Hi, I am Lila, and this strawberry cake is my soft spot. I bake it when friends come over and when I crave a calm slice after a long day. The sponge stays light, the cream tastes fresh, and the berries carry the show. This is the best strawberry cake recipe I reach for when I want tender crumb and clean flavor. We build simple layers and keep the sweetness in check. If you want a twist, a chocolate strawberry cake recipe sits in my notes, and it plays nice with the same base. On busy weeks I roll dough bites for a strawberry cake cookies recipe, since the batter loves to share. The result feels like a small win you can taste. You asked for a moist strawberry cake recipe that still holds its shape. I whip cream until it forms soft peaks, then I smooth it over cool cake. For extra shine I make a quick strawberry cake icing recipe with sifted sugar. And when life gets loud, a strawberry cake recipe box easy backup helps me practice the motions. We keep it real, and we keep it kind.

Table of Contents
- 1 Key Takeaways
- 2 Easy Japanese Strawberry Shortcake Recipe
- 3 Ingredients for Japanese Strawberry Shortcake
- 4 How to Make Japanese Strawberry Shortcake
- 5 Tips for Making Japanese Strawberry Shortcake
- 6 Making Japanese Strawberry Shortcake Ahead of Time
- 7 Storing Leftover Japanese Strawberry Shortcake
- 8 Try these Dessert recipes next
- 9 Japanese Strawberry Shortcake
- 10 Nutrition
1 Key Takeaways
I am Lila from Lila Cooks at https//www.lilacooks.com, and I keep this strawberry cake close. I use a soft sponge and light cream. Fresh berries lead. The crumb stays tender. The flavor stays clean. This strawberry cake shows up for birthdays and quiet nights. I like that. You can bake it once and learn a move you will use again. I test the batter, I taste the fruit, and I let the cake cool. Two mentions for clarity here. strawberry cake gives comfort. strawberry cake brings ease.
The method stays simple. We whip eggs. We fold flour. We add warm milk with butter. The oven does most of the work. I stack layers and spread cream that holds soft peaks. I speak plain and keep the bake calm. You can shape this into a fresh strawberry cake with extra slices inside. The texture stays airy and light. The bite stays bright.
The gear list stays short. A bowl. A whisk. A pan lined with parchment. I keep sugar low so berries shine. I brush syrup on the crumb for gentle sweetness. I trim the top for a flat stack. Then I crown the cake with whole berries. It looks like a party, even on a Tuesday. You can read and bake at the same time. No stress. Only cake.

2 Easy Japanese Strawberry Shortcake Recipe
We keep timing friendly. I heat milk with butter. I preheat the oven. I line the pan so the sponge lifts clean. This strawberry cake wins on texture. The sponge feels light and springy. The cream tastes cool and clean. The berries stay bright. I call that balance. If you want more chocolate, I shave a little on top. The cake still reads classic.
We keep steps close. Egg whites reach soft to medium peaks. Yolks turn pale. Sugar goes in slowly. Flour sifts in fine. Folds stay light. I pour the batter and tap once to let big bubbles leave. Japanese strawberry cake sounds fancy, yet the moves fit a home kitchen. You can work at a steady pace and still chat with a friend.
We keep flavor honest. Cream gets a hint of sugar. Berries carry the load. A quick syrup keeps the crumb tender. The result fits many days. A picnic. A birthday. A slow afternoon. The cake slices neat after a short chill. The knife slides warm for clean cuts. The plate picks up crumbs and smiles. That is a good sign.

3 Ingredients for Japanese Strawberry Shortcake
Eggs Whole eggs give lift and color. I split whites and yolks so the sponge stands tall and tastes rich without feeling heavy.
Sugar Fine white sugar supports structure and keeps sweetness light so the fruit stays in charge.
Cake flour Low protein flour keeps the crumb soft and tender. It helps the folds stay smooth.
Whole milk Warm milk loosens the batter and adds gentle dairy notes that play well with berries.
Unsalted butter Melted butter adds flavor and a little shine. I add it warm with the milk.
Vanilla A small splash lifts the cream and sponge. The scent pairs with fruit without stealing the show.
Strawberries I pick ripe berries that smell sweet. I save the prettiest ones for the top and slice the rest for the middle.
Heavy cream Cold cream whips to soft peaks. It spreads smooth and sets the layers in place.
Confectioners sugar A light touch sweetens the cream and keeps the texture satiny and smooth.
Simple syrup Water and sugar dissolve and cool. I brush a thin coat on each layer for a soft bite that still holds shape.

