Heaven on Earth Cake is a light and creamy layered dessert made with cake, pudding, cherry pie filling, and whipped topping. An easy no-bake treat that’s perfect for holidays, potlucks, and family gatherings.
Heaven on Earth Cake is the ultimate light and creamy dessert that looks impressive but is incredibly easy to make. With layers of fluffy cake, sweet cherry pie filling, smooth vanilla pudding, and airy whipped topping, every bite is perfectly balanced and irresistible. It’s the kind of no-fuss, crowd-pleasing recipe that’s perfect for holidays, potlucks, or anytime you need a simple yet stunning dessert.
Your family and friends will go crazy this easy cake. I also love to make Cherry Yum Yum and Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake for potlucks and family dinners. You might also like Dump Cake Recipes.
Table of contents
Why We Love This Recipe
- Creamy Layers: The combination of pudding, whipped topping, and cake creates a soft, luscious texture in every bite.
- Sweet Cherry Flavor: Cherry pie filling adds a bright, fruity contrast to the creamy layers.
- No-Bake Convenience: Easy to assemble without complicated steps or long baking times.
- Crowd-Pleaser: Perfect for holidays, potlucks, or family gatherings—everyone loves it.
- Visually Stunning: The layered look makes it a show-stopping dessert for any occasion.
- Customizable: You can swap cherries for other fruits or add chocolate for a fun twist.
Ingredients
- Prepared Angel Food Cake. You can use store bought to keep the recipe no bake or make a boxed angel food cake mix or make this Easy Angel Food Cake Recipe.
- Cherry pie filling. You can also use Homemade Cherry Pie Filling.
- Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix. You only want to use the mix. Do not prepare the pudding based on the box instructions.
- Milk. I like to use whole milk, but you can use reduced fat if you prefer.
- Sour Cream. Full fat sour cream is best.
- Whipped Topping. We used Cool Whip, but store brand is just fine.
- Almond Slices. It’s worth it to take the extra time to toast the almond slices.
Find the complete Heaven on Earth Cake Ingredients at the bottom of the page.
Substitutions and Additions
- Pie Filling: Cherry is classic, but you can swap in blueberry, lemon, raspberry, or strawberry pie filling. For a seasonal twist, try apple pie filling in the fall.
- Cake Options: Use yellow cake, vanilla sponge, white cake, or pound cake. For a richer dessert, chocolate cake or brownies also work beautifully.
- Nuts: Slivered almonds add a nice crunch, but they’re optional. Leave them off if you prefer a nut-free dessert.
- Sour Cream Substitute: Plain Greek yogurt works well in place of sour cream. Be sure it’s plain, not flavored, to maintain the right taste.
- Whipped Topping: Cool Whip can be swapped with homemade whipped cream for a fresher, lighter topping.
- Pudding Flavors: Experiment with different instant pudding flavors like cheesecake, lemon, or even chocolate for a new twist.
- Fresh Berries: Top individual servings with fresh berries for extra color, flavor, and a touch of freshness.
How To Make Heaven On Earth Cake
Step 1. First, cut the angel food cake into bite size pieces with a serrated knife. The serrated blade makes it easy to cut the fluffy texture of the cake using a sawing motion. I like to do about 1-inch cubes. If you are not using store-bought angel food cake but a cake mix, make sure to let it cool completely first.
Step 2. Then place the angel food cake pieces in the bottom of the pan. This recipe works perfectly for a 9X13 baking pan. Top with 2/3 of the can of the tart cherry pie filling and spread evenly.
Step 3. Top with the remaining cake cubes.
Step 4. Get out a large mixing bowl and whisk together the pudding mix with milk. Then mix in the sour cream until everything is well combined.
Step 5. Carefully spread the pudding mixture evenly on top of the cake. This step needs to be done right away because the pudding will thicken as it sits.
Step 6. Next, spread the dollop of whipped topping on top of the pudding layer using an offset spatula.
Step 7. Finally, top the cake with the remaining pie filling. Make sure to spread it around so you get cherry pie filling in each bite. I like to swirl the pie filling using a butter knife.
Step 8. The cake needs to refrigerate for 4 to 5 hours before serving. When ready to eat, garnish with the toasted almond slices on top. It’s also tasty served with vanilla ice cream.
Pro Tips
- Serve Chilled: This cake is best served cold. Make it the night before or at least 4–5 hours ahead so the flavors meld and the pudding has time to set.
- Cool the Cake Completely: If using homemade or boxed cake, ensure it’s fully cooled before layering to prevent the pudding and whipped topping from melting.
- Pan Size Matters: For a thicker, more layered dessert, use a 9×9-inch pan instead of a 9×13-inch dish.
- Try a Trifle Dish: Using a clear trifle dish showcases the beautiful layers, making it especially festive for holidays or special occasions.
- Individual Servings: Serve in mason jars, clear cups, or dessert bowls for a pretty presentation and easy portion control.
- Use a Serrated Knife: A serrated knife cuts through angel food cake cleanly without squishing it, keeping the layers neat and intact.
- Gentle Layering: When assembling, spread pudding and whipped topping gently to avoid breaking the cake layers.
- Customize Flavors: Taste as you go—adjust the amount of pie filling or pudding to suit your sweetness preference.
Storage
Refrigerator
Store in an airtight container or cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap. The cake will stay fresh for up to 3–4 days in the fridge.
Individual Servings
If using mason jars, cups, or dessert bowls, cover each with plastic wrap or reusable lids and refrigerate.
How To Serve?
This yummy dessert can be scooped right into a bowl using a large serving spoon. No need to cut the cake.
You can add more almonds or whipped cream on top when serving if desired. This is optional as the recipe is already delicious.
More Easy Cake Recipes
- Banana Split Cake
- Cherry Chip Cake Recipe
- No Bake Lemon Icebox Cake
- Strawberry Sheet Cake
- Red White and Blue Icebox Cake
- Blackout Cake
Delight your family and friends with this creamy, layered Heaven on Earth Cake! Perfect for holidays, potlucks, or any special occasion, it’s a dessert that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. Leave a comment below and tell us how your cake turned out and share your favorite variations.
Heaven on Earth Cake
Ingredients
- 1 prepared Angel Food Cake store bought or make a boxed angel food cake mix and let it cool
- 1 can cherry pie filling (21 oz.)
- 1 Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix 3.4 oz (just the mix – do not prepare based on the box instructions)
- 1 ½ cups Milk
- 1 cup Sour Cream or plain greek yogurt
- 8 oz Whipped Topping Cool Whip, thawed
- 1 Tbsp Almond Slices toasted
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Cut the angel food cake into bite size pieces (approximately 1 inch cubes).
- Layer half of the cake pieces in the bottom of a 9X13 baking pan. Top with 2/3 of the can of the cherry pie filling.
- Then top with the remaining cake pieces.
- Whisk together the milk and the pudding. Then mix in the sour cream until well combined.
- Then spread this mixture evenly on top of your cake. You will need to work quickly on this step as the pudding will thicken as it sits.
- Then spread the whipped topping on top of the pudding layer on the cake.
- Top the cake with the remaining cherry pie filling.
- Refrigerate for 4-5 hours before serving. Top with the toasted almond slices when serving and enjoy!
