Cherry Dump Cake

Name: Cherry Dump Cake
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 8 serving(s)
Ingredients: Nonstick cooking spray; 2 21-oz. cans cherry pie filling; 2 tsp. vanilla extract; 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon (optional); 1/4 tsp. kosher salt; 3/4 c. salted butter, divided; 1 15.25-oz. box yellow cake mix; Cherry-vanilla ice cream, for serving

It's made with pantry staples and ready in under an hour!

By Georgia GoodeUpdated: Jun 7, 2023

Recipe by Josh Miller

3.3

3 Ratings

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the pioneer woman's cherry dump cake recipe

Yields:

8 serving(s)

Prep Time:

5 mins

Total Time:

50 mins

Of our favorite summer desserts, cherry dump cake stands out as one of the easiest. Sure, cherry cobbler, cherry crisp and cherry pie are all amazing, but this cherry dump cake is easier than them all! Bonus: It's so good, no one will even suspect it came together in under an hour and with very minimal effort. Win-win! Odds are you have most of the ingredients in your pantry right now, so what're you waiting for? Top with cherry-vanilla ice cream (or good ol' classic vanilla bean) and dive right in!

What's in cherry dump cake?

The ingredient list is so short and simple—basically, it's just cherry pie filling, yellow cake mix, and butter. Feel free to add a splash of vanilla, a dash of cinnamon, and a sprinkle of salt to the filling, but don't feel pressured to do so. This humble dessert is perfectly delicious if you leave them out.

How do you make cherry dump cake?

The secret is right there in the name! Simply open up the cans of pie filling and dump them into the pan. Next, cube up some butter and sprinkle a few pieces over the fruit. Then, dump a box of cake mix over the top and sprinkle with the rest of the butter. Easy-peasy! The butter melts and the filling bubbles up, joining forces to transform the dry cake mix into a golden, buttery, crisp topping for this easy skillet cake.

Is dump cake supposed to be gooey?

Oh, yes! That's what makes this cherry dump cake so incredible. That, and just how easy it is. Think of this dessert as more of a cobbler than a traditional cake. The cherry filling stays nice and gooey beneath the cake "crust," and rather than slicing it into pieces, you just scoop it up with a big spoon.

Do I have to make cherry dump cake in a skillet?

Absolutely not! This recipe was designed to work equally well in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet or a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. No matter which dish it's baked in, there's only one requirement—serve this with plenty of ice cream!

Does cherry dump cake need to be refrigerated?

After the cake cools, it's best to store any leftovers in the refrigerator to keep it fresh.

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Ingredients

Directions

1. Step 1Preheat the oven to 375°. Add the cherry pie filling, vanilla extract, cinnamon and kosher salt to a 12-inch skillet coated with cooking spray; stir to combine.
2. Step 2Cut the butter into cubes. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of the cubes over the cherry filling. Pour the dry cake mix over the cherry mixture, patting into an even layer using your hands or a spoon. Scatter the remaining cubes of butter evenly over the top of the cake mix.
3. Step 3Bake on the middle rack of the oven until the top of the cake is golden brown and the cherry mixture is bubbly, about 50 minutes.
4. Step 4Top servings with cherry-vanilla ice cream, if you like.

Tip: Not a fan of cherry pie filling? Try a dump cake with peaches or even apple pie filling!

Recipe byJosh Miller

Whether he’s stirring something new and delicious into his skillet cornbread, adding a healthy twist to a favorite comfort food recipe, or trying out a new exotic spice, Senior Food Editor Josh Miller loves dreaming up delicious, cookable recipes for PioneerWoman.com. When he hangs up his apron for the day, you can him in his pottery studio, creating fun and functional items for the kitchen and home.

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