This Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake recipe is an easy 5 ingredient classic! Made with cherry pie filling, crushed pineapple and yellow cake mix, it’s a simple dessert recipe that hits all the right notes.
Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake
I don’t know about you, but I am a huge fan of dump cake. I like to say it’s not healthy but it’s DEFINITELY joyful. And we all need a little joyful right!? I am a strong believer in “everything is okay, in moderation.”
What is a Dump Cake?
It’s a combination of cherry pie filling, crushed pineapple and white box cake mix. Where does the “dump” come in? Well, you literally just dump all the ingredients into a baking pan, put it in the oven and complete awesomeness awaits you! Now, I know that Dump Cake is not the “healthiest” thing to make. But a little indulgence now and then is good for the soul!
This dump cake recipe has been in our family for years.
How to Make the BEST Dump Cake
A lot of love and minimal ingredients. Like I said early, this recipe is crazy easy because all you do is dump everything in the pan. However, even though it is just dumping, use a spatula and make sure that the pineapple, cherry pie filling and cake mix are spread evenly and go all the way to the edges. This ensures you have the “best bite” every time. The pads of butter on top give it that nice crispy top, which is my favorite part of this cake!
My mom use to make it all the time growing up and I can remember fighting with my dad over the last piece. We were the two that had the sweet tooth’s in the family… still do!
When I moved down to Texas, I started leading a women’s bible study on Monday nights and would make this dessert on occasion. The first time I made it the girls fell in love with it and decided to give it their own name. The called it “Cherry Jubilee” because the cherries made a jubilee celebration in their mouths. haha:)
I recently just made it for my son. He kinda looked at it like. “Ugh.. what is that? I don’t know if I’ll like it.”
And like most things I told him, “give it a try.” Then I smirked, because I knew he’d love it, and gave him a portion. Of course, I was right. The kid devoured this cake in 3 seconds flat, put his plate in the sink and said “mommy that was so good.. I LOVE that cake.”
haha.. He’s definitely my son!
Ok, now for the important part.
How to Store Dump Cake
Store it at room temperature, covered with plastic wrap or if your baking dish has a cover use that.
I guarantee this cherry dump cake will be a favorite. It’s the easiest dessert recipe you’ll ever make and OH MY GOSH so stinking good. Bon Appetit friends!
Here are the items I used in this recipe!
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Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 10–12 1x
- Category: Cake
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake recipe is an easy 5 ingredient classic! Made with cherry pie filling, crushed pineapple and white cake mix, it’s a simple dessert recipe that hits all the right notes.
Ingredients
- 20 oz. can of Crushed Pineapple with juice
- 21 oz. can of Cherry Pie Filling
- 1 box of Yellow Cake Mix
- 1 stick of unsalted butter
- 1/2 of chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º degrees F.
- Dump one 20 oz. can of crushed pineapple with juice in a 9×13 baking dish.
- Dump one 21 oz. can of cherry pie filling over pineapple and spread evenly.
- Take one box of yellow cake mix and evening spread cake mix over the cherry pie filling.
- Chop up on stick of butter into small squares and spread evenly across cake mix. This will create a nice crust.
- Add chopped pecans to the top and spread over the rest of the cake.
- Place baking dish in oven for 35-45 minutes or until topping is slightly browned.
- Wait till it cools and dive in.
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65 comments on “The BEST Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake”
Delicious and a favorite with some friends.
So awesome to hear!
Oh dear. Bought all the ingredients today to make with the grand kids. I bought salted butter. Will that work as well.
It will, I just like to use unsalted because it allows me to control the salt content.
It was terrible, the cake mix was still powder, it was a dried gory mess. I had to throw it away.
Oh no, I’m sorry to hear that. Next time tried cutting the butter up into smaller pieces so that all of the dry cake mix is covered. It should turn into a nice crunchy topping and be delcious!
If I use a can of cherries in water, should I just drain the water? Will it be horribly different if I don’t have the “pie filling”? Maybe leave a little water?
It will definitely taste different, you may have to add sugar. The difference with the pie filling is the sugar and syrupiness of it. But you can definitely give it a try, just not sure how it will turn out.
Looking forward to trying your goodies out as I love food that is simple to put together and delicious.
This is a quick dessert, but packed with goodness!
Do you think the pineapple and cherry combination would be good with chocolate cake?
Hmmm… not sure. Probably, but you’ll have to try it and then report back if it’s good or not. I’ve always done the classic route my mom use to make.
I’ve used shredded coconut before…really good if you like coconut.
So happy you enjoyed this recipe, Lynne!
Always a crowd favorite! Wonderful for holiday celebrations, like Christmas or July 4th! We have cooked this recipe for years in my family! My mother passed the recipe on to my sister & me. In fact, my sister just had the cherry-pineapple for Christmas dinner. The red cherry is very fitting for Christmas. My personal favorite is actually the blueberry-pineapple. What’s even better is if you can, to use fresh NC grown blueberries (with sugar) instead of canned or frozen berries!!
