Apple Cherry Dump Cake contains tender cherries and apples topped with a crisp, buttery crust (made with a yellow cake mix).
Quick and easy to make with simple ingredients.
Perfect for potlucks, cookouts, or whenever you need a quick dessert.
WHAT IS A DUMP CAKE?
A dump cake is made by dumping all of the ingredients into the baking pan rather than first mixing them in a bowl.
Popular ingredients are canned pie fillings, flavoring (optional), a yellow cake mix and a stick of unsalted butter. The butter is cut up and dotted over the top before baking.
THE INGREDIENTS
The fruit filling contains a can (21 ounces) of cherry pie filling and a can (21 ounces) of apple pie filling. A box of yellow cake mix is used for the top crust. Additional ingredients shown below.
I have not been paid to endorse pictured products. Delighted to share what I purchased and used to make this recipe. All comments are mine.
The buttery top crust is made with a box of yellow cake mix (15.25 ounces) dotted with pieces of unsalted butter. Some dump cake recipes call for two sticks of unsalted butter which makes the crust too soggy in my opinion. I use one stick because the top crust is firm, crisp and buttery.
SUGGESTED FLAVORINGS
Apple pie filling has a mild cinnamon flavor. If you prefer a stronger flavor (and this is optional), add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, or 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, or 1/2 teaspoon of pure vanilla extra. No additional sugar required because the yellow cake mix is sweet.
HOW TO TEST A DUMP CAKE FOR DONENESS
A dump cake is considered done, when the top is firm, golden brown and the fruit is bubbly around the edges. My unique method works. After removing dish from oven, I use a spoon to scoop out a small amount. If the batter is white and creamy, I return to oven for 10 minutes or until the crust has a cake-like texture.
You’re invited to check out my popular recipe, Pineapple Dump Cake.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
Serve hot and enjoy.
Add a slice of lemon to each serving. A bit of lemon juice
will make this dessert taste even better.
ENJOY!
EDITOR’S NOTE (August 10, 2026): Published this recipe for the first time February 15, 2020. Today, I added helpful tips and new photos.
To obtain calories and nutritional information by weight, visit popular online nutritional calculator, myfitnesspal.com. Copy recipe link in the address bar and add it to their calculator. No need to type each ingredient.
Apple Cherry Dump Cake
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Dump cherry pie and apple pie into a 9x13 buttered baking dish. Sprinkle fresh lemon juice and vanilla extract over fruit. Use a spoon to spread mixture evenly around pan.
- Dump (or sprinkle) cake mix evenly over fruit mixture in baking dish. Dot all over with pieces of cold unsalted butter (1 stick). Do not use margarine.
- Bake 20 minutes. Carefully remove HOT baking Carefully remove HOT baking dish from HOT oven. Use back of spoon to lightly spread melted butter evenly over cake mix until all of mix is coated with butter. Do this so entire top crust will be buttery (no dry cake crumbs). This step is optional.
- Return to oven. Bake 20-25 more minutes or until bubbly and top cake crust is bubbly and golden brown. To further test for doneness, remove a small spoon full. If the cake looks like batter underneath, return to oven for 10 minutes.
- Serve hot.
- Superb with vanilla ice cream or real whipped cream.
This dump cake reminds me of the first one I ever had. I was younger then and my mom made a peach dump cake for dessert. This one is doubly delicious with two fruits, but the memories it brought back was the treasure. Thanks for sharing, I will be making this again because my husband really really liked it!
Sharon, you’re welcome! Many thanks for the beautiful comment. Delighted to know this delicious dessert brought back a “treasure” of memories and that your husband enjoyed it. Have a GREAT day!
I am looking for a recipe that has cherrie pie and apple pie filling, white cake mix, and condensed milk and perrier water. Hope you can help me find it. Thank you
I only have salted butter, will that be a problem?
Hi Kathy! I’ve never tested the recipe with salted butter. My “guess” is it would work because there’s a very small amount of salt in salted butter. Not enough to drastically change the taste. Thank you for visiting my blog. Please come again.
Hi Kathy! Thank you for visiting my blog. Although I’ve never tested the recipe with salted butter, my “guess” is it will be okay because it has a very small amount of salt.
I am planning on making this later on tonight. I will let you know how this turns.
Hi Tanisha, I hope you enjoy as much as we do. I will await your review.
We tried it tonight with cherry cordial ice cream it was the bomb
Yessssss! Thank you for the wonderful update.
Is it possible to make a cherry chocolate dump cake
Hi Donald! Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake is delicious. You can use this recipe to make it. Just switch main ingredients. Use two cans of cherry pie filling and one box of chocolate cake mix, plus the unsalted butter and vanilla extract. Omit lemon juice. Follow instructions in this recipe. Enjoy!