Strawberry Shortcake Crunch Bars with Box Cake Mix

Last Updated on March 24, 2025 by Allison Lancaster

These Easy Strawberry Shortcake Crunch Bars with Box Cake Mix are truly magical — they’re that dessert that’ll remind you of those easy-going, spring days of your childhood. To me, every bite brings back memories of those wonderful afternoons at home, family gatherings, and the sweet aroma of fresh strawberries filling the kitchen.

Growing up, my family always had a love for strawberries. Whether it was picking fresh berries at a local farm or just simply enjoying them with whipped cream, strawberries symbolized togetherness and joy. We still take our kids to a local strawberry farm each year to purchase fresh berries. I decided to recreate one of my husband’s favorite strawberry desserts: strawberry crunch bars with these Easy Strawberry Crunch Cake Bars made with Box Cake Mix. The idea was to take a simple cake mix and elevate it with a creamy frosting and a delightfully crisp topping.

An Irresistible Dessert With Layers of Flavors

My Strawberry Shortcake Crunch Bars combines the best of two worlds: the moist, fruity flavor of a strawberry cake and the irresistible crunch of a golden Oreo topping. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, hosting a dinner party, or just indulging in a sweet craving, this cake is a showstopper. It’s also a delicious Easter or Mother’s Day dessert. Plus, it’s incredibly simple to make, using a handful of pantry staples that come together for a dessert that looks and tastes like it took hours to prepare.

If you love the classic strawberry crunch ice cream bars, this recipe will be your new favorite strawberry dessert. The combination of creamy frosting, soft cake, and crunchy topping makes every bite an experience. The flavors on this decadent dessert is as spot on as my Strawberry Shortcake Biscuits with Refrigerated Biscuits, Easy Strawberry Icebox Cake and Mini Strawberry Shortcake Bites. Trust me—you would want to try making this one!

Why You’ll Enjoy These Easy Strawberry Crunch Cake Bars

• Quick & Easy: There’s no need for complicated steps—this strawberry cake recipe is beginner-friendly.
• Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether you’re preparing this dessert as a casual party treat or for an intimate date night, this Strawberry Crunch Cake Bar recipe will always be a hit.
• Nostalgic Flavor: If you loved strawberries and cake bars as a kid, you’ll adore this cake.
• A Perfect Blend of Different Textures: The layers of soft cake, creamy frosting, and crunchy topping make every bite of this dessert irresistible.
• Family-Friendly: Kids and adults alike will love the sweet and tangy strawberry flavor on this one! This cake bar recipe is picky-eater approved in our household!
• Customizable: The beauty of this recipe, is that you can switch up the flavors with different cake mixes or toppings. Whatever spring fruit you have on hand will work fine.
• A Great Crowd-Pleaser: This dessert is always a favorite at potlucks, gatherings, and celebrations not only because of how easy it is to make, but also how fuss-free it is when transporting it to whichever party you’re invited to. Just bring the whole pan and serve it as it is.

Ingredients for the Easy Strawberry Crunch Cake Bars

For the Strawberry Cake Bars:

• Strawberry cake mix – As the base of the cake, providing a delicious strawberry flavor with ease. Using a pre-made mix saves time while ensuring a moist and fluffy texture.
• Butter, melted – Adding melted butter adds moisture and richness, making the cake extra tender. Butter also enhances the overall flavor, giving the cake a homemade taste.
• Eggs – These will help bind the ingredients together and give structure to the cake. Eggs add stability and contribute to the light yet firm texture of the cake.
• Strawberry gelatin powder – This intensifies the strawberry flavor and enhances the vibrant pink color. The gelatin also adds a slight chewiness, making the cake extra delightful.

For the Frosting:

• Block of cream cheese, softened – Cream cheese creates a tangy, creamy frosting that balances the sweetness. Cream cheese adds a velvety texture that pairs well with the crunch topping.
• Butter, softened – Adds a smooth, velvety texture to the frosting. Butter helps the frosting hold its shape and enhances the richness. Just make sure to use unsalted butter so you can control salt content.
• Vanilla extract – A splash of this enhances the overall flavor with a warm, aromatic touch. Vanilla extract complements the strawberry flavor beautifully.
• Powdered sugar – Sweetens the frosting to perfection without making it overly sweet. Powdered sugar dissolves easily, ensuring a silky texture.
• Heavy cream – This will help adjust the frosting’s consistency, making the frosting spreadable. The cream makes the frosting extra luscious and easier to work with.

