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Strawberry Chocolate Cake pairs all the joy of a chocolate covered strawberry with the moistness of your favorite sponge cake. Whether you are celebrating a Special Day or just looking to bake something to “wow” the crowd, this decadent treat never goes out of style.

a slice of chocolate strawberry cake

Who doesn’t love a heaping slice of chocolate cake? Add some strawberries in the mix and it’s game over. The first time I made this cake was for the Super Bowl and it got gobbled up before I could even finish passing out the slices. I like to think it stole the show!

Before you hop in and start baking, I do recommend taking two days to bake this cake to make your life a bit easier. You’ll need to prepare two 11-inch Sponge Cakes (click the link for a recipe) for the layers and I always find it convenient to take care of this step the day before serving. It’s not the end of the world if you pack the whole process into one day, but I’m always a fan of working just a bit ahead to bring more joy to my cooking.

How to Make Strawberry Chocolate Cake

This Strawberry Chocolate Cake looks straight out of the fanciest of bakeries. But, don’t get discouraged! It’s actually quite simple to make, with the “toughest step” being to ensure you don’t overbeat the cream.

  • Bake two 9- or 11-inch sponge cakes. Slice each cake into two layers for a total of four.
  • Spread strawberry jam on each layer.
  • Sift powdered sugar and cocoa powder into your two cups of cold heavy whipping cream.
  • Beat on high-speed until the mixture doubles in volume, paying special attention to not over beat.
  • Carefully spread cream on top of your jelly layer. Sprinkle on sliced strawberries. Apply remaining cream to the outside of the cake.
  • To make the ganache, place chocolate chips into a bowl. In a sauce pan, heat the remaining cup of cream just until it simmers (do not let it boil or it will burn!) and immediately remove from heat. Pour hot cream over the top of chocolate chips and stir rapidly until smooth and completely incorporated. For more tips on making and using ganache, check out this post.
  • Place ganache in a Ziplock or piping bag. Drizzle chocolate on the edges of the cake, letting it drip off the sides. Apply ganache to the top of the cake, forming one smooth layer. Refrigerate cake for 15 minutes or until the ganache hardens.
  • Dip strawberries into the remaining ganache. Place alongside the edge of the cake.
  • Allow cake to set overnight in the refrigerator for the best texture.
jam on a sponge cake
chocolate cream in a mixing bowl
cream in between chocolate sponge cake layers
melted chocolate in a cup
Strawberry chocolate cake on a cake stand
Strawberry chocolate cake on a cake stand

Tips for the Best Strawberry Chocolate Cake

After trial-and-error, we’ve pulled all of our best tips together to ensure your cake comes out with a bang.

  • Sift Dry Ingredients. If you’re an avid baker, you’ve probably heard that you should be sifting your dry ingredients to yield the best taste and texture. Why? Sifting ensures all your dry ingredients are lump-free and fully incorporated with one another before you add any wet ingredients.
  • Use Very Cold Heavy Whipping Cream. To get the fluffiest, most rich whipped cream, use very cold heavy whipping cream. Cold dairy emulsifies much quicker and gives you that luscious, spreadable texture.
  • Nail the Drizzle. I’ve seen a couple chefs nail the ganache drizzle with a mere spoon, but I like to take no risks and use a piping or Ziploc bag with a tiny hole cut at the very tip. Using a slow, pulsing motion, squeeze out just a tiny bit of ganache, altering the pressure you apply to get your desired thickness as you drizzle around the outer edges of the cake.
  • Get a bakery-worthy flat cake top. The key to a perfectly flat cake top? Use the bottom side of your sponge cake. Yes, it’s as simple as that! Bonus: If your cake sticks or falls apart on any one side (it happens!), simply flip and use for the inner layers.
  • Use Quality Chocolate. Use the best quality chocolate you can get your hands on for the ganache. Since this frosting is made with just two ingredients, skimping on quality isn’t an option.
  • Perfect Ganache Texture. Your ganache may be seen runny and inconsistent at first, so you’ll want to continue stirring until the chocolate is fully melted. Still too runny? Allow it to sit for a few minutes and it will thicken.

Hot Tip: Not a fan of strawberries? It’s okay, we can still be friends. Feel free to swap in a different berry or fruit. Cherries, peaches, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and apricots will work particularly well.

