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    Home » Recipes » Dessert Recipes » Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Filling

    Published: Aug 21, 2022 by Linda Warren

    Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Filling

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    A deliciously decadent chocolate cake with fresh strawberry cream cheese filling made even richer when covered with the creamiest chocolate cream cheese frosting.

    The step-by-step directions make it easy to create this showstopper of a dessert. It's perfect for chocolate lovers, cheesecake lovers, and everyone in-between. Serve it for all those special occasions like holidays, birthdays, and, of course, Valentine's Day!

    Chocolate Cake with slice in front/

    Table of contents

    • Homemade Chocolate Cake with Strawberries
    • Why You'll Love This Chocolate Strawberry Filled Cake
    • Ingredients Needed
    • How to Make Strawberry Chocolate Cake
      • How to Make Chocolate Cake
      • How to Make Strawberry Filling for Cake
      • How to Make Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
      • How to Assemble (Stack and Frost) a Layer Cake
      • How to Decorate a Cake with Strawberries and Roses
    • How to Store
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Chocolate Desserts

    Homemade Chocolate Cake with Strawberries

    This layer cake is super moist and extremely rich. Chocolate flavor abounds in the layers and it doesn't stop there! Topped off with a creamy chocolate cream cheese frosting it's a chocolate lover's dream come true. Of course, the magic combo of a chocolate cake with strawberries truly makes this dessert a standout! It's a cake everyone is sure to fall in love with.

    Closeup of slice of cake on white plate with roses.

    Why You'll Love This Chocolate Strawberry Filled Cake

    • Stunning cake. The bright pink strawberry cream cheese layer pops in between the dark chocolate cakes.
    • Iconic flavors. Chocolate and strawberries are indulgent ingredients that go really well together.
    • Moist & rich - the perfect chocolate lover's cake!
    • Infused with Grand Marinier. When you add liquor to cake batter, it enhances the naturally smoky notes in the cocoa powder.
    • Easy to decorate. All you have to do is add the chocolate frosting and then garnish with fresh strawberries.

    Ingredients Needed

    The list of ingredients for making the chocolate cake, strawberry filling, and chocolate ganache may look long, but don't be intimidated. A cake made from scratch is so much better than any from a box.

    For the chocolate layer cake:

    Ingredients for chocolate layer cake.
    • White granulated sugar
    • All-purpose flour
    • Cocoa powder - use an unsweetened cocoa powder either chocolate or dark chocolate
    • Baking powder
    • Baking soda
    • Salt
    • Eggs
    • Buttermilk
    • Vegetable oil
    • Vanilla extract
    • Strong coffee
    • Grand Marnier

    For the strawberry cream cheese filling:

    Ingredients for strawberry filling.
    • Cream cheese - use full fat cream cheese for best results.
    • Powdered sugar
    • Vanilla extract
    • Sour cream
    • Strawberries

    For the chocolate cream cheese frosting:

    Ingredients for chocolate cream cheese frosting.
    • Cream cheese - use full fat cream cheese for the richest and best frosting.
    • Butter
    • Powdered sugar
    • Cocoa powder - unsweetened regular or dark cocoa powder can be used
    • Vanilla extract
    • Heavy cream

    How to Make Strawberry Chocolate Cake

    You will first make the chocolate cake layers, then the strawberry cream filling and chocolate cream cheese frosting. Finally, you'll be decorating the cake with fruit and flowers. Here are the recipe steps for the cake components:

    How to Make Chocolate Cake

    Steps 1-6 to make chocolate cake batter.
    1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease 3 8" cake pans, then line the bottom with parchment paper and grease it.
    2. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Stir well and set aside.
    3. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs and buttermilk together.
    4. Pour oil into egg-buttermilk mixture.
    5. Add vanilla extract.
    6. Whisk well and set aside.
    Steps 7-12 to finish cake batter.
    1. Combine the wet and dry ingredients
    2. Mix well.
    3. Pour in strong coffee.
    4. Add Grand Marnier.
    5. Stir just until blended.
    6. Pour into prepared cake pans.
    Cake layers before and after baking.
    1. Cake batter in pans ready to be baked.
    2. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until set. Cool in pans for 20 minutes, then turn out and cool completely on a wire rack.

    How to Make Strawberry Filling for Cake

    Steps 1-4 to make strawberry filling for cake.
    1. Place softened butter and powdered sugar in mixing bowl.
    2. Cream together until smooth.
    3. Add the sour cream.
    4. Pour in vanilla extract.
    Finishing steps to make strawberry cream cheese filling.
    1. Beat until smooth. Stir in pureed strawberries adding just enough to keep the cheesecake batter stiff.
    2. Mix well.
    3. Stir in diced strawberries for that extra pop of flavor.
    4. Just look at that gorgeous color!

    How to Make Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

    Steps to make chocolate cream cheese frosting for cake.
    1. Place cream cheese in bowl and cream well.
    2. Add butter.
    3. Beat at high speed with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
    4. Add sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla extract
    5. Pour in 1 tablespoon of cream.
    6. Beat until creamy. If it is too thick to spread, add the additional cream. I usually find I have to add both tablespoons.

