Trader Joe's Strawberry Mini Sheet Cake Review: Berry Cute Cake, But Was It Berry Tasty?

Trader Joe's has been cranking out mini sheet cakes like it's trying to become your go-to birthday party backup. Lemon, Chantilly Cream, and now strawberry have all taken their turn in the bakery case spotlight. So when I spotted the Strawberry Mini Sheet Cake on shelves for $5.99, I had high hopes and maybe, just maybe, unrealistic expectations. Spoiler alert: this one's not the crowd favorite.

Review

Trader Joe's Strawberry Mini Sheet Cake is a seasonal dessert that's styled like a mini party cake, complete with soft cake, no layers, and a thick ribbon of cream cheese frosting. It follows the same format as its lemon and chantilly cream siblings and comes packaged in a clear plastic clamshell with bright pink vibes and strawberry illustrations that practically scream spring on the labeling.

It weighs in at 18 ounces and is meant to serve about four reasonable people or one person who's had a rough Tuesday.

Let's get into it: the strawberry flavor here is basically on mute. If you're expecting a bold berry moment, you're going to be disappointed. The cake itself is soft and has a slightly denser texture than the lemon version, but it's really only vaguely strawberry in flavor, like someone whispered the word "strawberry" near the batter and called it a day.

As for the frosting, it's the same cream cheese frosting used in the other mini sheet cakes. While that tangy frosting works well with the lemon cake (and helps balance out sweetness), here it overwhelms whatever little strawberry is trying to show up. The combo feels a little unbalanced, like a duet where one singer is way off mic and the other won't stop belting. The coloring is non existent in the frosting. I've seen ones with specks of pink or red hinting at strawberry. But only a few bites in isolation allowed me to get a sense that there was at least some strawberry flavor in this.

Texture-wise, the cake is moist and well-baked. It's not dry. It's not bad. But it also doesn't give you that "OMG I need another slice" feeling either. And if you don't like cream cheese frosting? Just keep walking, because this cake is basically a vehicle for it. Overall, I usually get the lemon variety, but I wouldn't purchase the strawberry cake variety again. The flavor is just too muted for my liking.

How to Serve

• Serve chilled or slightly cool to keep the frosting firm
• Add sliced strawberries on top to help boost the missing flavor
• Try with whipped cream or even macerated berries for extra flair

Creative Uses

• Freeze the frosting separately and use as a topping for graham crackers or cookies
• Cut into cubes and layer with whipped cream and fruit for a strawberry trifle
• Use as the base for an impromptu strawberry shortcake (with actual strawberries)

FAQs about Trader Joe’s Strawberry Mini Sheet Cake

Below is a list of frequently asked questions about this product

Final Thoughts

Trader Joe's Strawberry Mini Sheet Cake might look festive and fun from the packaging, but if you're buying it for a strong strawberry punch, you'll be left wanting. It's got the same cream cheese frosting as the lemon version, but this time it underwhelms instead of complements. The texture is fine, the size is right, but the flavor doesn't deliver. It's a seasonal offering you can skip unless you're just here for the frosting.