Strawberry Cream Cheese Crumb Cake

Strawberries can be sensitive fruit, and by that I mean they can go from looking scrumptious to questionable overnight. Unfortunately, most strawberry recipes call for berries at the peak of their perfection or at least presentable. Since I refuse to waste money, and food, throwing out produce just because it doesn’t necessarily look good, we end up with a lot of strawberry smoothies and milkshakes.

A great recipe for overripe berries that don't look perfect, a strawberry and Cream Cheese Crumb Cake.

For the last few months TheKimSixFix has been hosting an Ultimate Recipe Challenge, and with strawberries being this month’s challenge ingredient I decided to share a recipe that makes use of strawberries slightly past their prime. (NOTE: If the berries have mold, don’t chance it-duh, throw them in the compost bin.)

I’m all about homemade goodies but when it comes to cake, eh, I stick with the boxed variety. Since this recipe has a few different components it made it much easier to use a mix. While we served it for an afternoon snack, I can image this being a great brunch or breakfast cake, served warm. Since this is a summer dessert I highly recommend storing it in the refrigerator to keep it fresh.

A great way to use strawberries that don't look perfect! Strawberry & Cream Cheese Crumb Cake.

Strawberry Crumb Cake

Ingredients

Crumb

1 c. of yellow cake mix

1/2 c. (1 stick) butter-cold

Cake

remaining cake mix

2 eggs

2/3 c. water

1/4 c. oil

Filling

1 egg

1/4 c. sugar

8 oz. pkg. cream cheese-softened

1/2 c. finely chopped fresh strawberries

First use a pastry cutter to combine cake mix and butter to create the crumb topping, and set aside.

Second, beat together the first three filling ingredients until smooth and set aside.

Strawberry & Cream Cheese Crumb Cake, a cake recipe perfect for ugly berries!

Finally, whisk together all cake ingredients until they are well incorporated, approximately 3 minutes. Pour into a greased 9x12 cake pan. Pour filling mixture back and forth over the cake batter before topping with the strawberries and crumb mixture.