The scent of rosemary and sweet strawberries all in one summer cake. This pretty Strawberry Rosemary Cake is too good to be true! 
I know I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again — just because it’s made in a bread pan, doesn’t necessarily mean it should be called “bread.” You could call this recipe bread, but who would you be kidding?
I mean, c’mon it’s cake! And “muffins” — don’t even get me started. 😉
Inspiration for Strawberry Rosemary Cake
It’s that time of year when strawberries are becoming sweeter and sweeter. I can’t get enough — seriously, every Sunday I pick up three baskets at the Farmer’s Market, and by the next morning they’re gone.
(Sure, four of us live here, but I’m responsible for their quick disappearance.)
I rarely cook with strawberries because they’re pretty perfect as they are, but I absolutely love rosemary with them.
It’s a match made in heaven, and cakes with rosemary are unexpected and incredibly delicious! You must make this cake and experience the delicious blend of flavors.
That said, if rosemary and/or strawberries aren’t your thing, don’t fret. You can still make a delicious summer cake with berries and herbs.
A few more fresh herb and berry cake ideas:
- Thyme and Blueberries.
- Basil and Blackberries.
- Mint and Strawberries.
- You can even use a mix of different berries and herbs, or a combination of anything in between.
When to Serve it
- I really love this Strawberry Rosemary Cake in the morning with my coffee.
- Of course it’s equally as lovely for an after dinner dessert. Especially warmed slightly and served with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on top.
- And hey, I’d even have it for afternoon summer snack — perhaps with a cold glass of My Mom’s Meyer Lemonade. Oh, how lovely that would be.
I give you permission to eat it anytime. 😉
Enjoy every last bite of this Strawberry Rosemary Cake!
Strawberry Rosemary Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1⅓ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ cup plus 1 tablespoon golden brown sugar, divided
- ½ cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1¾ teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary, washed and dried
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon boiling water
- 1¼ cup strawberries, washed and dried, cut into approximately 1/4-inch thick slices
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F, and line an approximately 8 1/2-inch loaf pan with parchment paper. (Use a large piece that will cover all 4 sides and cut slits in each corner so that it will lay flat.) Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and baking soda. Make a well in the center and set aside.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add 3/4 cup of the sugar, oil, vanilla, rosemary and salt. Mix until smooth. Then whisk in the eggs until they're completely blended in.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the well in the dry ingredients and mix only until combined -- just until you no longer see any dry spots.
- Fold in the boiling water. Once it's blended in, fold in 1 cup of the sliced strawberries.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and arrange the remaining ¼ cup of sliced strawberries on top, pressing them lightly into the batter.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar evenly on top, and bake in the preheated 350°F oven until the cake becomes solid and looks completely dry. It should no longer jiggle if you move the pan, and a toothpick should come out clean when stuck in the center -- about 1 hour. (If the top is getting too dark before it's fully cooked, very loosely cover with foil for the remaining cooking time.)
- Let the cake rest in the pan for at least 20 minutes or so. (It will sink slightly in the center -- that's okay.)
- Use the parchment paper surrounding the cake to carefully lift it out of the pan. Wait about an hour before slicing.
Notes
David says
Well, you have me convinced to try this! Looks perfect and summery!
valentina says
oh good. hope you like it! 🙂
David says
I tried to get strawberries at our market this morning – the season done for local berries. 🙁 I can still try this with TJ’s berries, right? I love the “cake for breakfast” tag! xox
valentina says
Oh no! Can’t believe the season is over already. I tried some from TJ’s last week and they were pretty good — especially for baking. 🙂
Linda says
I bet it would be fantastic with whipped cream cheese on the side!
valentina says
Linda, yes! XO
Gordon says
Have you tried a gluten free all purpose flour for this?
valentina says
Hi Gordon, I haven’t tried it, but I’m pretty certain it would work. (I like the all-purpose GF flour from Trader Joe’s or Bob’s Red Mill.) Often with a GF flour for this sort of recipe, the cake will sink a lot more after being out of the oven for a while. Should still be delicious though! Hope it works for you! 🙂
Coco in the Kitchen says
This is just so interesting. I’ve never paired strawberries with rosemary, let alone tossing them both into cake batter.
I have got to taste this. Thanks!
valentina says
Thank you, Colette! Hope you enjoy it. 🙂
Jessy says
Do you think this recipe would work with frozen strawberries? should I put less of them? How about stevia instead of sugar?
valentina says
Hi Jessy. Though I have never tried this with frozen berries, I think it should work. I’d thaw them and be sure they don’t add too much liquid to the recipe by using a paper towel to “dry” them. I haven’t worked with Stevia in recipes so I can’t say how that would be — I’d try it. Hope it all goes well. Enjoy! 🙂
Coco in the Kitchen says
What a beauty! The rosemary w strawberries sounds so interesting. I’m going to make this in the morning!
valentina says
Hi Colette! I hope you love it! Perfect for breakfast! 🙂
Rocky Mountain Woman says
I’m just going to have to make this. I love strawberries and my rosemary is just starting to come on. Looks perfect for afternoon tea on the deck!
valentina says
So happy you like this recipe — hope you do try it and love it as much as I do. 🙂
Healthy Kitchen 101 says
I’ve tried the rosemary as an ingredient for my recipe but this cake looks gorgeous! It’s absolutely worth trying!
– Natalie Ellis
valentina says
It’s a really interesting and delicious combination. I hope you try it and love it! 🙂
Docmike5 says
Very good breakfast or dessert bread. Loaf had a nice crunch to the crust. Not too sweet, berries were baked almost to a jam consistency with the rosemary flavor there, but not overwhelming. Thanks, Valentina.
valentina says
So happy this was a hit! It’s one of my favorite summer treats. Love it especially with coffee in the morning. 😉 Thanks so much for sharing how you liked it! 🙂 ~Valentina