Welcome to the ultimate guide for crafting one of the most effortlessly delicious desserts you’ll ever encounter: the Crock Pot Cherry Dump Cake. If you’re searching for a recipe that combines minimal effort with maximum flavor, look no further. This incredible slow cooker treat requires just three simple ingredients and promises a warm, bubbling, and utterly irresistible dessert with hardly any fuss. Prepare to delight your taste buds and impress your guests without spending hours in the kitchen!
Effortless Indulgence: The 3-Ingredient Crock Pot Cherry Dump Cake
Imagine a dessert so simple to prepare that it almost feels like cheating. A dessert that, after a few minutes of “dumping” ingredients into your slow cooker, transforms into a luscious, fruit-filled cake, warm and inviting. That’s precisely the magic of this Crock Pot Cherry Dump Cake. It’s the kind of recipe that becomes a staple in your culinary repertoire – perfect for busy weeknights, impromptu gatherings, or whenever a craving for something sweet strikes without the desire for elaborate baking.
Dump cakes have long been celebrated for their straightforward approach, and when adapted for the slow cooker, they reach new heights of convenience. The slow, gentle heat of a crock pot ensures that the cherries become wonderfully tender and jammy, while the cake mix topping bakes into a delightful, slightly crisp, and golden crust, all without ever needing to turn on your oven. This makes it an ideal dessert, especially during warmer months or when your oven is occupied with other dishes.
I recall making this very cake, and it vanished almost as quickly as it appeared! My amazing husband, in particular, couldn’t resist sneaking back for just “one more bite.” Before I could even capture a decent photograph for this post, a significant portion of the cake had mysteriously disappeared! I served it during a slow cooker Saturday lunch with John’s mom, and while I was focused on carving the Bourbon Baked Ham, the cherry dump cake was being thoroughly enjoyed. By the time I sat down, ready to savor a slice, it was all gone. I suppose that means I’ll just have to make it again, perhaps on a day when I have it all to myself!
This recipe was first shared on November 20, 2013, and has since been perfected. The most significant enhancement I’ve made is doubling the amount of cherry pie filling. This ensures a thicker, more decadent layer of fruit, making each spoonful even more satisfying. Trust me, once you try this recipe, you’ll want to keep extra ingredients on hand because you’ll be making it again very soon!
Why You’ll Love This Simple Slow Cooker Dessert
The allure of the Crock Pot Cherry Dump Cake extends far beyond its three-ingredient list. It’s a versatile and forgiving recipe that caters to various occasions and dietary preferences (with simple adjustments). Here’s why this dessert is about to become your new favorite:
- Unbeatable Simplicity: No mixing bowls, no measuring precise amounts of flour or sugar. Just dump, melt, and cook! It’s an ideal recipe for beginner bakers or anyone short on time.
- Hands-Off Cooking: Once the ingredients are in the slow cooker, you can set it and forget it. This frees up your time to focus on dinner, spend time with family, or simply relax.
- Warm & Comforting: A warm dessert served straight from the slow cooker is the epitome of comfort food. It’s perfect for chilly evenings, holiday gatherings, or as a cozy treat anytime.
- Minimal Cleanup: With most of the cooking happening in one pot, cleanup is a breeze. Fewer dishes mean more time to enjoy your delicious creation.
- Crowd-Pleaser: The sweet, tart cherries combined with a buttery cake topping create a flavor profile that appeals to almost everyone. It’s a guaranteed hit at potlucks, family dinners, or holiday feasts.
- Always Ready: Your slow cooker keeps the dessert warm for hours, so it’s ready whenever you are. No last-minute scrambling!
Mastering the 3 Key Ingredients for Your Cherry Dump Cake
The beauty of this Crock Pot Cherry Dump Cake lies in its humble yet powerful ingredient list. Each component plays a crucial role in creating the perfect texture and flavor. Let’s explore them:
- Cherry Pie Filling: This is the heart of our dump cake. While you can opt for one can, using two (approximately 42 ounces total) creates a much more substantial and luxurious cherry layer. Feel free to choose your favorite brand. Some prefer a tart cherry filling, while others lean towards sweeter varieties. This recipe is flexible enough to accommodate either. The pie filling provides both the fruit and the sweet, gooey sauce that marries all the flavors.
