Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake

Make this delicious double chocolate cherry dump cake recipe with a boxed chocolate cake mix and cherry pie filling. Dairy-free chocolate chips and chopped pecans are added for an even more gooey delicious chocolate flavor.

Two servings of chocolate cherry dump cake with whipped cream on top on a table.

It’s cherry season here on our farm. Wait! I don’t live on a farm (It just sometimes feels like I do). I’m a big fan of cherries with chocolate but I do wish there were a better name for this chocolate dump cake with cherries.

Interestingly enough, the Dump Cake came onto the scene at the same time as the wacky cake, in the early 1900s. This was a time when people were forced to be creative with desserts either due to a lack of available ingredients or time.

What Makes This Recipe Shine?

  • Using cherry pie filling makes this recipe easy to throw together and full of indulgent flavor too
  • Chocolate cake mix is drizzled over the cherry pie filling creating a dense, chocolate-infused cake layer.
  • Garnishing with chocolate chips and chopped pecans means each bite is full of gooey chocolate flavor and crunchy baked pecans.

Key Ingredients

You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe, including substitution ideas:

  • Cherry Pie Filling — You’ll need two 15-ounce cans of lite or regular cherry pie filling. Or you can make your own homemade cherry sauce.
  • Chocolate Cake Mix — Make sure the ingredients don’t include eggs or dairy.
  • Vegan Butter — Any vegan butter or dairy-free margarine will work.
  • Chocolate Chips — Use your favorite Dairy-free chocolate chips.
  • Pecans — You’ll need 1 cup of chopped pecans.

Reader Reviews

★★★★★
I made this Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake and it was delicious! We had it for desert that evening and then for breakfast the next morning. So easy to make and tastes incredible!

Rachel

Serving Suggestions

Serve individual slices in a bowl. It’s particularly good when the slices are warm and have any of the following on top:

Storage Tips

Store this cake by covering and refrigerating it. It will keep for 3 to 5 days in the fridge. It can be frozen in freezer-safe containers for up to 2 months.

Vegan Cake Mixes

I’m sure you could create your own cake mix, but this recipe is for chocolate cherry dump cake recipes using cake mixes. Today, there are plenty of accidentally vegan foods in grocery stores, including cake mixes.

Here are some favorite vegan chocolate cake mixes for chocolate dump cake recipes:

Marly’s Tips

  • You can add about ½ cup of coconut flakes to the top before baking for some added flavor
  • Halve this recipe and bake it in a square 8×8 or 9×9 inch baking pan, and reduce the cooking time by about 20 minutes
  • Make a cherry brownie dump cake by substituting a brownie mix for the chocolate cake mix (just be sure to use one that’s dairy-free)

Cherry Desserts

If you love this cherry chocolate dump cake, you’ll love other cherry inspired recipes such as these vegan cherry muffins. You can also add some cherry sauce to this vegan lava cake. Try any of these tasty cherry dessert recipes:

Of course, if you want to skip the cake and go straight for the chocolate, this Vegan Fudge recipe is perfection.

Looking down on two plates with chocolate cherry dump cake and forks between them.

That’s it in this chocolate cherry dump cake. enjoy!

Two servings of chocolate cherry dump cake with whipped cream on top on a table.

Black Forest Dump Cake

Make this easy vegan black forest dump cake for the ultimate indulgent sweet treat. Serve each slice with Coconut Whipped Topping or vegan ice cream for an even more festive flavor!
5 from 10 votes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Resting Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 14 servings
Calories: 287kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F/175°C.
  • Open the 2 cans of cherry pie filling and spread it into the bottom of an ungreased 9×13 cake pan.
    A hand pours a can of cherry pie filling into a white baking dish.
  • Sprinkle the dry cake mix over the cherry pie filling.
  • Next, place vegan butter in a microwave-safe container and cook in 30-second increments until melted. Drizzle melted butter over the dry cake mix, spreading it evenly across the cake mix.
    Looking down on cake mix that's been topped with butter.
  • Evenly spread chopped nuts over the melted butter.
    Chopped pecans on top of an unbaked cake.
  • Top with chocolate chips.
    Chocolate chips have been added to this unbaked chocolate dump cake.
  • Bake in the oven for 50 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Serve warm.
  • Store this cake by covering and refrigerating. It will keep 3 to 5 days in the fridge.

Recommended Equipment

(The products above contain sponsored links to products we use and recommend)

Calories: 287kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 132mg | Potassium: 199mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 620IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 0.5mg

The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

This post was originally published in 2019 and was updated to include new photos, new text, and an updated recipe in 2021.

22 Responses to Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake

  1. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyGrace Reply

    5 stars
    I am so jealous Marly, wish I had fruit trees in my yard. My parents had peach, apple, apricots, cherry and grapes. I miss walking out to the yard and picking a piece of fruit and eating right off the tree, no pesticides. When we first moved to our current home I was working a ton of hours and asked the landscapers to put in all low maintenance plants and trees, with a half acre lot we could have had a number of fruit trees, I made a big mistake, now that I am home I long for what I grew up with.

