Southern Punch Bowl Cake (Potluck Dessert) • Craving Some Creativity

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The perfect dump cake, this Southern Punch Bowl Cake is moist and filled with strawberries and pineapple chunks. In fact, this no bake cake comes together quickly in under 30 minutes and large enough for all your summer potluck desserts!

Punch Bowl Cake potluck dessert with whipped topping, nuts and strawberries in glass trifle bowl

Table of Contents

So you found out there is a potluck tomorrow and don’t have time to make Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream and need something FAST that looks homemade and everyone will be begging for the recipe?

Don’t worry. You’re covered with this Southern Punch Bowl Cake Recipe. This can be made in less than 30 minutes with a store-bought cake and voila! Instant culinary genius!

But it’s more just a snap to make – it’s light and airy and you may find yourself looking for just a little more only to realize you ate half bowl. Like my other summer favorites, Key Lime Pie, Lemon Bars, and Carrot Cake, I can’t be left alone with it.

Ingredients and Notes

Below is an overview of the ingredients you will need with notes on substitution ideas and preferences:

Southern Punch bowl ingredients laid out on a table with text labels.

Trifle Bowl – This recipe is sized for a trifle bowl, about 10 cups. I only have a punch bowl that holds 20 cups. In that case, I often double the recipe to completely fill it.

Cake – This recipe is usually made with a store-bought 14 oz Angel Food cake. I love it with yellow cake and you can also use store bought pound cake or butter cake, but it will be a little heavier in taste.

Almonds – Use toasted, sliced almonds or you can toast them in the oven at 350 degrees for 7-8 minutes. The toasting really brings out the flavor! You can also substitute pecan halves.

Pineapple Chunks – Canned or fresh are great. Make sure to drain the canned pineapple well, as it has more juice. If your fresh pineapple is dry, it won’t soak into the cake as much.

Step By Step Guide

Collage of steps to make a whip cream cake including cutting the cake and fruit, and finished whip cream.

Cut up the cake into bite sized pieces–
Prepare Add-Ins – This includes draining the pineapple, cutting up the strawberries into quarters, and, if needed, toasting the almond slices.
Make the Whipped Cream – The key to the best whipped cream is using a cold bowl and cold cream. Add all ingredients and start whipping at a lower speed and gradually move to a high speed to whip until the cream is VERY stiff. You can see in the photo above that it sticks to the sides of the bowl and whisk.
Dump and Mix – Add the pineapple, strawberries, cake and whipped cream into the trifle or punch bowl. Stir. Top with the sliced almonds.

Expert Tip! While it might be tempting to use store bought whipped cream, I advise against it. The whipped cream in this recipe is whipped much stiffer than Cool Whip or other brands. Plus, it only takes a few minutes.

Punch Bowl Cake with Strawberries and Pineapple with whipped topping plated in large glass trifle dish — Double Batch shown in this photo. I have a huge 15 inch punch bowl.

Layered Recipe Variation

The main reason that I mix this variation rather than layering it is that the whip cream binds to the cake and protects it from becoming soggy, especially if I make it the night before. Frankly, it’s also just faster to dump and mix it in.

However, this recipe can be beautifully layered, similar to a trifle. To keep the cake from soaking up too much juice from the pineapple, I recommend layering it in the following way: ½ cake, ½ whip cream, half mixture of strawberries and pineapple, repeat with the remaining halves.

Tips & Tricks

Whip the cream HARD – The whipped cream should be stiff and have structure. If you have soft peaks, continue whipping at high speed until it sticks to the bowl and the whisk/paddle.
Make sure your ingredients are cold – I put a metal bowl in the freezer at least 30 minutes before or the night before. Glass mixing bowls can be put in the freezer, but make sure not to rapidly heat or cool it.
This recipe makes 8-10 cups – This is about right for a trifle bowl or small punch bowl. I have a large 20 cup punch bowl, so I usually double the recipe.

Serving and Storage

Serving Ideas: I love this for potlucks, but it also makes a wonderful brunch addition, waffle topper, and light dessert. It can sit out for, at most, 2 hours before refrigerating. The whip cream may wilt in high heat or the sun, so I keep it in a cooler if outside.

Store: Wrap the bowl with saran wrap tightly and refrigerate. It will last about 3 days.

Make Ahead: You can make this the day before or prep all ingredients including the whipped cream and store in the refrigerator. Then it is easy to add to the bowl and stir gently before serving.

Looking For More Delicious Cake And Cupcakes? Check These Out:

Frequently asked questions:

What type of cake should I use?

For this recipe, you can use angel cake, yellow cake, or pound cake depending on your own preference. I personally use a dense yellow cake (just a taste preference), but I do find that it often crumbles more than either pound cake or angel cake. Using a store bought angel cake makes for a deliciously light and airy texture.

Can I use fresh pineapple?

Fresh pineapple does not have as much juice. If you find the cake to be too dry, use canned or reserve some of the pineapple juice. I usually use canned pineapple with angel cake because it tends to be dry to me.

Can I swap out the strawberries for another fruit?

You can use any fruit you like to add color or contrast. Try out blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, peaches, or mango! Choose whichever flavors you prefer and even take it up a notch with your own homemade vanilla extract.

Cookbook cover of Chicken and Rice casserole. The cookbook is titled Weeknight Supper Solutions

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Punch Bowl Cake

The perfect dump cake, this Southern Punch Bowl Cake is moist and filled with strawberries and pineapple chunks. So delicious, this no bake cake comes together quickly in under 30 minutes and large enough for all your summer potluck desserts!

5 from 16 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20

Total Time: 20

Servings: cups

Calories: 260kcal

Author: Rachel

Ingredients

▢ 14 oz Angel food cake store bought or homemade
▢ 2 cups Heavy cream
▢ 4 tablespoon Granulated Sugar
▢ 2 teaspoon Vanilla
▢ ½ lb Strawberries
▢ 20 oz Canned Pineapple Chunks in juice juicy, fresh pineapple can work too
▢ 1 cup Toasted, sliced almonds

Instructions

This recipe makes about 8-10 cups. Wash and slice strawberries. Drain pineapple. Set aside.
Cut cake into bite sized chunks.
In a large chilled bowl, add the heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla. Whip at high speed, until very fluffy, structured and stiff (much more than "soft peaks"). It should stick to the sides of the bowl and paddle.
In punch bowl or other large bowl, add fruit, cake and whip cream. Fold together with a spoon. Topped with toasted almonds.
The cake can be served immediately or left overnight. The cake will not become soggy overnight. Lasts about 3 days usually.

Notes

Sizing

This recipe makes about 8-10 cups at it’s current written size, which is a proper trifle bowl size. If you want to nearly fill a 20 cup cake stand sized bowl (as pictured), I recommend doubling the recipe.

This punch bowl cake recipe can be beautifully layered, similar to a trifle. I recommend layering it in the following way: ½ cake, ½ whip cream, half mixture of strawberries and pineapple, repeat with the remaining halves.

Substitutions

Substituting the homemade whipped cream with cool whip or, worse, reddi-whip is not recommended.
You can use angel cake, a dense yellow cake, or pound cake. Yellow cake is my preference but it crumbles more easily. Pound cake will have a heavier taste.
You can substitute pecan pieces for the toasted almonds, or leave out.

Storage

Store: Wrap the punchbowl with saran wrap tightly and refrigerate. It will last about 3 days.

Make Ahead: You can make this the day before or prep all ingredients including the whipped cream and store in the refrigerator. Then it is easy to add to the bowl and stir the punch bowl cake before serving.

Nutrition

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