Red Velvet Cassata

This looked gorgeous - I just opened my new issue of FIRST magazine and thought this was a stunning cake as they had it photographed! Haven't tried it yet, but posting here for future reference. Wow! **Cooking/prep time does not include cooling time. ZWT4 - A Cassata is a Sicilian/Italian traditional dessert and can vary.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 1 (7 ounce) package almond paste (like Odense)
• 1 1⁄3 cups water
• 1 (16 ounce) box  red velvet cake mix
• 3  large eggs
• 1⁄3 cup  corn oil (I prefer canola, so use your preference)
• 1 (8 ounce) package reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
• 1 (8 ounce) container mascarpone cheese
• 3  cups heavy cream, divided
• 1 1⁄4 cups confectioners' sugar, divided
• 2  teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2  cups strawberries, halved

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F.
2. In bowl of mixer on medium speed, beat almond paste and 11/3cups water for 2 minutes.
3. Add next 3 ingredients (cake mix, eggs and oil).
4. On low speed, beat 30 seconds; scrape bowl then beat 2 more minutes on medium speed.
5. Divide between two 8-inch round cake pans coated with flour based cooking spray.
6. Bake for 30 minutes or until tester comes out clean; cool on rack.
7. Halve cakes.
8. In bowl of electric mixer, beat next 2 ingredients (cream cheese and mascarpone), 1 cup heavy cream, 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract 2 minutes.
9. Beat remaining cream and sugar 2 minutes, then fold into cream cheese mixture.
10. Place 1 cake layer on plate; top with 1 cup cream mixture. Repeat twice.
11. Coat cake with remaining cream mixture and top with berries (using a mix of berries like strawberries, raspberries citrus curls and edible flowers looked terrific in the photo!).
12. Enjoy! ;).