Strawberry bread (easy recipe!)

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You’re going to love this amazing strawberry bread. It’s incredibly moist, soft, and bursting with juicy strawberries, yogurt, and hint of vanilla.

The recipe is so easy to whip up, no stand mixer no creamy butter.

Strawberry bread cut into slices on a black slate tray.

Adapted from my favorite strawberry ricotta cake and yogurt cake, this easy delicious bread recipe contains protein-rich yogurt that keeps the crumb really moist as well as adding a touch of tang.

And it’s full of juicy strawberries and nicely sweet but not over the top. Some cakes are packed with sugar, but this one is just right.

I’ve made it at least 3 times in the last 10 days, and we just LOVE it!

It’s truly a super easy bread recipe great to use strawberries when they’re in season, or to use up not-so-perfect strawberries as well.

Finish off with warm jam for a lovely shiny coating, serve with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of sweet cream cheese... and devour!

It’s perfect for breakfast and afternoon tea. Everyone will ask you for the recipe!

List of the ingredients

  • Fresh or frozen strawberries
  • Plain or Greek-style yogurt
  • All-purpose flour
  • Eggs
  • Sugar
  • Vegetable oil
  • Vanilla extract or essence
  • Baking powder + salt
  • Strawberry or apricot jam (optional)
The ingredients for this strawberry bread are arranged on a white marble surface.

How to make this strawberry bread recipe

(Note: this is simply a quick description, the full recipe is at the bottom of the page)

  • Dice the strawberries.
  • Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
  • In a large second bowl, mix the eggs and sugar.
  • Add the the rest of the wet ingredients to the egg mixture.
A bowl with diced strawberries and a glass bowl containing the wet ingredients.
  • Stir in the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
  • Fold the strawberries into the batter.
  • Scrape the batter into the loaf pan and bake.
  • Optional: dust with powdered sugar or brush with warm jam for a lovely finish.
  • It’s delicious serve with a dollop of sweet cream cheese. Enjoy!

So here it is in all its glory!

A hand is grabbing the first slice of a moist strawberry bread.

RECIPE NOTES

Strawberry bread variations?

You can replace the strawberries with your favorite berries. You can add to the recipe dark chocolate chips, spices, chopped nuts, orange or lemon zest.

Baking tips

  • Fresh berries might “stain the batter” with their juice. Make sure to pat the diced strawberries dry with kitchen paper and fold them gently into the batter.
  • The baking time depends on the size and shape of the pan. A loaf pan will take longer than a large round pan.
  • Use eggs and yogurt at room temperature.
  • Stirring the batter too much produces gluten and creates a denser cake. Do not overmix the batter.
  • Do not open the oven during the baking time: this will cause drop of the temperature and can make the bread fall in the middle.
  • Brush the bread with warm jam for a nice shiny look.

Jam glaze

The jam glaze is optional, but it’s so simple to make and adds a lovely shine.
Heat gently some apricot or strawberry jam in a saucepan until the jam has melted. If it looks too thick add a tiny bit of warm water. When the glaze is the consistency of runny honey, brush the bread straight away.

How long does this strawberry bread keep?

It keeps well for up 4 days at room temperature or in the fridge, in an airtight container. It’s also freezable: wrap the cake, or slices of cake, in plastic wrap (clingfilm), store in an airtight container, and freeze for up to 1 month.

Strawberries in a bowl, in the background a small white bowl containing eggs.
Recipe update: published in May 2020/updated in June 2023

More easy cake recipes?

Here are more treats easy to make and perfect for any occasion:

If you make this delicious and easy strawberry bread recipe, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, or tag a photo #theclevermeal on Instagram. I would love to hear from you! x

Strawberry bread cut into slices on a black slate tray.
Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes

Easy & moist strawberry bread

You're going to love this amazing strawberry bread: it's incredibly moist, soft, and bursting with juicy strawberries, yogurt, and hints of vanilla. It's so easy to make, not overly sweet, and so delicious!
 
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Bread, desserts
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Strawberry bread
Servings: 8
Calories: 271kcal
Author: Katia

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cup + 1Tbsp (200 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • teaspoon fine salt
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • ½ cup (100 grams) caster or regular sugar (use a bit more if you like a sweeter flavor) (see notes)
  • ½ scant cup (about 100 ml) vegetable or canola oil
  • 1 cup (250 grams) Plain or Greek-style yogurt (see notes)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cup (approx 200 grams) strawberries, diced and pat dry

JAM GLAZE

  • 3 tablespoons Strawberry or apricot jam

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350℉/180℃ degrees and place the rack in the middle position. Grease a 9x5x2.5 inch loaf pan with butter or simply line the pan with parchment paper.
  • Dice the strawberries and pat them dry with kitchen paper. Set aside.
  • In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
  • In a large second bowl, beat eggs and sugar with a fork or a whisk until the sugar is dissolved. Then add oil, yogurt (at room temperature), vanilla essence, and stir until smooth and combined. 
  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stir with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
  • Using the same spatula, gently fold the diced strawberries into the batter, and trying to distribute them evenly.
  • Scrape the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for about 40-45 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
  • When the cake is done, remove it from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool for about 10 minutes. Then remove the bread to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • To make the glaze, add about 3 tablespoons of apricot or strawberry jam to a small saucepan. Heat gently over low heat until the jam has melted and If it looks too thick adjust the consistency with a tiny bit of warm water. When the glaze is the consistency of runny honey, brush the strawberry bread straight away.
  • Slice, serve and enjoy with vanilla ice cream or sweet cream cheese.

