3-ingredient Cherry Dump Cake
June 29, 2026
About this Recipe
I get this is not new or fancy or “the best” or revolutionary in any way but it is three ingredients and super minimal effort and a tasty outcome, very similar to a fruit cobbler. All you need is to layer one jar of cherry pie filling, 1 box of your favorite boxed yellow cake mix and 12 tablespoons of sliced unsalted butter in a baking dish and bake until golden brown on top. The butter will melt over the cake mix and create a strudel-like topping that tops the warm fruit mixture and wraps it in buttery richness. Serve it warm with ice cream or a drizzle of heavy cream.
I used the Duncan Hines yellow cake mix (not an ad) for this recipe. Afterward, I came across a Wirecutter article saying that the DH brand had a saltier flavor profile than the others that they tested. I personally really liked that salty touch to balance out the fruit mix and bring the butter flavor to life but if that’s not your thing, opt for another brand. I used the Bonne Maman (again not an ad) pie filling and I liked it better than the more mainstream versions of cherry pie filling I’ve had. It was a bit more refined on the flavor profile. If cherry isn’t your thing, riff with the fruit filling of your choice! It’s an easy and fun last minute dessert to bring to a gathering or if you are just looking to scratch a sweet tooth without too much effort.
Serves
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 45 minute
Total: 50 minutes
Ingredients
1 21-ounce jar or can of cherry pie filling (such as Bonne Maman or Duncan Hines/Comstock)
1 box yellow cake mix (such as Duncan Hines)
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, very thinly sliced
Vanilla Ice cream or drizzle heavy cream for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees
- Pour the cherry pie filling into a 9x13 baking dish, and spread so it coats the bottom of the dish in an even layer. Sprinkle on the cake mix so that it covers the cherry pie filling completely, in an even layer. Place the butter slices across the surface of the cake mix in a single layer with some space in between the slices, covering up as much of the surface as possible.
- Place the baking dish into the oven and bake until the butter has melted into a light golden brown top, 40-45 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes, then serve
