Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake

Have you ever heard of a dump cake? Despite its silly name, this quick and effortless dessert (its lesser-used name is lazy cake) has become an internet darling—and for good reason. It’s delicious, fast and super easy to make.

Dump cake recipes are pretty simple to invent as well, so there are a lot out there, but cherry pineapple dump cake is a popular version. Tart cherries, tropical pineapple and the familiar vanilla flavor of a boxed yellow cake mix with melted butter bake up one delicious dump cake recipe.

What is a dump cake?

A recipe for dump cake couldn’t be easier: You dump fruit or pie filling into a cake pan, dump a boxed cake mix on top and bake. No stirring or mixing required! The result is a buttery dessert similar to a cobbler—except cobblers call for a biscuit or pie crust topping while dump cake has a light cakey topping.

Thanks to the easy breezy method, dump cakes are ideal for novice bakers, baking with children or fulfilling a last-minute cake craving. Plus, the basic formula is endlessly adaptable, as proven in these viral TikTok dump cake ideas. The most popular variation is a cherry pineapple dump cake recipe, but it’s super flexible and easy to swap ingredients: We share additional dump cake variations below.

Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake Ingredients

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• Crushed pineapple: You’ll need one 20-ounce can crushed pineapple. Avoid grabbing a can of pineapple chunks, slices or tidbits. If those are the only ones available at the store, buy one and use a food processor to crush the pineapple further.
• Cherry pie filling: Premade ingredients keep this recipe for dump cake super simple. Canned cherry pie filling is available at most grocery stores and tastes delicious without all the work.
• Cake mix: Buy a box of the best yellow cake mix from the store. Since there are so few ingredients in this dump cake recipe, quality matters.
• Butter: We always opt for the best butter brand from the store for our recipes. Melt the butter in the microwave or a saucepan before getting started on this cherry dump cake with pineapple recipe.

Directions

Step 1: Set up

Gather your ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 13×9-inch baking dish.

Step 2: Add the fruit and the layer of pie filling

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Sprinkle the crushed pineapple across the bottom of the pan.

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Spread a layer of pie filling over the pineapple. Aim for a fairly even distribution so the cake will bake evenly.

Step 3: Top with the cake mix and butter

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Sprinkle the dry cake mix over the fruit and pie filling.

Editor’s Tip: This might feel weird and look all wrong. You might worry that it’s not going to bake—it will!

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Pour the melted butter over the top.

Step 4: Give it a shake

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Just give the pan a quick shake so the butter trickles down deeper into the cake mix.

Editor’s Tip: OK, technically, this step is like stirring, but it is even easier and doesn’t dirty a spoon.

Step 5: Bake the cake

Bake 50 to 60 minutes, until the top of the cake is golden brown. Serve hot or cold, plain or dressed up with ice cream or whipped cream.

Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake Variations

• Add to the topping: Sprinkle chopped or sliced nuts over the cake batter for added flavor and texture. Shredded or flaked coconut would be tasty too.
• Make it positively peachy: A slight variation on the method above, peach cobbler dump cake starts with canned peaches, dials up the flavor with a dash of brown sugar and cinnamon, and finishes with an almond topping. The result is a good example of a slightly more involved approach to dump cake that’s still easy peasy.
• Go all out with apples: Craving apple pie but not feeling up to making pie crust? Satisfy the craving with this apple dump cake recipe made with canned apple pie filling and a cinnamon-sugar sprinkle. Or, make things a bit more elaborate and try a cherry dump cake or caramel apple dump cake.
• Bake a blueberry dump cake: Love berries? Try a blueberry dump cake. Using blueberry pie filling, almond extract and yellow cake mix, this easy dump cake tastes summer-fresh any time of year.

If you’re looking for even more variations, try these: chocolate dump cake, cinnamon roll dump cake, banana pudding dump cake and pineapple dump cake.

How to Store Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake

Once the dump cake has been pulled from the oven and served, let any leftovers cool to room temperature. Depending on how much is left, either wrap the pan in storage wrap or spoon the cake into an airtight container. A cherry dump cake with pineapple can last in the fridge for up to three days.

Can you freeze cherry pineapple dump cake?

Yes, a pineapple cherry dump cake can be frozen. Once it’s baked and cooled to room temperature, cover the pan with a layer of storage wrap and a layer of aluminum foil, in that order. Freeze the dump cake for up to two months, and reheat it in a 350° oven until warmed through.

Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake Tips

What do you serve with cherry pineapple dump cake?

Once you’re ready to serve your pineapple cherry dump cake, scoop servings into bowls and finish each with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Wash it down with warm beverages or after-dinner drinks.

Why does the dump cake have dry spots?

Your dump cake may have dry spots if the butter wasn’t poured evenly over the cake mix. Also, don’t skip shaking the pan once the butter is poured on top. But don’t worry: A few dry spots are OK—even a bit expected with dump cakes!