The Best Ever Olive Garden Strawberry Cream Cake Recipe

Last updated on February 14th, 2024 at 10:40 am

This olive garden strawberry cream cake recipe is super easy to create with the common ingredients: Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder, Egg, and milk.

With just 20 minutes of prep time, this Olive Garden strawberry cream cake recipe comes together quickly. Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying a luscious homemade version of the popular Olive Garden strawberry cream cake.

 Give this simple recipe a try and prepare to impress your family and friends with this scrumptious strawberry cream cake straight from your kitchen.

What Is Olive Garden Strawberry Cream Cake?

This Olive Garden strawberry cream cake recipe produces a cake that rivals the beloved dessert from the restaurant chain. The recipe consists of two fluffy vanilla cake layers sandwiching a filling of sweetened whipped cream flavored with vanilla. The cake layers are pillow-soft while the filling is light and airy.

But where this easy homemade Olive Garden strawberry cream cake shines is in the vibrant strawberry sauce. The sauce is prepared by cooking fresh strawberries with sugar and water to make a jam-like topping bursting with strawberry flavor. 

Each tender bite of cake and cream is contrasted beautifully with the sweet-tart strawberry sauce. This simple cake combines moist cake, billowy cream, and brightly flavored strawberries for a mouthwatering flavor pairing reminiscent of the Olive Garden classic. 

Why You Should Follow This Recipe

This simple recipe for Olive Garden strawberry cream cake makes a treat that looks and tastes just like the one from the popular restaurant’s. With simple ingredients you likely have on hand, you can recreate the flavors of moist cake layers, sweet whipped cream filling, and fresh strawberry sauce that make this Olive Garden strawberry cream cake so memorable and delicious.

How to Make Olive Garden Strawberry Cream Cake

Essential Equipment

• Mixing Bowl – For mixing cake ingredients
• Measuring Cup – To accurately measure out liquid and dry ingredients
• Measuring Spoon – To measure small amounts of ingredients
• Cake Pan – Bake the cake layers into a round shape
• Oven – To bake the cake at the proper temperature
• Wire Rack – Allows baked cake to cool evenly
• Handheld Mixer – To blend wet and dry ingredients and beat air into the batter
• Toothpick – Check the doneness of the baked cake
• Stove – Cook strawberry sauce filling overheat
• Saucepan – Prepare the strawberry sauce
• Serving Plate – Elegantly present finished cake slices

Ingredients

• Flour: 2 1/4 cups of cake flour.
• Sugar: 1 1/3 cups of white sugar for the cake and 1/3 cup of sugar for the whipped cream and strawberry filling(use according to preference).
• Baking Powder: 4 tsp of baking powder.
• Egg: 6 Large Egg Whites. 
• Salt: 1/2 tsp of salt for the cake(use according to preference).
• Milk: 1 cup of whole milk, at room temperature.
• Vanilla Extract: 1 tsp of vanilla extract for the cake and 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract for the whipped cream and strawberry filling.
• Butter: 1 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter. 
• Heavy Whipping Cream: 32 oz heavy whipping cream. 
• Cream Of Tartar: 1/2 tsp of cream of tartar. 
• Strawberry: 2 cups of strawberries, cut into thin slices. And 1 more cup for garnish.
• Water: 2 tbsp of water to make the strawberry sauce.

Step By Step Direction with Pictures

Step 1: Preheat and Prepare

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Grease a 9-inch cake pan and set it aside.

Step 2: Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients for Cake Layers

• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
• In another bowl, whisk egg whites, milk, and vanilla.

Step 3: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

• Add the wet ingredients to the dry ones and mix until just combined.
• Add butter and mix until a smooth batter forms.

Step 4: Bake the Cake

• Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan.
• Bake for 30-32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Step 5: Cool and Slice

• Cool the cake completely on a wire rack.
• Slice the cooled cake horizontally into 2 layers.

Step 6: Whip the Cream Filling

• Using an electric mixer, beat heavy cream to soft peaks.
• Add sugar, cream of tartar, and vanilla. Beat until stiff peaks form.

