Description
Homemade cherry dump cake delivers a simple dessert beloved by families nationwide. Sweet cherries and buttery cake layers combine for an effortless treat perfect for quick weeknight celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cans (21 oz / 595 g) cherry pie filling
- 1 box yellow cake mix (or white cake mix)
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, melted
- ½ tsp almond extract
- ½ cup (60 g) chopped pecans or walnuts
- Vanilla ice cream
- Whipped cream
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat Preparation: Calibrate the oven to 350F (175C) and lightly lubricate a 9×13-inch baking vessel to prevent adhesion.
- Foundation Layer: Meticulously spread cherry pie filling across the dish, establishing an even, vibrant base with a splash of almond extract to amplify the fruit’s inherent sweetness.
- Dry Coverage: Uniformly disperse cake mix over the cherry layer, ensuring complete blanket-like coverage without disrupting the underlying fruit foundation.
- Moisture Enhancement: Cascade melted butter across the cake mix, allowing it to permeate the dry ingredients and create a luscious, decadent surface. Optional: Sprinkle chopped nuts for textural complexity.
- Baking Transformation: Position the assembled dish in the preheated oven, baking for 40-45 minutes until a golden-brown crust emerges and edges bubble with tantalizing promise.
- Resting and Serving: Extract from the oven and permit the dessert to settle for 5-10 minutes, facilitating layer integration. Serve while warm, crowned with a pristine scoop of vanilla ice cream or a cloud of whipped cream for an indulgent finale.
Notes
- Customize Flavor Boost: Add a splash of vanilla or rum extract to enhance the cherry pie filling’s depth and complexity.
- Prevent Dry Topping: Ensure even butter distribution by drizzling slowly and thoroughly across the entire cake mix surface to create a moist, golden crust.
- Adapt for Dietary Needs: Substitute gluten-free cake mix for a celiac-friendly version, or use sugar-free pie filling for a lower-sugar alternative.
- Perfect Baking Technique: Check doneness by looking for bubbling edges and a rich golden-brown top, which signals the cake is perfectly cooked and the butter has fully integrated.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 292
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 360 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg