Perfect Cherry Dump Cake
This foolproof cherry dump cake avoids the biggest mistake in dump cake preparation - stirring! By properly layering ingredients without mixing, you'll create a delicious, effortless dessert that's perfect for busy families seeking quick, impressive treats.
Ingredients
- 2 cans (21 oz each) cherry pie filling
- 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix, dry
- 1½ sticks (¾ cup) unsalted butter, thinly sliced
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
- Vanilla ice cream for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Spread the cherry pie filling evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle the DRY cake mix evenly over the cherry layer, covering completely. DO NOT STIR - this is the biggest mistake to avoid when making a dump cake!
- Arrange the thin slices of butter evenly over the cake mix layer, making sure to cover as much of the surface as possible. This ensures no dry patches remain after baking.
- If using, sprinkle chopped nuts evenly over the top.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling around the edges.
- Allow to cool for at least 15 minutes before serving warm, preferably with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Notes
Remember: NEVER stir the ingredients - this is the biggest mistake to avoid when making a dump cake!
For even butter distribution, cut very thin slices and place them about ½-inch apart over the entire surface.
If some areas still look dry after 20 minutes of baking, you can add a few extra small pieces of butter to those spots.
This can be made with any pie filling - try blueberry, peach, or apple for delicious variations.
For busy families, this can be assembled in under 5 minutes and requires no special equipment or techniques.