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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 Chamomile Naked Cake
Lemon Strawberry Dutch Baby with Ricotta Cream
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!
Have you read my most recent Nine Favorite Things? If you’re looking for lifestyle and travel related content, or simply want to keep up with HBH on the go, Nine Favorite Things is your best resource for that. I also share a medley of recipes each week for your weekly meal plan. Thanks for following along!
Strawberry Poptart Sheet Cake
Servings: 18 cake squares
Calories Per Serving: 469 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 2 cups freeze dried strawberries
- 1 cup melted salted butter
- 1/3 cup plain greek yogurt or sour cream
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup high-quality strawberry jam
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup warm milk
Frosting
- 2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons freeze dried strawberry powder
- 1/4 cup hot milk, plus more as desired
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- 1. In a blender or food processor, process the freeze-dried strawberries into a fine powder. You need 1/2 cup powder for the cake.2. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with parchment paper.3. In a large bowl, beat together the melted butter, yogurt, eggs, sugar, strawberry jam, and vanilla. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add about 1/2 cup of the strawberry powder (save the remainder for the frosting). Mix until just combined, then slowly beat in the milk until fully combined.4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the top is just set and no longer wiggly in the center. Remove and let cool.5. To make the frosting: mix all ingredients in a bowl with 3-4 tablespoons of strawberry powder. Stream in additional hot milk until your desired consistency is reached, you may not use it all.6. Pour/spread the frosting over the cake. Decorate as desired. Let set. Slice into squares and enjoy!
This post was originally published on March 14, 2025
I’m confused. The ingredients list says 2 cups of dried strawberries. Then the instructions say to process 3 cups. Which should equal about 1/2 of powder. Can you give an ounce estimate? I have no idea what size bag of dried strawberries I will need. This recipe is very confusing.
Hi there,
I’m so sorry for any confusion here, you will want to use 2 cups of freeze dried strawberries. Once they are blended, you will have 1/2 cup. I did not measure these in ounces, but the bag that is linked will give you enough:) I hope this helps! xx
Why did you change the amount of freeze-dried strawberries from 3 cups to 2? There’s no mention of why the recipe was revised.
Hi Nicky,
Sorry for any confusion, you will only need 2 cups of freeze dried strawberries. Please let me know if you give this recipe a try. xx
1 cup of strawberries is 8 FLUID (volume) ounces, not WEIGHT ounces. So you don’t need pounds of freeze-dried strawberries to make this. My bigger problem is that the ingredient list says 2 cups but the instructions say 3, and also that it says cups but then links to a product that only measures by weight…
Hi Sarah,
Sorry for any confusion, it’s just 2 cups of freeze dried strawberries. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
I also would like to make this but even $7.00 for a single ingredient is actually a considerable amount of my weekly grocery budget. Maybe a special occasion as you said.
Thanks Patty, let me know if you try the cake!
On the ingredient list you have 2 cups of freeze dried strawberries listed but in step 1 it says “In a blender or food processor, process 3 cups freeze-dried strawberries”. And then for the frosting it says 2-3 tablespoons in the ingredients and then in instructions it says 3-4 tbsp. Can you clarify the correct amounts?
Hi Jan,
I apologize for any confusion! It’s 2 cups of freeze dried strawberries for the recipe and then you will use 2-3 tablespoons of the blended powder for the frosting. I hope you love this recipe! xx
So was this tested using 2 or 3 cups of strawberries? It would be so helpful if you included some sort of note when you make changes to explain what is different and why! Some of us print the recipe off soon after it’s posted and do our shopping using that version, so it would be really helpful to know if it changes!
Hi Jan,
It was tested with 2 cups, unfortunately, I made a typo mistake and that’s why the recipe was fixed. I hope you love this cake!
Hi! This sounds yummy but I am confused by the strawberry quantities. It looks like some updates have been made from when I originally printed the recipe. The amounts listed in the ingredients don’t match what is in the instructions (both cake and frosting). Could you confirm what is correct, and pretty please update it so it’s consistent? I would love to print it again and have it be correct before making it!! Thank you!!
Hi Melissa,
So sorry for any confusion! You are going to use 2 cups of freeze dried strawberries. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Thanks. But what about the frosting amount? Could you possibly update the recipe so it says the correct amount? It’s hard when the answer is only found in the comments.
Yes, sorry for any confusion! It’s 2-3 tablespoons:)
Such a fun, fruity cake, density of the sponge is nice and heavy, love the color and the frosting is delicious.
Hey Christopher,
Wonderful! Thank you so much for making this recipe, love to hear it was a hit! Have the best weekend:)
What makes this “pop tart”?
Hi Jen,
The frosting on this is what really gives the pop-tart vibes:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Hi Tegan
I’d also love to make this recipe but I’m confused on your measurements for the strawberries. I googled the conversion of ounces of freeze dried strawberries to cups and it said 1 ounce is 1/4 cup. So we would need 6 of the 2 ounce bags you linked to make 3 cups – 12 ounces = 3 cups.
Is that correct? If so, it’s a shame because I probably can’t spend over $47 on one ingredient.
Can you please confirm? If not, thanks anyway for trying!
