Best Crock Pot Cherry Dump Cake Recipe

This 3 ingredient dump cake recipe is made in a slow cooker to keep things extra easy!

Make a Crock Pot Cherry Dump Cake next time you need a tasty dessert for a crowd.

It has your favorite cherry pie and vanilla cake flavors rolled into one and is one of my favorite dump cake recipes to make during fall!

Some links in this post may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, I earn from qualifying purchases by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. I also participate in affiliate programs for other retailers. 

If you have checked out my easy recipes before, you already know I’m kind of lazy.

And I embrace it. I love to look for time-saving tricks to get myself out of the kitchen and back to doing something I love.

But I also loved delicious desserts.

I fell in love with this Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake years ago and have since been obsessed with making all the flavors!

Fall is still hot in California so turning on the oven to make my favorite dump cake is just not an option.

And while my crock pot is usually reserved for Crock Pot Chicken Fajita Soup, it can also be used for desserts. YEAH!

Crock Pot versus oven

Using the crock pot instead of the oven is a great way to not heat up your kitchen.

It takes an hour longer to cook your dump cake but the end result is worth it!

I especially love making this Slow Cooker Cherry Dump Cake when I need to feed a crowd. It stays at the perfect temperature for quite a while and you can serve it right from the counter.

It’s also great to serve as a holiday dessert since you can make without using any of that super valuable oven space.

How to make a Cherry Dump Cake in the Slow Cooker

Just like the traditional method, this easy dessert is layered into the backing vessel. No stirring required!

Scroll down to the end of the post for a printable recipe card with full measurements and more detailed instructions.

Ingredients

• cherry pie filling
• yellow cake mix
• butter

I like to look for the pie filling cans that stay they have more fruit. Whichever brand you can find that looks like it has a lot of fruit, go with that one!

Otherwise, the cans can be heavy on the gel and very light on the actual fruit pieces.

I like to use a yellow cake mix since it adds to extra butter flavor in the finished dessert.

And you may have your own preference but I usually love to use salted butter in my desserts (I know, not what the experts would say).

Also I’m in the camp that more butter is always better. But you could easily cut this to 1/2 cup of butter and it would still work and be delicious.

If cherries aren’t your favorite you can make a Crock Pot Apple Cherry Dump Cake.

Instructions

Making this Cherry Dump Cake in the Crock Pot is so easy.

To the bowl of your crock pot add the 2 cans of cherry pie filling.

You can see a spatula in the image above. That is simply to get all of the delicious cherry goodness from the cans.

Sprinkle on the dry boxed cake mix.

Do not make the cake mix per the directions on the box, you simply use the powdered mix.

I’m a big fan of desserts with cake mix.

Finally, top with melted butter.

The way the butter and dry cake mix mingle together creates this delightful crust that I totally crave.

Tips

When making a dump cake in the crock pot there is one step that isn’t shown in the photos.

Before adding the lid to the slow cooker, place a double layer of paper towels.

It is fine that it will hang out past the edge of the bowl.

This catches any of the condensation that is created in the lid and will get that delicious dump cake crust that you expect in your dessert.

A golden, buttery crust is really what makes this dessert one of my favorites.

And while a crock pot dump cake isn’t as crusty on top as one made in the oven, all of that gorgeous flavor is still there.

Your dump cake takes about 2 hours to cook in a crock pot as opposed to one hour in the oven.

Want it even faster? Try making a Microwave Dump Cake.

To serve, just scoop a hearty portion into a bowl. Because it’s warm, you could add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and it would melt deliciously on top.

For company, you could give it a tiny pouf of whipped cream.

But I love to eat it as is. Call me a purist.

If you need to know how to store a Cherry Dump Cake, you will need to let it cool completely and store it in an airtight container. It will last in the fridge for up to 3 days.

You’ll also love my Crock Pot Apple Dump Cake too! It’s has that apple pie flavor without the work!

Still have questions? I answer them in my post: Everything You Need to Know About Dump Cakes.

Supplies to make this recipe

More easy desserts to try

• Are you a pumpkin fan? This easy Pumpkin Sheet Cake recipe is also perfect for a crowd. The cream cheese frosting is a delicious pair for the spiced cake.
• Crave chocolate? This Chocolate Dump Cake has your name all over it. With chocolate cake mix, chocolate pudding and chocolate chips, it’s rich and decadent.
• Looking for something totally out of the box? Check out these Cheetos Cupcakes! I know it sounds crazy but somehow it works. This one also has a cream cheese frosting and the cupcakes have the perfect hint of cheese.

Printable recipe

Pin to save this crock pot dump cake for later

If you’ve never made a Crock Pot Cherry Dump Cake, put this on your to-do list for the week!

Click to share!