This 3 ingredient cherry dump cake recipe is an easy one and great when you need a quick dessert. Just literally dump your ingredients on top of the cake mix and bake!

I love sweets, but really, who doesn’t?! I’m always on the hunt for easy desserts and today I’m sharing a great one that really, couldn’t be any easier… or sweeter! If you’ve ever tried dump cake recipes, you know they are crowd pleasers that come together really fast.

If you’ve never made dump cakes before, I know, it sounds like a totally weird way to describe a delicious, sweet treat, but a dump cake is now my new best friend. They are the easiest desserts to make and are sure to become a family favorite.

How to Make a Cherry Dump Cake

You can really make any cake mix a dump cake, but this cherry dump cake just comes out so bright and cheery, doesn’t it?!

This cherry pie filling dump cake works because of the pie filling. It takes the place of most of the other ingredients in a normal cake and makes it even easier to cook!

I even took this dump cake recipe one step further and made it into a Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake.

Don’t like pineapples? Just omit that can and use 2 cans of cherry pie filling instead.

The best part? This easy dump cake recipe can be modified and re-modified and use just about any pie filling you’d like – blueberry, apple, etc. You can even use a chocolate cake mix to make a chocolate cherry dump cake! You name it, you can mix it, dump it, and cook it!

Here’s what you’ll need to make this 3-ingredient cherry dump cake:

• Cherry Pie Filling
• Cake Mix
• Melted Butter
• Can of Pineapples [optional]
• Chopped Pecans [optional]

To keep with the 3 ingredients, you’ll only need cake mix, melted butter, and the pie filling. Again, you can add more ingredients or keep it simple with this crowd pleaser cherry dump cake with pineapple and pecans. There’s really no wrong way to make it.

Can I make this Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake in a slow cooker?

Yes, you can make a dump cake in a slow cooker! That’s another beauty of dump cakes. They can be made either in the oven, like this recipe, or in a slow cooker or dutch oven.

To make a slow cooker cherry dump cake, just simply add to your slow cooker and cook for 4 hours on low or 2 hours on high.

So, why a dump cake?

Dump cakes are SO easy. You literally just dump all your ingredients together and bake. Little clean-up, little work, and lots of flavor!

This cherry pineapple dump cake is layered to make the most of all the ingredients, but it can be done so fast! While some dump cakes layer all their ingredients on top of cake mix, I do this one in reverse.

And you haven’t lived until you’ve tried a Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake a la mode! Scoop a big spoonful out when it comes right out of the oven and add a big scoop of vanilla ice cream… ahhh, you’re welcome!

If you’re a nut lover like me, you’re going to love that I added pecans to this cherry dump cake recipe. If you don’t love pecans, you can add in a different nut or just simply omit. This recipe can really be taken and made your own.

Here’s some other ideas to add into your cherry dump cake:

• Any fruit filling in place of cherry
• Toasted coconut
• Mini chocolate chips
• Walnuts
• Almond Extract

This recipe can be made anytime, but the bright red color makes it a perfect one to serve during holidays or a special occasion. I think it will become one of your go-to desserts for family functions or just to serve as a sweet treat any day of the week!

This post was originally publish in January 2021. The last update was May 2023.