- Yellow Cake Mix: A classic yellow cake mix provides the perfect base for the “cake” part of this dessert. When sprinkled over the cherries and topped with butter, it transforms into a tender, buttery topping with a slight crispness around the edges. You don’t mix it with eggs, oil, or water—just use it dry! This dry cake mix soaks up the moisture from the fruit filling and the melted butter, baking into a delightful, cake-like crust.
- Butter: Melted butter is the secret weapon that brings this dump cake to life. As it drizzles over the dry cake mix, it creates a rich, golden, and slightly crisp topping, mimicking the effect of a traditional streusel. The butter adds essential moisture, fat, and flavor, ensuring the cake mix doesn’t just dry out but bakes beautifully.
For the best results, we highly recommend using a Crockpot that features a digital timer. This convenient feature allows your slow cooker to automatically switch to a “warm” setting after the cooking time is complete, preventing overcooking and ensuring your dessert is perfectly ready to serve whenever you are. This small detail can make a big difference in maintaining the cake’s ideal texture and preventing it from drying out.
Tips for the Perfect Crock Pot Cherry Dump Cake
While this recipe is incredibly straightforward, a few tips can elevate your Crock Pot Cherry Dump Cake from great to extraordinary:
- Grease Your Crock Pot: A quick spray with non-stick cooking spray or a light greasing with butter ensures easy cleanup and prevents the cake from sticking.
- Don’t Stir: The “dump” in dump cake is literal! Resist the urge to stir the layers once you’ve assembled them. The magic happens as the dry cake mix absorbs the moisture from the pie filling and melted butter, creating distinct, delicious layers.
- Even Cake Mix Distribution: Try to spread the dry cake mix as evenly as possible over the cherry filling. This ensures a consistent cake layer throughout.
- Uniform Butter Drizzle: Similarly, drizzle the melted butter as evenly as you can over the cake mix. This helps achieve that beautiful golden-brown, slightly crispy crust. If you don’t have enough melted butter to cover everything, you can dot the top with small pats of cold butter instead, which will melt and spread as it cooks.
- Check for Doneness: The cake is done when the topping is golden brown and the fruit filling is bubbly. Cooking times can vary slightly depending on your slow cooker, so keep an eye on it.
- Serving Temperature: This cake is absolutely divine served warm, straight from the slow cooker.
Delicious Variations to Explore
While the classic cherry dump cake is a winner, its simplicity makes it a fantastic canvas for experimentation. Here are some ideas to customize your slow cooker dessert:
- Fruit Variations: Swap out cherry pie filling for other fruit pie fillings like apple, peach, blueberry, or mixed berry. Each offers a unique flavor profile. For a tropical twist, try pineapple or mango pie filling!
- Cake Mix Changes: Instead of yellow cake mix, experiment with chocolate cake mix for a Black Forest-inspired dessert, spice cake mix for an autumnal treat, or even a white or vanilla cake mix for a lighter flavor.
- Nutty Crunch: Sprinkle chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds over the cake mix before adding the butter for an extra layer of texture and flavor.
- Chocolate Lover’s Dream: Add a handful of chocolate chips or white chocolate chips on top of the cake mix layer for a decadent addition.
- Coconut Delight: Toasted coconut flakes can be sprinkled on top during the last 30 minutes of cooking or added as a garnish.
- Spice It Up: Enhance the flavor by sprinkling a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice over the cherry filling before adding the cake mix.
- Cream Cheese Layer: For a richer, more cheesecake-like experience, spread an 8-ounce block of softened cream cheese (mixed with 1/4 cup sugar) over the cherry pie filling before adding the cake mix.
Serving Suggestions for Your Dump Cake
This Crock Pot Cherry Dump Cake is spectacular on its own, but it truly shines when paired with certain accompaniments:
- Vanilla Ice Cream: The classic pairing! A scoop of cold vanilla ice cream melting over the warm cake is pure bliss.
