## Instructions
1. **Prepare the Cake Batter:** Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, water, oil, and 3 large eggs. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes, until smooth. Pour the cake batter into the prepared baking pan.
2. **Make the Cream Cheese Swirl:** In a separate medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and 1/2 cup granulated sugar until creamy and smooth. Beat in the remaining large egg and vanilla extract until well combined and lump-free.
3. **Create the Strawberry “Quake” Filling:** In a small bowl, gently toss the diced strawberries with 1/4 cup granulated sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice until the strawberries are evenly coated. Set aside.
4. **Assemble the Earthquake Cake:** Dollop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture over the chocolate cake batter in the pan. Don’t worry about spreading it perfectly; the “earthquake” effect happens as it bakes!
5. **Add the Strawberry Explosion:** Randomly spoon the strawberry mixture over the cake batter, filling in the gaps between the cream cheese dollops.
6. **Bake to Perfection:** Place the baking pan in the preheated oven and bake for 45-55 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs (not wet batter). The top will be golden, and the cream cheese and strawberries will have sunken in a bit, creating those glorious “earthquake” craters.
7. **Cool and Serve:** Let the cake cool completely on a wire rack before dusting with powdered sugar (if desired) and garnishing with fresh mint. Slice and serve!
## Short Tips
* **Room Temperature Cream Cheese:** Ensure your cream cheese is softened to room temperature for a smooth, lump-free swirl.
* **Don’t Overmix Cake Batter:** Overmixing can lead to a tough cake. Mix just until combined.
* **Fresh Strawberries are Key:** While frozen can work in a pinch, fresh strawberries provide the best flavor and texture for this recipe.
* **Bake Until Just Set:** Overbaking can dry out the cake. Look for moist crumbs when testing for doneness.
* **Get Creative with Toppings:** A dollop of whipped cream, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or even a drizzle of chocolate sauce would be fantastic additions!
