If you love rich pound cakes, fresh strawberries, and creamy homemade frosting, this Strawberry Italian Cream Pound Cake is a dessert you’ll want to make again and again. It has a tender, buttery crumb packed with fresh strawberries, sweet coconut, and optional crunchy pecans or walnuts.
The cake is finished with a luscious strawberry cream cheese frosting that adds the perfect balance of sweetness and tang. Whether you make it for a family gathering, birthday, holiday, or Sunday dessert, this beautiful cake is sure to disappear quickly.
🛒 Ingredients
Strawberry Italian Cream Pound Cake
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2½ cups granulated sugar
- 6 large eggs, room temperature
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries, drained well
- ¾ cup sweetened shredded coconut
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts, optional
Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar, plus more if needed
- ½ cup finely chopped strawberries, very well drained or blotted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
👩🍳 How to Make Strawberry Italian Cream Pound Cake
1. Prepare the Oven and Pan
Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Generously grease and flour a Bundt pan or prepare your layer cake pans.
2. Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light, fluffy, and creamy, about 3–5 minutes.
This step helps create a lighter texture in the finished pound cake, so don’t rush it.
4. Add the Eggs
Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the vanilla extract and mix until combined.
5. Add the Flour and Buttermilk
Alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk to the creamed butter mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.
Mix just until the batter comes together. Avoid overmixing, as this can make the cake heavier than necessary.
6. Fold in the Strawberries and Coconut
Gently fold in the finely chopped, well-drained strawberries, shredded coconut, and chopped pecans or walnuts if using.
Make sure the strawberries are drained well so they don’t add excessive moisture to the batter.
7. Bake
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
For a Bundt pan, bake for 60–70 minutes.
For layer cake pans, bake for approximately 30–35 minutes.
The cake is ready when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
8. Cool Completely
Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10–15 minutes, then carefully transfer it to a wire rack.
Let it cool completely before adding the cream cheese frosting.
🍓 Make the Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy.
Add the vanilla extract and pinch of salt. Gradually add the powdered sugar, about 1 cup at a time, mixing until smooth and fluffy.
Gently fold in the finely chopped strawberries. Because fresh strawberries contain moisture, make sure they are drained extremely well or blotted dry before adding them.
If the frosting is too soft, add a little more powdered sugar or chill it briefly before frosting the cake.
🎂 Frost the Cake
Once the cake has cooled completely, spread the strawberry cream cheese frosting generously over the top.
For a Bundt cake, let the frosting naturally drip down the sides for a beautiful homemade look. For layer cakes, spread frosting between the layers and over the top and sides.
For an extra-pretty finish, garnish with a few fresh strawberry slices just before serving.
⭐ Tips for the Best Strawberry Pound Cake
- Use room-temperature ingredients: Butter, eggs, and buttermilk blend more evenly and help create a smoother batter.
- Drain the strawberries well: Excess moisture can affect the texture of the cake and frosting.
- Don’t overmix: Mix the batter only until the ingredients are incorporated.
- Cream the butter and sugar properly: Give this step the full 3–5 minutes for the best texture.
- Cool completely before frosting: Cream cheese frosting needs a cool cake so it stays thick and creamy.
- Watch the cake near the end of baking: Oven temperatures can vary, so begin checking for doneness toward the end of the recommended baking time.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
Serve this cake as a beautiful centerpiece for brunches, family dinners, birthdays, showers, or holiday celebrations.
A cup of coffee or tea makes a wonderful pairing, while extra fresh strawberries on the side add a bright, fruity touch.
🧊 Storage
Because of the cream cheese frosting and fresh strawberries, store leftover cake covered in the refrigerator.
For the best flavor and texture, let a slice sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving.
📋 Recipe Information
Prep Time: About 25 minutes
Bake Time: 30–70 minutes, depending on pan
Total Time: About 1½–2 hours, including cooling
Yield: 1 Bundt cake or layer cake
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American-inspired
❤️ Final Thoughts
This Homemade Strawberry Italian Cream Pound Cake brings together everything you want in a special dessert: buttery pound cake, juicy strawberries, sweet coconut, crunchy nuts, and creamy strawberry cream cheese frosting.
It’s rich without being complicated, beautiful enough for special occasions, and delicious enough to become a family favorite. One slice is definitely not going to be enough!