4 How to Make Japanese Strawberry Shortcake
Step 1 Line an eight inch round pan with parchment on the base and the sides. Warm milk with butter until the butter melts. Set aside.
Step 2 Separate eggs. Beat yolks with part of the sugar until pale. In a clean bowl whip whites to soft peaks, then add the rest of the sugar and whip to medium peaks.
Step 3 Fold yolks into whites with light strokes. Sift cake flour over the bowl and fold again until no dry spots remain. Stream in warm milk with butter and a little vanilla. Fold until the batter looks smooth and glossy.
Step 4 Pour into the pan and tap once. Bake at three hundred twenty five F for about twenty five to thirty minutes. A skewer comes out clean. Cool ten minutes in the pan. Turn out and cool fully on a rack.
Step 5 Slice the cake into two layers. Whip cold cream with confectioners sugar to soft peaks. Toss sliced berries with a pinch of sugar.
Step 6 Brush syrup on the cut sides. Spread cream on the bottom layer. Add sliced berries. Cover with more cream. Set the top layer on. Coat the top and sides with cream. Add whole berries. Chill and slice. Fresh strawberry cake tastes best a little cool.
5 Tips for Making Japanese Strawberry Shortcake
Work with room temp eggs so whites whip well. Keep the bowl clean and dry. Any fat will slow the lift. Sift flour to keep lumps away. Fold with a gentle hand so air stays in the batter.
Let the sponge cool before you cut. A warm cake tears and sheds crumbs. I chill the layers for ten minutes for tidy cuts. Brush a thin layer of syrup, not a soak. The crumb stays tender and still stands tall.
Whip cream to soft peaks and stop. Over mixing turns cream grainy. If heat worries you, use a small splash of stabilized cream mix or a touch of gelatin. The cake reads like a strawberry shortcake cake and keeps shape on the table.
6 Making Japanese Strawberry Shortcake Ahead of Time
I bake the sponge one day and wrap it once cool. The texture holds. The flavor settles. On day two I whip fresh cream and slice fruit. The build moves fast. This plan saves stress when guests arrive.
You can prep berries early. Pat them dry so juice stays in check. Keep the syrup ready in a jar. Set a cold bowl in the fridge so cream whips quick. With these pieces set, assembly feels like play.
If you need more time, frost a thin coat and chill. Then add a final layer of cream before serving. The finish looks smooth and clean. The taste stays bright. Japanese strawberry cake makes a calm showpiece on any table.
7 Storing Leftover Japanese Strawberry Shortcake
Cover the cake with an inverted bowl or a cake dome. Keep it cold. The cream stays set and the fruit stays lively. I like slices within one or two days.
Store single slices in airtight boxes. Slip a small sheet of parchment under each slice. The base stays neat and the plate stays clean. A short chill tightens the cream and helps the cut.
If you expect extra time before serving, add fresh berries at the end. The sponge holds well, the cream keeps a smooth line, and the strawberry cake flavor stays clear with each bite.
8 Try these Dessert recipes next
9 Japanese Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberry Cake Japanese Shortcake by Lila
Ingredients
Cake
- 80 g whole milk
- 50 g unsalted butter
- 75 g cake flour
- 4 large egg yolks
- 4 large egg whites
- 70 g sugar
Strawberries
- 340 g to 450 g strawberries divided
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
Whipped Cream Frosting
- 280 g heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons confectioners sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon gelatin optional
- 2 tablespoons cold water optional
Cake Syrup
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons hot water
Instructions
Cake
- Heat milk with butter until warm and the butter melts. Set aside.
- Line an 8 inch round pan with parchment on the bottom and the sides. Preheat the oven to 325 F.
- Whisk cake flour to break up clumps. In a clean bowl whisk egg yolks with one third of the sugar until pale.
- In a second bowl whip the egg whites to soft peaks, then add the rest of the sugar in two additions and whip to medium peaks.
- Fold the yolk mix into the whites with light strokes. Sift in the flour and fold again until no dry spots remain.
- Stream in the warm milk butter mixture with vanilla if you like and fold until the batter looks glossy and even.
- Pour into the pan and tap once to release big bubbles. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan 10 minutes, then turn out and cool fully on a rack. Slice the cake into two even layers.
Strawberries
- Hull and slice enough berries to cover one cake layer. Toss slices with sugar and set aside for a few minutes.
- Keep the nicest whole berries for the top.
Whipped Cream Frosting
- If using gelatin bloom it in cold water. Warm until just melted and cool until fluid but not hot.
- Whip the cream with confectioners sugar to soft peaks. Stream in the cooled gelatin and whip to medium soft peaks.
Assembly
- Mix hot water with sugar for syrup. Cool to room temp.
- Set the bottom cake layer on a board. Brush on syrup.
- Spread a thin coat of cream. Add sliced berries in a single layer. Cover with more cream and level the surface.
- Place the second layer on top. Use the flat side up for a clean finish.
- Cover the sides and top with the rest of the cream. Swirl the surface. Crown with whole berries.
- Chill 45 to 60 minutes so the cream sets. Slice with a warm thin knife.
10 Nutrition
Serving size one slice. Calories three hundred twenty. Sugar twenty two g. Sodium seventy five mg. Fat eighteen g. Saturated fat eleven g. Carbohydrates thirty four g. Fiber one g. Protein five g. Cholesterol one hundred twenty mg. Values give a friendly guide and may shift based on berries and cream.


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