Is there a more perfect way to celebrate cherry season than with chocolate cake? This easy, homemade chocolate cherry dump cake will leave you wondering why you didn’t try it sooner. It highlights that classic chocolate and cherry flavor combination that we love, but in the world’s easiest cake ever!
But first, what is a dump cake? It’s exactly what it sounds like: Take all the ingredients for the cake, dump them together into a pan or dish, then bake with melted butter. The fruit on the bottom becomes soft and sweet, while the melted butter works it’s magic on the cake mix until warm, bubbly, and ready to eat!
Here’s why you’ll love it too:
- Fresh cherries! No cans of pie filling here! Trust us, it’s worth the time spent pitting fresh cherries to make the filling. In fact, if you’ve got kids on standby willing to help, they usually love pitting cherries — it’s like a game!
- Boxed cake mix! Sometimes store-bought is best, and for a dump cake that’s exactly what you want. Grab your favorite chocolate cake mix because that is the base of the cake!
- Warm, gooey, and melty! The cherries become sweet and soft, while the chocolate cake becomes almost fudgy. It’s warm and decadent, but requires very little effort on your part!
Our favorite way to enjoy chocolate cherry dump cake is simply with a dusting of confectioner’s sugar. You could of course a scoop or two or three of your favorite ice cream (cherry vanilla, perhaps?!) or fresh whipped cream, but it doesn’t need it!
Oh, and if you love homemade dump cakes as much as we do, be sure to check out our blueberry dump cake! It is the stuff of dreams, especially with a big scoop of coffee ice cream on top!
Ingredient Notes
- Fresh cherries, halved and pitted
- Granulated sugar
- Cornstarch
- Lemon zest and fresh lemon juice
- Vanilla extract
- Kosher salt
- Chocolate cake mix
- Unsalted butter, melted
This is the cherry pitter we use — way easier than attempting to pit fresh cherries by hand! Although this multi-cherry pitter would make the process a total breeze! This is honestly the longest part of making our chocolate cherry dump cake. But your patience will be rewarded, promise!
How To Make A Dump Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Place a rack in the center of the oven.
- Make the filling. Combine 2 ½ cups fresh pitted cherries, ⅓ cup granulated sugar, 1 ½ Tbsp cornstarch, 1 tsp lemon zest, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp pure vanilla extract, and ¼ tsp Kosher salt in an 11″ tart pan or pie dish, stirring to evenly coat the cherries.
- Add the cake mix. Pour 1 box of chocolate cake mix on top. Spread into an even layer.
- Add melted butter. Melt ¾ cup unsalted butter, then pour directly on top of cake mix, trying to cover as much of the surface with butter as possible. Do not stir or mix.
- Bake the cake. Place the cake in a preheated oven and cook for 45-55 minutes, or until the top is mostly set and the cake has puffed up.
- Cool, then serve. Allow the cake to cool slightly for 5 minutes, then serve immediately. We recommend serving with powdered sugar or fresh whipped cream!
Variations
- I don’t have fresh cherries. Can I use frozen? Yes! Cherry season is so short (typically from June to August each year) that it can sometimes be hard to get your hands on fresh cherries. To use frozen cherries, use the same amount as indicated in the recipe for fresh. No need to thaw or pat dry, just use in place of fresh cherries.
- Can I use store-bought cherry pie filling? You can, but we promise this chocolate dump cake is so much better when you make the filling from scratch!
- What other fruits or pie filling can I use for dump cake? Any fruits you like! Berries are a great choice (strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and of course our infamous blueberry dump cake! Or try using 2 cups of mixed berries! Alternatively, peaches, apricots, or other stone fruits would work great too. And oh my god, how amazing does a cinnamon apple dump cake sound?! Perfect for fall and cooler weather!
- Can I use other flavored box mixes? Yes! Any boxed cake mix will work: vanilla, yellow, funfetti — all good options! But, personally, we love the combination of chocolate cake and cherries the most.
- How do I make this in a 9×13 baking dish? Follow the instructions exactly as written, then bake for slightly less time, 45-55 minutes. Using a larger baking dish will result in a thinner cake, which will cook in less time than the pan seen here. The only note is to make sure you use enough berries to cover the entire surface of the pan or dish: add more as needed!
Expert Tips
- Make the cherry filling from scratch! Avoid using a store-bought pie filling, making it fresh is just so much tastier! If possible, use fresh cherries!
- Don’t skip the lemon juice and zest! The lemon juice helps to make a slurry with the cornstarch (and in turn thicken the filling), while bringing out the natural sweetness of the cherries.
- Resist the urge to stir the cake! No need to stir the cherries, chocolate cake mix, and melted butter. Simply layer all the ingredients in a tart pan, cake pan, or other baking dish, then pop in the oven. It’s hands off from there!
- Serve immediately! As with all dump cakes, they are best enjoyed fresh from the oven while still warm and gooey!
You will honestly not believe how easy this cake is to make, which is definitely the beauty of dump cakes! Warm, chocolatey, sweet and a touch tart from the fresh cherries. Totally irresistible, and definitely a recipe that will impress your family! We can’t wait for you to try this at home!!
Looking for more dump cake recipes? Be sure to try our Pumpkin Dump Cake as well as our Blueberry Dump Cake!
For another intense, rich chocolate dessert, be sure to try our Chocolate Chess Pie next!
If you make this Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake recipe, please let us know by leaving a review and rating below!
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More Simple Desserts To Try!
- Mini blueberry galettes
- Chocolate Babka Parfaits
- Key Lime Cheesecake Parfaits
- No-Bake Chocolate Mousse Pie
- Flourless Chocolate Cake
- Dark Chocolate Cookie Butter Cookies
- How To Make Rice Pudding
Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 – 2 ½ cups fresh cherries pitted and halved
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ Tbsp cornstarch
- ½ tsp lemon zest
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp Kosher salt
- 1 box chocolate cake mix
- ¾ cup unsalted butter melted
- Powdered sugar optional, for serving
- Fresh whipped cream optional, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Place a rack in the center of the oven.
- Make the filling. Combine 2 ½ cups fresh pitted cherries, ⅓ cup granulated sugar, 1 ½ Tbsp cornstarch, 1 tsp lemon zest, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp pure vanilla extract, and ¼ tsp Kosher salt in an 11″ tart pan or pie dish, stirring to evenly coat the cherries.
- Add the cake mix. Pour 1 box of chocolate cake mix on top. Spread into an even layer.
- Add melted butter. Melt ¾ cup unsalted butter, then pour directly on top of cake mix, trying to cover as much of the surface with butter as possible. Do not stir or mix.
- Bake the cake. Place the cake in a preheated oven and cook for 45-55 minutes, or until the top is mostly set and the cake has puffed up.
- Cool, then serve. Allow the cake to cool slightly for 5 minutes, then serve immediately. We recommend serving with powdered sugar or fresh whipped cream!
Notes
- Nutrition facts do not include powdered sugar or whipped cream.
- Cherry filling: you can use store-bought pie filling, but making it fresh is so much better!
- Fresh cherries: if possible, use fresh cherries. Frozen will work in a pinch! No need to defrost, thaw, or pat down.
- Don’t skip the lemon juice and zest!
- Resist the urge to stir the cake! Simply layer the ingredients and bake.
- How do I make this in an 9×13 baking dish? Follow the instructions exactly as written, then bake for slightly less time, 45 minutes. Using a larger baking dish will result in a thinner cake, which will cook in less time than the pan seen here. The only note is to make sure you use enough berries to cover the entire surface of the pan or dish: add more as needed!
Let us know your thoughts!