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      It’s never too late. Plant one now! Mine were way overgrown when we moved here – very little pruning has been done to these trees. So we’ve been in the process of pruning them back. it’s not easy to do, but necessary to prolong their life…and to get more fruit. Our plumb tree is producing more fruit this year than it has in the past and it still has very little fruit on it. I’m going to do some fierce pruning to it this year. Watch out plumb tree!

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      I’ve been thinking about this some more. Only plant a fruit tree if you don’t have any squirrels. Otherwise, your it increases your stress too much. I’m constantly running out in the yard with my hands flailing shewing the little buggers off! I spray the fruit trees with the cayenne pepper spray and that certainly is helping, but we’ve been getting a lot of rain so it’s been a constant battle to get out there before they do. Also, I wouldn’t recommend cherry trees. We have two of them and I LOVE the cherries, but pitting them is not my favorite thing in the world. That said, I’m not planning a George Washington or anything…not planning to chop them down. 😉

  2. Avatar thumbnail image for Marlydenise @ quickies on the dinner table Reply

    ROFL – Clutter is DEFINITELY and infinitely better!! I L-O-V-E this!!!! Thanks for sharing a gorgeous recipe with things I love (chocolate and cherries!) and none of the things I don’t love (eggs! :P)

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Sorry, but I think eggs are gross! They smell gross, they look gross, and the texture is gross. They’re gross to the third power (cubed)! 😉

  3. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyAnna Reply

    Wow…this cake looks sooooooo good. Love the crunchy topping. Yummmm.

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      It is so difficult to keep portion sizes reasonable because that crunchy topping keeps calling for one more bite. Good thing it’s so rich…that really helps!

  4. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyThe Food Hunter Reply

    5 stars
    Love the chocolate cherry combo

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Like peanut butter and jelly! The two just go together so well. Of course, I think chocolate goes with just about anything…except my hips trying to fit into my favorite jeans!

  5. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyAllison Reply

    Hi Marly,

    I can’t wait to try this recipe. THis sounds delicious! I love changing things around too and have had most of my coworkers change to using Allison yay. Thanks for giving me the courage. Have a great day!

    Allison

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Wow, that is a great step! I think you had it in you all the time. It just helps to know that others have done it too. Best wishes! Marly

  6. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyReeni Reply

    My Dad was just saying something about a cherry cake – I think he was hinting for Father’s Day. This clutter cake looks scrumptious – love the name. Your cherries are coming along great! You’ll be enjoying them soon…

  7. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMonet Reply

    Marly,
    It was so wonderful talking with you this morning. I only wish we lived closer so that we could schedule regular chats over coffee or tea. This cake looks fabulous…as do those beautiful cherry tree pics. Thank you for sharing!

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      It’s not one of the more healthier foods we’ve had, but it is a nice treat. I wish we could get together too. Who knows, maybe one of these days we’ll find ourselves in nearby cities. You have so many exciting days ahead of you – I’m looking forward to updates! Marly

  8. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyFOODESSA Reply

    You’re not the only one that loves to change things around a lot. I’ve been there and done it many times…I believe it was also for the better ;o) In your dessert’s old title…absolutely for the better!!!
    Marly…a big smile was plastered on my face when I saw the photos of your cherry tree. So many fond memories.
    Your recipe sounds simple enough to whip up in no time at all!
    Thanks for sharing and flavourful wishes, Claudia

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      I love the trees in this yard. It’s true – this is one of the simplest recipes out there. It takes awhile to bake, but it’s just so easy to throw together and put in the oven while you have dinner going. I love it!

  9. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyStella Reply

    Hey Marly! Me and my Mom just read this. I like YOUR FARM! Now you have a farm and a park that’s Marly’s (smile).
    This cake sounds so good to me right now. We tore through the tres leches (my mom couldn’t believe that it was vegan). I need to make another vegan sweet-maybe we’ll make this tonight.
    Hope your’e doing well, Marly. I’ve been sick this last week, but I’m going to write you back soon-wanted to tell you something…

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      I like it. I can just name everything in my world after…ME! That’s Marly’s grocery store…where she went and bought some coconut milk to make her very own Tres Leches cake (based on your recipe). It looks so good. I can’t wait!

      You won’t be disappointed with this cake. It is one of the easiest cakes I’ve made. I would make it more often, but I can’t fool myself into thinking it is even remotely healthy, so it is just an occasional treat here. Oh, you’ve piqued my curiosity. I’m looking forward to your email!

  10. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyJennifer Reply

    I agree…I much prefer Cherry Chocolate Clutter Cake! This looks really yummy!

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      It is so good. If it weren’t so rich I’d probably eat more of it! Maybe I’m glad it is so rich now that I think of it!

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