This Strawberry Upside-Down Cake is a sweet, nostalgic dessert bursting with fresh strawberry flavor in every bite.
A layer of juicy strawberries and fluffy marshmallows melts together beneath a tender yellow cake, creating a beautifully gooey topping once flipped. It’s the kind of easy homemade dessert that always disappears quickly at potlucks, family dinners, and summer gatherings.
Perfect for strawberry season, this simple cake recipe uses pantry staples and a boxed cake mix to create a stunning dessert with minimal effort.
The strawberry gelatin intensifies the berry flavor while the marshmallows create a rich, candy-like layer that pairs perfectly with the soft cake.
Serve chilled or slightly warm for a crowd-pleasing treat everyone will ask you to make again.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 40 mins
Additional Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
Servings: 12
Yield: 1 (9×13-inch) cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups crushed fresh strawberries
- 1 (6-ounce) package strawberry-flavored gelatin
- 3 cups miniature marshmallows
- 1 (15.25-ounce) package yellow cake mix
- 1 cup water
- 3 large eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Spread the crushed strawberries evenly across the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Sprinkle the strawberry gelatin powder evenly over the strawberries, then top with the miniature marshmallows.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, water, eggs, and vegetable oil. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until combined, then increase to medium speed and beat for 2 minutes until smooth.
- Carefully pour the cake batter over the marshmallow layer, spreading evenly to cover the entire pan.
- Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the cake.
- Carefully invert the cake onto a large serving platter so the strawberry layer is on top.
- Refrigerate leftovers until ready to serve.
Chefs Notes
- Fresh ripe strawberries provide the best flavor and sweetness for this recipe.
- For an extra indulgent dessert, serve slices with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
- If using a different brand of cake mix, follow the package directions for ingredient amounts and baking recommendations.
- This cake tastes even better chilled after the flavors have had time to meld together.