Layers of vanilla cake, strawberry filling, and chocolate frosting make this easy Strawberry Mousse Cake a pretty and delicious dessert.
*I am partnering with Lucky Leaf this year as a blog ambassador bringing you delicious recipes using pie filling.
Each month I have a new flavor that I tend to go crazy for. Sometimes it coincides with a holiday or what is popular at the moment. Obviously in the fall and winter, pumpkin and peppermint get plenty of loving in my kitchen. Then usually I turn to coconut in January because I am trying to think tropical thoughts while snow is falling outside.
Since February is the love month, anything red is fair game. Right now I am gaga for strawberry everything! It might be my new go to flavor every year at this time.
Lucky for me, my family likes the red fruit in just about anything I can think of to bake. They are just happy I moved on from coconut...that one never gets as many smiles.
I couldn't wait to get started on some new recipes this month. As a Lucky Leaf® blog ambassador, I have cans of pie filling just waiting in my pantry for baking inspiration to hit me.
Over the year things like this banana split coffee cake and lemon cheesecake sweet rolls have been a few of my all-time favorites.
The can of strawberry pie filling kept calling my name this time. Look at that rich red filling! I love that Lucky Leaf pie fillings are made without high fructose corn syrups.
It makes me feel better about my fruit choices for the day as I'm spooning filling from the can into my mouth. Don't judge! You know you do it too!
As I was staring the can of pie filling down, I kept getting a cake vision. The cake and frosting was the easy part...I just had to figure out how to incorporate all the delicious pie filling into the cake.
Since we have a love of cheesecake here, I decided to use the pie filling with some cream cheese and Cool Whip to create a light, fluffy no-bake cheesecake filling for the center of the cake. The filling does firm up in the refrigerator, so it can hold the weight of cake, frosting, and more pie filling, if you were wondering.
Now if you want to use all vanilla frosting on the cake, you can just make a double batch of that frosting. But chocolate covered strawberries are always welcome around here, so I knew that chocolate frosting needed to happen too.
Since this strawberry mousse cake didn't last long with 5 people working on it, I think the cake vision was a success!!! It would make the perfect treat to surprise your Valentine's sweeties with this week!
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Recipe
Strawberry Mousse Cake
Layers of vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate make this easy Strawberry Mousse cake a pretty and delicious dessert.
Ingredients
FOR THE CAKE
- 1 white cake mix
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup oil
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 cup milk
FOR THE MOUSSE
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 can Lucky Leaf strawberry pie filling, divided
- 1 ½ cups Cool Whip
FOR THE WHITE FROSTING
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 ¼ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
FOR THE CHOCOLATE FROSTING
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, oil, sour cream, and milk. Beat for 1 minute on low speed. Beat for 2 minutes on medium speed.
- Divide the batter into 2 - 8 inch greased and floured baking pans. Bake for 25-27 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs. Remove from the oven and let cool 15 minutes in the pan. Flip out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.
- Beat the cream cheese until soft and creamy. Add ¾ cup strawberry pie filling and beat again until completely mixed in. Fold in the Cool Whip gently.
- Level the cakes and place one layer on a plate. Spread the strawberry mousse evenly over the cake. Top with the second cake half. Place in the refrigerator to keep cool while making the frosting.
- For the white frosting, beat the butter, vanilla, and salt until creamy. Slowly add the powdered sugar and ¼ cup whipping cream until everything is mixed in. Beat on high for 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Set aside.
- For the chocolate frosting, beat the butter, vanilla, and salt until creamy. Slowly add the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and whipping creamy until mixed in. Beat on high for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Spread the white frosting on top, reserving some for the top and bottom edges. Make sure the frosting is smooth and level.
- Spread the chocolate frosting evenly on the sides of the cake. Let the frosting sit for 20 minutes, then use a paper towel to gently smooth the sides of the cake.
- Use a piping bag and tip to pipe the remaining white frosting around the top and bottom of the cake.
- Spoon the remaining pie filling evenly onto the top of the cake. Decorate with fresh strawberries, if desired. Store cake in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Serves 12-14.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 14 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 518Total Fat: 37gSaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 294mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 1gSugar: 40gProtein: 4g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
More pie filling recipes we love:
*This recipe was sponsored by Lucky Leaf. All opinions expressed are 100% my own. Thank you for letting me share products and brands we use and love. See my disclosure policy for more information.*
Alyssa
Hi,
I would like to make this with a gluten free cake mix. Do you think I can modify to your cake ingredients or should I stick with what the box says?
