This soft homemade strawberry bread recipe is perfect for a healthy breakfast or dessert!
The best moist strawberry loaf cake
Light, sweet, and extra fluffy, this delicious strawberry bread is an absolute breakfast dream. And it’s packed with a full two cups of fresh strawberries!
If you are a strawberry lover, the recipe is a must try.
Starting your morning with sweet strawberry bread is sure to put a smile on your face and brighten the rest of your day. Leftovers freeze well too, which means you can always have this spring or summer strawberry treat on hand.
Also make Easy Cinnamon Rolls
Easy strawberry bread flavors
Strawberry Lemon Bread: Replace one third cup of the water in the recipe below with lemon juice. Stir in one tablespoon of lemon zest.
Chocolate Chip Strawberry Bread: Add half a cup of mini chocolate chips or white chocolate chips to the batter, and sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips on top.
Strawberry Banana Bread: Use this recipe for Healthy Banana Bread, stirring up to two thirds cup of diced strawberries in before baking. Press a few strawberry slices on top if you wish.
Strawberry Nutella Bread: Stir half a cup of toasted chopped hazelnuts into the batter before baking the strawberry loaf. Top with Homemade Nutella.
Above, watch the strawberry bread recipe video
Healthy strawberry bread ingredients
You will need strawberries, water, pure vanilla extract, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, optional almonds or walnuts, oil or almond butter, and cinnamon.
There’s no yeast, and no sour cream, sourdough, cake mix, or yogurt required for this classic strawberry quick bread recipe.
Different types of flour that work include white all purpose flour, whole grain spelt flour, or oat flour. Coconut flour is not recommended because it will yield dry results. Feel free to experiment with other flours I have not tried in this healthy loaf recipe, such as whole wheat pastry or almond flour.
The recipe is naturally dairy free. To make vegan strawberry bread with no eggs, either omit the optional egg or use a flax egg and oil or plant based butter.
For a low carb and sugar free strawberry bread, try this Keto Lemon Bread. Feel free to stir a half cup of diced strawberries into the batter before baking.
Use certified gluten free oat flour for gluten free strawberry bread. Some all purpose gluten free flour brands may also work here.
Trending this week: Healthy Blueberry Muffins
Frozen or fresh strawberries?
To avoid dense or gummy results from too much moisture, I recommend using either fresh berries or frozen strawberries that have been thawed fully. After thawing, dry off excess moisture with paper towels if using frozen berries.
You can also use chopped dried strawberries if you do not have fresh or frozen available. Slowly add more water or oil if needed.
Or for a fun flavor variation, replace some or all of the chopped strawberries with diced cherries, blackberries, or bananas.
Use leftover strawberries for Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Strawberry bread glaze recipes
Make a simple strawberry glaze by combining one third cup of powdered sugar with a teaspoon of water and a tablespoon of finely diced strawberries. Add more water if needed to thin out the strawberry icing.
Or serve topped with peanut butter, Coconut Butter, or cream cheese.
This berry quick bread is so soft and sweet on its own that I often skip the glaze or frosting entirely and serve it plain instead.
How to make strawberry bread
Begin by gathering all ingredients and chopping the strawberries.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan, and line the bottom with parchment paper.
Stir the first five ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Then stir in all remaining ingredients except the sliced strawberries to form a batter. Do not overmix.
Spread the bread batter into the prepared loaf pan. Press sliced berries and optional chocolate chips on the top for decoration.
Bake the strawberry loaf on the center rack of the oven for one hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
Let the bread cool before going around the sides with a knife and inverting the loaf cake onto a large serving plate.
If you can wait, the taste and texture are even better the next day. After some moisture evaporates, the bold strawberry flavor becomes more concentrated.
Using gram measurements
If you wish to use a food scale to make the recipe instead of cups and tablespoons, here are the amounts to use:
230 grams of diced strawberries, 240 grams each of water and flour, 150 grams of sugar, 36 grams of oil, and 10 grams of pure vanilla extract.
Also remember to add the other ingredients not measured in grams.
Leftover storage tips
The strawberry cake bread can be left out on the counter overnight, loosely covered with a cloth or paper towels. This will allow excess moisture to escape so the loaf stays light and fluffy.
I recommend storing leftovers after a day in the refrigerator in a covered container for optimal freshness. Leave a tiny opening at the top so moisture can get out. The strawberry recipe should stay good for up to four or five days.
Or you can slice leftovers and freeze in an airtight covered container for up to three months. Sandwich layers of wax or parchment paper in between each fresh strawberry bread slice so the slices do not stick together when thawing. Thaw frozen slices in the refrigerator overnight or in a microwave, oven, or toaster oven.
Still craving strawberries? Make Strawberry Oatmeal Bars or a Strawberry Smoothie.
Strawberry Bread
Ingredients
- 2 cups spelt or white all purpose flour (gluten free and keto options are listed above)
- 3/4 cup sugar, unrefined if desired
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 2/3 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, diced
- 1 cup water
- 3 tbsp oil, butter, or almond butter (or see note below about fat free option)
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 egg or flax egg, or 2 tbsp additional water
- 1/3 cup sliced strawberries, for the top
- optional 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- optional 1/2 cup slivered almonds or chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease a 9×5 loaf pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper. Stir first five ingredients in a large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients except topping to form a batter. Spread into the pan. Press sliced strawberries on top (see video above). Bake 60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean. Let cool. If you can wait, the taste and texture are much better the next day! Leftovers can be sliced and frozen.*A few readers have said they liked the results of subbing applesauce for the oil, but I have not tried. Feel free to experiment.View Nutrition Facts
Notes
Have you made this recipe?
