Cherry Dump Cake (+Video)
This easy Cherry Dump Cake dessert is made with cake mix, cherry pie filling, butter and a secret ingredient. “Dump” and bake!
CAKE MIX, PIE FILLING AND BUTTER
When it comes to fruit desserts, one of my easy favorites is the humble dump cake. It really has a terrible name but the idea behind it is you “dump” everything in and bake it. The bonus of this cherry dump cake dessert is you can any pie filling flavor you love! I’ve tried nearly all of them and they all work great.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Yes! This can be done in the crock pot as well. Cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours.
I happen to really love cherry. It not only has a perfect sweet/tart combination but it just looks pretty! I love the bright red color and is nice to make around the holidays. But you can absolutely switch the cherry out for any flavor: peach, strawberry, blueberry, apple and on and on. Whatever you love!
Some folks add more tartness to this by adding pineapple. You could certainly do that but I find that I like it best as straight-up cherry with a little almond extract added. That’s my little twist in this recipe. Almond flavor and cherries go together perfectly.
For added crunch, try sprinkling some sliced almonds or chopped pecans on top or under the cake mix before baking.
Absolutely! You could use a chocolate cake mix along with the cherries for a “Black Forrest” style dump. cake. You could do vanilla and blueberry pie filling together to make a Blueberry Dump Cake. Or try my Apple Dump Cake or Pumpkin Dump Cake versions! version! So many combinations with this recipe!
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- yellow cake mix
- cherry pie filling
- almond extract
- salted butter
HOW TO MAKE CHERRY DUMP CAKE:
Preheat oven to 350f degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Stir 1/2 tsp almond extract into each can of pie filling and stir.
Pour both cans of cherry pie filling into prepared baking dish.
Sprinkle yellow cake mix evenly over cherry pie filling.
Slowly pour melted butter all over the top of the cake mix. Note: you could also slice the butter up into a bunch of squares and then evenly place them all over the top of the cake mix rather than melting the butter and pouring on top.
Do your best to drizzle it all over. It won’t cover all the cake mix.
Bake for about 50-60 minutes (until topping is golden brown.)
Serve warm! A scoop of ice cream on top is always nice too!
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
Cherry Dump Cake (+Video)
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon almond extract (divided use – optional)
- 2 (21 ounce) cans cherry pie filling
- 15.25 ounce box yellow cake mix
- 1/2 cup salted butter (1 stick), melted (see notes below)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Stir in half of the 1 teaspoon almond extract into each of the 2 (21 ounce) cans cherry pie filling and stir. (So half a teaspoon of almond extract into each can)
- Pour both cans of cherry pie filling into prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle 15.25 ounce box yellow cake mix evenly over cherry pie filling.
- Slowly pour 1/2 cup salted butter (1 stick), melted all over the top of the cake mix. Note: you could also slice the butter up into a bunch of squares and then evenly place them all over the top of the cake mix rather than melting the butter and pouring on top.
- Bake for about 50-60 minutes (until topping is golden brown)
Video
Notes
- This can be done in the crock pot as well. Cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours.
- You can switch the cherry out for any flavor: peach, strawberry, blueberry, apple and on and on. Whatever you love!
- Some folks add more tartness to this by adding pineapple. I think it personally makes it too tart but do what you like!
- For added crunch, try sprinkling some sliced almonds on top of the cake mix before baking.
- Instead of melting the butter you can cut it up into a bunch of squares and evenly place it on top of the cake mix layer.
- My twist to this recipe is the almond extract. It really takes this to the next level of flavor and really adds something special to the flavor so don’t skip it!
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Today is my second time making this. I divide it into 8-10 portions. 5 to pack in my lunch for work, and the rest for late night snacks, topped with vanilla bean ice cream. 8^D
Simple and it got rave reviews. I used amaretto instead of almond extract. that amount of tasty for canned pie filling and box cake mix is ridiculously high.
Hey, Brandie! I just served up a serving of your Cherry Dump Cake to my husband and myself (plus a squirt of cold Redi-Whip) on each. We both agree that this is very tasty, and like your special addition of the almond extract! I don’t have Instagram, so I wanted to let you know that I DID make your recipe, and it was a keeper!!! Thanks for sharing!!❤️
all of those recipes looks very delicious
I’m going to use the starberry one
Well,,,, I was rushing and didn’t read the instructions thoroughly. I added 1 full tsp to each can of pie filling. . Baking it anyway. I’ll let ya know.
This is my third time making this wonderful dessert! Only changes I made was to use vanilla extract instead of the almond and I added the melted butter in a bowl with the cake mix. I liked how it turned out with the butter incorporated into all of the cake mix. Thank you for a delicious recipe and I can’t wait to try different variations.
Thanks so much Valerie!
I bought a box of vanilla cake mix by mistake. Think it would make much of a difference?
I used yellow cake mix with cherry and apple pie filling. I dolloped the filling alternating the flavors. I also used almond extract but also added butter extract and coconut extract and topped with slivered almonds. my house smells amazing!! lol
Sounds perfect!! Thank you Stephanie!
I use chocolate cake mix with the cherries.
Yep~ I mention that combo above in the FAQ’s for a “Black Forrest” version! 🙂
Just trying the chocolate cherry dump cake now…its my first dump cake so we will see! Thanks for all the great ideas!
Just made it for a church lunch this Sunday. Went together in a whiz and smells delicious – can’t wait to scarf it up tomorrow! I bought 1/2 gallon of French vanilla ice cream to serve with it, too.
Thanks for this yummy, quick-and-easy solution for “what to bring”. I’m pretty sure it’ll be a hit!
Omg! Made this tonight for my future in laws and wow they LOVED it! I took the advice from another comment to melt the butter with the cherry filling (yum!) Huge hit and easy to make! Thank you so much for my first dump cake, I’ll be making more in the future!
I almost forgot! I used vanilla extract instead of almond (my boyfriend doesn’t do almonds) yes!
Excellent recipe. I read the comments and decided two sticks of plant based butter would work well. I also added some fresh blackberries to the cherries. It was great.
There is no way one stick of butter covered my whole cake mix. I used 2 sand it was perfect.
Super yum!
No eggs! I looked at the recipe twice. I’m here at the grocery. Going to make this when I get home. And I found all sugar free ingredients for diabetic hubby
Hello
Is almond extract necessary? Can other extract be use? As some people can be allergic to almond
You can just leave it out – no worries 🙂
Best dump cake ever!
This is so delicious! I’ve made the cherry dump cake twice now. I omitted the almond extract the 2nd time and my family liked it better. I just made it a 3rd time using apple pie filling and my adult sons loved it! Great, easy recipe.
I have Always dumped my cake mix in a bowl add melted butte. Mix with fingers to make pea size crumble mix. Sprinkle on top. Problem solved!
Very good!!
Has anyone ever tried adding cream cheese between the cherry layer and the cake mix topping? If so, how did it turn out? Thanks!
This was easy and delicious! I used vanilla extract instead of almond extract. I also used Duncan Hines Perfectly Moist Pineapple Supreme cake mix. Heaven!!!!!