This 4-ingredient chocolate cherry dump cake uses brownie mix and a simple butter trick to create a rich, fudgy topping with zero dry patches - no mixing required!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Today, let's add to our collection of easy dump cake recipes with one that's perfect for a Valentine's Day dessert - or anytime you need a chocolate fix with almost no effort!
If you loved how simple and delicious my lemon dump cake and caramel apple dump cake turned out, you're going to want to try this easy chocolate cherry dump cake. It's made with just 4 ingredients and combines sweet, rich cherry pie filling with a buttery brownie topping dotted with little pockets of melted chocolate.
If you've ever made a dump cake with dry, powdery spots or greasy pools of butter, this version fixes that - without adding extra steps or ingredients. I'll show you a couple of super simple tricks that create a crispy, evenly baked topping with no dry patches every time!
Ingredients + Notes
- 16.3oz box of fudge brownie mix - We're going super indulgent for this recipe! Brownie mix creates a fudgier topping than standard cake mix, which helps prevent dry, powdery patches. Use anywhere from a 16-18oz box - avoid the family-size boxes. And, if your brownie mix comes with a syrup pouch, no need to use it in this recipe. Note: we're using this brownie mix dry in this recipe; no need to add the ingredients indicated on the box!
- 2 (21oz) cans cherry pie filling - Make sure you go with the cherry pie filling, not just canned cherries. The pie filling adds the consistency you need to complement the fudgy top layer of the cake.
- 2 sticks of cold butter - It's much easier to slice cold butter into the thin pieces we'll need to top the cake.
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips - If you want to use milk chocolate chips, go for it; I like the little bit of a bite that the semi-sweet provides.
Additions & Substitutions
- If you like a little extra crunch, try sprinkling ½ cup of chopped pecans over the cake mix before baking.
- This can be made with any pie filling you'd like to use! Strawberry, blackberry, or raspberry pie fillings are also great options.
How to Make Cherry Chocolate Dump Cake
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. The higher temperature helps the brownie topping bake up crisp on top while staying fudgy underneath.
- Spread both cans of cherry pie filling evenly across the bottom of the prepared dish. Make sure the filling reaches all the way to the corners - this moisture is essential for preventing dry, powdery spots in the topping.
- Sprinkle the dry brownie mix evenly over the cherry filling. Don't press it down and do not stir. Keeping the layers separate allows the butter to properly hydrate the mix as it bakes.
- Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the brownie mix. As the cake bakes, they'll melt into little pockets of chocolatey heaven.
- Slice the cold butter into thin ¼-inch slices and arrange them evenly over the entire surface. Try to cover as much of the brownie mix as possible - uncovered areas are the most common cause of dry patches.
- Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes, until the top looks mostly set and lightly crisp, and the cherry filling is bubbling around the edges. At around the 30-minute mark, quickly check for any dry spots and add a small slice of butter if needed.
- Important: Let rest for 15 minutes before serving for the best texture for both the brownie topping and the cherry filling. It will look like a soupy mess when it comes out of the oven; that rest time will allow it to firm up! Serve warm, topped with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for the best chocolate-cherry contrast.
Step-by-Step Recipe Video
Leftovers & Storage
Leftovers: This dump cake needs to be stored in the refrigerator after baking. Cover in an airtight container and store for up to 3-4 days after baking.
Reheating: Reheat single servings of dump cake in the microwave for 30-45 seconds as needed.
Freezing: You can freeze it, but the topping softens after thawing. For the best texture, I recommend baking this fresh.
Leslie's Helpful Tips & Tricks
- The most important thing about assembling this recipe is that you do not mix the layers! It's important that the cherry pie filling and the dry brownie mix stay separate when baking. You want distinct layers when the cake is finished baking.
- If you notice small pockets of dry brownie mix during the last 10 minutes of baking, gently stir in the butter into those areas. Try to stay on the surface and avoid stirring into the pie filling layer below.
- For the most evenly-baked brownie topping, slice butter as thin as you can and cover the surface of the dry brownie mix as much as possible with butter pats.
FAQs
Make this one for Valentine's Day - your sweetheart will love it! 💕 If you give it a try, I want to hear what you have to say about it. Give this recipe a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ or review 🗣️ in the comments below!
Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 42 oz cherry pie filling
- 16.3 oz fudge brownie mix (do not prepare)
- 2 sticks cold butter
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Spread both cans of cherry pie filling evenly in the bottom of the dish, reaching the corners.
- Sprinkle the dry brownie mix evenly over the filling. Do not stir.
- Evenly sprinkle the chocolate chips over the brownie mix.
- Slice the cold butter into thin ¼-inch slices and arrange evenly over the top, covering as much surface as possible.
- Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes, until the top is lightly crisp and the filling is bubbling around the edges. Check near the end and add a small slice of butter to any dry spots if needed.
- Let rest for 15 minutes before serving. Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- Use a standard 16-18 oz box of brownie mix (not family-size). Do not use any included syrup pouch.
- Do not mix the layers - the cherry filling, brownie mix, and butter should stay separate while baking.
- Cold butter works best; slice it thin and cover as much of the brownie mix as possible to avoid dry spots.
- If dry patches appear near the end of baking, gently redistribute the buttered topping over those areas without stirring into the filling.
- The dump cake is done when the top is set and lightly crisp and the filling is bubbling around the edges.
- It's important to let the cake rest for about 15 minutes before serving so the layers set properly.
Nutrition Facts
Leslie Lambert is a lifestyle writer and content creator specializing in home organization, family recipes, and intentional living. With 17 years of experience in blogging and digital storytelling, she helps busy women create calm, purposeful homes they love.