For the Crunch Topping:

• Golden Oreo cookies – Provide a sweet, buttery crunch that pairs beautifully with the strawberry flavor. Crushed Golden Oreos add a vanilla-caramel undertone to the topping.
• Strawberry gelatin powder – Gives the topping its signature pink color and fruity kick. This ensures the crunch topping has a bold strawberry essence.
• Butter, melted – Helps bind the topping together for the perfect crunchy texture. Melted butter brings out the flavors of the cookies and gelatin, ensuring a cohesive crunch.

How to Make the Easy Strawberry Crunch Cake Bars

Prepare the baking dish and make the batter: To make these Easy Strawberry Crunch Cake Bars, start by preheating your oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Then, in a large bowl, combine the strawberry cake mix, melted butter, eggs, and strawberry gelatin powder. Spread the thick batter into the prepared baking dish.

Bake the cake, then prepare the frosting: Once the batter is spread out on the prepared baking dish, bake at 350°F for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Meanwhile, make the frosting for the Easy Strawberry Cream Crunch Cake Bars. Beat together the cream cheese, softened butter, and vanilla extract. Add powdered sugar and heavy cream, mixing until smooth.

Prepare the crunch topping, then assemble the cake: Next, crush the Golden Oreos in a food processor. Then, mix with strawberry gelatin powder and melted butter until combined. Once the topping is done, spread the frosting over the cooled cake. Lastly, sprinkle the crunch topping evenly over the frosting.

Chill and serve: Finally, refrigerate the Strawberry Crunch Cake for 30 minutes. Then, slice and enjoy!

How to Serve these Easy Strawberry Shortcake Crunch Bars

You can serve these Easy Strawberry Crunch Cake Bars in many ways. Firstly, you can simply cut them into smaller squares and just serve it as it is. You can also top the cake bars with whipped cream or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream. These are best enjoyed during spring and summer during get togethers, outdoor barbecues and even picnics.

How to Store Leftovers

• Refrigerate: In case of leftovers, store your Easy Strawberry Crunch Cake Bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• Freeze: Wrap your Easy Strawberry Crunch Cake Bars individually in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before serving.
• Keep it fresh: For the best crunch, add the topping just before serving if making ahead. That means having to stop just until you’ve frosted the cake top and storing the topping in an airtight container separately.
• Room temperature storage: If serving within a few hours, it can stay out at room temperature for 2-3 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions FAQ’s

These Easy Strawberry Crunch Cake Bars is a must-try for anyone who loves sweet, fruity desserts with a little crunch. Give it a try and let me know how yours turn out in the comments. Happy baking!

Continue to Content

Strawberry Shortcake Crunch Bars with Box Cake Mix

Yield: 9

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

These Easy Strawberry Shortcake Crunch Bars with Box Cake Mix are truly magical — it’s that dessert that'll remind you of those easy-going, spring days of your childhood.

Print

Ingredients

• 1 box strawberry cake mix
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 2 eggs
• 6 tbsps strawberry gelatin powder
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 powdered sugar
• 1-2 tbsp heavy cream
• 20 Golden Oreos

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line an
   8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper and spray with non-stick cooking
   spray; set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl combine
   the strawberry cake mix, ½ cup melted butter, eggs, and 2 tablespoons
   strawberry gelatin powder. Spread the batter into the prepared baking dish (the
   batter will be thick).
3. Bake at 350F for 25 minutes.
   Remove from the oven and cool completely to room temperature.
4. In a large mixing bowl, use an
   electric mixer to beat together the cream cheese, ¼ cup softened butter, and
   vanilla extract until well combined. Add the powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon of heavy cream and beat until smooth. If the frosting is too thick, beat in one more tablespoon of heavy cream.
5. Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the strawberry bars.
6. Place the golden Oreos in a food processor and pulse until the cookies are broken down into rough crumbs (some bigger pieces are okay). Add the 4 tablespoons of strawberry gelatin powder and pulse to combine with the cookies. Pour in the ¼ cup melted butter and pulse just until mixed in.
7. Pour the cookie crumble over the cream cheese frosting and spread out evenly.
8. Refrigerate the bars for 30 minutes, then slice and serve.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  PriorityChef 5 Piece Mixing Bowls With Lids, Large 5 Quart Capacity, Stainless Steel, Non Slip Silicone Bottom, Stackable For Minimal Storage, Black Base
• 
  KitchenAid Gourmet Utility Whisk, 10.5-Inch, Matte Aqua Sky
• 
  DOWAN Casserole Dish, 9x13 Ceramic Baking Dish, Large Lasagna Pan Deep, Casserole Dishes for Oven, 135 oz Deep Baking Pan with Handles, Oven Safe and Durable Bakeware for Lasagna, Roasts, Wedding Gifts, White

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 9 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 514Total Fat: 39gSaturated Fat: 22gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 135mgSodium: 399mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 1gSugar: 26gProtein: 6g