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.”
Deb says
I meant to 5 star this! ☆☆☆☆☆
Deb says
It reminds me of my childhood…so 50s! #boomer #boomin #50sbest #Nani
Patti says
Can I use apple filling instead of the cherry?
Debbie Auchey says
I made this for a card party, especially for a friend who has celiac. I used a gluten free angel food cake mix and prepared it in a bundt pan since I do not have an angel food cake pan, turned out great. She loved it. I always make something gluten free for her and usually it will be a dessert. Everyone who ate it said they couldn’t tell that it was gluten free. Will make this again.
Peggy says
Very good. I try different pie filling flavors.
Rebecca Johnston says
Do you use a large angel food cake or just a small block angel food cake? Seems the large one would be a lot of cake. I want to make this looks delicious!!!
Reesey says
Hi, I would be more interested in trying the cheesecake pudding to replace the sour cream. But that’s using a dry ingredient to replace a wet one, so I’m a little confused as to how this would work. Sorry for dumb question. And this is for the heaven on earth cake
JoAnn Enewold says
This was such a wonderful cake. Can hardly wait to make again for another dinner party. Everyone had seconds. Thank you so much for the recipe.
It is really pretty also when put together.
Carol Edrington says
This cake is not only delicious but so easy to make and so many different ways to make it!
Kristi K Payne says
Yes but can you taste the sour cream?
Charlene says
Talk about AMAZING! If you want to impress anyone, make this recipe. It’s absolutely delicious. I buy a pre made Angel food cake-its so much easier and as delicious. Not a fan of cherry anything I use fresh strawberries sliced into my own gel filling recipe. I cannot say enough great things about this easy, quick and amazing cake! My family keeps asking for more.
sandy blagg says
Awesome and delicious, no baking, dessert I’ve ever fixed. I use apple, peach and strawberry pie filling too, individually of course.
KAREN BRYAN says
So so good!!! It is absolutely addicting!!
SandyG says
Super yummy and SO easy! I think I would add another can of pie filling like some others. The pudding made it richer. A great last minute dessert.
Sharon says
I’ve been making Cherry Fluff for over 50 years, but this 2020 Christmas I’m making your cherry dessert. It looks divine but very easy to make. Thanks for sharing.
Linda Schmidt says
Delicious. Started with a Graham cracker crust which my husband loved. Topped that with the angel food cake. Poured 1 can of Blueberry pie filling over cake. Mixed the sour cream with 1 pkg. of softened cream cheese and added that to the vanilla pudding, poured that on top. Top it off with cool whip and fresh Blueberries. Really good, the Graham cracker crust really made it. Will make this again.
Carrie Burr says
This sounds exactly what I was looking for, since I wanted some way of adding cream cheese into the recipe. Only one question !
When you wrote “ Mixed the sour cream with 1 pkg. of softened cream cheese and added that to the vanilla pudding, poured that on top.”are you adding the mix to a box of dry pudding, no liquid added? I just want to make sure, e cause I’m making it for next Wednesday! Thanks for a delicious variation to Heaven On Earth!🫶🏼