Cherry Dump Cake

Studded with pops of fruit and crunchy walnuts, this easy cherry dump cake is a perfect last-minute dessert!

Dump cakes like our Peach Dump Cake, Caramel Apple Dump Cake, or this cherry dump cake are some of the best easy cake recipes to have on hand.

An Easy fruity dessert

I love a good dessert recipe, especially an easy cake recipe. Dump cakes are exactly that! They’re fun because you can be as simple, or as creative, as you’d like.

I tend to lean towards more chocolatey desserts, but every now and again I like something fruity. This cherry dump cake recipe, similar to a cherry cobbler, is ideal for those fruity cravings.

I love that the walnuts add a little crunch to each bite and the cherry and pineapple are a perfect combination. Even better, it takes only minutes to prep!

There’s a reason it’s called “dump” cake

Recipes like this cherry pineapple dump cake are perfect because you literally dump everything in the pan, give it a stir, and then stick it in the oven!

PREP. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

ASSEMBLE. Pour the can of cherry pie filling and the entire can of crushed pineapples into a 9×13 baking dish. Sprinkle dry cake mix over the pineapple and cherry mixture; stir until just combined.

Sprinkle walnuts over the top of the cake mix. Cut up the butter into thin slices and place evenly over the top.

BAKE. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy warm!

Recipe Variations 

Though this recipe for cherry dump cake is delicious as is, sometimes fun to try a little twist of flavor.

• Flavor combos: Create your own flavor combinations such as using the blueberry filling and a lemon cake mix. Or use chocolate cake mix for a black forest cherry dump cake.
• Cake mix: The yellow cake mix can be replaced with an equal amount of another flavor such as white cake mix, lemon cake mix, and chocolate cake mix. You can use gluten-free yellow cake mix in this recipe.
• Pie filling: Replace the cherry filling with an equal amount of apple pie filling, strawberry pie filling, or blueberry pie filling.
• Nuts: Use sliced almost or pecans instead of walnuts. Or add in coconut flakes.
• Extract: Add ½ to 1 teaspoon of almond extract or vanilla extract when mixing the pineapple and cherries together.

Recipe Tips

Serving suggestion. Serve it in a bowl with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream or Whipped Cream on top.

Top crust. This recipe instructs you to stir the cake mix into the fruity filling so that the cake portion is marbled throughout the dessert. To create more of a top cake crust, don’t mix it together. Simply sprinkle the cake mix on top of the fruit, don’t stir, and pour on melted butter.

Storing and Reheating

STORE. To store the cake whole keep it in the original baking dish, otherwise, put leftovers in an airtight container.

• Countertop: Cover and keep at room temperature for up to two days.
• Refrigerator: Cover and keep in the fridge for up to a week.
• Freezer: Wrap in freezer-safe plastic wrap then wrap again with tin foil. Keep frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.

Note: If a metal baking pan was used, do not store it in the pan for longer than a day.

REHEATING

• Microwave: Place an individual portion in the microwave and heat for 20 seconds. Check, then cook in 10-second intervals until the desired temperature is reached.
• Oven: Remove any plastic wrap. If your cherry and pineapple dump cake is already in a baking pan cover it with foil and place it in the oven, otherwise place the cake in a baking dish and cover it with foil. Bake at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or until warm throughout.

Recipe FAQ

For more dump cakes, try:

• Peach Dump Cake
• Apple Dump Cake
• Pumpkin Dump Cake
• Blueberry Dump Cake

Adapted from allrecipes.com