Classic easy snowball cake recipe with cake mix box, homemade with simple ingredients. This old fashioned and vintage dessert is a cheesecake stuffed dome shaped chocolate Devil's food cake that is covered in pudding frosting and shredded coconut.
*Thanks to Lunchbox for sponsoring today's post so that I can share this recipe with all of you. As always, all photography and opinions are mine.*
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The first time I had a this cake was a few years ago at a fancy restaurant. I was so intrigued by the name that I ordered it right away. It's still one of the the best desserts I have ever eaten and it's a doctored cake mix recipe, which you all know I love! Check out more of my favorite Easy Cake Mix Recipes (Desserts).
Basically, today's dessert has everything I am crazy about, packed into a neat little dome shape: Cheesecake, Devil's food cake, pudding, frosting, and coconut. I had assumed that the cake is baked first and the center is hollowed out and filled like I did for this Summer Cake (Kids Backyard Summer Party), but I was wrong. The cake and cheesecake are actually both baked together, which is so cool.
Jump to:
Key ingredients
- Devil's food cake mix- You will need one 15.25 oz box.
- Cream cheese- Use full fat for maximum creaminess.
- Sugars- Both granulated sugar and powdered sugar are used in this recipe.
- Egg- Use large at room temperature for best results.
- Instant pudding- I like to use the vanilla JELL-O brand.
- Milk- I suggest using full fat as opposed to skim.
- Cool whip- This recipe requires a full 8 oz. tub.
- Shredded coconut- Used as a topping that makes it look like snow.
Variations
- Many people like to use food coloring- To dye the shredded coconut pink or red and use that to cover the cake. It's bright and colorful and quite a showstopper, plus it resembles those classic Hostess Snowballs that we all grew up eating. I, personally, like the white coconut because it reminds me of Winter and Christmas.
- Try my Homemade Whipped Topping- Instead of using Cool Whip.
- Use a different cake mix- This will completely alter the flavor, but you can also have a lot of fun with it.
- You can definitely use frosting instead of Cool Whip- Such as Easy Marshmallow Frosting (With Fluff), Best Cream Cheese Frosting (Stable), or Almond Buttercream Frosting. You can even add some gel food coloring, if desired.
- Make several mini cakes- By purchasing a specific mini dome cake pan. This will make fun, individual servings.
- Try a different flavor of pudding- Such as chocolate, pistachio, or tapioca.
- Make homemade pudding- Like this Homemade Vanilla Pudding or Homemade Banana Pudding (No Bake).
How to make easy snowball cake recipe with cake mix box?
- Prepare cake- Using instructions on the box.
- Make cheesecake filling- By mixing cream cheese, egg, and sugar.
- Pour cake batter- Into a greased and floured pan.
- Spoon cheesecake filling- into the center of the cake batter.
- While cake is baking- In a separate bowl mix pudding powder, milk, powdered sugar, and then add in the cool whip.
- Use a spatula to cover cake- With frosting and shredded coconut. Enjoy!
Tips and techniques
- Use full fat ingredients- To make the cake more rich and creamy.
- Room temperature ingredients are best- Because this makes everything blend together nicely without unwanted lumps and chunks.
- Only frost the cake once it has cooled- Otherwise you will end up with a mess.
- To prevent the cake from sticking to the pan- Be sure to either use parchment paper on the bottom or grease and flour it very well.
- Be patient in the process- It takes time for this cake to fully cook and it won't turn out right if you are impatient.
- Be sure to get the right size of cake mix- You want a 15.25 oz box. Otherwise measurements will be off.
Recipe FAQs
This can happen if you get impatient with the baking process. Taking it out too early or constantly opening the oven door to peek at it can cause the cheesecake filling not to set properly and then you get a sunken cake.
Not quite. Although this cake can be made into smaller domes, they are still different in that the Scottish snowballs are two small domes put together with a jelly or jam filling. The snowballs are also more like scones than cake.
Technically, yes, but it won't look like a snowball. If that doesn't matter to you and you just want the delicious taste, then go for it.
Storage
- Refrigerate- Place in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
- Freeze- This is not recommended because of the cheesecake center. In my experience, dairy does not thaw well.
- Room temperature- Don't allow to sit out more than a few hours.
- Make ahead- This can easily be made up to 3 days in advance if kept in an airtight container in the fridge.
More cake mix desserts
- Chocolate Sheet Cake (With Cake Mix)
- Coca Cola Cake (With Cake Mix)
- German Chocolate Cake (With Cake Mix)
- Orange Cookies (With Cake Mix)
- Cotton Candy Cookies (With Cake Mix)
Recipe
Classic Snowball Cake (With Cake Mix)
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Ingredients
Cake
- 1 box Devil's food cake mix + Ingredients listed on the box 15.25 oz. box
Cheesecake filling
- 8 oz Philadelphia cream cheese Full fat, Room temperature
- 1 Egg Large, Room temperature
- 2 tablespoon Granulated sugar
Frosting
- 1 box JELL-O vanilla flavor instant pudding powder 3.4 oz. box
- 1 cup Cold milk Full fat
- ¼ cup Powdered sugar
- 1 containter Cool Whip topping 8 oz, Full fat
Topping
- 1 cup Shredded coconut
Instructions
- Prepare the cake batter, based on the instructions on the box.
- In a separate mixing bowl, prepare the cheesecake filling by mixing cream cheese, egg and sugar until well-blended.
- Pour the cake batter into a parchment lined or greased and floured 2 ½ quart dome pan.
- Spoon the cheesecake mixture in the center of the cake batter.
- Bake the cake for 1 hour 5 minutes at 350 degrees F or until an inserted toothpick in the center comes out almost clean. A few sticky crumbs are fine.
- While the cake is baking, prepare the frosting by mixing together instant vanilla pudding powder, cold milk and powdered sugar until well combined.
- Then, stir in Cool Whip. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- When the cake has cooled to room temperature, remove it from the dome pan and place it on a serving dish.
- Use a spatula to cover the entire cake in frosting and cover it completely with shredded coconut. Enjoy.
Notes
- You can dye shredded coconut pink to make it bright and festive.
- This recipe requires a long baking time. Please don't rush the process by constantly opening your oven or taking it out too early because the cheesecake filling will not set. This will cause the cake to collapse in the center.
- Be sure to only ice the cake in frosting when it has cooled completely or else you will end up with a sticky mess.
- Please use full fat ingredients for maximum richness.
- Line your dome pan properly with strips of parchment paper or grease and flour it fully. This will prevent the cake from sticking to the pan.
- Read additional tips and variations above.
- Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
An automated tool is used to calculate the nutritional information. As such, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information provided for any recipe on this site.
Rita Debenedictis
Can I make this cake in a Bundt pan
Abeer Rizvi
I haven't tried it but I think it can work. Just be sure to grease the pan really well to keep the cake from sticking and breaking.
Ashlyn
You had me at cheesecake!! This cake sounds absolutely delectable and delicious!
Abeer Rizvi
Omg Ashlyn! It was so good that after eating that first slice in a plate like a normal person, I just sat down with the whole pan and a fork...LOL!
Sandra
That cake is just gorgeous!!! Love your creations on youtube too.
Abeer Rizvi
Thanks Sandra! It's so much fun sharing those little video clips on youtube and instagram! Happy holidays