Cherry Dump Cake
Cherry dump cake is cherry pie filling and crushed pineapple topped with dry cake mix and drizzled with melted butter, then baked until golden and bubbly. It’s called dump cake because you literally dump everything in a pan and bake – no mixing required! Perfect for unexpected guests, potlucks, or when you need a delicious dessert with minimal effort. Bake at 350°F for 45-50 minutes, serves 12 using just 5 ingredients.
Cherry dump cake is the easiest cake to make with just 5 ingredients and one dish. Dump cakes have been around for so many years, and this cherry version is my favorite!
I never thought just dumping something into a pan (and not stirring) would work but this cake totally does. The melted butter drips down through the cake mix and the fruit filling bubbles up from the bottom. This “mixes” the cake as it bakes – like magic!
If you have unexpected guests coming, need a quick potluck dessert, or want something easy to end the night, this cake is fantastic. It’s quick and easy and always comes out perfect.
More Cherry Desserts
- Cherries in the Snow – No-bake cherry fluff dessert
- Cherry Pie Bars – Portable cherry pie in bar form
- Cherry Garcia Dip – Chocolate cherry sweet dip
- Cherry Cupcakes – Moist with cherry pie filling
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Read my disclosure policy.
See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and their quantities.
Ingredient Notes
Cherry Pie Filling – Use homemade or your favorite store-bought brand. You need one 21-ounce can or the equivalent in homemade.
Crushed Pineapple – Be sure to use the crushed, and not the chunks. Be sure to use the whole can with the juice. Don’t drain it, you will need the liquid.
Cake Mix – Yellow or white cake mix works. Any brand you prefer or what’s on sale. Be sure it’s a 15.25-ounce box.
Butter – Use real unsalted butter, not margarine. And melt it completely before drizzling on the cake mix.
Walnuts – These are Optional but add delicious flavor and crunch! Toast them first for extra flavor. Pecans and almonds work great too!
For more insider tips, tricks, and a behind the scenes look, follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, & X.
How To Make Cherry Dump Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Dump cherry pie filling and crushed pineapple (with juice!) into baking dish.
- Stir to mix evenly. Sprinkle dry cake mix over the fruit mixture in an even layer. Make sure cake mix covers everything!
- Melt butter in microwave-safe bowl. Drizzle melted butter over the top of cake mix as evenly as possible to cover entire top. It’s okay if a few spots are uncovered. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts if using.
- Bake at 350°F for 45-50 minutes until fruit is bubbling and cake is light golden brown. Remove from oven and cool on cooling rack. Serve warm or room temperature with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream!
For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Storage & Serving
Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. You must refrigerate it once you bake it and cool it. Don’t leave it out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Serve Warm or Cold: Dump cake can be served straight from the oven or eaten cold. Both are delicious!
Reheating: Reheat in microwave in 20-30 second intervals until warmed.
Best With Ice Cream: Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Crock Pot Version
- Place fruit in bottom of greased slow cooker.
- Cover with cake mix.
- Drizzle with melted butter.
- Cover and cook on LOW 4 hours or HIGH 2 hours.
- Sprinkle with chopped walnuts before serving!
Variations
Different Fruit: Use apple pie filling, peach pie filling, or blueberry pie filling instead of cherry.
Chocolate Cake: Use chocolate cake mix instead of vanilla or yellow for richer flavor.
Almond Extract: Add 2 teaspoons almond extract to fruit mixture for richer flavor. Cherry and almonds are delicious together.
Different Nuts: Use chopped toasted pecans instead of walnuts.
No Nuts: Skip nuts entirely if you prefer or have allergies.
Homemade Pie Filling: Make your own cherry pie filling instead of canned.
Spice Cake: Use spice cake mix for warm spiced flavor.
More Easy Desserts:
- Louisiana Stranger Cake – Cake and frosting mixed together
- Blueberry Coffee Cake – Streusel-topped morning treat
- Peach Dump Cake – No-mix fruit and cake magic
- Lemon Cobbler – Tangy citrus self-saucing dessert
Why Is It Called Dump Cake?
Dump cake got the name because you essentially dump all the ingredients into your pan and bake!
It’s not a cake where you whip up a wet batter and pour into a pan. You literally dump fruit in the pan, dump dry cake mix on top, drizzle with butter, and bake. That’s it!
This crushed pineapple and cherry pie filling dump cake stands out from others. The combination of tart cherries and sweet pineapple is incredible!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Place fruit in greased slow cooker, cover with cake mix, drizzle with butter. Cook on LOW 4 hours or HIGH 2 hours. Sprinkle with nuts before serving.
NO! Use the crushed pineapple with all its juice. You need that moisture!
Yes! Apple, peach, or blueberry pie filling work great. Keep the same volume of fruit.
Always use real butter, not margarine. It makes a huge difference in flavor! Margarine has too much water and the cake will be loose.
Absolutely! Chocolate cake mix with cherry pie filling is delicious!
Nuts are optional but add great flavor and crunch. Skip if you prefer or have an allergy.
The fruit should be bubbling and cake should be light golden brown on top.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Change up the fruit if cherry and pineapple aren’t your thing. Keep the same volume.
- Make homemade cherry pie filling if you don’t have canned.
- Don’t drain the crushed pineapple – use it with all its juice!
- Add 2 teaspoons almond extract to fruit mixture for richer flavor.
- Make an even layer of cake mix over fruit so all the cake has topping.
- Try chocolate cake mix instead of vanilla or yellow for different flavor.
- Use real butter, NOT margarine. It makes a huge difference!
- Melt butter completely and drizzle as evenly as possible to avoid dry cake powder spots.
- Nuts are optional but add delicious flavor – pecans work great too!
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream for ultimate dessert experience.
This cherry dump cake recipe is the easiest dessert around! Perfect for unexpected guests or when you need something sweet fast.
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please leave us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ five-star review in the comment section below. Thanks!
Cherry Dump Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 21 ounces cherry pie filling
- 30 ounces crushed pineapple not drained
- 15.25 ounces white cake mix
- 1 cup butter unsalted
- ½ cup walnuts chopped
Instructions
- reheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray a 9×13 baking dish.
- Dump cherry pie filling and crushed pineapple into the baking dish. Stir to combine evenly.
- Sprinkle cake mix powder over the fruit mixture.
- Melt butter in a microwave safe bowl. Drizzle over cake mix as evenly as possible to try and cover the entire top. It’s ok if a few spots are left uncovered. Sprinkle with chopped nuts.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 45- 50 min or until fruit is bubbling and cake is a light golden brown. Remove from oven and cool on a cooling rack.
- Serve warm or room temperature with ice cream or whipping cream.
Notes
- Change up the fruit if cherry and pineapple aren’t your thing. Keep the same volume.
- Make homemade cherry pie filling if you don’t have canned.
- Don’t drain the crushed pineapple – use it with all its juice!
- Add 2 teaspoons almond extract to fruit mixture for richer flavor.
- Make an even layer of cake mix over fruit so all the cake has topping.
- Try chocolate cake mix instead of vanilla or yellow for different flavor.
- Use real butter, NOT margarine. It makes a huge difference!
- Melt butter completely and drizzle as evenly as possible to avoid dry cake powder spots.
- Nuts are optional but add delicious flavor – pecans work great too!
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream for ultimate dessert experience.
Nutrition
©TakeTwoTapas.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
