This recipe for cherry dump cake uses only 4 simple ingredients and couldn't be easier to make! Full of sweet, cherry filling and with a soft sponge cake topping, it's the best last-minute dessert for any occasion.
WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?
Enter your email below and we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!
You will love this Dump Cake with Cherry Pie Filling
Homemade desserts are always a treat, but sometimes life gets busy and we need quick and easy options. This cherry pie filling dump cake is the answer to those moments! With just a few ingredients and no prep (you don't even need to mix anything!) you'll have this cake ready to pop in the oven in less than 5 minutes. And trust me, the result is absolutely delicious.
I've added butter to this easy cherry dump cake recipe to create a buttery top layer that perfectly compliments the gooey cherry filling. Just follow my tried and tested process using cherry pie filling and cake mix, and get ready to enjoy the best dump cake you and your family have ever had. They won't believe how little effort it took you to make it!
Why is it called a dump cake?
It's called 'dump cake' because you quite literally dump all the ingredients into a baking dish and bake it. As it cooks, the cake mix mixes with the Sprite to form a soft sponge and the pie filling creates a gooey layer at the bottom. No mixing, no fuss - just a quick and easy cherry dump cake!
Cherry Pie Filling Dump Cake Ingredients
- Boxed yellow cake mix
- Cherry pie filling
- Sprite
- Butter
For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.
How to Make Easy Cherry Dump Cake
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Pour out the cherry pie filling over the bottom of your baking dish. Spread it out so it's evenly covering the bottom of the dish.
- Sprinkle the yellow cake mix over the cherry filling. Try to cover as much cherry pie filling as you can.
- Pour the Sprite over the cake mix. Distribute it as evenly as possible but don't worry if there are some dry patches left.
- Cut the butter into cubes and distribute them over the top of the cake mix.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the top is golden.
Tips for making this Cherry Pie Filling Cake
It really couldn't be easier to make this recipe, but here are a few tips to keep in mind when making your cherry pie filling cake:
- Don't mix the ingredients: Seriously, don't mix it! I know it seems counterintuitive, but trust me on this one. The cake mix and Sprite will combine as it bakes.
- Use a baking dish with high sides: The cake will rise and the cherry pie filling will bubble up, so using a baking dish with high sides helps prevent any spills.
- Don't forget the butter: The butter not only adds flavor but also reduces the amount of dry cake mix left on top of the cake.
- Try a different cake mix: Yellow cake mix gives this recipe that classic ‘dump cake’ flavor. But nothing is stopping you from using a different flavor, like chocolate or spice cake mix!
- Use canned pie filling: This recipe only works when you use canned cherry pie filling, rather than fresh or frozen cherries. However, you can use any brand or type of pie filling (doesn't have to be cherry!) that you like.
Cherry Pie Filling and Cake Mix Storage
Once your dump cake with cherry pie filling has cooled completely, cover it and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It can be eaten cold or warmed up in the microwave for 30 seconds or until heated through. This dump cake also freezes well for up to 3 months! I portion mine out into individual servings and freeze them - they thaw much quicker this way.
Recipe for Cherry Dump Cake FAQs
The biggest mistake I tell people to avoid is mixing the layers before baking. Everything cooks just fine without stirring and it will ruin the ‘dump cake’ aspect if you mix everything beforehand.
Yes, dump cake is meant to be gooey. It's much more like cobber than a traditional cake. The cherry pie filling will create a syrupy base and the cake will be gooey and soft under the golden top!
There's a good chance you'll have a little cake mix that doesn't fully combine with the butter and Sprite. This is totally normal and it's okay if some of the cake mix is still powdery on top after baking! You can always add a little more butter next time you make it to help the powder incorporate better, but it's not necessary.
Aside from being a crime against dump cakes, the texture and consistency of the dessert will turn out completely different if you mix the ingredients before baking. It’ll be more of a dense sponge cake than a dump cake if you do this.
WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?
Enter your email below and we will send it straight to your inbox. Plus you will get great new recipes from us every week!
Cherry Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cake mix (boxed)
- 21 oz cherry pie filling (one can)
- 7.5 oz lemon-lime soda (one small can)
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks, sliced)
Instructions
- Spread the cherry pie filling evenly in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish or similar.
- Sprinkle the cake mix evenly over the cherry pie filling.
- Pour the can of soda evenly over the cake mix.
- Evenly place the butter slices over top of the cake mix and soda.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and bubbly.
Leave a Reply