Cut into this pretty pink cake to reveal a strawberry cheesecake heart hiding inside a rich and decadent chocolate cake. This Strawberry Cheesecake Heart Surprise Cake will make Valentine's Day really sweet.
How do you get a cheesecake filling shaped like a heart inside a cake?
You use a Wilton Tasty-Fill Heart Pan (affiliate). It's shaped so the cake bakes with a heart shaped hole in the middle. You can fill the cake with frosting, mousse, or in this case, a no-bake strawberry cheesecake filling.
I've had my Tasty-Fill pan sitting in a cupboard for several years now and can't believe it took me so long to finally give it a try. I've made a lot of surprise cakes with shapes hiding inside but never one quite like this. Those other surprise cakes require a double baking, where you first make a cake to cut into the shape you want to hide, then you bake a cake around that shape. The process is very time consuming but the results are spectacular.
To make this cake you only bake once which saves a lot of time but when you cut into it the results are just as spectacular.
When you use the Tasty-Fill pans, you end up with two cake layers that have grooves cut into the tops which you fill before stacking the two layers together. Then you simply frost and decorate.
For this cake I chose to frost the exterior with the same strawberry cheesecake filling then to make the cake really decadent, I drizzled on some chocolate ganache.
This cake with a surprise hiding inside, is not any more challenging to make than a traditional layer cake and you can decorate the outside however you like. The recipe makes enough filling to cover the cake, so if you don't plan to use it on the outside of the cake, cut the recipe by ⅓rd.
Watch this video to see how you can use the pan to make this beautiful cake.
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So, what do you think? Isn't this easier than baking a cake inside a cake?
Plus, for those of you who love frosting, this cake has frosting inside and out. In this case, it's a lusciously creamy cheesecake filling that is flavored with strawberries from a can of pie filling. When I went to the store, being it's winter, the fresh strawberries looked pale pink not red. So instead of using fresh strawberries, I decided to use the pie filling. I knew the strawberries would be flavorful and the gel would add a nice sweetness.
Be sure to strain your strawberry pie filling so that you just get the strawberries and a bit of gel to add to the cheesecake filling. I tried using it all and the frosting was too soft. You will have some filing left over. You'll use 2 tablespoons of it in the chocolate glaze, but you'll have more leftover. I'm sure you'll find a good use for it.
You can find items needed to make this cake on Amazon.com (commission earned for sales).
Wilton Tasty Heart 2-Piece ...Shop on Amazon 
Duncan Hines Comstock Premi...Shop on Amazon
Duncan Hines Perfectly Mois...Shop on Amazon
Dream Whip Whipped Topping ...Shop on Amazon
Wilton Adjustable Cake Leve...Shop on Amazon
- 15.25 ounce dark chocolate cake mix
- 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
- 1 (1.3 ounce) packet Dream Whip Whipped Topping powder
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup milk
- 4 eggs
- ⅓ cup oil
- 1 can strawberry pie filling
- 3 - 8 ounce blocks cream cheese softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 8 ounces frozen whipped topping thawed
- optional pink food coloring
- 8 ounces finely chopped semi-sweet chocolate or chips
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream, plus one more tablespoon
- 2 tablespoons of the strawberry pie filling gel
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
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Spray the Wilton Tasty-Fill Heart Pan with baking spray.
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Combine the cake mix, pudding, Dream Whip, sour cream, milk, eggs, and oil in a large mixing bowl.
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Beat, using an electric mixer, on low speed for 30 seconds then medium speed for 1 ½ minutes.
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Equally divide batter among the two cake pans.
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Bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean.
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Allow cakes to cool in pans for 15 minutes.
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Then turn cakes out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.
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Pop cakes in freezer for 30-60 minutes to firm up before filling.
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Pour the strawberry pie filling into a fine mesh sieve.
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Allow the gel to drain away from the strawberries.
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Place the softened cream cheese in a large mixing bowl.
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Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese on medium high speed until fluffy.
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Sift the powdered sugar into the bowl and beat until well combined.
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Add the strawberries and beat until the strawberries become small pieces.
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Then add the whipped topping and beat just until combined.
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If desired, stir in some pink food coloring to intensify the color.