Jocelyn
I have honestly never baked a gluten free cake mix, so I'm not sure how it would work with these ingredients. My honest opinion would be to just bake it according to the back of the box. I hope you enjoy the cake!
Cindy
OMG this looks absolutely fabulous!!! I think I found my recipe!! my daughter-in-law is having her first and is craving strawberries she wants me to bake the cake but I need a three layer 10 inch cake to feed at least 50 people and I couldn’t figure out if a whip cream would hold up to the weight the only thing is with this be good with a vanilla buttercream frosting on the outside my fear is that it will bulge or that whip cream filling would absorb into the cake by the next day!! thank you again for this wonderful recipe also would I be able to add extra slices of strawberry to the filling?
Jocelyn
Thank you!!!! I'm not sure if the filling would hold up to a three layer cake. It does have cream cheese in it, so it held up great with the 2 layers. It might be easier to make 2 - 8 inch cakes just to be safe? And yes, I think you could add strawberry slices to it too. I hope your daughter in law loves it. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Cindy
Do you think I can substitute the Cream cheese for mascarpone? I cannot wait to try this so excited I know it is not season because we are in mid November but I found the strawberry pie filling 🥰
Jocelyn
This recipe has only been tested with cream cheese, so I can't say for sure. I think it would just fine though.
Jessica Skaaland
I am not much of a baker, but I gave this cakes try and it turned out fabulous. I made it the day ahead of time and refrigerated, and it tasted great the next day.
Jocelyn
That is awesome! I am so happy you tried the cake and loved it. Would you mind leaving a 5 star rating in the recipe card, so others know that it is a great recipe to make?
Rebecca
How long will the extra mousse last in the fridge for ?
Jocelyn
You shouldn't have any extra mousse left. I used all of it in the center of my cake. That being said, the mousse should last a few days in the fridge as long as it is in a covered container.
Padma
Looks yummy.Want to try this cake with Vanilla cake mix but the box does not mention about the sour cream . Have you changed the ingredients quantities and added extra sour cream. I am planning to use betty crocker cake mix.please help.TIA
Jocelyn
Yes, I changed the ingredients slightly and added the sour cream. It shouldn't matter what brand you use...just follow the directions in my recipe. I hope you enjoy it!
Jenn
Does this make enough mousse to frost a 1/4 sheet cake or would you make a double batch?
Jocelyn
I think one batch would be fine to frost a 9x13 cake. Are you doing frosting too? Or just using the mousse as frosting?
joanne watkins
cant wait to try this cake..I have a little cupcake business out of my home...this cakes just screams EAT ME.. lol..
Jenn@eatcakefordinner
This is such a beautiful cake. The mousse made with pie filling is genius!!!
Tìna
I want to use the mousse as frosting for cupcakes, do you know if this will hold up?
Jocelyn
I think it would work great as frosting. It is a very light and fluffy, yet firm filling because of the cream cheese. The biggest thing is that you will need to keep them refrigerated when you are not serving them because of the cream cheese and Cool Whip. It's also not something I would let sit out very long. I hope you enjoy it and your cupcakes turn out amazing!
Suzanne
This looks amazing! Do you think it would also be good with chocolate cake mix instead of white cake mix?
Jocelyn
I think chocolate sounds amazing! I want to do a version with chocolate cake and cherry mousse now!!!
JoJo
This is gorg@!! I happened to have made 2 extra layers of my vanilla yellow cake and have them frozen. I plan to make this for my boys in individual mini versions for Valentines day this weekend. I am so excited! Thanks for the idea!!! xoxoxoxo
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust
This is such a pretty cake Jocelyn!! It screams SPRING to me and it's making me want nice weather!
Jocelyn
Spring, nice weather, and cake...what more could we ask for? 🙂
Medha @ Whisk & Shout
Wow, that center layer is just beyond stunning! Love it 🙂
Jocelyn
The center filling was definitely my favorite. I may have eaten a few spoonfuls before putting it in the cake!
Heather @Bostongirlbakes
Ooh lovely use of the pie filling! Such a pretty cake!
LINDA PAYNE
That is a beautiful cake!!!!!! I love that you started with a mix, it makes it a little easier!
Jocelyn
I'm a big fan of jazzing up box mixes!!!
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats
What a pretty little cake! I love all the colors and flavors you've got…simple but elegant!
Jocelyn
Thank you so much! It was a fun cake to make...and eat 😉
Joanne
Oh, how I wish I could have a slice of this cake right now! So pretty, too!
Julianne @ Beyond Frosting
This is such a pretty cake!
Jocelyn
Thank you 🙂