Introduction
To begin with, is there anything in the world more comforting than cake? None of those fancy, elaborate types that put a pastry degree to the test to get the icing to separate, but a plain, tender, creamy cake that makes one feel at home in every bite.
Personally, I have always had that cake, which is the Olive Garden Strawberry Cream Cake recipe. The first time I heard it was not in Olive Garden, as such (although they do have a delicious one) but in my kitchen when I just had the desire to make it and felt homesick.
It is not only cake, but a shot of fluffy-like sponge, clouds of whipped cream, and sunshine-colored strawberries. Delicious and not sickly sweet, full and not dense. It is the kind of dessert that you would serve to your guests, but it is equally good when you are at the end of your bed, with a fork and a cup of tea at dinner.
In that case, you are looking to have a dessert that is like summer on a plate, buckle up. I will give you my adaptation of the Olive Garden Strawberry Cream Cake recipe, and it will happen more than once that you find yourself making it.
What is Olive Garden Strawberry Cream Cake?
This is essentially a balance cake. It is feather-light and luxurious, it is fruit-creamy. Imagine a well baked sponge cake that is not hard yet soft with a filling of whipped cream or cream cheese and finally topped with plump juicy strawberries. The cream is also not excessively sweet but has a slight hint of the cream cheese, which makes it interesting. The freshness of the strawberries introduces the richness of the taste and gives that burst of berry.
It is the nature of the dessert that leaves the eyes of people closed in the event that the initial bite has been made. The airy cake, creamy, silky, juicy fruit, is playing together like a well-drilled orchestra. That is what contributes to the iconicity of this recipe, whether you had it in the restaurant or when you are making it at home.
Equipment List
You need not fret–you need not have a professional kitchen to peel this off. Just a few basics:
- Two 9-inch round cake pans
- Mixing bowls (large and medium).
- Hand mixer or stand mixer (whipping cream life-saver)
- Rubber scraper (to fold cream without deflating it)
- Cooling racks
- Serrated knife (to cut the cake in case you want it to be thinner)
- Cake stand or plate for assembling
Ingredients
The following ingredients will be required for this Olive Garden Strawberry Cream Cake Recipe:
For the Cake:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 3/4 cup softened unsalted butter.
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup of whole milk, at room temperature.
For the Cream Filling:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
For the Strawberry Layer:
- 3 cups strawberries with hull removed and cut into slices.
- 2 tbsp sugar (you may omit this step in case of really sweet berries)
- Garnish with whole strawberries extra.
Instructions For Olive Garden Strawberry Cream Cake Recipe
1. Preheat & Prep
Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Oil and dust your cake pans or put parchment around them.
2. Make the Cake Batter
Whisk together the flour, the baking powder, and the salt in a medium-sized bowl. Add butter and sugar into a large mixing bowl; beat it until it is fluffy. Looking at the eggs, add one egg at a time and stir in vanilla. Substitute dry ingredients with milk and mix until smooth.
3. Bake
Distribute batter in pans. Bake between 25 and 30 minutes or until a toothpick is clean. Allow them to cool down fully and pass to the next step (patience is paramount in this case).
4. Prepare the Cream Filling
Blend cream cheese until it is smooth. In a different bowl, beat heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks are attained. Lightly beat the whipped cream into the cream cheese- it is your angel filling.
5. Layer It Up
Set one of the cake layers on your stand. Lay on a good portion of cream, and sliced strawberries. Repeat using the second layer of cake. Garnish with additional cream and fresh strawberries.
6. Chill
Put the cake in the refrigerator for at least 1 to 2 hours. This will assist the flavors to blend, and it will cut more easily.

