Keto Strawberry Upside-Down Cake
An easy sugar free version of the classic upside-down cake recipe.
If you love strawberries, you need to make this moist keto cake. Based on a classic recipe, you can use a box cake mix to make this gluten free treat super easily. We love the tangy sweetness of the strawberries, the smooth vanilla flavor of the marshmallows and how beautifully the texture of the cake comes together. If you’ve never had an upside-down cake before, it’s when you line the bottom of a pan with sliced fruit (we’re using strawberries), add in marshmallows and Jello™ before pouring the cake mix on top. The cake bakes “upside-down” in the oven so the strawberries stay put and create a delicious and beautiful layer. Once the cake is baked, it’s time for the fun part! You flip the cake over so that the strawberries are on top and ready to be enjoyed!
You’ll love how the flavor of the strawberries soaks into the cake without the berries sinking into the batter. That creates a perfect slice of cake every time! The sugar free Jello™ helps stabilize the strawberry layer so that there’s no mess when you flip the cake. We also use our sugar free mini marshmallows for this recipe. They help stabilize as well, but more importantly they add a delicious flavor and texture to the strawberries! The end result is a gluten free cake that tastes like something your grandma would make you on a beautiful spring day.
While this recipe is traditionally full of sugar, we did some quick swaps to make it sugar free and keto friendly. The most important swap is our sugar free mini marshmallows. Regular marshmallows are packed with sugar, but ours are completely sugar free and can be baked in any dessert you wish to create! They’re bouncy and soft like a regular marshmallow, so they melt perfectly as the cake bakes, just like their full sugar counterparts. We don’t use any sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners with our marshmallows or any of our products. We sweeten with all natural monk fruit, a zero glycemic gourd. We also add in prebiotic fiber to help make this cake delicious and filling!
Jump to recipe sections:
- Why do you use Jello™ in an upside-down cake?
- What is an upside-down cake?
- How can I make a sugar free upside-down cake?
- How can I decorate my keto strawberry cake?
- How to store an upside down cake?
Why do you use Jello™ in an upside-down cake?
Jello™ is essential to the strawberry layer staying intact during and after the cooking process. Strawberry upside-down cakes are made with a layer of fresh strawberries and marshmallows that lay in the bottom of the pan while baking. The cake is then flipped, so the strawberries create a beautiful top to the cake. The powdered Jello™ mix helps keep the strawberries together and creates a vibrant color while enhancing the flavor. The texture of the strawberry layer is also delicious thanks to this simple ingredient!
You might have noticed that the recipe uses marshmallows as well! The gelatin from the marshmallows and the creamy vanilla flavor works perfectly together with the fresh strawberries. We use our sugar free mini marshmallows for this as they’re easier to sprinkle around the strawberries and create an even layer.
What is an upside-down cake?
Upside-down cakes are baked with a fruit layer on the bottom of the pan. Once baking is finished, the cake is flipped, revealing the beautiful fruit topping! This is a strawberry upside-down cake, but you can make it with pineapple or any other fruit you desire.
How can I make a sugar free upside-down cake?
This classic recipe was developed for home bakers that wanted to utilize boxed cake mixes. It’s incredibly easy to make and has a deliciously moist texture, so it was a hit with households across the USA back in the day! While the original upside-down cakes were not sugar free, we’ve come a long way in keto friendly baking. You can use a sugar free cake mix (or make it from scratch using the recipe below) and sugar free mini marshmallows for the delicious strawberry layer. We also like decorating with sugar free whipped cream and our golden Dunkies, which are gluten free vanilla sandwich cookies.
How can I decorate my keto strawberry cake?
The strawberry upside-down cake comes out beautifully on its own. Once you flip the cake over, you’ll notice a shiny strawberry layer on top that’ll make you want to dig in immediately! But, if you want to give it an extra flair, we suggest piping whipped cream on top. Then, half our gluten free sandwich cookies and place on top of the whipped cream dollop. For an extra strawberry sensation, you could use our gluten free strawberry wafers instead!
How to store an upside down cake?
We suggest storing the cake in the fridge since it contains fresh strawberries. It can be stored for 3-5 days in the fridge.
