We are officially in the middle of strawberry season, and I can’t think of any other fruit that my kids will inhale faster. Please tell me I’m not alone in this.

I once took my kids to a strawberry patch to give them a taste of a real farm experience. All kids should know where food grows, right? I’m pretty sure each of my kiddos ate their weight in strawberries. We hardly had anything in our buckets because the kids were literally picking them and eating them as we walked. You’d think they never met a strawberry in their lives!

So when strawberry season comes around, I have to take full advantage of the fact that these berries are more readily available and affordable. We stock up like these red jewels are going out of style.

While my kids love to just eat fresh strawberries whole or sliced, I love using this family favorite fruit in different recipes.

Strawberries are a versatile fruit and don’t need to be fussed with a whole lot to make any dish delicious. Not only are they yummy and easy to eat, but they are a nutrient-packed food, too!

Nutrition Content of Strawberries

Did you know that strawberries naturally contain an antioxidant called Ellagic Acid? More than just a weird sounding word, this powerful compound has many potential health benefits when eaten, including anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects. The naturally occurring antioxidants in strawberries, like Ellagic Acid, have been shown to have protective effects against certain types of cancers.

Strawberries are also an excellent source of vitamin C, folate, and potassium.

Have you ever noticed how the shape of a strawberry somewhat resembles a heart? It’s like Mother Nature is giving us a clue that this juicy, red berry is naturally a great source of nutrients that help protect our hearts.

Studies have found that women who ate at least 3 servings of red/blue fruits or veggies per week, such as strawberries, reduced the risk of heart attack by over 30% - wow!

Strawberries can also be an important nutrient source for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. 1 cup of strawberries offers about 40 mcg of folate, which is an essential nutrient to support the healthy growth and development of a baby during pregnancy.

Lastly, let’s not forget about the kids. I mentioned how much my own kiddos love these delightful berries, and fruits are a nutrient-dense foods that can help your own child’s growth. If your child struggles with eating vegetables, incorporating more fruits throughout their day can help ensure they are getting the nutrients they need.

Remember that fruits and veggies have similar nutrient profiles, and many kids may be more likely and willing to eat fruits, like strawberries.

Strawberries are high in fiber and naturally have increased water content. So adding berries to your kids’ diets and in the meal rotation can help keep their bellies satisfied and promote regularity.

Ways to Incorporate Strawberries in Your Diet

Strawberry season is officially during the months of April thru June. If you shop for strawberries during this peak season, you are more likely to get them fresh at a better price. Don’t forget that frozen and freeze-dried strawberries also work just as well, especially if you don’t always have access to fresh, local produce.

Here are some simple ways to incorporate strawberries into your regular meal plan or as part of a nutrient-dense snack:

• Add fresh, sliced strawberries to cereals, oatmeal

• Top yogurt with sliced strawberries and your favorite granola to make a parfait

• Add freeze-dried strawberries to nuts, coconut, and granola clusters to make your own homemade trail mix

• Top your favorite toast or bagel with cream cheese and fresh sliced strawberries

• Use frozen strawberries to make a healthy and easy smoothie: just add your milk of choice, ice, and a little drizzle of honey

• Add them to your favorite baked goods, like homemade muffins or cakes

As you can see, the possibilities really are endless.

If you’re in the mood for a fun, festive, and delicious cake to make for your next celebration, check out this easy strawberry cake recipe below.

Easy Homemade Strawberry Cake Recipe

Usually, I’m the boxed-cake mix type of baker. If you are too, know there is absolutely no shame in that. But if you have some extra strawberries on your hand or want to make a yummy dessert to enjoy with your loved ones, you have to try out this recipe.

This homemade strawberry cake recipe is perfect during the spring when fresh strawberries are in season and would be a great addition to brunch, Mother’s Day tea, picnic or BBQ. This dessert is fresh, light and fluffy and pairs well with so many different springtime meals.

Loading strawberries in this cake ups the freshness factor for this dessert and tastes delicious warm out of the oven, especially topped with whipped cream. You can’t beat the real strawberry flavor in every bite.

The best part is that it’s easy to put together. If you tend to stray away from baking homemade desserts because you don’t want anything to stressful, than this recipe is for you!

So let’s get you baking, shall we?

To start, make sure you have these ingredients on hand for your homemade strawberry cake. You likely have many of these ingredients on hand:

Ingredients:

• 12 oz. fresh strawberries, washed, hulled, and sliced in halves

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 2 tsp baking powder

• ¼ tsp salt

• 2 large eggs

• 1 cup whole milk Greek Yogurt, plain

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• Powdered sugar for dusting cake (optional)

• 9 inch Springform Cake Pan for baking

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Prepare your baking pan by lining with parchment paper or spraying with nonstick cooking spray.

2. To begin making the cake, mix the eggs and sugar together in a large bowl, using either a stand mixer or handheld electric mixer. Mix on high for a few minutes, until the mixture has thickened and is light in color.

3. Add the vanilla, Greek yogurt, and oil to the egg and sugar mixture. Mix on low until well combined.

4. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt, Whisk together until incorporated.

5. Slowly add the flour mixture to the batter and mix on low until just combined. Take care not to overmix your batter at this point.

6. Pour half of the batter into your prepared baking pan. Top with half of the sliced strawberries, layering the strawberries cut-side down.

7. Pour the remaining batter over the strawberry layer. Top the cake layer with the remaining half of the sliced strawberries, cut-side down.

8. Bake your cake for about 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow your cake to cool to room temperature before removing the outer ring of the springform pan.

9. Transfer the strawberry cake to a cake platter. Optional: Top the strawberry cake with additional fresh sliced strawberries, and dust the top with powdered sugar before serving. Slice and serve warm with a dollop of whipped cream. Enjoy!

Let Your Kids Help With Baking

Kids love helping in the kitchen, and letting them be involved with the baking can boost their confidence with cooking. Assign them small tasks to be responsible for so they can join you in the fun.

As a mama of 5 kids myself, I definitely understand how chaotic things can get in the kitchen when there are a lot of little hands that want to get involved. The best thing I have learned to help things go smoothly while letting everyone help is to delegate one step or task to each kid.

Yes, things might get messy or take longer with kids in the kitchen, but keep the big picture in mind if you find yourself getting frustrated or overwhelmed. Letting our kids cook with us can help nurture a love and confidence around food at an early age.

Here are some simple ways your kiddos can help you prepare this strawberry cake recipe:

• Measure out ingredients

• Pour ingredients into the bow and mix

• Add the sliced strawberries on top of the cake batter layer

• Dust the finished cake with powdered sugar

• Wash the strawberries

• Hull strawberries in preparation for use (check out the video below to make the stem removal easy and FUN)

For something super fun your kids can do, show them how to easily and safely hull your strawberries with this straw method!

Enjoying Desserts With Your Loved Ones

Don’t forget that all foods, including desserts, are meant to be both nourishing and pleasurable.

Creating and enjoying a dessert, like this strawberry cake, with the people in your life that you love, can be a great way to reconnect, make memories and traditions.

Whether you’re making this recipe with fresh berries off the strawberry plants or creating a dessert out of a premade boxed mix, remember the importance of food as something to enjoy, for both yourself and with others.

“A party without cake is just a meeting” ― Julia Child