Cherry Dump Cake

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This Cherry Dump Cake is a delicious, easy-to-make dessert that’s great for any time of year. Sweet, simple, and perfect with a scoop of ice cream!

When it comes to quick, delicious, and downright comforting desserts, few recipes hit the mark quite like a cherry dump cake. My grandmother used to make dump cake all the time, fruit cocktail dump cake in particular but this apple pie dump cake and cherry dump cake was a close second!

(She even made sweet potato dump cake in for Thanksgiving, which was sooooo good!)

This dessert perfectly combines the sweetness and tartness of cherries, all topped with a golden, buttery cake that bakes into a delicious crumble.

Why I love this recipe

I love that I can switch things up to suit my tastes, whether it’s adding a layer of cream cheese, changing the fruit filling, or trying a new cake mix flavor. It’s fun to get creative with it!

The mix of sweet cherries, that buttery cake topping, and the golden, crispy edges make it irresistible every time.

Need more effortless cake recipes? Our Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake and Lemon Lime Dump Cake are perfect picks for when you want a tasty treat without the fuss.

Ingredients

• cherry pie filling – pick any brand or use homemade
• yellow cake mix – you can use white or butter cake mix instead
• unsalted butter – do not use margarine
• brown sugar & agave syrup sweeten the pie filling and balance the tartness of the cherries (optional)
• vanilla extract – this is also optional for a little extra flavor but you can omit it or try almond extract instead as well
• optional toppings: whipped cream or vanilla ice cream

Step by step

1. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F.
2. Prepare the Baking Dish: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
3. Add Cherry Filling: Mix the cherry pie filling with the brown sugar and vanilla. Spread evenly over the bottom of the prepared dish.
4. Add the Cake Mix: Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the cherries without stirring; leave it as is.

1. Drizzle Butter: Mix together the melted butter and agave syrup. Pour the mixture over the top of the cake mix, aiming to cover as much of the mix as possible for even baking. You can use the back of a spoon to gently push the butter to cover as much of the dry cake mix as possible, its okay that it doesn’t cover the entire top of the cake.
2. Bake: Place the dish in the oven and bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
3. Cool and Serve: Allow the dump cake to cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy it warm with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired.

Variations

You can experiment with this recipe using different flavors of cake mix (how decadent would chocolate cake mix be?) You can also try add-ins like fresh berries or sliced peaches to make it a mixed fruit dump cake.

Serving suggestion

• Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
• A cup of your favorite coffee or tea pairs well with the dessert, making it perfect for after-dinner or an afternoon treat.
• Pair it with a drizzle of chocolate or caramel sauce for an indulgent dessert.
• Serve it with a side of Greek yogurt for a breakfast twist.

Storage

Store leftovers covered in plastic wrap or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. If you want it to last longer, move it to the fridge where it will stay good for up to a week. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container.

When you are ready to eat, let it thaw at room temperature and warm it in the oven or microwave before serving.

If you try this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!

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