Preheat & Prepare:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
• Let cream cheese and butter soften at room temperature.

Prepare the Cake Batter:

• In a large bowl, mix the strawberry cake mix according to the package instructions (typically adding eggs, milk, and oil).
• Stir until smooth but do not overmix.

Make the Cream Cheese Swirl:

• In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese, melted butter, and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.

Assemble the Cake:

• Pour the strawberry cake batter into the prepared baking dish.
• Spoon dollops of the cream cheese mixture over the top.
• Use a knife to swirl the cream cheese into the batter for the signature “earthquake” effect.
• Sprinkle white chocolate chips on top (if using).

Bake:

• Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 40-45 minutes, until the edges are set but the center remains slightly jiggly.
• The cake will naturally crack as it bakes, creating the “earthquake” effect.

Cool & Serve:

• Let the cake cool before slicing to allow flavors to meld together.
• Enjoy as-is or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!