Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake

I was introduced to dump cakes a couple of years ago at a summer barbecue and I didn't make it for years. The idea of using boxed cakes (the ones found at the grocery stores) for some of us bakers is a strong no-no most of the time.

But I'm so glad I tried it!

It's such an easy dessert, very customizable, and a total crowd-pleaser! A bite of this cherry chocolate dump cake recipe and you'll understand what I mean.

The word cake is loosely used in the title. It's not what you envision, which is usually layers when you think of one.

This is cobbler-like in its appearance (read this if you don't know what a cobbler is?), but since it uses a boxed cake mix, it's a little bit of both.

It's also the richer, more sophisticated cousin to our vanilla cherry dump cake.

We have several easy dump cake recipes in this blog, in case you're interested. It's one of the best desserts for hot weather months.

Ingredient list

I make the filling from scratch because I can't usually get the canned stuff. But if you use 2 cans of cherry pie filling, this cake is a breeze; simply open the cans and dump them onto the baking dish.

• Cake mix: there are different types of chocolate boxed cake mixes. Use your favorite one. Duncan Hines devil's food cake and Betty Crocker's chocolate fudge cake mix are popular brands.
• Store-bought cherry pie filling. You can add some extra fresh cherries on top if you want to add freshness.
• OR
• Homemade cherry pie filling:
  Cherries. Fresh fruit is always my first choice, but this filling can be made with frozen pitted cherries, a great alternative for the winter months.
  Sugar. You can use white sugar or light brown sugar, both work very well. Cornstarch. It's used to thicken the filling and create that wonderful syrupy juice.
  Orange or lemon juice. Adding citrus enhances the flavors and adds some acidity needed to balance out the sugar and butter.
  Flavorings. A pinch of ground cinnamon and vanilla extract can be used.

See the recipe card at the end of this post for quantities.

Pitting cherries

If you bake often with fresh cherries you need a cherry pitter, a little gadget that'll make your life easier.

It's the only part of this recipe that takes a little patience and an apron. Ensure your clothes are covered, as pitting cherries means drops of cherry juice flying around.

How to make a chocolate cherry dump cake

Two steps are needed to make this chocolate and cherry dessert.

Cherry mixture

Store-bought cherry filling: use your favorite canned one. Duncan Hines cherry pie filling is a popular one. If you opt for this, skip to the topping layer below.

Homemade cherry filling: mix the ingredients in a bowl (pitted cherries, orange juice, zest sugar, and cornstarch). It's still a super easy step.

After adding the orange juice mixed with the cornstarch, the mixture will have a liquid that will turn into syrup as the dessert bakes.

Cake mix and butter layer

Use your favorite boxed chocolate cake mix, such as Duncan Hines devil's food cake or Betty Crocker's chocolate fudge cake mix.

For this black forest dump cake, we use thinly sliced cold butter pieces.

Melted butter: instead of the butter slices, you can simply melt the butter and mix it with the cake mix, as we do in the Peach Dump Cake recipe. The result will be less floury and crunchier. Both are amazing.

Dump the cherry mixture, or store-bought pie filling, into the chosen dish. Sprinkle the cake mix on top. Even it out but don't mix it with the cherries.

Butter slices: cut the butter into thin slices to cover the cake mix. Or most of it, there will be spaces left without it. First, level the cake dry mix (but don't mix it with the filling!) so the butter is easier to add.

Family style desserts

Dump cakes are baked in ceramic or glass dishes and then taken to the table. They are not removed from the pan. Similar to fruit cobblers.

What type of dish to use 

Choose a nice baking dish you like to showcase on the table.

For me, ceramic ones are the best (I use my favorite Emile Henry medium ceramic rectangular dish whenever possible). There are several rectangular ceramic dishes, porcelain bakeware sets, glass baking dishes, or round ceramic baking dish that work.

Also, a cast-iron skillet fits this type of dessert if you like the Southern way.

Kitchen notes

• Organization: always read the recipe first and make sure you have all the ingredients, at the right temperatures, and also the rest of the equipment and space to make it. This will make the process so much easier!
• Baking time: keep in mind that all ovens and pans are different, even if they look the same or very similar. The baking time in my recipes is as accurate as it can be, but it might take you more or less time. Use a thermometer inside the oven (like the OXO oven thermometer) to check that the temperature is right. I recommend you keep track of how your oven works and what tiny details you might need to adjust. 
• What type of cake can you use? Any type you like. A favorite of mine is devil’s food cake mix because it's a rich chocolate cake with an intense flavor. But any chocolate cake will do. Or mix chocolate chips with a yellow cake mix and make it a chocolate chip cherry dump cake. Maybe you'll end up finding a new family favorite dessert.
• Serving it: warm and a la mode (that means with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top) might makes this the easiest chocolate dessert that you won't forget easily. But warm and plain is still amazing. Or serve it with whipped cream for a black forest dump cake, which for me, is a perfect combination of flavors. If it's cold from the refrigerator, you can reheat it in the microwave or a medium oven.
• Variations: use pure almond extract in the filling, or mix in some maraschino cherries for a different touch. A brownie mix can also work and can render something with an extra fudgy feeling to it.
• Small batch dump cake: use 1 can of cherry pie filling or make half of the filling recipe here, and use a half package of chocolate cake mix. Bake it in a smaller dish.

How do dump cakes work?

The butter melts and the juices in the fruit are released during baking and moisten the dry cake mix. This bakes the floury mix in a cobbler-like way, not like the regular layer cakes we're used to.

Do you stir a dump cake?

No, you don't stir dump cakes. The fruit and the topping layers are separate and will barely mix in the oven. What will be integrated is the butter with the dry cake mix. Check that there are no large dry spots after ¾ of the baking time, after the butter has melted and started to seep into the cake mix. If that is the case, you might want to add a thin slice of butter to cover it and continue baking the dessert further.

Do you need to refrigerate a dump cake?

I recommend you chill it after the dessert has cooled down, as the cherries will eventually start to ferment and ruin the dessert. This can take more or less time depending on the temperature of the space, but better be on the safe side. Leftovers should be stored, covered, in the refrigerator.

How long does dump cake last?

They last for about 5 days in the fridge and a month frozen. But they can be eaten a few hours after they're baked, especially if you serve them warm.