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Strawberry Earthquake Cake

A delightful dessert with rich chocolate layers, creamy strawberry filling, and a gooey texture that brings back nostalgic baking memories.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cake
  • 1 box chocolate cake mix or homemade chocolate cake
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs
For the Filling
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped
For the Topping
  • 1 cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet or dark)
  • 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
  • to taste additional strawberries for garnish

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the chocolate cake mix, water, vegetable oil, and eggs. Mix until well combined, about 2-3 minutes.
Baking
  1. Pour half of the cake batter into the prepared baking dish.
  2. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, until the edges start to set but the center is still slightly undercooked.
  3. While the cake is baking, beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl until smooth and creamy. Fold in the chopped strawberries gently to maintain their shape.
  4. After the initial baking time, remove the cake from the oven. Spoon the cream cheese mixture over the partially baked cake, spreading it evenly.
  5. Pour the remaining cake batter over the cream cheese layer, covering it completely.
  6. Bake for an additional 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. In the last 5 minutes of baking, sprinkle the chocolate chips and chopped nuts on top.
  7. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

For a gluten-free option, use a gluten-free chocolate cake mix. For a dairy-free option, substitute cream cheese with vegan cream cheese. Consider topping with fresh strawberries or powdered sugar for presentation.