    How to Assemble (Stack and Frost) a Layer Cake

    How to layer a cake steps.
    1. Place one cake layer on a serving dish. Add a ring of frosting around edge. This frosting edge helps to keep the strawberry filling from oozing out the sides. You can either use a ziploc bag with the corner cut out or a piping bag with tip.
    2. Spread a generous layer of strawberry filling in the center of the layer out to the frosting.
    3. Top with second layer.
    4. Pipe frosting around cake edge once again and spread with the remaining strawberry filling.
    5. Top with the final layer.
    6. Spread with chocolate cream cheese frosting.

    2CM Tip: Make a 6-layer cake by cutting each of the layers in half horizontally. You will need to make more filling for the extra layers.

    How to Decorate a Cake with Strawberries and Roses

    Decorated layer cake on cake stand.

    After frosting the sides and top of the chocolate & strawberry cake, pipe a little frosting where you would like to place strawberries. Place a strawberry on top of the frosting and lightly press down to hold it in place.

    Now fill in the gaps around the edge with roses or other flowers of your choice. Fill in the center with more flowers, strawberries, whole or sliced, or even chocolate shavings.

    Lifting slice os cake with strawberry filling out of decorated cake.

    Chill the cake to make it easier to slice. Just a note, prior to serving I like to remove any decoration I have added to the center as it will interfere with the slicing.

    Believe it or not, anyone can make this cake. And decorating it is so much fun. Doesn't it just look ready to WOW for that special occasion? All that deep chocolate richness full of fresh, beautiful pink strawberry filling is calling your name!

    How to Store

    Keep the cake in the refrigerator in an airtight container or covered well with plastic wrap.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I put fresh strawberries in between cake layers?

    Yes, you can put a layer of thinly sliced fresh strawberries on top of the cream cheese filling.

    Does strawberry cake filling need refrigeration?

    Yes, the filling is made with cream cheese that will spoil if stored at room temperature.

    How long do strawberries last inside a cake?

    It is best to enjoy a fresh strawberry cake within 2-3 days. Freeze the cake for longer storage.

    More Chocolate Desserts

    • Chocolate Cherry Pie with a chocolate cookie crust.
    • Chocolate Pound Cake is rich and moist with a sweet chocolate glaze.
    • Dark Chocolate Mousse with Irish Cream from Family Spice
    • Chocolate Raspberry Trifle with Greek yogurt and crunchy granola.
    • Homemade Dark Chocolate Ice Cream with chocolate chips.

    Find lots of easy chocolate dessert recipes here on 2CM!

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    Closeup of slice of cake on white plate with roses.

    Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Filling

    A deliciously decadent chocolate cake filled with strawberry filling and covered with creamy chocolate cream cheese frosting. It's easy, perfect for chocolate lovers, and a showstopper dessert for special occasions.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 50 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 319kcal
    Author: Linda Warren

    Ingredients

    Cake

    • 2 cups granulated sugar
    • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
    • ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 2 teaspoons baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 cup buttermilk
    • ½ cup vegetable oil
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¾ cup strong coffee + 2 Tablespoons
    • 2 Tablespoons Grand Marnier (optional) if not using increase total quantity of coffee to 1 cup.

    Strawberry Cream Cheese Filling

    • 8 oz. cream cheese
    • ½ cup confectioner’s sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 2 Tablespoons sour cream
    • 4-5 strawberries, pureed (about ¼ cup)
    • 5-6 strawberries, diced

    Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

    • 12 oz. full fat cream cheese, room temperature
    • ¾ cup butter, room temperature
    • 3 ½ cups confectioners sugar
    • ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1-2 Tablespoons heavy cream

    Instructions

    Cake

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 3 8" cake pans then line the bottom with parchment paper and grease it.
    • In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Stir well and set aside.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, buttermilk, oil, vanilla, coffee and Grand Marnier until well combined. Add to dry ingredients and mix until smooth.
    • Pour into prepared pans and bake for 25-30 minutes or until set. Cool in pans for 20 minutes then turn out and cool completely on a wire rack.

    Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

    • Beat cream cheese at high speed with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
    • Continue beating while adding butter and beat until well mixed.
    • Add sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon cream and beat until creamy. If too thick to spread, add the additional cream. I usually add both tablespoons.

    Strawberry Cheesecake Filling

    • Cream together cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add vanilla & sour cream and mix well. Stir in pureed strawberries adding just enough to keep the cheesecake batter stiff. Stir in diced strawberries for that extra pop of flavor.

    To Assemble

    • Place one cake layer on a serving dish. Pipe a line of frosting around the edge of the layer to keep the strawberry cheesecake filling from oozing out. Spread a generous layer of strawberry cheesecake filling in the center of the layer out to the frosting. Top with second layer, pipe frosting around edge, spread with strawberry cheesecake filling then top with the final layer.
    • Frost sides and top of cake and decorate with piped frosting, strawberries, whole or sliced, flowers or chocolate shavings.
    • Store in refrigerator.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 319kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 223mg | Potassium: 254mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 218IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 2mg

    This post has been updated with a new recipe, new photos, and step-by-step instructions. It was first published on February 10, 2016.

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    Hey, I’m Linda, the recipe creator, photographer and cocktail lover at 2 Cookin Mamas. Here you’ll find easy recipes that are not only delicious but can get you out of the kitchen ASAP. Come and join me and let me take you on a tasty trip through your kitchen. Thanks for stopping by! Learn more about me

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