Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake is a dessert that is as easy to make as it is delicious. Cherry pie filling is covered with chocolate cake mix and topped with butter, all ‘dumped’ in one pan, and baked together for a chocolate-cherry treat. Try my Cherry Dump Cake for another easy sweet treat.
Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake
The genius that decided to dump a bunch of dessert staples into a pan and see what happens next deserves an award. They are my hero. Dump cakes are a dream recipe for busy people. And, this chocolate cherry combination is perfect for and just as easy as, opening a box of chocolate-covered cherries!
Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake Recipe
With just four ingredients and five minutes of your time, you can get this dessert in the oven. In an hour, you will have an impressive family dessert to share!
Ingredients (full recipe below)
- Box of chocolate cake mix
- Cherry pie filling
- Almond extract
- Butter
How to Make Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake
You hear me talking a lot about “your recipe is only as good as your ingredients” and most cases, that is my primary rule of thumb. This dessert is designed for ease. So, in this case, you won’t hear me say that. For this Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake recipe, you need a box of chocolate cake mix, your favorite can of cherry pie filling, some almond extract, and some cold butter.
To make the dump cake, grease a 12-inch, oven-safe skillet. You can also use a 9×9-inch baking pan or 9×13-inch pan.
- Pour the cherry pie filling and almond extract into the bottom of the pan. Mix it together, spreading it out evenly.
- Sprinkle the cake mix over the pie filling, making sure to get it all the way to the edges.
- Place the tabs of butter on top and bake for about an hour, or until the topping is golden brown and the pie filling is bubbling.
Can You Make a Crockpot Dump Cake?
You can and you should! It is literally the exact same recipe and instructions, except you use a crockpot instead of the skillet and an oven.
For this method, you will put the cherry pie filling in the bottom of a greased crockpot, mix in the almond extract and then top with the cake, and then butter, and then cover and cook on high for 2 hours.
Topping Ideas
The basic topping choices for this dump cake are whipped cream or ice cream. Try making your own whipped cream for a topping!
Vanilla ice cream is also a perfect complement to the buttery, cakey, cherry flavors in the dump cake. You could drizzle some homemade chocolate syrup over the top for added flair (and chocolate) if you want as well!
Looking for More Easy Dessert Recipes?
Cherry pie filling is covered with chocolate cake mix and topped with butter, all 'dumped' in one pan, and baked together for a chocolate-cherry treat.
- 1 box (15.25 ounces) chocolate cake mix
- 2 cans (42 ounces) cherry pie filling
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 cup (1 stick or 113g) butter, cold
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Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 12-inch oven-safe skillet. (You could also use a 9x9-inch or 9x13-inch baking dish.)
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In the prepared skillet or baking dish, add the cherry pie filling and the almond extract. Mix together and spread it evenly over the bottom of the pan.
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Sprinkle the cake mix over the top, being careful to cover all of the pie filling.
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Slice the butter into small pads (about 16) and spread them out evenly over the top of the cake mixture.
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Bake for 1 hour or until the topping is golden brown and the pie filling is bubbling.
Love all your recipes and every image makes my mouth water, just looking at it! Thank you for sharing the recipe
I see in the post you mention 9×9 and 9×13, but in the recipe you mention 9×9 and 8×8. Is there a bake time difference for the various pan sizes?
Sorry, 9×9 or 9×13 if you don’t have a 12-inch skillet
Which size of pan? One section says 8×8 or 9 X 13, & then the other section says 8×8 or 9×9.
Sorry, 9×9 or 9×13 if you don’t have a 12-inch skillet
The Cherry Dump Cake was GREAT.
Made it in a 9×13 pan but didn’t really work out completely. The cake mix didn’t completely get covered by the butter pats so the edges were left with the dusty cake mix. The inside part was good – took longer than an hour. Possibly this is because I used a 9×13 pan. The part that did cook was delicious
I love this! I have added nuts and dry oatmeal on top for a crunchy top. Just add a little more butter on top. Thanks!
Great idea!
I want to make the cherry chocolate dump cake but no quantities of ingredients are posted in recipe
Hi, Brenda! I work with iambaker and am happy to help with questions. Jump to the recipe to see the ingredients and instructions to make the cake. I hope this helps, and have a great day!
I was wondering if you could use boxed brownie mix instead of boxed chocolate cake mix?
Yes, you could. It’s a different texture, but will still work!
Hi Amanda,
I just watched one of your videos and you make me smile! You are so down to earth and fun- I’m hooked! Can’t wait to see what you bake next-thanks for the chuckles! PS I loved the outtakes! (Three ingredient pnut butter cookies)
Thank you so much, Sandy!!
Great recipe! Quick and easy. Can’t wait to try it!waltsherry
My father in law baked them all the time. They are so good n easy to make.
Hello! Wondering if you have an idea for those who have tree nut allergy. What could I use instead of almond extract? TIA!
Hi Kelly- While almond extract typically doesn’t contain any nuts, you could simply omit it from this recipe.
I was so excited to see your dump cake receipe – I’ve seen so many different versions of this recipe over the years and I’ve finally decided to make one and it will be your recipe – but can the almond be switched to a vanilla instead – I look forward to trying out the recipe this weekend..
Yes, you can use vanilla instead. 🙂
Thank you for sharing such a great idea and recipe.
Exquisitas recetas de psotres
I love the way you put your recipe in a format that makes it easy to print. So many others scatter their recipes over several pages making me skip right over them. If I can’t easily print the recipe on one page I don’t bother to look at them. Thank you for making an easily printable recipe!
This was so good! I needed something to throw together quick & this hit the spot. Thank you!
The Infamous Dump Cake.. I’ve been making them for years (mother in laws easiest recipe) BUT always with white cake mix, melted butter and a can of crushed pineapple. BUT yours is simply another step up…. Scrumptious and love 💕 everything about chocolate and cherry!! Deb thanks YOU!
Oh such delicious recipes!! Can’t wait to make them all