of the tender sponge cake. Their bright red color is beautiful too!
  • Eggs and Butter: Creaming the eggs and butter together gives the cake some extra lift and helps it stay soft and moist. They also give the cake a rich, buttery flavor that tastes amazing with the berries.
  • Vegetable Oil: Using oil along with butter and milk helps your cake stay moist as it cools and will keep it fresh longer.
  • Vanilla: Vanilla extract adds a subtle sweet, warm flavor to the cake. Vanilla and strawberry is a simple, classic combination and with all the rich, creamy ingredients it makes the cake taste a little like berries and cream.
  • Flour: It’s better to use regular flour for this cake because cake flour is too light to hold up with all the heavy ingredients and will give you a denser cake. Make sure to sift the flour to remove the clumps so it mixes easier.
  • Baking Powder: There is a lot of moisture happening in this cake from the eggs, butter, milk, oil and the strawberry juices, so you definitely want to use a good amount of baking powder. A full tablespoon makes your cake much lighter and fluffier despite all the rich, heavy ingredients.

Can Strawberry Upside Down Cake be made ahead of time?

Yes, a Strawberry Upside Down Cake can be made ahead of time. After baking and cooling, it can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerated for up to a week. If refrigerated, allow the cake to reach room temperature before serving for the best flavor and texture. You can also mix the strawberry topping together and keep in the fridge for up to 2 days. Stir it really well before adding to the pan then prepare the rest of the cake as usual.

Variations

  • Chocolate: Use Chocolate Cake batter instead of vanilla cake for a chocolate covered strawberry taste. You can also fold in a ½ cup milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, or white chocolate chips.
  • Marshmallows: A layer mini marshmallows over the strawberries will create pockets in the cake as it bakes for the glaze seep into. Use half the sugar in the strawberry mixture if adding marshmallows.
  • Berries: This upside down cake can be made with all your favorite fresh berries. Try blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, or use 4 cups mixed berries.
  • Jell-O: Sprinkle a package of dry strawberry jello mix over the strawberries. This not only adds flavor, but keeps the topping bright red for days!

Adjustments for Different Sized Pans

  • Cupcakes: Grease a 12 cup muffin tin with baking spray. Divide strawberry mixture and cake batter evenly. Bake for 25-28 minutes.
  • Sheet Cake: Line with parchment paper and grease well with baking spray. Bake for 40-50 minutes.
  • Cast Iron Skillet: Grease a 10-12 inch skillet, add a parchment paper circle at bottom of pan, and spray paper with baking spray. Bake for 35-40 minutes.

More Summer Cake Recipes

How to Store

  • Serve: Strawberry Upside Down Cake is best served warm. Cover the cake and keep at room temperature for up to 3 days.
  • Store: Refrigerate the cake covered in plastic wrap, or in an airtight container, for up to 1 week. Warm in the oven or bring to room temperature to serve.
  • Freeze: Cool Strawberry Upside Down Cake completely and wrap with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator before warming a little in the oven before serving.

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Dinner, then Dessert

Strawberry Upside Down Cake

Strawberry Upside Down Cake is an easy delicious summer-time cake with a sugary sweet fresh strawberry topping baked on a moist vanilla cake.
Yield 12 servings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Author Sabrina Snyder
Strawberry Upside Down Cake slice on plate
PrintRate

Ingredients
 

  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons corn starch
  • 4 cups fresh strawberries , sliced

Cake Batter:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter , melted
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and coat a springform pan with baking spray.
  • Toss strawberries in cornstarch and ½ cup sugar.
  • Spread strawberry mixture evenly on the bottom of the prepared pan.

Cake Batter:

  • In a stand mixer, beat butter and sugar until lightened in color, then add in the eggs one at a time.
  • In a large measuring cup whisk together milk, oil and vegetable oil.
  • Sift flour, baking powder then add half into the stand mixer on the lowest speed setting.
  • Add half the milk mixture, then repeat the process with the remaining flour and milk mixtures, until just combined.
  • Carefully add the cake batter over the sliced strawberries.
  • Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
  • Cool cake for 5 minutes. Place an inverted cake plate over the top of the pan then holding plate against the pan, quickly flip the cake.
  • Allow to cool another 10-15 minutes before carefully removing from the pan. Serve warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 408kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 148mg | Potassium: 244mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 354IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 2mg

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Strawberry Upside Down Cake collage

About the Author: Sabrina Snyder

Sabrina is a professionally trained Private Chef of over 10 years with ServSafe Manager certification in food safety. She creates all the recipes here on Dinner, then Dessert, fueled in no small part by her love for bacon.

Sabrina Snyder is a professionally trained personal and private chef of over 10 years who is the creator and developer of all the recipes on Dinner, then Dessert.

She is also the author of the cookbook Dinner, then Dessert – Satisfying Meals Using Only 3, 5 or 7 Ingredients, published by Harper Collins.

She started Dinner, then Dessert as a business in her office as a lunch service for her coworkers who admired her lunches before going to culinary school and becoming a full time personal chef and private chef.

As a personal chef Sabrina would cook for families one day a week and cook their entire week of dinners. All grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning was done along with instructions on reheating. As a private chef she cooked for private parties and cooked in family homes in the evenings for families on a nightly basis after working as a personal chef during the day.

Sabrina has been certified as a ServSafe Manager since 2007 and was a longstanding member of the USPCA Personal Chef Association including being on the board of the Washington DC Chapter of Chefs in the US Personal Chef Association when they won Chapter of the year.

As a member of the community of food website creators Sabrina Snyder has spoken at many conferences regarding her experiences as a food writer including the Indulge Food Conference, Everything Food Conference, Haven Food Conference and IACP Annual Food Professionals Conference.

Sabrina lives with her family in sunny California.

See more posts by Sabrina

Dinner, then Dessert, Inc. owns the copyright on all images and text and does not allow for its original recipes and pictures to be reproduced anywhere other than at this site unless authorization is given. Read my disclosure and copyright policy. This post may contain affiliate links.

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Comments

  1. HELP! I just attempted to make this for my daughter’s birthday and ran into some trouble. What size is the pan supposed to be? I used a 9″ round springform and the top and sides got cooked quickly but the middle didn’t cook. Even though the toothpick came out clean, the cake was raw on the inside when I inverted it. Also, can you give some details on when / how to remove the cake from the pan? Should it cool completely first? Definitely going to try again!

    Reply

    1. I am so sorry, I am just seeing this tonight. I am sure the recipe has long been cooked/or not but I still want to try to help.

      If you have problems with the removal I would make sure to butter and flour the pan well or spray with baking spray. Did it cook up evenly or was there a hump in the center? would love to troubleshoot with you, I love this recipe.

      Reply