Preheat and Prepare: Begin by warming your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly greasing your baking dish. Lightly coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with a thin layer of oil to keep your cake from sticking.
Mix Cream Cheese Layer: In a bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Next, add the melted butter, granulated sugar, sour cream, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix well until the mixture is creamy and free of lumps.
Assemble the Base: Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture over the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Add Strawberries: Arrange the sliced strawberries on top of the cream cheese layer. If you prefer a sweeter touch, drizzle the strawberry preserves over the fruit.
Dump Cake Topping: Sprinkle the entire box of cake mix evenly over the strawberry layer. There is no need to mix; the cake mix will create a crumbly, cakey topping as it bakes.
Bake: Place the dish in the oven and bake for 40 minutes, or until the topping turns golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
Cool and Serve: Allow the cake to cool for at least 15 minutes before cutting into squares. This step helps the layers set for clean slices.