Description

These Strawberry Vanilla Cake Bars are soft, buttery, and bursting with fresh strawberry flavor. Made with real strawberries and pure vanilla, these cake bars bake into a tender, golden treat that’s perfect for spring gatherings, afternoon coffee, or a sweet family dessert. Easy to prepare and beautifully moist, this homemade strawberry vanilla dessert combines classic flavors in every irresistible bite.

Ingredients

Scale

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
½ cup whole milk
1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, diced
½ cup strawberry jam
½ cup powdered sugar (for glaze)
1–2 tablespoons milk (for glaze)

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
In a large bowl, beat softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
Stir in vanilla extract.
Gradually mix in dry ingredients alternating with milk until smooth.
Fold in diced strawberries gently.
Spread batter evenly into prepared pan.
Spoon small dollops of strawberry jam over the batter and swirl gently with a knife.
Bake for 30–35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Allow bars to cool completely before glazing.
Whisk powdered sugar with milk until smooth and drizzle over cooled bars.
Slice into squares and serve.

Notes

For extra strawberry flavor, add a few chopped strawberries on top before baking. You can substitute frozen strawberries (thawed and drained) if fresh are unavailable. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days. These bars freeze beautifully for up to 2 months.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bar
Calories: 280
Sugar: 22g
Sodium: 120mg
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Unsaturated Fat: 4g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 38g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 4g
Cholesterol: 65mg