Strawberry Poptart Sheet Cake. – Half Baked Harvest

Strawberry Poptart Sheet Cake. Sweet, simple, and delicious, this vanilla strawberry cake will quickly become a favorite. Light and fluffy strawberry cake baked with real strawberry jam, just like a strawberry poptart. This light pink, berry-filled cake is generously frosted with a sweet vanilla frosting that mimics the classic Pop-Tart frosting we all used to love (but is actually so much better). This giant “Poptart” cake is bursting with freshness. Decorate as desired with sprinkles. Delicious and fun!

With spring just days away, I’m excited to lean into more spring-focused recipes. For many of us, that means sweet strawberry cakes, cookies, and tarts to celebrate!

This last week at home in Colorado has felt pretty springlike during the day. The snow on the roads is melting, and we’ve had sunny bluebird days. But in true Colorado form, we’ve got a couple of springtime storms on the way. I know our winter is not quite over yet. But the longer days and small tease of spring are still exciting!

Once I had the idea for a simple strawberry sheet cake, I knew I wanted to make it. It’s so fun and light – a happy spring dessert!

Originally, I was thinking I would make more of a classic strawberry cake with a buttercream icing. But I thought back to these strawberry doughnuts. And then that giant strawberry pop tart I made, and I did a quick pivot.

I wanted my frosting to be more like a Pop-Tart than a cake. Something light that could be made easily and still taste delicious! I love a classic strawberry Poptart, but this cake is even better!

This would be great to make for Easter too!

Here are the details

Ingredients – for the cake

• Freeze-dried strawberries
• Salted butter
• Real strawberry jam
• Greek yogurt or sour cream
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract
• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Whole milk

Ingredients – for the frosting

• Freeze-dried strawberries
• Cream cheese
• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Whole milk

Special Tools

For this cake, it’s helpful to have a food processor to grind the dried strawberries into a powder. You can also buy strawberry powder from Amazon and skip the food processor. You’ll also need a couple of mixing bowls and a cake pan.

Step 1: turn the dried strawberries into powder

As with my strawberry cupcakes, I use strawberry jam and freeze-dried strawberries to create the perfect cake. The jam is very important. I think it adds a real strawberry flavor.

The first step is to blend the dried strawberries into a fine powder. You can do this in a food processor or a blender. You’ll use the strawberry powder for both the cake and the frosting. Of course, you can also just purchase strawberry powder.

Step 2: make the cake batter

To make the batter, mix the wet ingredients with the dry. Beat together melted butter, yogurt, eggs, and sugar to sweeten.

Mix in high-quality strawberry jam. Ideally, the jam should have real chunks of strawberries. Using jam gives the most concentrated delicious strawberry flavor and makes this cake taste even more like a jam-filled Poptart (or doughnut!).

Add in all the dry ingredients: flour, strawberry powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Then, beat in warm, whole milk.

Step 3: bake

Bake the cake for 30 minutes. When you pull it out, you should be able to smell the sweet strawberries.

Let the cake cool a bit.

Step 4: make the frosting

Mix cream cheese with sugar, more strawberry powder, and vanilla. Stream in hot milk to bring the frosting to a pourable consistency.

Step 5: frost and decorate

Pour the frosting over the cake. It should be ok if the cake is a little warm. Add sprinkles as desired.

I also used a few dried flowers for a nice spring touch!

Buttery, sweet, and honestly, this cake is going to put you in a happy mood because spring is almost here!

A wonderful cake to bake this weekend, over Easter, and throughout spring!

Looking for other spring strawberry recipes? Here are some of my favorites:

Homemade Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars

Strawberry Bourbon Cobbler

Strawberry Chamomile Naked Cake

Lemon Strawberry Dutch Baby with Ricotta Cream

Coconut Sheet Cake

Lastly, if you make this Strawberry Poptart Sheet Cake, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!