Aunt Bee’s 5-Minute 5-Ingredient Cherry Dump Cake

Just combine 5 simple ingredients in a cake pan, bake it in the oven, and Aunt Bee's 5-Minute Cherry Dump Cake is warm, bubbly, and ready to be enjoyed!

Total Time: 50 minutes

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This tried-and-true family recipe could not be any easier! Just combine 5 ingredients in a cake pan, bake it in the oven, and Aunt Bee’s 5-Minute Cherry Dump Cake is warm, bubbly, and ready to be enjoyed. There are no mixing bowls required, and the entire dessert comes together in one dish!

Long before “dump cakes” took over the internet, my great Aunt Bee shared this easy cherry cake recipe with me. I had never heard of a dump cake, but I was intrigued — because I’m a fan of any dessert that only requires about 5 minutes of effort! I have since learned that Aunt Bee’s recipe is a twist on the old-fashioned Duncan Hines Cherry Dump Cake; however, in my mind, this “family recipe” will always belong to Aunt Bee!

What is Cherry Dump Cake?

It’s got a funny name, so let’s first explain what I mean by “dump cake.” While it starts with a box of yellow cake mix, this dessert is really more like a Cherry Dump Cobbler or a Cherry Crisp with Cake Mix, because the cake batter and nuts form a buttery crumb topping over the cherry and pineapple filling.

The name of the dessert probably gives it away, but basically you are just dumping 5 ingredients into a cake pan and baking them together in the oven. That’s it! You don’t have to pull out a single mixing bowl, spatula, or whisk! This is one of those recipes that is perfect for busy moms like myself who want to share comforting recipes with their families, but who don’t always have the luxury of time. And believe me — you’re not sacrificing quality or taste in this easy recipe!

How to Make Cherry Dump Cake:

Let’s start with the 5 ingredients for this Cherry Dump Cake with pineapple and pecans: a box of yellow cake mix, pecans, a can of crushed pineapple, a can of cherry pie filling, and butter.

First, spread the pineapple (in its juice), in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.

Spoon the cherry pie filling on top of the pineapple,

and sprinkle the dry cake mix over top.

Thinly slice a stick of butter,

and arrange the butter in a single layer on top of the cake mix. Make sure that you slice the butter into very thin pieces so that you have enough squares to cover the entire cake. You don’t want any larger gaps between the butter squares because you want the butter to melt and cover all of the cake mix.

How long do you bake Cherry Dump Cake?

Bake the dump cake in a 350 degree F oven for 35 minutes. After 35 minutes, remove the cake from the oven, sprinkle chopped pecans on top, and return the cake to the oven for about 10 more minutes, or until the nuts are toasted and the topping is golden brown.

I like to wait to add the pecans at the end of the baking time because I find that they burn and get too dark if you put them on top of the cake at the beginning.

The end result is a cross between a cake, a cherry cobbler and a cherry crisp! You have a delicious, buttery crumb topping and warm, juicy fruit underneath. Trust me — this cherry dump cake recipe is heavenly!

How to make Cherry Dump Cake in the Crock Pot:

If you prefer to use a slow cooker to “bake” your cake, follow the same instructions but cook the cake on HIGH for 3 1/2 – 4 hours. Since the lid of a Crock Pot causes condensation to drop back down onto the cake, I recommend placing a few layers of paper towels just under the lid in order to absorb that additional liquid.

Does Cherry Dump Cake have to be refrigerated?

I prefer the dump cake when it’s served warm. If you have leftovers, you can refrigerate the extra dump cake for a few days or you can leave a baked dump cake on the counter at room temperature for about 1-2 days. Refrigerating the cake extends the life of the leftovers!

Can you freeze Cherry Dump Cake?

Yes! To preserve the leftover cake for even longer, you can freeze the dump cake for up to 3 months. Thaw the frozen dump cake in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat the refrigerated dump cake in the microwave for about 30 seconds, or until the cake reaches your desired temperature.

What to serve with Cherry Dump Cake:

You’ve just got to serve this dump cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream on top! The cool creamy contrast with the warm cake is to-die-for!

