Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Step 2: Pour the entire can of strawberry pie filling into the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly across the bottom.
Step 3: In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
Step 4: Drop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture evenly over the strawberry pie filling. Don't worry if it doesn't cover everything completely; it will spread as it bakes.
Step 5: Evenly sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix over the cream cheese and strawberry layers.
Step 6: Drizzle the melted butter over the dry cake mix, trying to cover as much of the surface as possible. This creates the crisp, golden topping.
Step 7: Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. A knife inserted into the topping should come out mostly clean.
Step 8: Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving. This cake is delicious warm, or chilled after it has completely cooled. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.