Whether you use blueberries or cherries, this dessert is super easy, no fail, economical and always delicious! The best part about it, there is no way you can possibly mess it up!
That’s the best thing about a dump cake; they are almost impossible to mess up and always taste amazing!
It’s so easy and I add coconut on top, then the nuts.
It is so easy and soooo good!!! Love the additions!
This dump cake is going to be my contribution to the desserts for Thanksgiving. One of my granddaughters is allergic to nuts. Any suggestion for an alternative of should I just leave them out. I have tried this before; with cherries it is great for the holidays.
Ohh hurray! Yes you can just leave them out. I’ve done that before and still tastes amazing!
Made the dump cake. What a success! Next time I’ll have to make two. Some people ate two and three slices!
haha my kinda people
I love this cake. I added a dollop of cool whip on top. It was amazing.
You are speaking my love language… haha.. So glad you liked it.
I absolutely adore all the different Dump Cakes but have never tried this one yet. I bought all of the ingredients but I have 2 quick questions.
1. At the very top it says to use a White cake mix but in the pictures as well as the ingredients list it says Yellow Cake Mix. Which one should I use? I want to try to make mine look like yours.
2. Should I use the Crushed Pineapple in Heavy Syrup or the one with just juice?
I love your website and am so inspired by everything you say and do. Looking forward to making this delicious cake for my family.
OH goodness that top one was a typo. I just updated it. Use yellow cake mix and the crushed pineapple in juice for sure! Thank you so much for the sweet comment, totally made my day! 🙂
Excellent dessert! A keeper!
I made this for guests. I changed it slightly as I didn’t have pecans. I added 1.5 tsp almond extract and mixed it into the pineapple. Then sprinkled almonds on top. It was really good.
YES… love that! It’s so good!
This is my go to for my birthday desert. But I like it best cold. Puts a whole new spin on it.
You aren’t alone, my friend loves it cold too!
This needs to happen at my house very soon!!
YUM!! Love that there are only 5 ingredients! So easy!
I am drooling looking at this recipe! Cherries and pineapple’s?! This looks so delicious!
Bring on the joy! I love how simple dump cakes are. Can’t wait to dig into this one!
Oh my this looks amazing I cannot wait to try it!
What a great dessert. YUM! This looks so delicious! Is good food and this looks like one of the BEST!!
Love this. Been making it since the 80s and always a winner.
I use two sticks of butter for a really crunchy and buttery crust.
And a few more pecans.
I also make a variation with peaches and pineapple instead of cherry. Then top the cake mix and butter with a cup of brown sugar and some coconut and then pecans if you liken it’s really tropical and another winner! Thanks for your post!
oh i totally need to try the peach version! YUm!
I forgot about this recipe. My mother always made it in the 60’s. I took it recently to a work pot luck and everyone wanted the recipe. I was sort of embarassed because it’s so easy to make….they were amazed!!! I’m making it tonight and adding the coconut.
I know right! My mom made this all the time and it was my favorite! It’s so easy, that’s my favorite part!
This looks and sounds awesome. I’m stopping at the store after Church today to get the ingredients.
Can’t waite.
woohoo.. you’ll love it!
Can I use chocolate cake mix?
you could try it.. i never have but sure it would be good
Trying it now in the oven
I am totally going to put coconut on the top to toast…. Had anyone tried it with salted butter??
oh the coconut sounds amazing!
Has anyone tried cream cheese.
I put coconut in first then layer the rest. I also use regular butter, not the unsalted.
I added coconut to the mix. very good
Yum! That’s genius, totally trying that next time!
SUCH an amazing recipe. It looks absolutely mouth-watering. Doncha just love it when a group of friends discover one of your recipes and request it again and again? (Especially when it’s so simple!=) Thanks so very much for sharing at Weekend Potluck. We would really love it if you would link back to the party. Enjoy a super weekend.
Thanks so much for stopping by. Did you not see a link back on my site? I have one under the Link Parties section of my blog.. it is under Sunflower Supper Club. 🙂 I hope you have a great weekend!
Scrumptious dessert. I’ve made this many many times. The only difference with mine is addition of 1 cup grated coconut on top. Woweee! It’s delicious!
oh love the coconut on top
Krista, this looks SOOO delicious! Can you believe I’ve never made a dump cake? I think I’ve definitely been missing out, so I need to try this one! Thanks for sharing, pinning and have an awesome week! 🙂
REally! That’s crazy, then you will love it. {not only for the taste but for the ease of it} Thanks for sharing and for stopping by.. always love seeing your sweet comments.
Oooooooooo that looks so good. Drooling. 🙂
haha… thanks Gina! 🙂
Trying tonight using strawberry and pineapple:))) Can’t wait 😊 Thank you for sharing 🙏
Holy Cow that looks incredible, soooo good!
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Thanks! 🙂
Trying this out tonight 🤗 can’t wait! I am using strawberries and pineapple so we’ll see? Thank you for sharing:)
yumm… you’ll love it!