This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our privacy policy.
Cherry dump cake is one of the easiest desserts to make! Whip up this crowd pleaser with cherry pie filling, yellow cake mix, and just a few extra simple ingredients.

You know I love baking from scratch. I have hundreds of recipes on this site for cakes, cookies, cheesecakes, brownies, and more, all made from scratch.
But I also love having some quick and easy recipes up my sleeve. Theyโre the recipes I make when I need to take a dessert to a get-together and donโt have a lot of time. Or when Iโm tired but still craving something sweet. Or when my kiddo wants to bake something easy by herself.
I know some people donโt think that using a cake mix or canned pie filling counts as baking, but I say it totally does!
And I bet your friends and family wonโt even know the difference most of the time. Make this cherry dump cake, let the compliments roll in, and never admit how easy it was to throw together.
What is cherry dump cake?
I know, I know. The name โdump cakeโ is weird. What does that even mean?
A dump cake is simply a cake where you dump the ingredients into the pan and then bake it. For a lot of dump cake recipes (including this one), you donโt even have to pull out any mixing bowls.
Even though weโre calling it a cake, the final dessert isnโt a true cake like when we think of chocolate cake. Itโs a little bit more like a cobbler or a crumble, with the fruit filling on the bottom and a buttery, crumbly cake topping.
For this cherry dump cake, we get the sweet and slightly tart flavor of cherries, a little bit of almond flavor, and the buttery yellow cake on top. Serve it up with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream and youโve got an easy dessert everyone will love!
How to make cherry dump cake
I promised you that this cherry dump cake recipe is super easy and Iโm ready to prove it to you. In fact, you might already have everything you need in your pantry!
Ingredients youโll need
For this cherry dump cake, youโll need:
- 2 (21-ounce) cans cherry pie filling
- ยฝ cup tart cherry juice
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 (15.25 ounce) box yellow cake mix
- 10 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
- ยผ cup sliced almonds
If you donโt want to use canned cherry pie filling, you can use 1 batch of my homemade cherry pie filling instead.
When I am buying the store-bought stuff, I look for the โmore fruitโ or โextra fruitโ varieties when I can.
A little bit of tart cherry juice adds extra flavor and provides the bit of extra liquid we need in the filling. Use leftover juice to make my friend Susannahโs cherry mocktail!
If you canโt get your hands on tart cherry juice, you can swap it for maraschino cherry juice, cranberry juice, or even water.
I love pairing almond and cherries (like when I make my cherry cheesecake), so some almond extract and sliced almonds are a great addition to this cake. If you donโt like almonds or are allergic to nuts, feel free to omit both ingredients.
Making this cherry dump cake
Grab your favorite 9ร13-inch pan and grease it with nonstick cooking spray.
Pour in the cherry pie filling, cherry juice, and almond extract. Give this a stir just to combine everything.
Now sprinkle the cake mix evenly over the fruit filling and slowly drizzle the melted butter on top. If youโre using the almonds, sprinkle them on last.
Bake at 350ยฐF for 1 hour. The top should be golden and the cherry filling should be bubbly.
Let the cherry dump cake cool for 10-15 minutes before enjoying.
Storage tips
Once the cherry dump cake has cooled, you can store leftovers in the original pan (covered tightly in plastic wrap) or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
I like to reheat leftovers by warming them in the microwave for about 30 seconds.
If you want to freeze it, store it in an freezer-safe airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow the dump cake to thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Recipe variations
This cherry dump cake is such a simple recipe, but there are still ways you can change it up based on your familyโs tastes and preferences!
- Donโt like almonds? Omit the almond extract and swap the sliced almonds for chopped pecans instead.
- If you donโt have tart cherry juice, use maraschino cherry juice, cranberry juice, or even water.
- Substitute chocolate cake mix in place of the yellow cake mix for a chocolate cherry dump cake.
- Swap one can of the cherry pie filling for a (21-ounce) can of peach pie filling for cherry-peach dump cake.
- If you donโt like peaches, try using your own favorite fruit pie filling, such as blueberry, peach, or strawberry.
More easy dump cake recipes
If you love cherry dump cake, you will love some of these other easy dump cake recipes, too!
Apple dump cake is a great option any time of year, but is extra special during the fall. Serve it with ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.
Cherry pineapple dump cake takes everything you love about this cherry dump cake recipe and adds pineapple and coconut for even more flavor.
Blueberry dump cake uses fresh blueberries and a white cake mix for a summery dessert thatโs super easy to make.
Easy peach cobbler may not be called a dump cake, but it comes together in the same way with canned peaches and a box of cake mix.
Pumpkin crunch cake requires a couple of extra steps, but still has all of the vibes of an easy dump cake. Itโs one of my favorite fall recipes!
Cherry Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cans cherry pie filling 21 ounces each
- ยฝ cup tart cherry juice see notes
- 1 teaspoon almond extract optional
- 1 box yellow cake mix 15.25 ounces
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- ยผ cup sliced almonds optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ยฐF.
- Spray (1) 9ร13-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray. Add the cherry pie filling, tart cherry juice, and almond extract to the pan, stirring to combine.
- Sprinkle the cake mix in an even layer over the cherry mixture. Slowly drizzle the melted butter over the top of the cake mix. Sprinkle the almonds on top.
- Bake for 1 hour, until the top is golden. Let cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Iโve been a subscriber and receive notice on my email box of this new recipe post. And when I go to print it out, it states that I canโt print it unless I subscribe. So now Iโve had to subscribe twice and unsubscribe to one. This is why I deleted this option from my own blog due to subscribers complaining about the same thing happening to them. This is a pain and I hope you consider ending this option. Youโll continue to lose valuable subscribers, with me included. I love cherry dump cake, but know I can find the recipe in numerous places without all of this hassle. Iโd love to remain a subscriber, but just wanted to let you know what your subscribers think of this.
Hi there โ When you visit a post, you can use the โjump to recipeโ button at the top of the page, then hit the โprintโ button in the recipe card, which will take you to a page where you can print out the recipe. We donโt have a subscriber wall in place for viewing or printing our recipes โ we donโt like those, either! Hope this can help with printing. Happy baking!
Jamie