COOK’S TIPS AND RECIPE VARIATIONS:

• Make sure that you slice the butter into very thin pieces so that you have enough squares to cover the entire cake. You don’t want any larger gaps between the butter squares because you want the butter to melt and cover all of the cake mix.
• I like to wait to add the pecans at the end of the baking time because I find that they burn and get too dark if you put them on top of the cake at the beginning.
• You’ve just got to serve this dump cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream on top! The cool creamy contrast with the warm cake is to-die-for!
• Make a Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake by using a chocolate cake mix instead of a yellow cake mix!
• Substitute your favorite flavor of pie filling for the cherry flavor. Instead of a cherry dump cake, try a Blueberry Dump Cake or a Strawberry Dump Cake! Apple pie filling with a spice cake topping would also be divine!

Other easy cake recipes that you might enjoy:

• 3-Ingredient Chocolate Strawberry Dump Cake for Two
• 5-Ingredient Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
• Orange Pineapple Fluff Cake
• Claudia’s Easy Triple Chocolate Cake
• Chi-Chi’s Famous White Texas Sheet Cake

Did you try this recipe? Don’t forget to rate it and leave me a comment below! You can follow me on Facebook, on Instagram, on Pinterest, and on Twitter!

4.75 from 4 votes

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Aunt Bee's 5-Ingredient 5-Minute Cherry Dump Cake

Just combine 5 simple ingredients in a cake pan, bake it in the oven, and Aunt Bee's 5-Minute Cherry Dump Cake is warm, bubbly, and ready to be enjoyed!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword cherry dump cake, easy cherry cake recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Servings 12 people

Calories 342 kcal

Author Blair

Ingredients

• 1 (20 ounce) can of crushed pineapple (not drained)
• 1 (21 ounce) can of cherry pie filling
• 1 (15.25 ounce) package of yellow cake mix
• 1 cup of pecans finely chopped
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) cold butter
• Optional, for serving: vanilla ice cream; whipped cream

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
3. Spread pineapple in its juice evenly into the prepared pan.
4. Spoon pie filling over the pineapple.

5. Sprinkle DRY cake mix evenly over the mixture.

6. Slice the chilled butter into very thin squares and place the squares evenly over the dry cake mix.

7. Bake for 35 minutes.

8. Remove cake from oven, sprinkle chopped pecans over top, and return to the oven for 10 minutes (or until golden brown and the nuts are toasted). Serve warm.

Recipe Notes

COOK'S TIPS AND RECIPE VARIATIONS:

• Make sure that you slice the butter into very thin pieces so that you have enough squares to cover the entire cake. You don't want any larger gaps between the butter squares because you want the butter to melt and cover all of the cake mix.
• I like to wait to add the pecans at the end of the baking time because I find that they burn and get too dark if you put them on top of the cake at the beginning.
• You've just got to serve this dump cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream on top! The cool creamy contrast with the warm cake is to-die-for!
• Make a Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake by using a chocolate cake mix instead of a yellow cake mix! 
• Substitute your favorite flavor of pie filling for the cherry flavor. Instead of a cherry dump cake, try a Blueberry Dump Cake or a Strawberry Dump Cake! Apple pie filling with a spice cake topping would also be divine!

How to make Cherry Dump Cake in the Crock Pot:

If you prefer to use a slow cooker to "bake" your cake, follow the same instructions but cook the cake on HIGH for 3 1/2 - 4 hours. Since the lid of a Crock Pot causes condensation to drop back down onto the cake, I recommend placing a few layers of paper towels just under the lid in order to absorb that additional liquid.

Does Cherry Dump Cake have to be refrigerated?

I prefer the dump cake when it's served warm. If you have leftovers, you can refrigerate the extra dump cake for a few days or you can leave a baked dump cake on the counter at room temperature for about 1-2 days. Refrigerating the cake extends the life of the leftovers!

Can you freeze Cherry Dump Cake?

Yes! To preserve the leftover cake for even longer, you can freeze the dump cake for up to 3 months. Thaw the frozen dump cake in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat the refrigerated dump cake in the microwave for about 30 seconds, or until the cake reaches your desired temperature.

Nutrition Facts

Aunt Bee's 5-Ingredient 5-Minute Cherry Dump Cake

Amount Per Serving (1 /12 of the cake)

Calories 342 Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 14g 22%

Saturated Fat 5g 25%

Cholesterol 20mg 7%

Sodium 339mg 14%

Potassium 161mg 5%

Total Carbohydrates 52g 17%

Dietary Fiber 2g 8%

Sugars 22g

Protein 2g 4%

Vitamin A 7.3%

Vitamin C 7.7%

Calcium 9.7%

Iron 6.7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This post was originally published in February, 2015. It was updated in December, 2018.