20 Comments
User's avatar
Amy's avatar

Happy birthday Caro!! I also go for strawberry cake for my late June birthday ☺️ although it is a casual and unfussy cake the NYT strawberry spoon cake is ~~magic~~ and everyone should make it. I’ll save this one for my daughter’s birthday in a couple weeks!!!

Mallory's avatar

Happy birthday Caro! Anne, I have 2 of your baking books!! They are how I learned to bake and evolved into creating my own from-scratch cakes, going to culinary school and working in a bakery for 5 years. Thank you for making boxed mixes so easy, welcoming and also, so creative!!!

Anne Byrn's avatar

Wow, thank you, Mallory! It makes me so happy that something as simple as a collection of recipes could help you chart your path!

Kiele Kenny's avatar

Happy birthday!!!! This looks delish 😋Going to save this for my daughter’s 3rd bday in Aug.

Hope Moore's avatar

It’s my birthday too! ❤️ Happy Summer Solstice!

Emily Durkin's avatar

Hi Anne! I want to make bigger version of this cake for a larger party (20-25 people) would you suggest doubling the recipe and using more standard size pans?

Anne Byrn's avatar

Great idea! Yes, double the recipe and bake in two 9 by 13 pans? That’s a big cake!

Emily Durkin's avatar

Thanks Anne! I ended up doing three stacked 9" layers, everyone loved it!

Anne Byrn's avatar

Very nice!! ❤️

Katie's avatar

Would love to try this for my husband’s birthday in July but he is an only-chocolate kind of guy. How would you adapt this recipe for a simple chocolate cake? Chocolate cake batter, I’m assuming, but what about the homemade frosting?

Anne Byrn's avatar

So many different ways! Go basic chocolate cake and ease up on the cocoa in the frosting so it’s pale chocolate to get that lighter on dark contrast with the layers. Or brush layers with Kahlua after you split them, then frost. Or frost with cream cheese frosting and cover the top with shaved chocolate. Or make a ganache and spread it on nice and sleek and cover the top with golden raspberries?

Katie's avatar

Ah yes, LOVE these ideas!! I’ll have to try out all of the above. 😋 Thank you!

Lauren's avatar

Make this today w blueberries and strawberries in the top for the 🇺🇸🇺🇸. Delicious! I just had traditional sized pans and still so fun! Thanks for sharing!!! Rookie mistake I took them out of the oven and forgot about them 🫣 so got a little crispy on the bottom but still great!

Laurel.R's avatar

I also made this for the 4th with blueberries and strawberries! Huge hit!

Anne Byrn's avatar

Wonderful! ❤️

Anne Byrn's avatar

Nice! Everything can be repaired with frosting! 🇺🇸

Michele Rich's avatar

How convenient seeing as my (tomorrow) 6 year old requested strawberry cake for his birthday party. This must be a June birthday, thing. Anyone I know with a June birthday wants strawberry cake/shortcake. PS happy belated!

Abigail Murrish's avatar

Thank you for this, Anne! I've long found inspiration in your use of the boxed cake mix! So happy to read this post.

Question, do you have a recommendation for 6 inch cake pans?

Anne Byrn's avatar

Wilton. I bought mine at Michael’s. Don’t get the more shallow ones. You need the 3-inch deep ones that are the toppers for wedding cake. Buy two of them. It’s a lot of fun to make the baby cakes from any cake recipe.

Taylor Nelsen, AFC®'s avatar

Any boxed cake mixes you would recommend without food dye?