Success Mysteries (aka Tips and Tricks)
Room Temp Ingredients: Old ,cold butter or eggs will spoil your batter texture. Get all things warmed up.
Do Not Overmix: Once the flour has been added, mix lightly. Overmixing = dense cake.
Sweeten the Strawberries: Tart berries are sweetened with sugar and allowed to stand 10 minutes. They will end up dripping juices and will be as sweet as candy.
Chill the Bowl: To make the whipped cream, chill your bowl and beaters. It foams quickly and maintains its structure more.
Assembly Patience: Don’t rush. Lest the cream run in a melancholy pool.
The main reason why this Olive Garden Strawberry Cream Cake Recipe is always the correct choice.
Have you ever seen how there are desserts that are simply for special occasions only since they are so heavy, so sweet, or too complicated? This isn’t one of them. This is the reason why this cake never fails:
- It’s adaptable. Substitute the strawberries with raspberries, blueberries, or even peaches.
- Crowd-pleaser. Children love it, adults love it, it makes all ages.
- Seasonal Magic. During the summer, it is cool. During winter, it is a reminiscence of summer.
- Make-ahead friendly. It is possible to prepare the layers of the cake a day prior and put them together afterward.
- Not intimidating. It appears fancy and is, in fact, simpler than a layered chocolate cake.
I always find myself going back to this dessert whenever I am confused about what I should take somewhere as a dessert. It is not new but striking, and it never has leftovers.
Other Fun Variations
Mini Cakes: Make the cake in cupcake moulds and pile them up so that you have a meal in a cup.
Chocolate Twist: Melted chocolate was drizzled over the top to give the impression of a chocolate-covered strawberry.
Lemon Zest Kick: Add lemon zest to the cream to give it a citrus kick.
Final Thoughts
This is why I go back to this Olive Garden Strawberry Cream Cake Recipe again and again. This is the right cake when you want a cake that will not let you down on flavor, beauty, and ease.
It can be used in case of a birthday, dinner party, or simply because you feel like having a sweet bite in your mouth. And you are not likely to be surprised when you find yourself creeping into the refrigerator just to get another bite.
Then do it–take your ingredients, make that dreamy cream, cut up those berries, and give yourself (and your loved ones) the present of this cake. It is a promise; it is one that you will wish to repeat many times over.
More Recipes:

Olive Garden Strawberry Cream Cake Recipe
Equipment
- Two 9-inch round cake pans
- Mixing bowls (large and medium).
- Hand mixer or stand mixer (whipping cream life-saver)
- Rubber scraper (to fold cream without deflating it)
- Cooling racks
- Serrated knife (to cut the cake in case you want it to be thinner)
- Cake stand or plate for assembling
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 3/4 cup softened unsalted butter.
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs room temperature
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup of whole milk at room temperature.
For the Cream Filling:
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
For the Strawberry Layer:
- 3 cups strawberries with hull removed and cut into slices.
- 2 tbsp sugar you may omit this step in case of really sweet berries
- Garnish with whole strawberries extra.
Instructions
Preheat & Prep
- Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Oil and dust your cake pans or put parchment around them.
Make the Cake Batter
- Whisk together the flour, the baking powder, and the salt in a medium-sized bowl. Add butter and sugar into a large mixing bowl; beat it until it is fluffy. Looking at the eggs, add one egg at a time and stir in vanilla. Substitute dry ingredients with milk and mix until smooth.
Bake
- Distribute batter in pans. Bake between 25 and 30 minutes or until a toothpick is clean. Allow them to cool down fully and pass to the next step (patience is paramount in this case).
Prepare the Cream Filling
- Blend cream cheese until it is smooth. In a different bowl, beat heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks are attained. Lightly beat the whipped cream into the cream cheese- it is your angel filling.
Layer It Up
- Set one of the cake layers on your stand. Lay on a good portion of cream, and sliced strawberries. Repeat using the second layer of cake. Garnish with additional cream and fresh strawberries.
Chill
- Put the cake in the refrigerator for at least 1 to 2 hours. This will assist the flavors to blend, and it will cut more easily.

Hi, I’m Olivia Brooks! Cooking is my passion, and I love turning everyday ingredients into meals that bring joy to the table. On CulinaryPearl, I share simple recipes, helpful kitchen tips, and inspiration for food lovers everywhere













Leave a Reply