Hi Sarah,
I did not measure the strawberries by weight, just by cups. You should only need one of the bags linked, I promise I did not spend $47 on one ingredient for the cake:) I hope you love this recipe! xx
Hi Teganh
Now I’m extra confused – did you change the recipe to need only 2 cups strawberries? The recipe list says 2 but the method says 3 still.
Could you please just weigh out what you used and update the recipe with weights so we can work from that? I’m sure it’ll only take a couple of minutes.
I know you are a perfectionist but I worry that you will have other members of your community feeling gaslit if you keep changing recipes (and links – I’m sure the first link you had was for a different bag of strawberries, over $20 as someone mentioned) – without informing us. We just want to make some yummy food and would love your help with that.
Thanks! (:
Hi Sarah,
I am sorry you are feeling this way and for any confusion. You will only need 2 cups of freeze dried strawberries. I still have the $20 bag of powder linked in the post (it’s a very large bag), but the link in the ingredient list is still the same:) It’s $7.29 for the whole strawberries. I hope this clears things up! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Hi, I think my comment is getting deleted. I am now more confused by the recipe as it now says 2 cups in the list but 3 in the method. Which is it?
I’d love to support you and make this recipe but it’s disappointing when you change things and don’t mention it, making your community seem incorrect or wrong. And making the reviews very confusing.
Can you please confirm the quantity, and in ounces would be even better!
Hi Sarah,
I am sorry for any confusion. You are going to need 2 cups of freeze dried strawberries. I’m sorry, but I did not measure these in ounces, so you will need to use the cups measurement. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Hello
Do you leave the cake in the pan?
Hi there,
It’s really up to you:) The parchment will help you to lift the cake from the pan if you want to remove it. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
I love strawberry, but this is an expensive cake to make! Whew. Do you have any suggestions for a more budget friendly option? That amount of freeze dried strawberries are expensive for most of us!
Hi Char,
The bag that is linked is $7.29 and you should only need to use one of those. Here are some other strawberry recipes you might enjoy:
https://fett-weg.today/cherry-strawberry-streusel-cake/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> https://fett-weg.today/strawberry-tiramisu/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> https://fett-weg.today/strawberry-chamomile-cheesecake/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> I hope this helps! Have a great Friday! xx
A 2oz bag will convert to 3 cups (24 oz) that the recipe calls for? I am confused. Could you clarify please?
Hi Char,
I did not measure the strawberries by weight, so I would ignore that:) There should be 2 cups of whole strawberries in the bag that is linked. I hope you love this recipe! xx
But your recipe calls for 3 cups? Plus more for the frosting. So you need at least two bags? Maybe you could update the recipe to add a note that it’s xx cups (xyz bags)? I think people are just trying to make sure they don’t overbuy an uncommon (and not inexpensive) product.
Hi Rach,
It’s going to be 2 cups of freeze dried strawberries and this is also going to cover the frosting. I hope this helps! xx
Thanks Tieghan! This looks amazing and delicious and it’s my favorite color too! Hehe. Will definitely be making this! Have a great day!
Thanks so much, Sara! Let me know if you give this cake a try, I hope you love it! xx
This looks so yummy, thinking about making this weekend. But the frosting recipe looks off to me. Just 2 oz of cream cheese + 2 cups of powdered sugar? Should there be butter in it? Please clarify so I can get all my ingredients together. Thanks!
Hi Mary,
Thanks so much! All of the ingredients are correct:) Let me know if you give this cake a try, I hope you love it! Happy Friday!!
Could I use the freeze dried strawberries from a box of my Special K if my local grocery store doesn’t carry the ones you specify?
Hi Jean,
That sounds like a like of work:) You do not have to use the brand that I linked, any freeze dried strawberries that your local grocery store carries will work. Please let me know if I can help in any other way! xx
YUM!! This looks so tasty and very pretty in pink.
Thanks so much, Charlotte! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! Happy Friday!!
This looks great and I would love to make it but freeze dried strawberries are REALLY expensive and so is the strawberry powder. Not sure I would want to spend that much just to get one ingredient for a cake.
Thanks so much, Rose! Totally understand, maybe a cake for a special occasion?! Happy Friday!!
Rose, I agree. And using volume measurements doesn’t help people when buying or ordering because it’s hard to know if you have enough. Tieghan, it would be really helpful if you could include the weight of the freeze dried strawberries. One bag of them is over $20 on Amazon, and has 6.4 oz per bag, which comes out to 181 grams. According to the metric conversion here, it’s over 700 grams, which is 4 bags, which is over $80.
Do you see the issue with not sharing weight on a product like this? I don’t think many of your followers and fans have $80 for just one ingredient in a cake to spend.
Thanks for sharing your feedback, Erin. I did not spend $80 to make one cake:) The bag of freeze dried strawberries that is linked is $7.29 and you shouldn’t need more than that:) I hope this helps! xx
So to clarify, this recipe does NOT need 3 cups of strawberry powder plus extra for the frosting, we can make the whole cake and frost it with just the one 2 oz bag of freeze dried strawberries? My mother LOVES strawberry cake and I’d love to make this for her birthday but I don’t have a use for extra freeze dried strawberries so I want to make sure I shop accordingly.
Hi Jaclyn,
Yes, you are using 2 cups of WHOLE freeze dried strawberries blended into the powder:) So you are not measuring from the powder. I hope this helps! Happy Birthday to your mom!