Heaven on Earth Cake with delicious layers of angel cake, sour cream pudding, cherry pie filling, whipped topping, and almonds. Creamy and decadent, this cherry trifle is a sure crowd pleaser!
I was out running errands when I received this text from G, “Hey, there’s heaven on earth in the fridge”. Whaat? WTH is heaven on earth?
Naturally, my curiosity was piqued and, duly intrigued, my first stop when I got home was the refrigerator.
Heaven on earth cake, I soon discovered, is an icebox cake made with layers of cubed angel food cake, vanilla pudding with sour cream, cherry pie filling, whipped topping, and toasted almond slivers.
G’s mom has been making this refrigerator cake for years for potlucks and family get-togethers. Creamy and decadent, it never fails to impress the crowd!
This dessert is actually a cherry trifle. Why it’s called heaven on earth, I have no idea. G thinks it’s because of the use of angel food cake. I think it’s because every bite is like finding heaven on earth.
It’s so simple to make; you’ll be pleasantly surprised how amazingly delicious it turns out with hardly any effort. So easy in fact the hardest part of the recipe is waiting for it to set and chill!
Helpful tips
- The recipe calls for angel food cake, but feel free to swap with pound cake, chocolate cake, vanilla sponge cake, brownies, crushed Oreos, or sponge fingers for variety.
- For an extra kick of flavor, briefly soak the cake cubes in sherry or fortified wine.
- I used Cool Whip to cut down on prep time, but you can use whipped topping from scratch if you like. With an electric mixer, beat one cup of very cold heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
- I usually use a 9 x 13 pan but if you want a thicker dessert, use a square 9 x 9 pan as in the video.
- Not a fan of cherry pie filling? Swap with strawberry or blueberry pie filling! This dessert is amazing all year round; try apple pie filling during the Fall months.
Want more no-bake desserts to enjoy this Summer? You’ll love the coffee flavor in this espresso refrigerator cake! Also, try this Three-ingredient Oreo cake and save yourself a trip to the ice cream parlor. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 box Angel food cake or 1 prepared Angel Food Cake
- 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
- 1 tub (8 ounces) Cool Whip
- 1 tablespoon almond slivers, toasted
Instructions
- Bake angel food cake according to package's directions. Allow to cool and cut into cubes.
- In a bowl, combine pudding mix, milk, and sour cream and beat until smooth. Set aside.
- In a 9x13 baking dish, arrange 1/2 of cake cubes in a layer.
- Spoon 2/3 of cherry pie filling over cake.
- Place the remaining 1/2 of the cake on top of the pie filling.
- Spoon pudding over cake and spread evenly.
- Spoon and spread whipped topping over the pudding layer.
- Garnish cake with the remaining pie filling and toasted almonds.
- Chill for about 4 to 5 hours. Cut into servings.
Nutrition Information
“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”
Danielle says
I’m wonder iabout adding almond extract to either the whipped cream or the pudding- thoughts?
Davey says
Ma’am I hate sour eam can I leave it out?
Robin Werle says
can u make this with strawberries instead of cherry pie filling?
Lalaine says
Ye,s you can 🙂
Cher Duncombe says
Yes, I used strawberry pie filling and it was delicious!
Lalaine says
Thank you for sharing!
Pam Flowers says
Very Very good!!
Lalaine says
Thank you!
Ethel Blake says
I made this for my granddaughter’s boyfriends birthday. He loved it and so did the rest of our gang . Thank you for the recipe.
Lalaine says
You’re welcome. I am glad everyone liked it 🙂
Lynn Holzerland says
The kids just love it right!!..!!..
Robin says
Do you really have to use sour cream. The reason I ask is because I don’t like it. And I try to avoid it if I can.
Laurie says
Would a regular yellow cake mix work? I don’t have an angel food cake pan. It looks delicious and I really want to try it.
Thank you!!
Pattie Bamba says
Hafa Adai Lalaine!
I do a similar recipe to yours. Instead of the sour cream added to the vanilla pudding, vanilla ice cream is added and it’s wonderful!! The vanilla and sour cream I use for a quick and easy strawberry pie.
Lalaine says
Thanks for the tip! Vanilla ice cream sounds like a great alternative, especially in Summertime. And that quick and easy strawberry pie sounds delicious, too 🙂
Charles Franks says
I have made this dessert twice now. It’s Awesome. I’ve made it for Church Pot luck disappeared, and for
our Bible study group for 20 guest. Nothing left. The only difference was I use one additional can of Cherry Filing for the middle section. It’s great.
Lalaine says
Thank you, Charles, for the feedback! Yes, this cake is always a crowd pleaser. I am actually in the middle of making one right now to bring to a friend’s party tonight 🙂
Marlina says
Made this for work in a sheet pan. Perfecto!
Lalaine says
Thanks for the feedback, Marlina! I am glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Mandy says
Is the sourcream pudding milk mixture supposed to be thin at first? Mine isn’t much of a pudding consistency? Or does it set up in fridge over the few hours?
Linda says
Hi,
Could you use glutton free cake mix?
Thank you,
Linda
Lora says
Punch bowl cake is what we always called it . First had it about 50 years ago from my Arky mom in law
Good stuff!
Julie Michalek says
I made this recipe for our neighborhood social and it was a hit! I made the Angelfood cake from a box mix. It was not as sweet as some cakes one would buy at the store. I made it in an 9 by 13 pan and people were scraping the pan to get the last little bits! Thanks for a great recipe!!
Lalaine says
Thank you so much, Julie, for the feedback. This is our favorite treat to make at home and and I am glad everyone enjoyed it!