Cherry Dump Cake

Cherry dump cake is a classic dessert made with cherry pie filling and a store-bought cake mix. The cherry dump cake recipe to make it is easy to follow, and it uses only 3 ingredients. This cake is a delicious sweet treat the whole family will love, and it couldn’t be simpler to make! Just dump the layers into a cake pan and bake until golden brown. You won’t believe how simple this crumbly and indulgent cake is!

A dump cake is a 3-ingredient cake recipe that is so easy to make, it involves no special equipment or baking skills whatsoever. You don’t even need a mixing bowl to make a dump cake! Dump cake is similar to a cobbler, but even easier to make thanks to the use of canned pie filling. Plus, instead of a crumbly biscuit-like topping like what a cobbler has, a dump cake uses a store-bought cake mix.

It’s called a dump cake because of how it’s prepared: you simply take the ingredients, dump them into a cake pan in layers, and bake! That’s all you need to do to make this irresistibly moist and buttery dessert.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• This is the easiest dessert you have ever made! Just 3 simple ingredients and very minimal prep. No mixers, bowls, or special skills are required.
• There are endless variations to make this recipe your own, so you can make it as many times as you want.
• People have been baking Cherry Dump Cake at home for decades, making this a classic recipe.
• Dump cake is moist, buttery, and gooey. You won’t believe how impressive this dessert is, given how simple it is to make!

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Ingredients Notes

So what are these 3 simple ingredients that you need to make an easy Cherry Dump Cake from scratch?

• A box of vanilla cake mix
• A can of cherry pie filling
• Melted butter

It really is that simple!

Dump Cake Variations

There are so many different ways to get creative with a simple dump cake. You can make this recipe over and over again for parties, functions, potlucks and picnics and no one will ever get bored. Here are some of the best moist Cherry Dump Cake ideas to get you started:

• Use any type of fruit filling – Any type of fruit pie filling you can find in the store or make yourself can be used to make a dump cake. Strawberry, peach, blueberry, raspberry, they all work!
• Use a different flavor of cake mix – Try a variety of different cake mixes when making a dump cake to complement whatever filling you are using. Golden cake, fudge cake, or even funfetti cake can be used in this simple indulgent recipe.
• Make it gluten-free – If you are trying to avoid gluten, then fear not, there is a dump cake for you too. Use your favorite gluten-free cake mix instead for a quick and easy gluten-free dessert with almost no effort.

How To Make a Cherry Dump Cake

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. While that’s heating up, grease a non-stick cake pan or baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
2. Spread the entire can of cherry pie filling evenly over the bottom of the cake pan.
3. Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the cherry pie filling. You should see no pie filling peeking out from under the cake mix.
4. Drizzle melted butter over top of the cake mix. Like with the last step, you want to entirely hide the cake mix under the butter.
5. Once the oven is preheated, bake for 40-45 minutes, until the top is golden brown and bubbling.
6. Let the cake cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Tips For a Perfect Dump Cake

• Make sure each layer covers the pan completely before moving on to the next. The melted butter should cover as much of the cake mix as possible to make sure it bakes evenly.
• Make sure the cake is a nice golden brown and the edges are bubbly and gooey before removing the cake from the oven. The cake will still be quite gooey, but don’t worry, it’s supposed to be!
• Dump cake can be enjoyed hot and fresh from the oven, or cold from the fridge the next day.
• Did you know you can make dump cake in the slow cooker? Layer the ingredients into a lightly greased slow cooker like you would for a cake pan, and cook on low for 4 hours.
• Don’t skip the last step of the recipe! Let the cake cool slightly and firm up on a cooling rack before serving.

Serving Suggestions

Cherry Dump Cake is so easy to make, and so easy to make fancier with simple additions. Serve your Cherry Dump Cake with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, or even just a little powdered sugar for decoration. Add even more fruit to compliment the cherries, such as pineapple or blueberries. You can even top your Cherry Dump Cake with frosting, whether homemade or store-bought.

Best Way to Store Leftovers

Let the cake cool completely before storing. Once it’s cooled to room temperature, seal the cake pan with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge. A cooked dump cake can be prepared and stored in the fridge for up to 4 days and still taste great.

For longer-term storage, a dump cake can be frozen sealed with plastic wrap for up to 3 months. Thaw frozen dump cake in the fridge overnight. Try freezing it in individual portions to make it even easier to enjoy.

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Sometimes you just want a sweet treat, and it’s nice to have a way to make one whenever the mood strikes. A homemade Cherry Dump Cake dessert can really hit the spot when the urge arises! Let me know what you think of this recipe.