Summer Strawberry Lemon Layered Cake Recipe

This beautiful strawberry lemon layered cake is perfect for picnics and barbeques this summer. The bright colors make it a perfect centerpiece for the dessert table at any Summer gathering. Serve this cake with a glass of fresh lemonade for a Summer dessert your whole family will love!

Summer Strawberry Lemon Layered Cake

You’ll love the fresh strawberries, zested lemons, and cream cheese in this Summer layer cake. Plus, this delicious cake is so easy to make. You can whip it up for your family as a special treat this weekend.

Keep reading to get my Summer strawberry lemon layer cake recipe for your next backyard barbeque or picnic with friends.

affiliate links can be found on this blog at no cost to you.

Best Ever Strawberry Lemon Layer Cake

Ready for a bright and sweet strawberry lemon cake that will have your friends and family licking their forks this Summer?

You’re going to love this recipe! Here’s what you need to create one 9 inch round cake with 3 layers:

Ingredients for the Strawberry Cheesecake Layer

This delicious summer cake has 3 layers you’ll want to make and then combine. The first layer to bake is the tasty strawberry cheesecake layer. Here’s what you’ll need:

Strawberry Sauce

• 2 C Fresh Strawberries, diced
• ¼ C Sugar 
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp water
• 1 Lemon, zested and juiced 

Cheesecake Ingredients

• 1 – 9in round cake pan
• 3 – 8oz cream cheese, softened 
• 1 C sugar 
• 3 tbsp flour 
• 1 C sour cream 
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract 
• 4 large eggs 

Step by Step Instructions for Strawberry Cheesecake Layer:

Follow these 3 simple steps to make your own delicious sauce from fresh strawberries this summer:

1. Combine all ingredients into a medium pot and cook over medium to high heat.
2. Stir the sauce occasionally while it cooks for about 10-15 minutes.
3. Once the sauce begins to thicken, reduce heat and stir for 1 minute before removing from the heat. Allow the sauce to cool completely. 

Strawberry Lemon Cake

Here’s how to make my favorite summer strawberry cheesecake for the middle layer of this Summer strawberry lemon layer cake: 

1. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Spray the 9in round cake pan with Pam baking spray. Then, line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
2. Using a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and flour together until it is well combined and smooth.
3. Next, beat in the sour cream and vanilla until combined and smooth. 
4. Then, beat in the eggs, one at a time, until combined.
5. Pour half of the cheesecake batter into the cake pan.
6. Next, pour half of the strawberry sauce onto the cheesecake batter.
7. Then, add the remaining cheesecake batter on top of the strawberry sauce. 
8. Finally, dollop and swirl the remaining strawberry sauce on top of the cheesecake batter.
9. To create a water bath for your cheesecake, fill a 9×13 baking dish halfway with hot water.
10. Then, place the baking dish onto the bottom rack of your oven and place the cheesecake on the top rack, above the center of the baking dish.
11. Bake the cheesecake in the oven for 1 hour (use a timer).
12. When the timer goes off, leave the cheesecake in the oven for another 45 minutes. This will allow your cheesecake to set properly.
13. Finally, remove the cheesecake from the oven and allow to it cool completely before placing it in the fridge overnight.

Ingredients for Strawberry and Lemon Cake Layers 

The top layer in a 3 layer summer strawberry lemon cake is a bright lemon cake and the bottom layer is a sweet strawberry cake. Here’s what you’ll need to build your strawberry and lemon layers:

• 2 – 9in round cake pans
• 2 – 9in round cake boards
• 1 – 10in round cake board

Strawberry Cake Ingredients

• 1 – 15.25 oz box of strawberry cake mix
• follow ingredients and instructions on the box

Lemon Cake Ingredients 

• 1 – 15.25 oz lemon cake mix 
• 1 C water
• 3 large eggs 
• ⅓ C canola oil 

Step by Step Instructions for Cake Layers

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray the cake pans with Pam baking spray.
2. In a large bowl, beat the strawberry cake mix, water, eggs, and canola oil until combined. 
3. Pour the batter into one of the 9in. round cake pans.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 with the lemon cake mix.
5. Bake both cake pans in the oven for 25 – 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
6. Allow cakes to cool completely.
7. Gently remove the cooled cake from the pans and place on the 9in. cake boards.
8. Then, remove the domes from the cakes to create even layers.
9. Cover and allow to ‘rest’ overnight. This will allow the cakes to be more sturdy when you build the cake with the cheesecakes.

Lemon Frosting Ingredients

This super yummy summer strawberry lemon layer cake is topped with a lemon frosting. Between the cheesecake layer and this creamy lemon frosting, I just know you’re going to fall in love with this cake. Here’s what you’ll need for my creamy lemon frosting:

• 2 C unsalted sweet cream butter, softened 
• 4 C powdered sugar 
• 1 large lemon, zested and juiced 
• 4-6 tbsp heavy whipping cream
• 1 large piping bag fitted with star tip

Using a standing mixer, beat all ingredients until smooth and well combined. You’ll want the frosting to have stiff peaks. 

How to Build the Best Summer Strawberry Lemon Layer Cake

Follow these directions for the perfect strawberry lemon 3 layer cake this Summer: 

1. Using the strawberry cake layer, carefully move the cake layer to the 10in round cake board. 
2. Scoop 1 cup of frosting on top of the strawberry cake layer. Spread evenly.
3. Carefully remove the strawberry cheesecake from the cake pan and place it on top of the frosting. 
4. Scoop 1 cup of lemon frosting on top of the cheesecake. Spread evenly.
5. Next, place the lemon cake layer on top.
6. Using the remaining frosting, frost the entire cake. This is called ‘crumb coating’. The crumb coating glues the crumbs down and seals the cake before refrigerating. This prevents the cake from drying out.
7. Then, put the cake into the fridge for an hour to set.
8. Scoop the remaining frosting into the piping bag, set it aside. 
9. Once the cake is somewhat firm, remove it from the fridge.
10. Using the piping bag, pipe quick dollops of frosting all over the cake. 

Place the completely frosted strawberry lemon layer cake into the fridge to set for about an hour before enjoying it. Then, come back and tell me how you liked it. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts and opinions.

I’m sure your family and friends are going to love this Summer strawberry lemon layer cake recipe as much as mine do!

Moist Summer Cake Recipe

Strawberry Lemon Layered Cake Recipe