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Nina says
Looks like another fabulous recipe… I am going to make this at the weekend. Also, a huge thank you for including gram measurements. (so very helpful as a UK follower) for anyone looking for the gram measurements… the conversion gram measurements for the applicable ingredients are in the notes above the recipe.
I was wondering about brushing the top lightly with melted apricot jam to give a sheen to the strawberries. Or do they sink into the cake? Your thoughts? Thanks again. Stay safe.
CCK Media Team says
That sounds delicious. The strawberries Katie put on top did not sink into the cake (see the photos and videos for a visual).
nicola parker says
I can’t find the keto version (above)?
CCK Media Team says
Hi! For a low carb and sugar free strawberry bread, make this Keto Lemon Bread and stir a half cup of diced strawberries into the batter before baking 🙂 https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/keto-lemon-bread/
Katie Carlson says
Made it tonight with Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour and mini chocolate chips mixed in. I had to bake it 20 minutes longer but worth it! It’s sooo good. Yum!
Sandra says
This bread was delicious! I’d never heard of strawberry bread before and was very pleasantly surprised!
Amy says
I made this bread using oat flour and added a half cup of chopped pecans. I LOVE this bread.. having a piece with coffee as I comment! Thank you so much Katie!
Rachel says
When Katie put more than 1 flour option is the first one listed her preferred option for the recipe?
Chocolate Covered Katie says
When baking for myself, I almost always use spelt flour 🙂
Debbie says
This was one of the most delicious breads I have ever eaten. I try and watch my sugar intake so I limit sweets. However, when I ate my first bite and every subsequent one, I felt like I was eating a delicious piece of cake. Thanks Katie!! This one is a keeper.
Diane says
Delicious
Lois says
This is a good recipe. I will make it again. I did use a small amount of coconut flour.( I did not read your comments above the recipe until after baking). The loafs were not too dry. I had a 2 yr old helping me and put in too much BP so I had to double the recipe. I am glad I made 2 loafs because everyone like it.
Andrea says
I used King Arthur Gluten Free All Purpose flour (with no xanthan gum). I had to bake it about 20mins longer, but it baked up nicely, however, all the diced strawberries inside rose to the top instead of being in the middle and bottom parts of the bread–any idea on why that happened? It still tastes great with all the strawberries at the very top.
Alexandra C Colacito says
That happened to me too!! But like you say, still tastes great.
Barbara says
I’m not sure what happened. I used oat flour and a flax egg. I made the lemon strawberry version. My batter was on the thin side…. The strawberries all sunk to the bottom and the top of the bread did not raise . The flavor, however, is good and the bread will definitely get eaten.
Alexandra C Colacito says
THIS IS SO GOOD. I always think I want to eat strawberries, and then find them too tart. In this bread/cake/loaf, they are perfect. I mean, it really is a lot of strawberries. The overall result is not too sweet. Could definitely be breakfast. I used applesauce instead of oil and you can’t tell at all, still totally moist, it rose wonderfully, and it tastes decadent (but not too decadent). Goodbye banana bread!!
Jan says
Wonderful recipe! The strawberries were nicely spread throughout. I used the best loaf pan I have, which is smaller than the recommended size and it worked out just fine. I’ll definitely make this again and will probably try it with the applesauce instead of oil, since I usually do that when I make cakes.
Diane says
Can’t wait to try this! Thank you!
(P.S. – Any way you can add a “Go To Recipe” link in your posts?)
CCK Media Team says
Hi! It is on the list for the next time Katie’s blog goes through a redesign 🙂
Kay says
I’m betting a cinnamon struesel topping would be amazing on this… 😃
Fay Plummer says
It’s the start of strawberry season here in Australia so I made this today.
I replaced one cup of flour with almond flour and chose the strawberry lemon option. It turned out beautifully and tastes delicious. My oven gets very hot so I only cooked 50mins it still got a little dark. Next time will have to top with some foil to stop that.
Thank you for this great recipe.
coa says
Your recipes are always amazing. I was wondering what sugar free substitutes you might be able to suggest in lieu of sugar? Something which can be used in most baking and give similar results of moistness and rise
CCK Media Team says
In general, we have good luck with xylitol. It doesn’t work for everything but is great in many of Katie’s recipes that call for sugar. Sometimes she will even list it as an option specifically (which means we tried it in that recipe).
Bisma Loan says
Appreciate your reply. It does not do very well with allulose or monkfruit sweetner, it seems to get dense and slightly moist in the middle. If you could please ask her that while he recipes are epic, that at times modified for people who can not have sugar, so if she would consider making something with Lakanto monkfruit sweetner which is the one most readily available an dpopular or even allulose , that would be extremely helpful
Ashley says
So easy and simple to make! Made this for my toddler for a snack/breakfast and it’s delicious!
Lesley says
Loved this!! I had so many strawberries and wanted to try something new!! Turned out perfect!! I sprinkled brown sugar on top of strawberries ( on topping) and it gave it some crunch! Perfect 60 min bake!
Sydney says
This is delicious!! I want to try the lemon version or maybe a lemon glaze on top. I also think it would be good with chocolate chips for a chocolate strawberry vibe!!
Elizabeth Jones says
Can’t wait to try this! Wondering if using frozen berries-do I thaw first?