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Craving a decadent dessert but short on time? Look no further than this Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake!
In under an hour, you can whip up a pan of gooey, rich chocolate cake topped with sweet cherry pie filling.
It’s like having a warm brownie on top of a bed of cherries - pure deliciousness in every bite.
And the best part? This dump cake lives up to its name. No mixers or fancy equipment are required! Simply layer the ingredients in a baking dish and let the oven do its magic.
In just a few easy steps, you’ll have a crowd-pleasing dessert perfect for potlucks, barbecues, or a delightful treat at home. So ditch the complicated recipes and indulge in this incredibly easy and flavorful Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love Chocolate Cherry Cobbler
- Easy To Make – This recipe requires little prep and cooks in only 40 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights or as a last-minute dessert.
- Rich Flavor – The chocolate cake mix, melted butter, and sweet cherry pie filling create a rich and decadent dessert that tastes like a brownie on top of cherries. If you loved my Chocolate Cherry Brownies, or my Chocolate Meringue Pie, you’ll love this Chocolate Cherry Cobbler.
- Highly Customizable – This recipe allows for customization. You can swap the chocolate cake mix for another flavor or add chocolate chips for extra chocolatey goodness.
- Perfect For Any Occasion: This crowd-pleasing dessert is perfect for potlucks, barbecues, or a simple weeknight treat. It can also be served warm or cold.
Ingredients
Below, I discuss the ingredients and possible substitutions if you don't have a specific ingredient. However, if you are looking for the specific measurements of each ingredient, scroll down to the bottom of this article, just above the comments, for the printable recipe card, which includes all the ingredients and the specific amounts of each one.
Dump Cake Ingredients
- 2 (21-ounce cans) Cherry Pie Filling: There are many varieties of cherry pie filling available. Choose your favorite! If you prefer a more tart filling, look for one with fewer added sugars. You can also use a blueberry or mixed berry filling for a different twist.
- 1 (15.25-ounce box) Devil’s Food Cake Mix: For a richer chocolate flavor, use a Devil’s Food cake mix. However, a regular chocolate cake mix will work too!
- 1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: These add melty chocolate pockets throughout the cake. You can use milk chocolate chips for a sweeter taste or dark chocolate chips for a more intense chocolate flavor.
- 1 cup Butter, melted: Melted butter creates a moist and crumbly topping for the cake. Be sure to use unsalted butter so you can control the amount of sodium in the recipe.
Toppings (for serving):
- Ice Cream: Vanilla ice cream is the classic pairing for this cake, but feel free to get creative! Chocolate chip cookie dough, coffee, or mint chocolate chip ice cream would all be delicious options.
- Chocolate Syrup: A drizzle of chocolate syrup adds another layer of chocolatey goodness. If you don’t have chocolate syrup on hand, you can make a simple glaze by mixing powdered sugar with a little bit of milk or water.
- Maraschino Cherries: These add a festive touch and a pop of red color. You can use fresh cherries, although they may release more juice during baking.
How To Make Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake
Preheat you 350℉ and grease your baking dish with your cooking spray or with butter.
Pour the cherry pie filling into the bottom of your dish.
Sprinkle all of the chocolate chips on top.
Sprinkle the cake mix evenly on top.
Melt your butter and pour evenly on top.
Bake for about 40 minutes, and allow to cool slightly.
Serve as is.
Or enjoy with some vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, and maraschino cherries!
Recipe Tips
- Baking Tip: Ensure that you cover all of the cake mix with butter. Otherwise, when you are done, you will only have an uncooked dry cake mix instead of a baked cobbler.
- Texture: The cake should be soft and moist but not soggy.
- Don’t Overmix: Dump cakes are all about minimal effort. Resist the urge to stir the layers together. Just pour and bake!
- Pan Size: A 9×13 inch baking dish is ideal. If you use a smaller pan, the cake might be thicker and take longer to bake through.
- Ripe Cherries: For an extra cherry punch, consider using a can of pie filling with whole or large chopped cherries. You can even try draining some syrup if you prefer a less sweet cake.
- Testing for Doneness: Since dump cakes don’t have a traditional cake batter, judging doneness can be tricky. A toothpick inserted near the center should come out with a few moist crumbs, but not batter. The edges should also be bubbly.
Variations
- Chocolate Boost: Add a tablespoon of cocoa powder to the cake mix for an even deeper chocolate flavor.
- Nutty Addition: Sprinkle chopped walnuts or pecans over the cake mix before adding the butter for a delightful textural contrast.
- Boozy Cherries: For an adult twist, marinate the cherries in a tablespoon or two of your favorite liquor (like cherry brandy or rum) for 30 minutes before using.
- Spice it Up: Add a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon or nutmeg to the cake mix for a warm, autumnal flavor.
What To Serve With Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake
The beauty of Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake is that it’s already quite decadent, but there are a few options to complement it depending on what you’re looking for:
- Classic Additions: A scoop of vanilla ice cream is a perfect way to add a cold and creamy element to the warm cake. You can also drizzle some chocolate syrup for an extra chocolatey punch and top it off with a maraschino cherry for a delightful presentation.
- Lighter Options: If you want to balance the sweetness, whipped cream is a lighter alternative to ice cream. You can also serve the cake with fresh berries for a refreshing touch.
- Salty Contrast: For an unexpected twist, a sprinkle of flaky sea salt can enhance the chocolate and cherry flavors. A little bit of saltiness can make sweet flavors pop!
- Warm or Cold: This cake is delicious, warm with ice cream, but it’s also great chilled and served with a dollop of whipped cream.
- Leftovers: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Warm them up slightly before serving.
FAQs
Store leftovers in the baking dish, covered with plastic wrap, or in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days
You can eat the cake warm or cold. If you want it warm, simply reheat in the microwave in 10-second increments until thoroughly warm.
Feel free to replace the chocolate cake mix with another flavor cake mix that pairs well with cherries.
More Chocolate Cake Recipes
- Chocolate Cherry Bundt Cake
- German Chocolate Layer Cake
- Chocolate Layer Cake
- Copycat Hostess Chocolate Cupcakes
If you made this cake and loved it, be sure to leave a comment and a 5-star rating to let others know how much you liked it.
Recipe
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 (21-ounce cans) Cherry Pie Filling
- 1 (15.25 ounce Box) Devil's Food Cake Mix
- 1 cup Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
- 1 cup Butter melted
Toppings For Serving
- Ice Cream
- Chocolate Syrup
- Maraschino Cherries
Instructions
- Preheat you 350℉ and grease your baking dish with your cooking spray, or with butter.
- Pour the cherry pie filling into the bottom of your dish.
- Sprinkle all of the chocolate chips on top.
- Sprinkle the cake mix evenly on top.
- Melt your butter and pour evenly on top.
- Bake for about 40 minutes.
- Allow to cool slightly and enjoy with some vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, and maraschino cherries!
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