The Ultimate 3-Ingredient Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake: Quick, Easy & Irresistibly Gooey

Prepare for a dessert revelation with this incredibly quick and easy chocolate cherry dump cake recipe! Homemade with just three simple ingredients – chocolate cake mix, cherry pie filling, and butter – this cobbler-style cake is the epitome of ooey-gooey indulgence. It’s a dessert that practically makes itself, yet delivers a rich, decadent experience that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen.

This dump cake is a true family favorite, and for good reason. The classic pairing of rich chocolate and sweet, tart cherries creates a flavor symphony that’s simply unbeatable. But what truly sets this dessert apart is its irresistible, moist, and wonderfully gooey texture, taking it to a whole new level of decadence. From the youngest critics to the most seasoned dessert connoisseurs, everyone requests this simple yet spectacular treat. Who doesn’t love a delicious dessert that requires minimal effort? If you appreciate the “dumping” method of baking, where ingredients are simply layered and baked, then you’ll also adore our Blueberry Dump Cake {With Cake Mix} and Peach Dump Cake {With Cake Mix}. These recipes are perfect for anyone seeking maximum flavor with minimum fuss!

What is a Dump Cake? Is it the Same as Crumble or Cobbler?

A dump cake is a marvel of simplicity in the baking world, earning its name because you literally “dump” all the ingredients into a single baking dish, without any prior mixing, stirring, or elaborate preparation. This no-fuss approach is what makes it a go-to dessert for busy weeknights, impromptu gatherings, or whenever a craving for something sweet strikes.

While often compared to cobblers and crumbles, a dump cake has a few key distinctions. A cobbler typically involves a fruit base topped with a biscuit-like or scone-like topping that is often made in a separate bowl before being spooned over the fruit. A crumble, on the other hand, usually features a fruit filling with a streusel-like topping made from flour, sugar, and butter, often with oats, which is also prepared separately before being scattered over the fruit. Dump cakes, however, streamline this process by using a dry cake mix as the topping, which, when combined with melted butter and the fruit filling, transforms into a wonderfully moist, cake-like crust during baking. This results in a dessert that is more akin to a rich, gooey cake than the more distinct fruit-and-topping layers of a traditional cobbler or crumble, all while requiring significantly less effort.

Key Ingredients for the Perfect Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake

The beauty of this recipe lies in its minimalist ingredient list. Each component plays a crucial role in creating the ultimate “dump and bake” dessert.

• Cherry Pie Filling: Two 21 oz. cans are precisely what you’ll need to create a generous, luscious fruit base. Choose a high-quality brand for the best flavor. The syrupy filling becomes incredibly gooey and flavorful, acting as the foundation for this delightful cake.
• Cake Mix: Chocolate is the quintessential choice here, perfectly complementing the sweet and tart cherries. We often opt for a Devil’s Food cake mix for an extra rich, deep chocolate flavor, but a standard chocolate cake mix works beautifully too. The dry mix creates the “cake” element as it absorbs the moisture from the butter and pie filling during baking, forming a tender and moist topping.
• Butter: One cup of melted, unsalted butter is essential. Using melted butter ensures an even distribution over the dry cake mix, creating a consistently crisp, golden-brown crust while keeping the underlying cake moist and rich. Unsalted butter allows you to control the overall saltiness of the dessert, ensuring a perfectly balanced flavor.

For precise measurements and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card below.

How To Make Easy Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake Recipe With Cake Mix?

Making this dump cake is incredibly straightforward. The “dumping” method means minimal effort for maximum deliciousness. Follow these simple steps for a perfect dessert every time:

1. Prepare the Pan: Start by lightly oiling a 13×9 inch baking pan to prevent sticking. This ensures easy serving and cleanup.
2. Spread Cherry Pie Filling: Evenly spread both cans of cherry pie filling across the bottom of the prepared pan (Photo #1). This forms the luscious, fruity base of your cake.
3. Add Dry Cake Mix: Carefully sprinkle the entire box of dry chocolate cake mix over the cherry pie filling. Aim for an even layer, covering the fruit completely (Photo #2). Remember, do not stir! The magic happens during baking.
4. Pour Melted Butter: Drizzle the melted unsalted butter as evenly as possible over the dry cake mix (Photo #3). This butter will soak into the cake mix, helping it form a rich, golden, and moist topping.
5. Bake to Perfection: Transfer the pan to a preheated oven and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown, cooked through, and firm to the touch (Photo #4). You might notice some small patches of dry cake mix on top, which is perfectly normal and adds to the rustic charm of a dump cake. Don’t worry, these will meld into the gooey cherry filling as you scoop and serve.
6. Serve and Enjoy: Allow the cake to cool slightly, then serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. The contrast of the warm, gooey cake and cold topping is absolutely heavenly!

Recipe FAQs: Your Dump Cake Questions Answered

Elevate Your Black Forest Dump Cake: Topping Ideas

While delicious on its own, a warm chocolate cherry dump cake truly shines when paired with a complementary topping. These additions not only enhance the flavor but also add visual appeal and textural contrast, transforming your simple dessert into a showstopper. Think of these as ways to lean into the “Black Forest” theme with your chocolate and cherry flavors!

