A cherry dump cake made with cherry pie filling, chocolate cake mix, and butter is one of the easiest homemade desserts you’ll ever make. It’s a family favorite of ours for so many occasions!
Dump cakes are so popular. Mainly because they are so simple to make! Be sure to try this apple dump cake and this peach dump cake too!
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Cherry and Chocolate Dump Cake
A dump cake is an easy recipe to make when you feel like eating something delicious but have no desire to make anything elaborate. It’s called a dump cake because you literally dump 4 easy ingredients and bake until done.
This classic dessert is similar to a peach cobbler or apple crisp in that it’s a combination of fruit filling and either a cake, biscuit, or crumble. All are great for last-minute company, or to bring to potlucks, BBQs, and holiday gatherings. However, I must say, when I make cherry dump cake, it is hands down a favorite!
It’s virtually effortless, and it tastes amazing! I love mine with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream too!
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make This Recipe
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this easy dessert. Scroll down to the full recipe card with amounts
- Cherry pie filling – I use 2 cans of cherry pie filling for simplicity’s sake, but if you have a homemade filling recipe you’d rather use you can.
- Dry cake mix – The combination of chocolate and cherry is so good, so I use a chocolate cake mix for this cherry dump cake recipe.
- Butter – I don’t melt the butter. I keep it cold until just before adding slices on top of the cake. This way the cold butter will melt slowly as the cake bakes.
- Optional topping – Chocolate shavings or drizzle of chocolate syrup for extra yumminess.
Variations
1. Use different cake mixes for a different flavor combination. S box of yellow cake mix, white cake mix or even butter pecan cake mix are all good choices.
2. You can also play around with the fruit filling. Swap the cherry filling for crushed pineapple, apple pie filling, peach pie filling, strawberry pie filling, blueberry pie filling, etc.
3. You can even add drained pineapple with the cherries for a cherry pineapple dump cake recipe.
4. For a flavor boost, a few drops of vanilla extract or almond extract can ramp up the taste.
5. Toss in some chopped nuts for a crunchy element. Sprinkle sliced almonds, chopped walnut or chopped pecans on top of the fruit mixture before sprinkling the cake mix. You can even sprinkle with coconut flakes.
How to Make this Dump Cake Recipe
This delicious recipe will come together in a couple of steps with just 3 ingredients. It doesn’t get much better than this!
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350° F and grease a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Step 2: Add the cherry pie filling into the baking dish and spread it out into an evenly over the bottom.
Step 3: prinkle cake mix evenly over the top of the filling but DO NOT stir.
Step 4: Lay the pats of butter over the top of the cake mix, and spread out evenly across the surface.
Step 5: Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes until the filling is bubbling and the top is slightly crispy. If using a yellow cake mix, the top will be golden brown.
Step 6: Remove from the oven and allow it to cool for 10 minutes. Top with chocolate shavings if you’d like and serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream on top!
Tips
- I prefer the texture of the cake using cold butter slices, but you can just as easily pour melted butter on top if desired. Just melt the butter in a microwave safe bowl and pour it over the dry cake mix. Just do NOT stir.
How to Store Leftovers?
Refrigerate: Keep leftover cake stored covered in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Freeze: Once the dump cake has cooled completely, wrap it in plastic wrap or transfer it to a freezer-safe container. Store it in the freezer for up to 2 months and thaw in the fridge overnight or on the counter for a little while before serving.
For fresh out of the oven taste, place it on a microwave-safe plate and heat at 50% power level for 30 seconds to one minute.
FAQ’s
Sure! Layer the ingredients as directed. Cover with a lid and cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours.
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Easy Cherry Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 42 ounces cherry pie filling (2) 21 ounce cans
- 13.25 ounces dry box chocolate cake mix
- ½ cup butter cold and sliced ⅛ inch thick
- Optional topping: chocolate shaving or drizzle with chocolate syrup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F and spray a 9 x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Dump the cherries into the bottom of the baking dish and spread in an even layer across the bottom.42 ounces cherry pie filling
- Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the top of the pie filling. DO NOT STIR!13.25 ounces dry box chocolate cake mix
- Place the sliced butter all over the top of the cake mix in an even layer.½ cup butter
- Place in the preheated oven and bake for 60 minutes until the filling is bubbling and the top is a little crispy.
- Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes.
- Top with chocolate shavings if you’d like.Optional topping: chocolate shaving
- Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream on top.
Notes
2. You can also play around with the fruit filling. Swap the cherry filling for crushed pineapple, apple pie filling, peach pie filling, strawberry pie filling, blueberry pie filling, etc.
3. You can even add drained pineapple with the cherries for a cherry pineapple dump cake recipe.
4. For a flavor boost, a few drops of vanilla extract or almond extract can ramp up the taste.
5. Toss in some chopped nuts for a crunchy element. Sprinkle sliced almonds, chopped walnut or chopped pecans on top of the fruit mixture before sprinkling the cake mix. You can even sprinkle with coconut flakes. Refrigerate: Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Freeze: Cool fully before wrapping in plastic wrap and freezing. Thaw on the counter and reheat before serving. Reheat: To warm like it’s right out of the oven, place it on a microwave safe plate and heat at 50% power level for 30 seconds to one minute.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclosure
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.
Daphne
Sounds yummy. I’m making it tomorrow. Love the chocolate and cherries.