1-Gathering Your Supplies: Before we begin, make sure you have all the ingredients from the list above. Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13 baking pan to avoid any sticking issues. This preparation helps everything go smoothly and sets you up for success.

2-Mixing the Batter: In a large bowl, combine 1 box white cake mix, 1 box (3 ounces) strawberry gelatin, 4 eggs, ½ cup melted and cooled butter, and 1 cup milk. Use a hand mixer to blend it all until smooth, which takes about 2 minutes. Pour this batter into your prepared pan for an even bake. If you’re looking for more baking inspiration, check out our chocolate chip banana bread recipe for tips on perfecting quick breads.

3-Baking and Cooling: Bake the cake for 28-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let it cool completely on a rack this step is crucial for the frosting to set nicely. While it’s cooling, you can work on the other parts, keeping things fun and efficient.

4-Creating the Topping: For the strawberry crunch topping, pulse vanilla sandwich cookies in a food processor until they turn into crumbs, then move them to a bowl. Next, pulse 1 ounce freeze-dried strawberries into a fine powder and mix it in with the crumbs. Drizzle some melted butter over this mixture and stir it together, then spread it on wax or parchment paper to dry for 20-25 minutes. This adds that fantastic crunch we all love!

5-Frosting and Assembling: Beat 1 package softened cream cheese, ¾ cup softened butter, and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt until light and smooth, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, then gradually add 3 cups confectioners’ sugar until it’s all mixed. Add 1-2 tablespoons milk as needed to get the right consistency. Spread this frosting over the cooled cake and sprinkle on the dried topping. For another tasty idea, take a look at our almond croissants recipe to see how toppings can elevate baked goods.