Step 7: Make Strawberry Sauce

• Simmer strawberries, sugar, and water in a saucepan for 10 minutes until strawberries soften.
• Set aside to cool slightly.

Step 8: Begin Assembly

• Place 1 cake layer on the serving plate.
• Spread with 1/3 of the whipped cream.
• Top with 1/2 of the strawberry sauce.

Step 9: Layer and Repeat

• Top with the second cake layer and repeat the layers of whipped cream and the remaining strawberry sauce.

Step 10: Garnish and Enjoy

• Garnish the cake with extra strawberries before slicing and serving.
• Enjoy your delightful creation!

What To Serve with Olive Garden Strawberry Cream Cake?

The Olive Garden strawberry cream cake recipe makes a cake that’s delicious enough to enjoy on its own. However, you can also pair it with beverages or sides that complement the cake’s flavors. 

Serve fresh strawberry and mixed berry slices alongside the Olive Garden strawberry cream cake recipe. The natural sweet and tart taste of fresh berries goes well with the cake’s strawberry sauce. And don’t forget the whipped cream! Add a dollop or two of whipped cream on top of the cake or fresh berries. The extra creaminess makes this homemade version of the Olive Garden strawberry cream cake even more of a special treat.

Variations on Olive Garden Strawberry Cream Cake

• Chocolate Lover’s Twist: Add 1/2 cup cocoa powder to cake batter for chocolate cake layers. Drizzle-finished cake with melted chocolate.
• Lemon Zest and Blueberry Delight: Add 1 tbsp lemon zest to the cake batter. Use fresh blueberries instead of strawberries in the filling. Tangy lemon + sweet berries.
• Almond and Raspberry Bliss: Add 1 tsp almond extract to the cake batter. Substitute fresh raspberries for strawberries in the filling. Nutty almond and tart raspberries.

Additional Tips

• Swirl peanut butter or Nutella into the batter
• Use different fruit fillings like mango, pineapple, or mixed berry
• Top with fruit glaze or ganache frosting
• Mix fruits or nuts into the batter
• Experiment with extracts like coconut, orange, mint
• Decorate cake with chocolate shavings, toasted nuts

Storing Tips

• Tightly wrap each cake layer separately in plastic wrap and place it in an airtight container. Store cake layers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days maximum.
• Place whipped cream filling in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
• Transfer leftover strawberry sauce to an airtight container or jar. The sauce can be refrigerated for 3-5 days.
• To serve after storing, allow refrigerated cake layers to come closer to room temperature before assembling to prevent cracking.
• When ready to serve, reassemble the cake with whipped cream and strawberry sauce. Decorate with fresh strawberry slices if desired.
• For longer storage, the cake layers can be well wrapped in plastic and placed in the freezer for up to 1 month. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

Final Thoughts

This easy homemade Olive Garden strawberry cream cake recipe truly produces a dessert that looks and tastes like the popular restaurant’s. With just a few simple ingredients that you likely already have in your pantry and fridge, you can recreate those signature flavors – fluffy vanilla cake layers, sweet and airy whipped cream filling, and fresh and vibrant strawberry sauce. 

While the classic Olive Garden strawberry cream cake is perfect as-is, the cake also shines with creative twists like swirled chocolate, lemon blueberry, almond raspberry, and more. No matter what flavor combo you land on, this do-it-yourself Olive Garden strawberry cream cake recipe results in a showstopper dessert bringing together tender cake, billowy cream, and bright fruit. Make this in your kitchen and get ready for rave reviews. This Olive Garden strawberry cream cake is sure to become your new go-to special occasion cake.

Notes

Temperature of the Ingredients: Make sure your butter, milk, and eggs are at room temperature. This helps create a smoother cake batter and creamier filling. 

Soft Peaks for Whipped Cream: When whipping the cream, stop when soft peaks form. Over-whipping can make it too stiff. And under-whipping can ruin your cream.

Serving: Let your assembled cake chill in the fridge for a few hours before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together for a better taste.