Notes

  • Frozen strawberries: they work just fine. Cut the bigger strawberries into smaller pieces while they’re still frozen (they break easily). Diced strawberries distribute themselves evenly throughout the cake, give more flavor, and look better than big mushy strawberries. 
  • Sugar: you can increased the amount of sugar but adding an extra 1/4 or  1/3 cup of sugar if you prefer a sweeter strawberry bread.
  • Yogurt: a creamy yogurt with a “pourable” consistency  (plain yogurt or Greek-style yogurt) works well. I find the real Greek yogurt is too thick and gives a denser texture.
  • All-purpose flour and whole-grain flour:  you can use white whole wheat, light spelt flour, or all-purpose flour. The first two whole-grain flours are less refined, rich in fiber, and with a light texture similar to all-purpose flour.
    I prefer mixing light spelt flour and all-purpose flour.
  • Gluten-free: you can substitute all-purpose flour with rice flour
  • Baking the cake in a round pan rather than a loaf pan reduces the baking time (about 30 minutes are enough).
  • Keeps well for 4 days at room temperature, in an airtight container. Freezable.
NOTE: the nutritional values are for 1 slice and are estimates only.

Nutrition

Calories: 271kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 28mg | Potassium: 124mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 59IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 1mg

20 Comments

  1. Any suggestions for how to get the middle to cool better? The outer parts of the bread cooked decently and definitely the outside, but I left it in for an extra half hour and it was still pretty raw in the middle. Any tips would be great!

    1. Hi Sarah! If the cake batter is a bit runny (maybe too much yogurt or oil) – and you use a loaf pan – the baking time takes longer. Also, if you open the oven door many times to check the doneness, the oven temperature drops and again, the baking time is longer. x

  2. 5 stars
    Just made these into jumbo muffins and they’re delicious! My strawberries were not exactly delectable (very off-season-blandish) so I probably could’ve upped the sugar a little, but still, they are lovely and flavourful, and really the perfect sweetness for breakfast to have with a coffee or tea.

    1. I’m so pleased to hear that, Olivia… I would love one of those jumbo muffins right now!
      Btw, the cake itself is not very sweet (the recipe calls only 1/2 cup of sugar). Next time you might want to add a little bit of sugar if you wish. ; ).
      Thanks for your lovely feedback x

  3. Hi,
    I have a lot of strawberries and would like to freeze the loaf(s). Does it freeze well?
    Thank you!
    Gabi

    1. Hi Gabi… yes, it freezes pretty well. x

  4. nancy visconti says:

    5 stars
    Hi Katia,
    Made this yesterday…was delicious. I have two questions.
    I used frozen strawberries. I used them frozen. Was that correct?
    I would like to lighten the cake a bit, Was wondering about whipping the whites & folding them in? What do you think? Nancy

    1. Hi Nancy, thanks for sharing your lovely feedback, I’m so glad it turned out delicious!
      Frozen strawberries are totally fine, no need to thaw them first.
      Whipped whites give a lighter texture, you’re right, and although I’ve never used them in this recipe, I think they will work.
      Cheers x

  5. Tried your Yoghurt Cake recipe and loved it. Can’t wait to try this!!

    1. Great! Let me know how it turns out 🙂

    2. Hello! I was wondering if I could substitute the vegetable oil for butter? Thank you!

    3. Hello Grace! I’ve never tried this recipe using butter, I’m sorry if I can’t help.
      Have a lovely weekend. x

  6. 5 stars
    Thanks for this delicious recipe! I used strawberry yogurt and it was soooo good, it’s not going to last 4 days! LOL

    1. I’m so glad you love it, Dana! Thanks for your comment! 🙂

  7. I am in the process of making this recipe now, However, I only have greek plain whole milk yogurt, is this going to be ok? Not too thick… I placed in a bowl and stirred it several times to thin it out a bit.

    Thank you!!

    1. If it’s not too thick is fine, but I guess you’ve already made your strawberry bread, Donna 🙂 Sorry for the late reply, I live in London x

  8. Hi! Can I substitute your Greek Yoghurt with plain yoghurt — since the original yoghurt cake recipe called for normal plain yoghurt!

    1. Hi Celine, perfect timing since I’ve just added a note to the recipe! Yes, you can use plain yogurt. I make this strawberry bread with Greek-style yogurt which is very similar to plain yogurt, both yogurts have a “pourable” consistency, that’s what you want in this recipe. The “real” Greek yogurt it’s too thick. Let me know how it turns out 🙂

  9. 5 stars
    Hi, unfortunately I haven’t been able to find light spelt flour anywhere. Would using some cornflour help to make the cake lighter- if so, what amount?

    1. Hi Noor, you can definitely use all-purpose flour, it’s perfect for the recipe.
      Light spelt flour is simply a whole grain flour that has been slightly refined. It’s rich in fiber and has “light” color and texture, but it doesn’t make your cakes “lighter”. Basically it works like all-purpose flour 😉
      Let me know how it turns out x

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