1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. This is where the magic will happen!
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the strawberry cake mix, water, vegetable oil, and eggs. Mix until well combined, about 2 minutes. I love using a hand mixer for this—less mess and more fun!
3. In another bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with the powdered sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. This filling adds a delightful surprise to your cake!
4. Pour half of the strawberry cake batter into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly across the bottom.
5. Spoon dollops of the cream cheese mixture over the strawberry batter. You want this to be a bit rustic, so don’t worry about making it perfect—just make sure it’s evenly distributed.
6. Top with the remaining strawberry batter, covering the cream cheese mixture as best as you can.
7. In a small bowl, mix the sliced strawberries with granulated sugar and let them sit for about 5-10 minutes. This helps release their juices, which will create a lovely topping for your cake.
8. Scatter the sugared strawberries on top of the cake batter and sprinkle with chopped walnuts if using.
9. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Your kitchen will smell absolutely heavenly during this time!
10. Once done, let it cool for about 10 minutes before slicing. Trust me, this cake is even better when it has a little time to set!

As you bake, take a moment to enjoy the process. It’s messy, yes, but it’s the kind of mess that makes for great memories. I always find my kids sneaking tastes of the batter, and honestly, I can’t blame them!