Description
A bakery-style layered dessert made with soft strawberry cake, creamy cheesecake filling, fluffy frosting, and a crunchy strawberry cookie topping.
Ingredients
- 36 vanilla sandwich cookies, coarsely crushed
- 1 box strawberry gelatin mix (3 ounces), divided
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and divided
- 5–6 drops red food coloring gel
- 1 box strawberry cake mix (16.5 ounces)
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Divide crushed cookies into two bowls. Mix one bowl with strawberry gelatin.
- Stir 2 tablespoons melted butter into plain crumbs.
- Mix remaining butter with red food coloring and combine with strawberry crumbs.
- Spread crumb mixtures on baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Cool completely.
- For cake layers, beat cake mix, eggs, melted butter, milk, and strawberry gelatin until smooth.
- Divide batter between two greased round cake pans.
- Bake for 24–28 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely.
- Reduce oven temperature to 325°F (163°C).
- For cheesecake layer, whisk sugar and cornstarch together.
- Beat cream cheese, heavy cream, and vanilla until smooth.
- Add eggs one at a time, then mix in sugar mixture until combined.
- Pour into prepared pan and bake for 45–55 minutes until set.
- Cool for 30 minutes, then freeze for 1 hour.
- For frosting, beat cream cheese, heavy cream, butter, and vanilla until smooth.
- Add powdered sugar gradually and beat until fluffy.
- Assemble cake by layering cake, frosting, cheesecake, frosting, and second cake layer.
- Frost entire cake and press strawberry cookie crumbs over top and sides.
Notes
- Freeze cheesecake layer for easier assembly.
- Serve chilled for clean slices.
- Fresh strawberries can be added between layers.
- Food coloring is optional for brighter crumbs.
- Store covered in refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 38 g
- Sodium: 390 mg
- Fat: 31 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg
