Slow Cooker 3 Ingredient Cherry Dump Cake–all you need to make this recipe is a cake mix, cherry pie filling and butter. Dump all the ingredients in your slow cooker and turn it on. This recipe is so easy and hands off but tastes amazing especially when served with vanilla ice cream.
Slow Cooker 3 Ingredient Cherry Dump Cake
When my husband and I were still in college and struggling students we were introduced to this cherry dump cake recipe. At that time we made it in the oven and it was one of our favorite desserts. It took minimal time and money…a college student’s dream. Every now and then I still make this dessert but I’ve learned to make it in the slow cooker. Basically you pour in a can of cherry pie filling and sprinkle it with cake mix (white or yellow) that has a stick of butter cut into it. I cooked mine on high for 2 hours but you could just as easily cook it on low for 4 hours.
One thing that I like to do when baking in the slow cooker is use paper towels. You simply put the food in the slow cooker and then place a double layer of paper towels over the top and finally put the lid on. The paper towels absorb the condensation instead of letting it drip down on the food. I do like a crispy top on my slow cooker 3 ingredient cherry dump cake so I stick the cake under the broiler for a couple of minutes before I serve.
National Cherry Dessert Day
Today is national cherry dessert day. Yes, there’s a day for that. And I’m celebrating by giving you all these other great cherry dessert ideas. They all look so amazing!
Cherry Ice Cream from Ashlee Marie
Black Forest Cupcakes from Life Made Simple
Cherry Cheesecake Brownies from Creations by Kara
Cherry Almond Vanilla Cupcakes from Baking with Blondie
Cherry Turnovers from The Baker Upstairs
Vegan No-Bake Cherry Fruit Crisp from Namely Marly
Rum Soaked Preserved Cherries and Boozy Cherry Molasses from Foodie with Family
Frozen Cherry Limemade Pie from Real Mom Kitchen
Cherry Berry Dutch Oven Cobbler from Hey Grill Hey
Chocolate Cherry Brownie Pizza from Gather for Bread
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What Slow Cooker Did You Use?
For this Slow Cooker 3 Ingredient Cherry Dump Cake recipe I went with my 3-quart casserole crock made by the Crock-Pot brand. I have loved this casserole shaped crockpot for recipes just like this. I love that the crock insert is completely oven and dishwasher safe. I love how if you want to brown the top of a cobbler you can do that quickly in the oven. Or if you want to bake something in the oven and then put it into the crockpot and keep it warm on the counter, you can do that too. They cost around $40 and I think totally worth the investment!
Slow Cooker 3 Ingredient Cherry Dump Cake
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 2-3 hours on high
- Total Time: 23 minute
- Yield: 15 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 2 (21 oz) cans cherry pie filling
- 1 (15.25 oz) white or yellow cake mix
- 1 stick of butter (1/2 cup)
Instructions
- Open the cans of cherry pie filling and dump the contents into the bottom of a greased slow cooker.
- In a separate bowl use a pastry blender or fork to cut the butter into the cake mix. The consistency will be very crumbly. Evenly sprinkle the cake mix mixture over the top of the cherry pie filling.
- Place a double layer of paper towels gently on top of the slow cooker and then place the lid on top of the paper towels to secure them in place.
- Cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-6 hours.
- Remove the lid and discard the paper towels. If desired, place the crock insert under the broiler for 2-3 minutes to crisp up the top of the dessert.
- Scoop into bowls and top with vanilla ice cream.
Notes
You can easily halve this recipe. Use one can of pie filling and half a stick of butter and half the cake mix.
This recipe is easy to swap out with different fruit. I have used other fillings such as apple, peach, etc. It is quite full of sugar so if you want to use a low sugar pie filling you probably won’t know the difference.
I used my 3 quart casserole crock for this recipe. A 6 quart oval slow cooker would work nicely as well.
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Slow Cooker
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Hi!
For this recipe, do you use salted or unsalted butter?
I usually use unsalted. But either will work.
Do I leave the left over cake in the crock pot till the next day?
I’d scoop it into an airtight container like tupperware and store in the fridge.
Do you think adding cream cheese under the cake mix layer would work?
I think it would be delicious!!! would you drop in dollops or attempt spreading? You may want to use whipped cream cheese.
Hi,
Instead of canned fruit could I use frozen mixed berries?
Thanks
I bet that would be good. It might take a little longer to cook if they are frozen.
i have made this a few times family love it can i put cherry and pineapples and if so do i use the pineapple juice thankyou
I bet you could use pineapple. Drain the juice first though!
I have a question on this recipe. It looks so deliciious. My husband has to be gluten free. Will a gluten free cake mix work just as well even tho its a thicker mixture cake mix?
I bet it would work! I am not 100% certain but I bet it would.
I do do you just put the dry mix in.. not mix the cake mix by the directions on the box? Thanks:)
just the dry mix
I make this all the time. Another favorite is apple pie filling and a spice cake mix. Yum!
★★★★★
YUMMM
I have made several times and love it. Was wondering if you can successfully double this for larger crowds?
I haven’t tried it but as long as your crockpot is big enough you could. You may want to add an extra 30 minutes to the cooking time.
What I am really looking for is extremely simple crock pot recipes like your Cherry dump cake because my circumstances: 78 years older, living 2 people in small studio. apt, no stove. I have crock pot, microwave, electric skillet & that. Is all. Can it help or tell me where to look. Know u understand because of your college days. Greatly appreciate any thing u can do to help.
★★★★
Try this article Brenda. It may help you! https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/100-slow-cooker-recipes-for-college/
Can this be made in an Instant Pot? 🙂
Hi Sarah, I haven’t tried it in the Instant Pot yet but I really need to. You would have to do the pot in pot method like I did in the peach cobbler recipe https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/instant-pot-3-ingredient-peach-cobbler/
I would set the timer for 10 minutes. Make sure to put water in the bottom of the pot.
I have chosen a few things that I have to say sound like good stuff to me!
★★★★
My kind of dessert – easy but tasty!
me too 🙂
Oh my, this looks so yummy. I’ve never made dump cake in my crock pot. I can’t wait to try it!
You’ll love it, Kara!
I love cherry dump cake with chocolate cake mix!
ooooooo!!! Good idea 🙂