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This Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake is made with just 3 ingredients! Cherry pie filling, devil’s food cake mix, and melted butter are dumped into a baking dish for a decadent yet easy dessert that’s one part cake, one part cobbler, and entirely delicious. Some people call it a cherry chocolate dump cake, some call it a cobbler — either way, it’s chocolate cake mix, cherry pie filling, and butter doing all the work.
For more dump cake favorites, try my Chocolate Dump Cake and this sweet Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake.
Why you’ll love this chocolate cherry dump cake recipe!
All Things Mamma readers can’t get enough of my easy dump cake recipes — and this chocolate cherry version is the one I get asked about most. It’s my last-minute potluck insurance: I keep a box of devil’s food cake mix and a couple cans of cherry pie filling in the pantry at all times, because I can have this in the oven before it’s even done preheating. No bowls, no mixer — everything gets dumped right into the baking dish.
With this cherry chocolate dump cake, you’ll pour the cherry pie filling into the bottom of the dish, top it with the dry cake mix, and finish with slices of butter. That’s truly it.
- 3 ingredients, 5 minutes of prep — the oven does the rest.
- No bowls, no mixer, no eggs — just dump, butter, bake.
- Cake-meets-cobbler texture with rich chocolate and jammy cherries in every scoop.
- Crowd-sized and potluck-perfect — irresistible warm with vanilla ice cream. (Big dump cake fans? Try my Easy Strawberry Cheesecake Dump Cake next!)
Table of Contents
Ingredient Notes
You’ll find the full ingredient list with measurements in the recipe card below.
- Cherry pie filling – The whole point of a dump cake is that it’s a super easy dessert, so we use canned cherry pie filling here—two cans, to be exact. Just open ‘em up and dump ’em out.
- Devil’s food cake mix – For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free cake mix.
- Butter – You’ll need to melt a stick and a half of butter.
- Whipped topping or vanilla ice cream – Technically, this is optional, but I say go big or go home.
How to Make Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake
- Dump the cherries. Spread 2 cans of cherry pie filling evenly in the dish.
- Add the dry mix. Sprinkle the dry devil’s food cake mix over the top to cover.
- Butter it. Pour melted butter evenly over the mix — saturate as much of the dry cake mix as you can (this is the key step; dry spots stay powdery).
- Bake. 40–45 minutes, until bubbly at the edges and the top is set.
Slow-Cooker Method
Lightly grease the crock. Layer the same way — cherry pie filling, then dry cake mix, then drizzle the melted butter over the top. Cook on LOW about 2.5–3 hours (or HIGH 1.5–2 hours) until the edges bubble and the center is set.
Variations to Try
Black Forest style — Stir ½ teaspoon of almond extract into the cherry pie filling before spreading it in the pan, scatter a handful of chocolate chips over the cake mix, and serve with whipped cream. It tastes just like a Black Forest cake with none of the work.
Almond extract in the cherries — Even if you skip the chocolate chips, that ½ teaspoon of almond extract is a reader favorite — it makes the cherry flavor pop.
Swap the pie filling — Strawberry, raspberry, or blueberry pie filling all work beautifully with chocolate cake mix. Use the same amounts and bake time.
Make it extra fruity — Love a higher fruit-to-cake ratio? Use three cans of pie filling instead of two and add about 5 minutes to the bake time.
How to Store
After baking, let it cool to room temperature and then transfer it to an airtight container. Refrigeration is optional but can extend freshness, so ensure the container is airtight to preserve flavor. For longer storage, freeze the cake, wrapping it in plastic wrap or aluminum foil before placing it in a freezer-safe container.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dump cakes are really best thought of as a cobbler-like dessert rather than a cake. They don’t bake up like a fluffy cake, but the liquid from the butter and pie filling adds enough moisture for the cake mix to take on crisp-y, cobbler-y texture when all is said and done.
As mentioned above, this is not a cake-y cake, so you’ll know when your Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake is done not by inserting a toothpick in the center, but by looking for the pie filling to be bubbling up around the edges.
Heavens no! Stirring is not needed. Just dump the ingredients in. It will work out, I promise.
The dry cake mix wasn’t fully moistened. Make sure the melted butter covers all the mix, and dot extra butter on any floury spots before baking.
I don’t recommend a straight swap. Brownie mix needs eggs to set up, so the dump method leaves it gummy and underbaked in spots. Stick with chocolate cake mix — devil’s food is my favorite — for that perfect cobbler texture.
Favorite Dump Cake Recipes
Quick & Easy Desserts
Blueberry Dump Cake
Cake
Apple Dump Cake
Quick & Easy Desserts
Pumpkin Dump Cake Recipe
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Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake
Equipment
- 9×13 pan
- Can opener
- Rubber spatula
- Serving spoon
Ingredients
- 2 cans cherry pie filling 21 ounces each
- 1 box devil’s food cake mix
- 3/4 cup butter melted
- Whipped topping or vanilla ice cream if desired
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom of 13×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Spread pie filling in baking dish.2 cans cherry pie filling
- Top with dry cake mix evenly.1 box devil’s food cake mix
- Pour melted butter over top, tilting pan to cover as much of top with butter as possible.3/4 cup butter
- Bake 40 to 45 minutes or bubbly around edges.
- Cool 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm with whipped topping or ice cream.Whipped topping or vanilla ice cream
Video
Notes
- Saturate the cake mix with butter — dry, floury spots are the #1 dump-cake mistake. Tilt the pan or dot extra butter on any dry patches.
- Don’t stir after layering — the distinct layers are what make a dump cake work.
- Serve warm for the gooiest cobbler effect.
I LOVE easy easy dump cake recipe! It always turns out perfect!
Are we supposed to refrigerate leftovers?
I’m obsessed with this dump cal. So easy, so delicious, I make it all the time. Perfect recipe
Absolutely delicious! I added almond extract to the cherries and my husband loved this dessert. Highly recommend it!
Such a great addition! We’re so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Dawn. Thank you for sharing! 😊
Super easy and delicious with vanilla ice cream dusted with cinnamon
Super easy and delicious with vanilla ice cream dusted with cinnamon
Thank you, Dani!
Currently have this in the oven, but used strawberry pie filling instead of cherry. My only complaint is it could easily use another can or two of pie filling. However, I plan on re-making this with strawberry pie filling and banana cake mix for Easter!
Do you think you could use a brownie mix instead of a cake mix?? Maybe use more butter??
Would just like to mention that your instructions read to bake for 40-45 minutes or until bubbly around edges (totally agree) BUT where your prep & cook time are listed it says cook time is 11 minutes. Was just a little confused 🙂 no rudeness implied