5 from 1 votes

Crockpot Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read the Privacy Policy & Cookie Policy.

Rich, thick chocolate cake with a sweet cherry pie filling is a four-ingredient dream. Chocolate cherry dump cake, made in a crockpot, is a decadent melt-in-your-mouth dessert recipe that brings the perfect level of comfort food to your taste buds.

dump cake with ice cream on the side sitting on a serving plate.

Let me teach you how this easy dessert option will make you a crowd-favorite in no time at all.

Why Dump Cakes are the Best Dessert for Non-Bakers

When it comes to the holidays, everyone looks forward to dessert. And this is probably just me, but baking stresses me out. There’s too much that can go wrong with the whole science of it all. I am a cook, not a baker, hahaha.

That’s why I like to keep things simple, especially desserts. I do not need the added stress of failure attached to me at holiday times.

But dump cakes, I can do. You toss in the ingredients and let it do its thing—no need to keep checking on it.

large plate of cherry and chocolate dump cake.

Other desserts that require little effort or skills and still turn out delicious (trust me) —-> Southern Banana Pudding, Angel Food Strawberry Casserole, or a poke cake

Ingredients:

  • chocolate cake mix
  • butter
  • cherry pie filling
  • mini chocolate chips
  • vanilla ice cream, optional for serving

How to make Crockpot Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake

  • We used a 6-quart slow cooker.

Mix the cake mix and melted butter in a mixing bowl until well combined. The cake mixture will be dense and stiff.

chocolate cake mix and butter.

Add the can of cherry pie filling to a 6-quart slow cooker and spread it evenly on the bottom. Break apart the chocolate cake mix and sprinkle on top. Top with mini chocolate chips.

Place a double layer of paper towels on top of the slow cooker and cover. You are probably wondering why there is a paper towel. I do this slow cooker trick with almost any baked good in the crockpot.

What happens is that the moisture during cooking hits the lid and falls back down into the cake, keeping it wet. If you add a paper towel, it catches the moisture instead of letting it fall back down, keeping it cooked correctly.

crockpot paper towel trick for baked goods.

Our timing was low for 3 hours, but I also left it in the crockpot on warm for the next hour since I wasn’t ready to eat yet. Because timing varies, you should allow up to 4 hours on low, checking at the 3-hour mark and every 20 minutes after for your desired doneness.

Remove the crockpot cover and paper towel and let the cake stand to cool until warm. See my recommendations for serving below.

a spoon with a scoop of chocolate cherry dump cake coming out of a slow cooker.

Can other cake mixes be used?

Absolutely. Instead of using chocolate cake mix, try red velvet, dark chocolate, cherry chip, strawberry, or one of the many vanilla mixes available. Honestly, head to the cake aisle and grab what sounds good to you!

How do I serve chocolate cherry dump cake?

First, understand that anything containing chocolate and cherries is rich, thick, and sweet. Very little is needed to finish the dessert.

However, if you are a glutton for punishment or have a sweet, sweet, sweet tooth, add a doll-up of Cool Whip, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or drizzle with homemade dipping chocolate or melted caramel.

try cake with ice cream.

What other dump cake recipes should I make?

My crockpot apple dump cake gets a lot of love here, but there are tons of other flavors to explore. You might like the blueberry dump cake or the peach cobbler. And if you don’t mind turning on the oven, try a pumpkin pie dump cake or the crowd-favorite cherry cobbler. These recipes are great because they taste amazing, are super easy to make, and can feed many people.

And while fruit-based dump cakes are super common, make sure to give this chocolate cherry dump cake a shot, too. Everyone likes chocolate, kwim?

collage of four different fruit dump cakes.

So many recipes can be made with Canned Cherries.

Listen, I love cherries. I really do. I have one of those little cherry pitters from Amazon, but it’s still kind of a nightmare to remove the seeds. And while canned cherries are literally nothing like fresh cherries, I think they satisfy my need to eat a cherry without the work. 

I use them a lot in recipes. If you also love cherries, or at least the ones in a can, I got you. Try one of these canned fruit recipes to use up those cans of pie fillings.

5 from 1 votes

Crock Pot Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake


Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Rest to Warm 30 minutes
Chocolate cake mix combined with cherry pie filling is a delicious and easy dump cake recipe perfect for potlucks.

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker We used a 6-quart slow cooker.
  • paper towels
  • mixing bowl

Ingredients
 

  • 15.25 oz. dry chocolate cake mix boxed
  • 1 stick butter this is a 1/2 cup when melted
  • 42 oz. cherry pie filling typically (2) 21 oz cans
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
  • vanilla ice cream optional for serving

Instructions

  • Grab a large bowl and pour in your chocolate cake mix. Add your melted butter. Stir them together until well combined. The mixture will be pretty dense and stiff, but that's exactly what we're aiming for. This dense texture ensures it holds up during the slow cooking process.
  • Take your canned cherry pie filling and spread it evenly at the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker. This will become the bottom layer beneath the cake.
  • Now, take that thick cake mix you prepared and crumble it over the cherry pie filling. Don't worry about perfection here; just make sure it's evenly sprinkled.
  • Scatter those mini chocolate chips right on top of the cake mix. They'll melt into little pockets of chocolate as the cake cooks.
  • The Paper Towel Trick: Here's a cool tip — lay a double layer of paper towel over the top of your slow cooker before putting the lid on. This is crucial because it catches excess moisture that rises during cooking, preventing it from dripping back onto the cake and making it soggy.
  • Set your slow cooker to low and let it cook for about 3 hours. The low and slow heat helps the flavors and ensures the bottom layer of cherry doesn't burn while the cake gently cooks through from the top down. In some cases, you may want to cook longer and it can go as long as 4 hours in a slow cooker.
  • After 3 hours, remove the lid and the paper towels. Put crock pot to warm. Let the cake stand and cool down a bit until it’s warm. This rest period lets it firm up slightly, making it easier to serve. Serve alone or with Cool Whip topping or a scoop of ice cream.

Notes

Can this be made on high in the crock pot? 
I do not recommend it, as it can burn the cherries. If possible, cook it low and slow for 3-4 hours. 
Times Vary
  • If you’re planning a party, account for at least 4 hours. Times vary in crockpots, and the texture of the dump cake may be personal for some. Plus, you need to account for it going from hot to warm for serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 400kcal

Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.

Sharing of this recipe is encouraged and appreciated. Copying of full recipe to any social media is prohibited.

Did You Make This Recipe?

Make sure to follow Salty Side Dish on Pinterest and rate the recipe here and make sure to leave a comment below!

5 from 1 votes
5 from 1 vote

Leave A Comment

Have a question or want to provide feedback? Share your recipe reviews or questions here and I will do my best to help!

Recipe Rating




One Comment

  1. Super easy and my family liked it, great with vanilla bean ice cream.