- Whipped Cream: A dollop of fresh whipped cream adds a light, airy contrast to the rich cake.
- Custard or Crème Anglaise: For a more sophisticated touch, a pour of creamy custard or crème anglaise elevates the dessert.
- Chocolate Drizzle: A light drizzle of chocolate syrup can complement the cherry flavor beautifully.
- Fresh Berries: Garnish with a few fresh cherries or mixed berries for an extra pop of color and freshness.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I use fresh or frozen cherries instead of pie filling?
A: While you could, the recipe relies on the thick, sweetened sauce from the pie filling for moisture and flavor. If using fresh or frozen cherries, you would need to add sugar, cornstarch, and possibly a bit of liquid (like water or cherry juice) to achieve a similar consistency, essentially making your own pie filling. For this particular “dump cake” style, pie filling is key to its simplicity.
Q: Do I need to mix the cake mix with anything before adding it?
A: No! The beauty of a dump cake is that you use the dry cake mix straight from the box. It absorbs moisture from the fruit filling and melted butter as it cooks, creating the cake-like topping.
Q: My slow cooker runs hot/cold. How can I adjust cooking time?
A: Slow cooker temperatures can vary. If your slow cooker tends to run hot, check the cake earlier (e.g., at 1.5 hours on high, or 3 hours on low). If it runs cool, it might need an extra 30-60 minutes. The cake is done when the topping is golden brown and the fruit filling is bubbly around the edges.
Q: How do I store leftover dump cake?
A: Let the cake cool completely, then cover the slow cooker insert with foil or transfer leftovers to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Q: Can I freeze cherry dump cake?
A: Yes, you can! Once cooled, transfer portions to freezer-safe containers or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat gently.
Q: What size slow cooker should I use?
A: A 5-6 quart slow cooker is ideal for this recipe. If you have a larger one, the cake might cook slightly faster as the ingredients will be spread thinner. A smaller one might require you to halve the recipe.
More Delicious Dump Cake Recipes
If you’ve fallen in love with the ease and deliciousness of dump cakes, you’re in luck! There’s a whole world of these simple treats waiting to be explored. Check out some of our other fantastic dump cake creations:
- Pumpkin Dump Cake
- Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake
- Peppermint Cherry Dump Cake
- Apple Spice Dump Cake
- Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake
Don’t miss all of our cake mix recipes for more quick and creative baking ideas. We also have a ton of recipes with cherry pie filling as a main ingredient, perfect for fans of this vibrant fruit!
Do you love recipes? Be sure to explore our extensive collection of copycat recipes, irresistible dessert recipes, and our convenient Crock Pot Recipes for every meal of the day.
Crock Pot Cherry Dump Cake Recipe
This easy Crock Pot Cherry Dump Cake recipe is perfect for any family dinner or holiday gathering. It’s a simple, set-it-and-forget-it dessert that always delivers on flavor and comfort.
Crock Pot Cherry Dump Cake Recipe
Easy Crock Pot Cherry Dump Cake Recipe that is perfect for family dinner or holidays
Average Rating: 4.35 out of 5 stars from 23 votes
Print Recipe
Ingredients
- 42 Ounce Cherry Pie Filling (2 cans)
- 1 yellow cake mix
- ½ cup Butter (melted)
Instructions
- Pour both cans of Cherry Pie filling into a greased crock pot.
- Spread dry cake mix evenly over the top of the cherry pie filling.
- Pour melted butter over the cake mix, ensuring an even distribution.
- Cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 2 hours, until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
Kitchen Tools
- Slow cooker
Notes
You can make this with 1 can of Cherry Pie filling, but using 2 cans makes it more decadent and ensures a richer fruit layer. Enjoy warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream!
Nutrition
Calories from Fat 117
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Thank you for joining us on this culinary journey! We hope you enjoy making and devouring this incredibly easy and delicious Crock Pot Cherry Dump Cake. Its simplicity, combined with its comforting flavors, makes it an instant classic that you’ll return to again and again.
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This recipe was first shared on November 20, 2013, and last updated on February 29, 2020.