Strawberry chocolate cake on a cake stand

Making Chocolate Strawberry Cake In Advance

Above, I shared my recommendation for breaking the baking process up into two days. If you really like to get ahead of the curve, feel free to make your sponge cakes up to five days in advance. Just make sure to keep the layers stored an an airtight container to prevent them from drying out.

Additionally, you can assemble your cake up to three days in advance. The longer you let it set, the more flavorful it will turn out and the better it will hold together upon serving.

FAQ

How do you keep chocolate cake moist?

The key to keeping chocolate cake moist is spreading each layer with the strawberry jam. The juices and sugar will soak into the sponger layers, ensuring each bite is as good as the last.

Can you freeze chocolate strawberry cake?

It’s not recommended to freeze the chocolate strawberry cake. It’s best to store extra slices in the refrigerator in an airtight container. I’ve always found that fresh strawberries don’t defrost very well after being frozen and will turn watery and mushy.

What flour should you use for sponge cake?

All-purpose flour works the very best. Try to find a high-quality, European or Canadian flour if you can. They tend to have a higher protein content and result in the best cake texture.

What makes a sponge cake light and fluffy?

They key to light and fluffy sponge cake is to not overmix the dough. If you do, it will turn out flat.

a slice of chocolate strawberry cake

More Chocolate Cakes

  • Drunken Cherry Cake – This liqueur soaked cake is to die for.
  • Cake Prague – A rich coffee cake that’s wonderful for any occasion.
  • Ferrero Rocher Cake – If you’re obsessed with the candy, you’re going to be obsessed with the cake.
  • Zebra Cake – This marble cake is wonderful for a kid’s birthday.

Recipe

Strawberry chocolate cake on a cake stand

Strawberry Chocolate Cake

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Servings
14 servings
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
Strawberry Chocolate Cake pairs all the joy of a chocolate covered strawberry with the moistness of your favorite sponge cake. Whether you are celebrating a Special Day or just looking to bake something to "wow" the crowd, this decadent treat never goes out of style.

Ingredients

Sponge cake

Chocolate Cream

Ganache

US Units – Metric

Instructions

  • Bake two 9- or 11-inch sponge cakes. Carefully slice each sponge cake into two layers.
    sponge cake cut open
  • Generously spread strawberry jam onto the tops of each layer, ensuring your reserve one of the cake bottoms for the smooth top layer of your cake.
    jam on a sponge cake
  • Into the two cups of cold heavy whipping cream, sift in powdered sugar and cocoa powder. 
    heavy cream with cacao powder and sugar in a mixing bowl
  • Beat on high-speed, until the cream mixture doubles in volume. Make sure not to over beat, otherwise cream will become runny and difficult to spread.
    chocolate cream in a mixing bowl
  • Apply chocolate cream to each cake layer and then sprinkle with sliced strawberries. Apply remaining cream on the outside of the cake.
    strawberries with cream in between sponge cake layers
  • Place chocolate chips in a bowl. In a sauce pan over medium-heat, bring remaining cream to a simmer (do not let it reach a boil). Pour hot cream over chocolate chips, stirring everything together until the chocolate is smooth and melted.
    heavy cream and chocolate in a measuring cup
  • Place chocolate ganache in a Ziploc or piping bag. Drizzle ganache on the edges of the cake, letting it drip off the sides. Apply the chocolate ganache to the top of the cake and create a smooth layer with a knife or cake spatula. Refrigerate the cake for 15 minutes, or until ganache hardens.
    Strawberry chocolate cake on a cake stand
  • Dip strawberries into the remaining ganache and place them alongside the edge of the cake.
    melted chocolate in a cup
  • Let cake set at least overnight and up to three days before serving.
    Strawberry chocolate cake on a cake stand
Nutrition Facts
Strawberry Chocolate Cake
Amount Per Serving
Calories 594 Calories from Fat 297
% Daily Value*
Fat 33g51%
Saturated Fat 19g95%
Cholesterol 117mg39%
Sodium 268mg11%
Potassium 345mg10%
Carbohydrates 72g24%
Fiber 4g16%
Sugar 48g53%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 855IU17%
Vitamin C 22mg27%
Calcium 94mg9%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Posted May 27, 2021

About Author

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Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.