If you love both cherry pie and cheesecake, you’ll adore this cherry cheesecake dump cake. It’s an incredibly simple layered dessert: cherry pie filling and a creamy cheesecake layer are baked under a blanket of boxed cake mix. In fact, it’s literally made by dumping the ingredients into a pan – no mixer needed. As Allrecipes puts it, “This cherry cheesecake dump cake could not be easier. Cherry pie filling and vanilla cake mix are pantry staples you can keep on hand. Add cream cheese, butter, egg, and vanilla, and you’re nearly there!”. The result is a moist, gooey bar that tastes like a cherry cheesecake and a buttery cobbler all in one.
In this post we’ll walk through the full recipe, including ingredients and step-by-step directions. Plus you’ll get tips and fun variations – for example, you can even cook this in a campfire Dutch oven or swap in other fruit fillings (people often use apple or berry filling instead of cherries). Follow along and you’ll see how easy and forgiving this dessert is, and how it can be customized to your taste.
Ingredients
To make cherry cheesecake dump cake, you only need a few simple ingredients. The base is a can of cherry pie filling (you’ll use the whole can), and a block of cream cheese for the cheesecake layer. The top layer comes from a box of vanilla cake mix (you don’t mix it with eggs – just pour the dry mix on top). Melted butter is sprinkled over everything so the cake mix bakes up golden and crisp. You’ll also need an egg, sugar, and a splash of vanilla to sweeten and bind the cream cheese. In summary, gather:
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1 (21-oz) can cherry pie filling.
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8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature.
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1 large egg.
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1/2 cup granulated sugar.
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
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1 (15.25-oz) box vanilla cake mix.
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10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (about 1 1/4 sticks).
These ingredients mirror what most recipes use. (For example, Allrecipes lists cream cheese, egg, sugar, vanilla, cake mix, and butter for its cherry cheesecake dump cake.)
Optional add-ins: You can add almond extract (about 1 teaspoon) to the cherry filling for extra flavor and chopped nuts (like pecans or almonds) on top for crunch. These aren’t required, but almond flavor goes especially well with cherries.
Instructions
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Preheat and prepare. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
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Add cherry filling. Pour the entire can of cherry pie filling into the bottom of the baking dish and spread it out evenly. (If you like, you can stir in a little almond extract into the cherries for extra flavor.)
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Prepare cheesecake layer. In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, egg, sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth. (Some cooks skip this step and simply drop dollops of plain cream cheese around the cherry layer instead – the cheese will melt and swirl as it bakes.) If you mixed it, spoon or spread the creamy cheesecake mixture over the cherries.
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Add cake mix. Evenly sprinkle the dry cake mix on top of the cream cheese layer. Do not stir it in – you want a crumbly dry layer on top.
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Drizzle with butter. Carefully pour or drizzle the melted butter all over the cake mix. Try to cover as much of the surface as possible; the butter will help it bake into a crisp, golden topping.
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Bake. Place the pan in the preheated oven. Bake 40–50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbly around the edges. (For example, Allrecipes says to bake until “golden brown and bubbly, 40 to 50 minutes”.)
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Rest and serve. Remove from the oven and let the dump cake sit for about 10 minutes before serving. This short rest lets it firm up slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature; it’s especially delicious with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream on top.
And that’s it – you’ve made cherry cheesecake dump cake! The top will have a tender golden crust from the cake mix and butter, and underneath you’ll find hot bubbly cherry filling and creamy cheesecake. It might not look perfect straight out of the oven, but as LittleSunnyKitchen notes, “it might not look like much when you put it in the oven, but the magic happens while the cake is baking” – the result is a beautiful pie-like dessert.
Tips & Variations
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Fruit swaps: Feel free to use other pie fillings in place of cherry. Many home cooks report great results swapping cherries for apples, blueberries, or mixed berries. Just dump two cans (or one large can) of your favorite pie filling and proceed with the same steps. For example, Dutch oven enthusiasts mention making similar apple dump cakes by replacing the cherry filling.
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Add flavor & crunch: As suggested by baking blogs, a little almond extract stirred into the cherry filling really brightens the flavor. You can also sprinkle chopped pecans or almonds over the cake mix before baking for extra texture. These simple additions make the dessert extra-special.
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Camping/Dutch oven version: You can even make this dump cake outdoors. In a well-seasoned Dutch oven over coals, simply dump in the cherries, add the cake mix, and dot with butter. Cover and cook until done. (One source shows a classic camping version with 2 cans cherries, cake mix, and butter baked in about 25 minutes.)
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Serving: This cake is fantastic served warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. The hot cherry-cheesecake filling pairs wonderfully with a cool scoop on top. It also serves well slightly chilled; in fact, LittleSunnyKitchen notes that cherry dump cakes make great chilled bars, slicing more cleanly after refrigeration.
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Storage: Because it contains cream cheese, keep leftovers in the fridge. Store the cake covered in the baking dish or in an airtight container. It will keep for 3–4 days. You can enjoy it cold or gently rewarm portions.
Each time you make this recipe you can experiment: try different cake-mix flavors (yellow, white, or even chocolate for a cherry-chocolate twist), or add a sprinkle of cinnamon to the cherries. The basic method is very forgiving, so have fun with it!
Cherry cheesecake dump cake lives up to its name – it’s as easy as dumping ingredients and as delicious as combining two classic desserts. By following the steps above and these tips, you’ll end up with a crowd-pleasing treat every time. Enjoy baking (and eating) this rich, creamy, cherry-filled dessert!
