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Easy Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake is only 3 ingredients! This deliciously quick & easy dump cake uses sweet cherries (canned cherry pie filling), a chocolate cake mix, and butter to create a magically easy one pan dessert recipe. It’s best served with a scoop of ice cream on top – vanilla or cherry ice cream is yummy.
For more easy dump cake recipes that use canned pie filling be sure and try my Easy Apple Dump Cake and Blueberry Dump Cake.
3-Ingredient Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake Recipe
This chocolate cherry dessert (Black Forest dump cake) is similar to a black forest dessert with the flavors of cherry and chocolate, like in this No Bake Black Forest Cheesecake Pie or Black Forest Cheesecake.
With only 3 common ingredients like sweet cherry pie filling, a dry cake mix, and melted butter, this easy to make dessert creates magic in the oven as the cake mix turns into this cobbler like topping! The best way to serve this chocolate cherry dessert is with a scoop of ice cream (vanilla, cherry chip, or cherry) or whipped cream on top.
What is a Dump Cake? It’s basically a dessert that is quite literally ‘dumped’ into a baking dish. Open the cherry pie filling and dump it in. Then you dump (more like sprinkle) the dry cake mix over top) and then dump in the melted butter. No other bowls or special tools needed, just a baking dish!
Only 3 Simple Ingredients Needed
- Cherry Pie Filling
- Devil’s Food Cake Mix : I think the devil’s food cake mix tastes the best but you can use any box of chocolate cake mix you prefer; dark chocolate cake mix, chocolate fudge, or even milk chocolate cake mix. This recipe has been made and tested using a 15.25 oz box of Duncan Hines Devil’s Food Cake mix.
- Butter : You can use salted butter or unsalted butter in this recipe; whichever you prefer. I bake with salted butter.
How To Make Cherry Chocolate Dump Cake (Printable Recipe Card)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 9×13 baking dish by lightly spraying with nonstick cooking spray.
Spread the cherry pie filling into the bottom of the pan.
Sprinkle the cake mix (dry cake mix, do not prepare) evenly over top of the cherry pie filling.
Evenly pour the melted butter over top the cake mix, and then tilt the pan around a few times to ensure you don’t have many dry cake mix spots.
Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the cake mix is cooked through and resembles a cobbler-like topping and the cherry pie filling is bubbly around the edges.
Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or cherry ice cream is yummy too!
How To Store Leftovers
Any leftover dump cake should be stored in an airtight container, or cover the baking dish with a lid, plastic wrap, or aluminum foil and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat individual servings inside the microwave until warmed through.
Serving Suggestions For Delicious Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake
This dump cake is meant to be served warmed with a scoop of cool and creamy ice cream on top. Once the dump cake is done baking, let it rest for about 10 minutes to cook off a bit, and then serve it warm.
- Ice Cream : A scoop of ice cream is the perfect complement to the decadent dessert. The gooey chocolate cake paired with the cherry pie filling, is so yummy when eaten with the cold ice cream. You can use vanilla ice cream, chocolate ice cream, cherry chip ice cream, or cherry ice cream.
- Whipped Cream : For a ‘lighter’ taste serve the dump cake topped with some whipped cream. Either make it yourself with heavy whipping cream + powdered sugar (beat until stiff peaks form) or use spray whipped cream from the can, or a dollop of thawed Cool Whip on top.
Recipe FAQ’s & Substitutions
Can I Make Any Substitutions In This Recipe?
Feel free to use any kind of chocolate cake mix in this recipe; milk chocolate, chocolate fudge, triple chocolate, or dark chocolate. They will all work it just depends on what flavor you want. Use salted butter or unsalted butter depending on salt preference. I use salted butter.
Can I Add Nuts Or Other Toppings To The Cake Mix Topping?
Yes! Add some chopped pecans or almonds, or some mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, or dark chocolate chips to the top of the dry cake mix layer.
What If The Dessert Has Dry Spots On Top After Baking?
To avoid dry spots, make sure to pour the melted butter evenly over the entire surface of the cake mix. Most dump cake recipes call for the butter to be sliced and then laid over top the cake mix; I don’t love that way because the butter has a harder time spreading out over the top of all the cake mix. Melting the butter ensures better coverage. If there are dry spots on top after baking, it just means the butter wasn’t spread out well enough. It will still be delicious! Maybe try taking a spoon and mixing the dry spots into the surrounding cake mix before serving.
Can I Make This Gluten-Free?
Yes, make sure to use a gluten-free cake mix and double check that the cherry pie filling is gluten-free.
More Dump Cake Recipes To Try
- Easy Peach Dump Cake – This one uses canned peaches for the easy fruity filling.
- Berry Crisp Dump Cake – Frozen mixed berries create the fruity filling topped with nuts, oatmeal, and a cake mix for a crisp like topping.
- Caramel Chocolate Turtle Dump Cake – Classic turtle dessert flavors with chocolate, nuts, and caramel.
- Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake – Cherry pie filling and pineapple tidbits create a magical fruity dump cake with tropical flavors.
Try These Other Cherry Dessert Recipes
- Chocolate Cherry Cake
- Easy Cherry Crisp
- Cherry Delight Dessert
- Cream Cheese Cherry Pie
- Sugar Cookie Cherry Cobbler
- Heaven on Earth Cake
Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cans (21 oz each) cherry pie filling
- 1 box (15.25 oz) Devil's Food cake mix
- 12 tablespoons butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉. Prepare a 9×13 baking dish by lightly spraying with nonstick cooking spray.
- Spread the cherry pie filling into the bottom of the pan.2 cans (21 oz each) cherry pie filling
- Sprinkle the cake mix (dry cake mix, do not prepare) evenly over top of the cherry pie filling.1 box (15.25 oz) Devil's Food cake mix
- Evenly pour the melted butter over top the cake mix, and then tilt the pan around a few times to ensure you don't have many dry cake mix spots.12 tablespoons butter
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the cake mix is cooked through and resembles a cobbler-like topping and the cherry pie filling is bubbly around the edges.
- Remove from the oven and let the dump cake cool for about 5 minutes before serving warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream – or cherry ice cream is yummy too!
Notes
Nutrition
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