• Frosting: For a truly decadent experience, a swirl of rich frosting can take this cake over the top.
  • White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting: Offers a sweet, creamy contrast to the dark chocolate and tart cherries.
  • Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting: Adds a tangy, rich dimension.
  • Maraschino Cherry Frosting {Pink}: Intensifies the cherry flavor with a vibrant, sweet kick.
• Ice Cream: A classic pairing for a warm dessert. The cold, melting ice cream creates a delightful contrast.
  • Vanilla: Always a classic choice, allowing the cake’s flavors to stand out.
  • Chocolate: For an ultimate chocolate lover’s dream.
  • Cherry: To double down on the fruity goodness.
  • Coffee or Espresso: Adds a sophisticated, slightly bitter note that complements chocolate beautifully.
• Frozen Yogurt: A lighter alternative to ice cream, offering a tangy sweetness.
  • Cherry, Vanilla, or Chocolate: Mirroring the ice cream options for a refreshing twist.
• Melted Chocolate Drizzle: A simple yet elegant addition that enhances the chocolatey notes.
  • Drizzle with milk, white, or dark chocolate for a beautiful finish.
  • Elevate it further with this rich Hot Fudge Sauce {Chocolate Fudge Sauce}.
• Ganache: A smooth, glossy ganache takes this dessert from simple to sophisticated.
  • Whip up this Easy Chocolate Ganache {2 Ingredients} for a shiny pour-over.
  • Or try the thicker Chocolate Ganache Frosting {2 Ingredients} for a more substantial topping.
• Whipped Cream: Light, airy, and creamy, it’s the perfect foil to the rich cake.
  • Serve with Homemade Stabilized Whipped Cream for a sturdy topping.
  • Or indulge in Chocolate Whipped Cream {3 Ingredients} for an extra layer of chocolate.
  • A dollop of plain, unsweetened whipped cream balances the sweetness perfectly.
• Pudding: Adds a creamy, custard-like layer of flavor.
  • Serve with a scoop of Homemade Vanilla Pudding {Best}, or use store-bought for convenience. Chocolate or butterscotch pudding would also be delicious.
• Fresh Fruit: A sprinkle of fresh cherries, raspberries, or sliced strawberries can add freshness, color, and a little tartness to cut through the richness.

Expert Tips and Techniques for Dump Cake Perfection

Achieving the perfect chocolate cherry dump cake is simple, but a few expert tips can ensure your dessert is truly exceptional every time.

• Choose Your Chocolate Cake Mix Wisely: For an intensely rich chocolate flavor, I highly recommend using a Devil’s Food cake mix. This is why you see that deep, dark chocolate color in my photos. However, a regular chocolate cake mix will also yield delicious results, just with a slightly milder cocoa profile.
• Master the Doneness Test: How do you know your dump cake is perfectly baked? Keep an eye out for these visual cues: the fruit juices around the edges of the pan should be visibly bubbling, and the top cake layer should appear set, golden-brown, and relatively firm, often showing some small cracks. Avoid overbaking, as this can dry out the cake.
• Melted Butter is Key: I’ve experimented with both methods – adding small slices or cubes of butter and pouring melted butter – and in my experience, consistently, melted butter yields superior results. It distributes more evenly over the dry cake mix, creating a more uniform and delicious crust.
• Unsalted and Melted Butter Only: Always use unsalted butter for this recipe. This gives you precise control over the dessert’s saltiness, ensuring it’s perfectly balanced. Crucially, do not substitute butter with oil, shortening, or margarine. Butter contributes significantly to the flavor, richness, and the development of the crisp, golden crust, and these substitutes simply won’t yield the same delightful results.
• The Right Pan Size: For this recipe, a standard 13×9 inch baking pan is highly recommended. It provides the ideal surface area for the layers to cook evenly and ensures the perfect ratio of gooey fruit to cake topping.
• Always Spray Your Pan: A quick spray with cooking oil or a thin layer of butter prevents the cake from sticking to the bottom and sides of the pan. This makes serving a breeze and keeps your beautiful cake intact.
• Resist the Urge to Stir: This cannot be stressed enough – dump cakes are designed to be layered, not mixed. The magic happens as the ingredients mingle and transform during baking. Stirring will disrupt the intended texture and result in a dense, uniform mixture rather than the distinct gooey bottom and tender cake top.
• Allow for a Brief Cooling Period: While irresistible straight from the oven, letting the dump cake cool for 10-15 minutes after baking allows the layers to set slightly. This makes it easier to scoop and prevents it from being overly runny, though it will still be delightfully warm and gooey.

Storage & Reheating for Freshness

This chocolate cherry dump cake is best enjoyed warm, ideally fresh from the oven, but leftovers are still wonderfully delicious and easy to store and reheat.

• Make Ahead Instructions: This cake is a fantastic make-ahead dessert! You can bake the entire cake in advance, let it cool completely, and then cover it. When you’re ready to serve, simply reheat it as instructed below for that fresh-baked warmth.
• Refrigerate: Any leftover dump cake should be stored in a sealed, airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This helps maintain its moisture and flavor.
• Freeze: For longer storage, you can freeze individual portions or the entire cake (once cooled) in a freezer-safe sealed container or tightly wrapped with plastic wrap and then foil. It will keep well in the freezer for up to 2 months.
• Reheat: To enjoy refrigerated leftovers, simply warm individual servings in the microwave for 30-60 seconds, or until heated through and gooey again. For a larger portion or a frozen cake, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 15-20 minutes, or until warm and bubbly.

More Delicious Cake Mix Desserts to Try

If you love the convenience and deliciousness of this chocolate cherry dump cake, you’ll be thrilled to discover how many other incredible desserts you can make with a simple cake mix. Here are some of our favorites:

• Louisiana Crunch Cake {With Cake Mix}: A rich, buttery cake with a sweet glaze and crunchy topping.
• Sock It To Me Cake {With Cake Mix}: A classic bundt cake with a delicious cinnamon-pecan streusel swirl.
• Chocolate Sheet Cake {With Cake Mix}: A crowd-pleasing, moist chocolate cake perfect for any gathering.
• Strawberry Shortcake Cake {Cake Mix}: A delightful twist on the classic, made easy with a cake mix.
• Easy Cherry Cake {With Cake Mix}: Another simple and fruity cake featuring cherries.

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