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 (FAQ’S)
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 – you can also use French Vanilla cake mix. This recipe works even though cake mix sizes are changing. Some are 13 ounces, some are 15 ounces, etc. It works with both.
- cherry pie filling – I personally love the one that has extra cherries but you can use any brand you like. As you see below, I think the store brand is just fine.
- almond extract – as I stated already, this is optional but almond goes so well with cherry and I think it keeps it from tasting like you just used cake mix.
- salted butter – it has to be butter, not margarine.
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
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- ½ 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 1 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
- Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
- This can be done in the crock pot as well. Cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours.
- 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.
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 and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
I drizzle white powdered sugar glaze on the top once it is cool and it is wonderful. I saw one review that complained that some of the cake mix did not get absorbed by the juice. The first time I made this, I had my doubts the half cup of butter would work because once I drizzled it on the top at least half of the dry cake mix surface did not have any butter on it. Not wanting to mess with the recipe by adding more butter, I took a fork and made sure there were no clumps or hard places in the mix and attempted to spread the butter around some. Amazingly, the cake turned out just like it was supposed to. The top of it was perfect. I just added the powder sugar glaze. The second time I made this, I used I Can’t Believe it’s Not Butter spray and sprayed the top.
I found that grating the butter gives full coverage to the topping!
A friend made a pumpkin spice one last year that I couldn’t stop eating! So to make my first dump cake I’m doing blueberry, I hope it’s good. then I can experiment next time thanks for help.
My husbands grandma used to make this for him. I have been looking for a recipe forever! Thank you for sharing this. I made it for him on Valentines Day and he was over the moon. Good call on the Almond extract. In the beginning I was sceptical, but it really is good.
just a thought but wouldn’t it be okay to just add another, say, half or quarter stick of melted butter to cover more of the dry spots? I have also added about a quarter cup of water to the cherry filling, heated it up before putting it in the baking dish and that loosens up the cherry juices so it all spreads out then when it cooks, I have less dry spots and lots more filling. Sprinkling a quarter cup of sugar over the top before baking will give it a crunchy top. Outstanding recipe as is and thanks for sharing it.
My lady friend and her husband brought this dessert for our little dinner party last night. Wow!! Sooo delicious! And this is why I’m on your Recipe site. My husband raved about the dessert and requests that I make it …. and soon! Ha!! Thank you for posting this Easy recipe and thank you again to my friends who shared this delicious dessert with us!
Our family has made “dump cakes” for over 30 years…. our favorite is with Cherry Pie Filling and a chocolate cake mix…
SO GOOD! This was a big hit with my husband and myself! Years ago I discovered how much almond extract adds to cherry recipes. Glad we agree! Thanks for the great recipe!
Woo hoo!! Love it Robin! Thank you for taking the time to come back and comment!
One of my all time favorites!
Yes! Thank you!
I have made this for years and my children also. The Butter flavored yellow cake mix is best and we mix 1 apple with 1 cherry in a dish.
Travel America (T/A) Truck Stops makes this across southern Missouri and its great! They drizzle some white icing on the top and call it “Cherry Crisp.” Super good!
Love that! Thanks Joe. You can never go wrong with a little extra icing drizzle!
Is it ok to use a homemade cake recipe?
Hi Carrie, I don’t see why not! 🙂
I have made this cake for years both with the white mix and chocolate. I often sprinkle mini chocolate chips
over the cherries before adding the white cake mix. And with the chocolate cake mix I top it with sweetened
whipped cream, when cool or use cool whip.
Great recipe love it
Thanks so much Janet!
Wonderful recipe. I have made this recipe several times. Sometimes I use one can of cherry pie filling and one half of the cake mix.
If you use chocolate cake mix, and serve with some whipped topping, drizzled with chocolate syrup, it resembles black forest cake.
Great for a dinner party dessert.
I’ve had Cherry Dump Cake before and I love it. I’m thinking about using a Chocolate cake mix with it and try that. Should be like a chocolate covered cherry.
I was a bit skeptical but now I’m finding myself wanting to eat the whole thing. I didn’t have almond extract, so I used vanilla. Not sure how it would compare, but it’s sure yummy like this!
Yay! I know, it doesn’t sound weird and honestly, the name isn’t that attractive, is it? Ha! So happy you loved it!!
love how the almond extract adds something to cherries ty for that idea
Thanks so much Chris!
Excellent
Thanks so much!
Can a different flavor of extract be used with good results or can it be left out altogether?
If you don’t like the almond flavor you can easily use vanilla. It won’t hurt it a bit but I think you should use something to your liking.
This Cherry Dump Cake is delicious! I love it!
Thanks so much Patty!
Can I add cream cheese and powdered sugar mixed and put it between the cake mix and cherries?
Ive got to try this! Looks awesome! One question i had was , do i sprinkle all of the cake mix or will there be some left over?
I’ve made this several times and everyone LOVES it. The 1st time I made it I used the whole.box which left areas of the cake mix dry on top in some spots. The next few times I made it O didnt use all the mix & I thought it was much better! Although my Sister says she LIKES the uncooked cake mix part…so…to each their own!
Michelle – I know exactly what you’re talking about – ha! My Mom likes the drier cake bits too. LOL. But I am glad you mentioned it for anyone who might like to make it with a little less cake mix. Thank you so much for coming back to comment!
Does this need to be refrigerated or can it be left out? How many days is It good for? About to make it! Can’t wait!
I am going to try this mixing the pineapple juice with the melted butter, and topping it with 1 T of quick oats, 1 T coconut, and 1 T chopped pecans
How did it turn out
I typically make this with a banana cake mix and pecans and call it a banana split dump cake. Also use crushed pineapple. Has always been a big hit.
That sounds good!!