Not your average Strawberry Shortcake

Did you know today is National Strawberry Shortcake Day? I know right?! I'm learning that there is a day for pretty much everything. Luckily, I have just the thing to share with you on this special day. Actually, I made it to take to a family celebration of a VERY special day. June 10th marked the 3 year anniversary of my Dad's life saving stem cell transplant!!! My Dad was diagnosed with Leukemia in October 2009 and his only hope of survival was a transplant. You can read more here and here if interested. Each year that passes is a miracle and we make sure that we get together and celebrate.

Notice the heart shaped strawberries? And of course, the number 3. Made with love, baby :-)

This is like a strawberry shortcake, but made about 10 times better with the addition of cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk. Sweetened. Condensed. Milk. It bears repeating. I could drink the stuff. I knew when I saw this over at The Better Baker, I had to give it a try.

Strawberry Spectacular 

from The Better Baker

1 Angel Food Cake {prepared} I used Duncan Hines
1 (8 oz) box of 1/3 reduced fat Cream Cheese
1 (14 oz) can fat free Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 (16 oz) container lite Cool Whip (large container)
2 (10 oz) containers frozen strawberries in their juice, thawed*
fresh strawberries for garnish (if desired)

*I could only find the Food Lion brand strawberries, and they came sweetened with sugar or with Splenda. I used the ones sweetened with sugar. I think you could use fresh strawberries as well. Just slice fresh strawberries, sprinkle with sugar, and let hang out in the fridge overnight so they will produce some juice, then proceed with the recipe. However, I haven't tried this, so I can't speak from experience.

Break angel food cake into bite size pieces into a 9" x 13" dish. Fill the pan about 2/3-3/4 full...you want to have room for your strawberries and Cool Whip. I used almost my entire cake, minus about a 2 or 3 inch slice that *accidentally* got eaten while I was making this.

Cream together cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk until smooth and pour over the cake.

Pour both containers of thawed strawberries evenly over the cream cheese/milk mixture - juice and all!

Evenly spread Cool Whip over strawberries.

Let chill in the refrigerator at least 2 hours, then top with fresh strawberries if desired before serving.

I made my cake, topped it with the cream cheese mixture, and stuck it in the fridge overnight. The next morning I completed the assembly and it sat for a few hours until time to enjoy. I think I could have made the whole thing the night before without any problem. I was worried about the cake getting too soggy, but it wasn't soggy at all. The Angel Food Cake holds up well to the toppings.

I recommend making this for National Strawberry Shortcake Day...or any day for that matter!

I'm linking up at (Monday) The Tumbleweed Contessa, Holly's Stamping Addiction, The Dedicated House, Homemaker on a Dime, Skip to my Lou, Making the World Cuter, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, This Gal Cooks, Watch Out, Martha!, Huckleberry Love, The Newlyweds Pilgrimage (Tuesday) Naptime Creations, Mandy's Recipe Box, Blessed with Grace, Love in the Kitchen, Memories By the Mile,Inside BruCrew Life, Sarah Lynn's Sweets, BeBetsy and VMG206, The Real Thing with The Coake Family (Wednesday) Fluster Buster, Mostly Homemade Mom, Adorned from Above, Lady Behind the Curtain, Ginger Snap Crafts, Hungry Little Girl, Naptime is My Time, Cherished Handmade Treasures, The Wilderness Wife  (Thursday) Project Inspire ,Joyful Homemaking, Designed Decor, Miz Helen's Country Cottage, The Mandatory Mooch,  The Busy Bee's, Lamberts Lately (Friday) Not Your Ordinary Recipes,  Simple Living and Eating, Just Us Four, Bacon Time with the Hungry Hungry Hypo, Diana Rambles, The Better Baker,Craftionary, One Artsy Mama, The Best Blog Recipes, One Creative Mommy, Michelle's Tasty Creations, Close to Home, 30 Handmade Days, A Peek Into My Paradise,The Jenny Evolution , Walking on Sunshine(Saturday) Lemons for Lulu,  Or So She Says..., Six Sisters' Stuff (Sunday) Mommy's Sweet Confessions , Finding Joy In My Kitchen and Gooseberry Patch

This recipe was featured at BeBetsy, Nap Time Creations, Mandy's Recipe Box