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Decadent Chocolate Earthquake Cake with Cream Cheese Strawberry Swirl

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A rich, fudgy chocolate cake with a tangy cream cheese and strawberry swirl that cracks beautifully on top, creating a stunning marbled dessert perfect for celebrations or everyday indulgence.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (45g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) whole milk
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) boiling water
  • 8 ounces (225g) cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup (75g) fresh or frozen strawberries, chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch baking pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. Add eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Mix until combined but do not overmix.
  4. Slowly pour in boiling water while stirring gently; batter will be thin.
  5. In a separate bowl, beat softened cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar, egg, and vanilla extract and mix until creamy.
  6. Fold chopped strawberries gently into the cream cheese mixture.
  7. Pour half of the chocolate batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
  8. Dollop half of the cream cheese strawberry mixture over the batter.
  9. Repeat layering with remaining chocolate batter and cream cheese mixture.
  10. Use a toothpick or skewer to gently swirl the cream cheese mixture into the chocolate batter to create a marbled effect.
  11. Bake for 40–45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
  12. Cool the cake in the pan for at least 20 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Use room temperature eggs and cream cheese for smooth mixing. Thaw and drain frozen strawberries well to avoid excess liquid. Swirl gently to maintain the marbled effect. Start checking cake doneness at 35 minutes to avoid overbaking. Store leftovers wrapped tightly in plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze slices for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: chocolate cake, cream cheese swirl, strawberry swirl, fudgy cake, earthquake cake, easy chocolate dessert, celebration cake

Find it online: https://lucydishes.com/decadent-chocolate-earthquake-cake-recipe-with-cream-cheese-strawberry-swirl-easy-steps/