Church Cake

A Jiffy cake mix topped with a creamy pudding and cream cheese layer then crushed pineapple and cool whip makes an easy and delicious traditional Church Cake or Preacher Cake. 

Jiffy Cake Mix Recipe

We love making easy cakes from a box mix.  Having several good dessert recipes that can be quickly whipped up for a potluck, picnic, family or holiday meal makes life easier. This old-fashioned cake recipe has been in our family for generations.

This cake is unique because there’s actually just a thin layer of cake topped with delicious layers of vanilla pudding mixed with cream cheese which is super refreshing and creamy.  This layer makes the cake taste best served cold which is nice that it can be made up to a day ahead of time.  

This cake reminded me of our Orange Cake with Pineapple Icing which mixes crushed pineapple and pudding into whipped topping for the frosting where this cake just layers each of those ingredients.  There are also similarities to our Pina Colada Cake.

Our Pineapple Pretzel Salad, 7 up Jello salad and Watergate Salad mix cool whip and crushed pineapple with different ingredients to create so many different refreshing flavors.  

It all began with our Moist & Rich Chocolate Cake. Then we amped up our Heath Bar Cake, Snickers Cake and Glazed Rum Bundt Cake.  Once we began enhancing a boxed cake mix we knew there was no turning back.  

Do I Have to Use Jiffy Cake Mix?

Jiffy Cake Mix is what this original old-fashioned recipe calls for, but any butter or white cake mix can be used.  Since a jiffy Cake Mix comes in a small box I would use half of a regular box of cake mix for this recipe and use the remaining half of the batter to make cupcakes.  

If a different cake mix is used the baking time will vary.  

Could use banana pudding and add a layer of thinly sliced bananas for another flavor dimension like our Strawberry Banana Split Cake.

How to Add More Flavor

One reader commented that she used pineapple juice instead of water for the base layer.

Another option is adding some coconut or rum extract to the creamy pudding layer.

Church Cake Recipe

1. Mix up Jiffy Cake mix according to the directions on the box (add 1 egg and 1/2 cup cold water). Pour into a greased 9 x 13″ dish and bake for 10 – 12 minutes in 350°F oven.
2. Cover cake with foil to hold in moisture and allow cake to cool.
3. In a mixing bowl whisk together instant pudding and milk. In a seperate bowl beat softened cream cheese. Add pudding mixture into the cream cheese and mix well. Spread over cooled cake.
4. Sprinkled drained crushed pineapple over pudding layer. Then spread cool whip over the top. I like to pat repeatedly with the end of a butter knife to get little spikes and make a more decorative look.

How to Make Church Cake

Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. I just use non-stick cooking spray, but a layer of flour can be added if that’s your preference to help prevent sticking. Mix up cake mix and bake for 10 – 12 minutes. Don’t overbake – this is a thin layer of cake.

Using an electric mixer beat cream cheese very well.

In a separate mixing bowl stir together pudding and milk. Then add pudding mixture into cream cheese in the mixing bowl and mix well.

Once baked cake has cooled spread cream cheese and pudding mixture in a layer over the cake.

Drain pineapple well and then spread in an even layer over cream cheese and pudding mixture. I find using my fingers is easiest.

Then spread defrosted whipped topping over the cake and chill until ready to serve. This cake definitely tastes best chilled.

Store covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Other Easy & Delicious Cake Recipes:

• Oreo Dirt Cake – Crushed Oreos, pudding and cream cheese make this classic irresistible.
• Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake – A classic chocolate cake mix with a gooey cream cheese layer of top is so delicious.
• Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake – Layers of hot fudge and a chocolate mousse icing on a chocolate cake make a great special treat or easy birthday cake!
• Cream Puff Cake – Like a cream puff only much easier to make and in cake form.
• Cranberry Duff Cake – A holiday classic with the most amazing sauce you’ve ever poured over a warm cake.