Amish Cherry Dump Cake is one of these recipes that you can't really go wrong with. It checks all the boxes as far as I am concerned: boxed cake mix, cherry pie filling, butter, and it's quick. In my opinion, it is better than a cherry cobbler or peach cobbler, it's just pure deliciousness without any prep time or messy mixing bowls.
Now I'd probably have used a can of blueberry pie filling if it had been up to me. We made this Cherry Dump Cake over a campfire at a recent gathering, but you can make it at home in your oven just as easily. Check out how to grill a Cherry Dump cake -- well kind of!
Now, in the case of this particular dump cake, we made it over an open fire outside. But no need to go through all of that, you can just as easily make it in your oven and that is what the instructions below are.
"Dump cakes" have a long history among Amish homemakers, they are just so easy and so delicious and it allows for some corner-cutting to feed a crowd. Who wouldn't like that? And if you don't like cherry (I'm not a huge fan), you can swap cherry out for blueberry (that's my favorite), apple pie filling, strawberry or whatever other flavor strikes your fancy! How about a pineapple dump cake? Geez, some people even like a chocolate cherry dump cake (no thanks).
📜 Other Variations
We love to have dump cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Some people like to sprinkle walnuts on top, which adds a nice little crunch. Or mix nuts throughout, but I never like to do that. Chopped pecans on top are also a favorite.
And if you are making dump cake in your home oven, bake it until the top is golden brown. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and put in the refrigerator. I prefer it cold, but I know plenty of people that just eat it at room temperature. This is such an easy dessert.
The recipe below calls for white or yellow cake mix, but you could try chocolate or even spice cake mix. The possibilities are almost endless. And if you are making this at home, you could even make the cake in a slow cooker or crock pot. Among the Amish, dump cakes are an especially popular treat while camping!
🍒 Ingredients
- 2 cans (21 oz each) cherry pie filling
- 1 box white or yellow cake mix
- ¾ cup butter, melted
- Whipped topping or vanilla ice cream, if desired
📋Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom of 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
- Spread pie filling in baking dish.
- Top with dry cake mix; gently shake pan to distribute evenly.
- Pour melted butter over top, tilting pan to cover as much of top with butter as possible.
- Bake 42 to 45 minutes or until mostly dry on top and bubbly around edges.
- Cool 10 minutes before serving.
- Serve warm with whipped topping or ice cream.
🥮 Additional Dump Cake Recipes
Easy Peach Dump Cake
If cherry doesn't do it for you this Easy Peach Dump Cake you can whip up just as easy!
Gloria's Pineapple-Pecan Cheat Cake
Cheat cake sounds a lot like dump cake to me!
🖨️ Full Recipe
3-Ingredient Cherry Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cans cherry pie filling (21oz cans)
- 1 box white or yellow cake mix
- ¾ cup butter melted
- whipped topping or vanilla ice cream if desired
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom of 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
- Spread pie filling in baking dish.
- Top with dry cake mix; gently shake pan to distribute evenly.
- Pour melted butter over top, tilting pan to cover as much of top with butter as possible.
- Bake 42 to 45 minutes or until mostly dry on top and bubbly around edges.
- Cool 10 minutes before serving.
- Serve warm with whipped topping or ice cream.
Jennifer Bellanger
You should try the Cherry Dump Cake with Chocolate cake mix. The boys in our Scout troop have won a few awards at summer camps using a Dutch oven. No cleaning the pot when they are through as it looks like it was licked clean. If you like Blueberry then try using a lemon cake mix and drop dabs of blueberry pie filling in it (DO NOT STIR). One our scoutmasters cuts slices of bananas on all of his, you can't taste the banana but sure is moist. Pumpkin Pie Dump Cake is a hit in the fall (use pure pumpkin and make the pie filling as a pie, sprinkle yellow cake mix on top, pour 1 stick melted on top and sprinkle with pecans, you won't want regular pumpkin pie again).
I enjoy your email every day it gives me a lift when I am down.
Jennifer Bellanger
Kevin
Wow, Jennifer, those sound like some amazing dump variations...especially the pumpkin pie dump, I'll have to try those! Hope you are staying safe and healthy!
Kathleen
HI, This is yummy have been making it for years. The left overs are good for breakfast. It always is a hit at a party.
Kevin
I like the idea of dump cake for breakfast!
Jaci
Dump cake is easy to make and always a hit with family and friends. Can’t wait to try the chocolate cherry and pumpkin version.
Kevin
The pumpkin version is amazing!
Stephen & B.J. Miller
We Make Cherry Dump Cake By Adding A Full Can Of Crushed Pineapple(Juice Included) Spread All Over The Bottom Of A 13x9 Inch (Greased) Cake Pan, Then Add A Full 20 Oz. Can Of Cherry Pie Filling All Over The Top Of The Crushed Pineapple. Sprinkle An Entire Box Of Either White, Yellow, Or Even A Butter Cake Mix All Over The Top Of The Pie Filling. Finally Take A Stick Of Butter Cut Into Slices And Lay All Over The Top Of The Cake Mix & Bake @ 350* For 45-60 Minutes (Check @ 45 Minutes) It's Done When The Top Is Golden Brown & Bubbling.
You Can Even Use Chocolate Cake Mix & Just Leave Out The Can Of Crushed Pineapple. You Can Serve This With Your Choice Of Homemade Whip Cream, Cool Whip, Or Even Use A Can Of Reddi-Whip By Letting Each Person Putting Their Own Whipped Cream On Top....Or You Could Serve It Up With Your Favorite Brand Of Vanilla Ice Cream.
Enjoy Y'all!
Stephen & B.J. Miller
Kevin
Thanks for sharing that, that sounds amazing!
Abby
How long did it take to cook over a campfire? How hot were the coals? Thanks for the advice!
Kevin Williams
Always good to hear from you, Abby. It took awhile, to be honest, it was a wood fire....it probably took a good 45 minutes for it to be done over "medium hot" coals. Hope that helps!