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Pour some of the filling into a disposable pastry bag or a large zip top bag.
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Remove cakes from freezer, place the cake with the single groove on an 8 inch cake board.
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Pipe some filling into the groove in the cake then spread it into an even layer making sure you don't cover the circle of cake in the center.
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Fill the other cake then flip that cake upside down onto the bottom layer.
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Frost the exterior of the cake using the remaining strawberry cheesecake filling.
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Combine the chocolate, ¼ cup heavy whipping cream, and strawberry pie filling in a small glass bowl.
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Heat on high power in the microwave for 30 seconds.
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Remove and stir.
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Heat for another 20 seconds, then let sit in microwave for 2 minutes.
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Remove and stir.
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Stir in the remaining tablespoon of cream until smooth and glossy.
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Pour over the cake allowing drips to form.
If you are looking for other treats or gifts to make for Valentine's Day,
you might like these other recipes too.
If you want to try your hand at making other surprise cakes here are some ideas.
Birthday Reveal Cake • Marry Me? Reveal Cake,
I Love You Reveal Cake • Polka Dot Reveal Semifreddo,
St. Patrick’s Day Reveal Cake • 4th of July Reveal Cake,
Rainbow Semifreddo • Christmas Ornament Reveal Cake
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Cat says
Hello hello! Such a gorgeous cake!! I'm wondering what size the chocolate pudding mix is as there's not a size listed and when I went to buy it, there's 2 different boxes to choose from. 🙂 Thanks!
Beth Klosterboer says
Thank you so much! I'm so glad you love the look of this cake. It tastes great too! You'll need to use the smaller 3.4 ounce box of instant pudding mix. I hope you enjoy making your cake.
Cat says
Perfect! Thanks!! I'll be making it tmrw for a 40th wedding anniversary and I know they're going to LOVE it!!
Melissa says
Instead of using the canned strawberry pie filling can I use fresh strawberries by making a strawberry compote? Then drain like recipe says?
Beth says
I'm sure the drained strawberries could work well for the filling but you'd probably have to adjust the chocolate ganache recipe. Strawberry pie filling has a very thick gel which I used to add a hint of strawberry flavor to the chocolate ganache. If you can thicken the liquid in your compote using corn starch, that might help. Otherwise, you could add a little extra chocolate if needed so the ganache won't be too thin.
Melissa says
Thank you, I was thinking of using corn starch to thicken the strawberry compote.
For the whipped cream, I’m sure you added it to the recipe like you have listed but in the video it doesn’t show the whipped cream being added to the filling or the chocolate ganache?? MaybeI missed it? Was it just not recorded? Is the whipped cream really necessary?
I was thinking of making the whipped cream myself, would that work too? (I’m thinking of just using your strawberry cheesecake frosting filling for a cake idea for my birthday, only as the frosting filling not for outside the cake.)
Beth says
I used Dream Whip in the cake mix. It is a white powder that can be used to make whipped topping but in the cake it is used to add a little more lift to the cake. The ganache filling is made with heavy whipping cream which is liquid. It becomes whipped cream once it is beaten, but when using it for ganache, you don't beat it.
The strawberry cheesecake filling would be great in between layers of cake too. I hope you cake turns out great.
Melissa says
Thank you! And thanks for taking the time to answer my crazy questions. I think I got confused but now I understand 😊👍🏼
Beth says
You are welcome. Enjoy the cake!
Mary says
Hi, just wondering if this can be done a couple days in advance and still have the heart hold up ?
Thx,
Mary
Beth says
Definitely! Just be sure to store the cake in the refrigerator.
The Partiologist says
What a surprise to find cheesecake inside this beautiful cake!
Beth says
Don't you just love surprises like that???
Karen @ Sugartown Sweets says
Every time I have seen one of your surprise cakes, I thought, I'm gonna make that. But I never have! Now, seeing how much easier they would be to make, plus the yummy recipe you have shared, I think I really will make one this time! It's a gorgeous cake. 🙂
Beth says
I hope you give this cake a try. It's by far the easiest surprise inside cake I've ever made. Plus adding the cheesecake filling inside makes it one of the tastiest too.