Dreamy Strawberry Cloud Cake

Need something light and sweet but don't want to turn on the oven? Try this dreamy strawberry cloud dessert. With just three things you probably have at home, you'll whip up a super fluffy treat that's perfect when you want cake—just without flour, eggs, or heating up the kitchen. This cool make-ahead idea is a total win for get-togethers or any time you want something chill with max flavor and hardly any effort.

I whipped this up when summer heat had me craving something fruity and cold. My family couldn't believe you could get such a cloud-soft cake with almost no fuss at all.

Ingredients

• Unflavored gelatin powder: lets you get that signature pillowy texture; using the best you can find helps with the final set
• Fresh strawberries: dice them up small for bright bursts of flavor and a pretty pink color; grab firm, just-ripe ones for top-notch taste
• Unsweetened applesauce: gives a gentle sweetness and keeps everything nice and moist—stick with unsweetened or the cake could collapse

Step-by-Step Instructions

Slice and Serve:

Keep it cold right up to serving time. You can fancy it up with a dollop of whipped cream or whatever topping you love. Slice gently and enjoy straight from the fridge.

Chill to Set:

Scoop your fluffy mix into the lined pan and level it out with a spatula. Stick it in the fridge for at least an hour so it gets good and solid.

Whip the Mixture:

Once cool, move the puree to a stand mixer. Set up the whisk attachment and blast it on high for a good fifteen minutes. It’ll puff up huge and look airy-soft with soft peaks.

Dissolve Gelatin with Heat:

Use a double boiler to gently warm your mix. Keep stirring until the gelatin’s totally melted, but don’t let it heat up too much or boil. Pull it off the stove and leave out for ten minutes to cool.

Mix in the Gelatin:

Tip the strawberry-applesauce blend into a big heat-safe bowl. Sprinkle gelatin on top and whisk until it thickens a bit and looks smooth.

Blend the Fruits:

Pop strawberries and applesauce in a blender and run it until you can't see any chunks and the color is even.

Prepare the Pan:

Grab an eight or nine inch square pan and line the whole thing with one big sheet of parchment—this way you can just lift your cake out when you're ready.

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I always love the strawberries most. They add all the color and a fresh berry smell that’s kind of magic. I'll never forget when my youngest took her first bite—her whole face just lit up with surprise and joy on a sunny summer day.

Storage tips

Pop this dessert in the fridge covered and it’ll be good for about three days. Because it’s bursting with fresh fruit and never baked, you really want to dive in while it’s still fresh. Always use a good container so it doesn’t soak up flavors from the fridge.

Ingredient substitutions

If you’re in the mood to try something new, you can swap in blueberries or other berries. Just know it might turn out a little less fluffy and look different. Skip frozen fruit—it gets way too watery and won’t hold together. Never use sweetened applesauce or you’ll lose the airy texture.

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Serving suggestions

This treat tastes amazing on its own, but you can make it party-worthy with a swirl of whipped cream and a few extra berries. Craving more sweet? Try a little honey drizzle or spoon some berry sauce next to each slice.

Cultural note

Desserts like this show up everywhere once the weather warms up, especially when folks want to keep cooking cool and easy for backyard parties. Whipping up fruit with gelatin goes way back—lots of old-school summer classics use this trick for soft and pretty sweets without needing the oven.

Common Recipe Questions

→ What do I do to get it super airy?

Whip the mix of fruit and gelatin at high for about 15 minutes. That’s how it gets all that awesome volume and fluff.

→ Can I try it with frozen strawberries?

It’s better with fresh ones. Frozen strawberries drop too much water and that can flatten the whole thing out.

→ Which applesauce works best?

Stick with unsweetened applesauce. Sweetened kinds can mess up the fluffiness you’re looking for.

→ Is it cool to swap out the strawberries?

If you want, use blueberries instead, but it won’t come out as fluffy, and the color's going to change too.

→ What’s the best way to keep it fresh?

Just stash it in the fridge right in its tray, or pop it into any container with a lid. Slice and serve it super cold for that best texture.

→ How do I make it taste even sweeter?

Plop some whipped cream or a chilly frosting over the top right before serving if you’re after more sugar.