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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Published: Feb 7, 2023 by Paula Montenegro · Income from ads and affiliate links 5 Comments

    Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake

    Jump to Recipe
    Partial view of white bowl with serving of chocolate cherry dump cake, spoon, white surface
    Close up of chocolate dump cake with cherries in a white bowl, a spoon, white surface

    Few ingredients and minimal work make this dump cake an easy dessert for many occasions. You can make it more or less from scratch, with only store-bought components or a quick homemade filling. The combination of flavors is wonderful and it's ready in an hour. It's also known as black forest dump cake.

    White bowl with chocolate cherry dump cake, a spoon.

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    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.

    Chocolate cherry dump cake in a rectangular white ceramic dish.
    Table of Contents Hide
    Ingredient list
    Pitting cherries
    How to make a chocolate cherry dump cake
    Family style desserts
    Kitchen notes
    How do dump cakes work?
    Do you stir a dump cake?
    Do you need to refrigerate a dump cake?
    How long does dump cake last?
    Related recipes you might like:
    Cherry Chocolate Dump Cake

    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.

    Bowls with chocolate cake mix, butter, cherries, orange, and other ingredients for dump cake.

    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.

    Hand pitting cherries over white bowl.

    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.

    Top view of glass bowl with cherries, sugar, and orange zest. White surface.

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

    Juicy cherry filling in a glass bowl with a spoon on a white surface.

    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.

    Sprinkling chocolate cake mix with a spoon over layer of cherry filling in a white rectangular ceramic dish.

    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 over chocolate cake mix in a rectangular white ceramic dish on a white surface.

    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.
    Cherry chocolate dump cake portion in a white bowl on white surface

    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.


    Related recipes you might like:

    • Close up of cherry cobbler in white oval dish on a wire rack.
      Easy Cherry Dump Cake
    • Cover image collage with four dump cakes and central circle with orange text.
      Dump Cakes (recipes & tips)
    • Hands holding a white plate with cherry cobbler serving. White and cherry blossoms background.
      Pineapple Cherry Dump Cake
    • White bowl with whole cherry sauce.
      Homemade Cherry Sauce (topping)

    Let me know in the comments below if you made this recipe and loved it and if you had issues so we can troubleshoot together. I love to hear what you think, always. Thanks for being here. It's much appreciated.
    You might also consider subscribing to our FREE email series to Boost your Home Baking Skills! And our regular newsletter.
    And let's connect via Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

    Print
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    White baking dish with chocolate cherry dump cake. A serving missing, silver spoon inside.

    Cherry Chocolate Dump Cake

    ★★★★★

    5 from 1 reviews

    Print Recipe
    Save Recipe Recipe Saved

    Few ingredients and minimal work make this dump cake an easy dessert for many occasions. You can make it more or less from scratch, with only store-bought components or a quick homemade filling. The combination of flavors is wonderful and it's ready in an hour. It's also known as black forest dump cake.

    • Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
    • Yield: 8 servings

    Ingredients

    Units

    For the cherry layer:

    • 2 cans (21 ounces each) cherry pie filling

    OR make it from scratch

    • 2 pounds pitted cherries, fresh or frozen
    • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
    • ¼ cup sugar
    • Zest of 1 orange
    • ⅓ cup orange juice
    • Dash of ground cinnamon, optional
    • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract, optional

    For the cake layer:

    • 3 cups (about ¾ of an 18 oz box) chocolate cake mix
    • ⅔ cup unsalted butter, cold (see Notes, below for a melted butter variation)

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C.
    2. Have ready an 8x11 inch oven dish (ceramic or glass).
    3. If using store-bought cherry pie filling you only have to open the cans and dump them in the dish, spreading to cover the whole dish. 

    Filling from scratch:

    1. Mix cherries with sugar, orange zest, cinnamon, and vanilla in a large bowl. 
    2. Add the cornstarch dissolved in the orange juice, stir to combine, and dump the cherry mixture into the prepared dish. 

    To assemble:

    1. Add the chocolate cake mix with a spoon, making sure it covers all the cherries. 
    2. Smooth slightly but don't mix. We just want to flatten it a little so the butter slices are easier to arrange. 
    3. Cut the butter into very thin slices and arrange them on top of the cake mix. You should cover most of it so that when it melts in the oven all (or most) of the cake mix is moistened. 
    4. Alternatively, melt the butter and pour it over the chocolate cake mix in a large bowl. Mix with a spoon until you have a crumbly mixture. Sprinkle it over the cherry filling. 
    5. Bake on the middle rack for 45 minutes and check by lifting here and there the chocolate top and, if there are very dry spots, mix it a bit with the juices in the bottom. Otherwise, they might never moisten. 
    6. Bake for 15 minutes more (1 hour in total) until the top is dry and the filling bubbles around the edges. 
    7. Serve warm plain, with whipped cream, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. 
    8. Store leftovers in the fridge, covered with plastic wrap. You can also freeze them, well covered or in an airtight container. Defrost at room temperature. 

    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. You can use a thermometer that is placed inside the oven (like the OXO oven thermometer) to check that your oven is at the right temperature. 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 of chocolate cake you like. A favorite of mine is devil’s food cake mix because it has a rich chocolate flavor. But any chocolate mix will do. 

    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.

    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.

    Sweetness: the cake mix has sugar, but if you're into very sweet desserts, you can use up to ½ cup of sugar for the filling. 

    Melted butter topping: there is another way to make the topping for this dump cake, and I think it's even easier. Simply melt the butter and mix it with the cake mix in a bowl. It will be somewhat crumbly and slightly wet with some dry spots. It's how we make the cherry dump cake recipe. I find that this method makes for a crunchier topping. 

    • Author: Paula Montenegro
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 60 minutes
    • Category: Desserts
    • Method: Baking
    • Cuisine: American

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: ⅛
    • Calories: 386
    • Sugar: 39.5 g
    • Sodium: 347.1 mg
    • Fat: 15.4 g
    • Carbohydrates: 63.5 g
    • Fiber: 3.5 g
    • Protein: 3.5 g
    • Cholesterol: 30.5 mg

    Keywords: chocolate cherry dump cake

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    About Paula Montenegro

    I'm Paula, a baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe developer, sharing the best ones here with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

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    1. Verena says

      May 29, 2021 at 8:51 am

      Great recipe!! I won't use Box cake mix, but it worked brilliantly with my usual choc cake recipe

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Paula Montenegro says

        May 29, 2021 at 9:06 am

        Happy to hear that Verena! I will keep that in mind from now on. Enjoy the weekend.

        Reply
      • Lynn says

        July 21, 2021 at 1:50 pm

        I agree. I never would used a cake mix. Just as easy to use a chocolate cake mix from scratch! Just a suggestion, to recommend using a chocolate cake from scratch.

        Reply
    2. angiesrecipes says

      December 31, 2020 at 6:48 am

      This is such a FUN recipe and it looks incredibly rich and yummy with cherries.

      Reply
      • Paula Montenegro says

        December 31, 2020 at 10:22 am

        I agree. Have a great beginning of year Angie!

        Reply

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