
Cherry Cream Cheese Dump Cake
This Cherry Cream Cheese Dump Cake is rich, gooey, buttery, and bursting with sweet cherry flavor. With just a few pantry staples and no mixing bowls, this easy dessert comes together in minutes and bakes into a crowd-pleasing treat that tastes like you worked for hours.
Perfect for holidays, potlucks, or a cozy family dessert night!
Ingredients
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2 cans (21 oz each) cherry pie filling
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1 container (8 oz) Philadelphia Whipped Cream Cheese
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1 box white cake mix
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1 stick (½ cup) butter, melted
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Nonstick cooking spray
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
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Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
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Spread both cans of cherry pie filling evenly across the bottom.
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Spoon small dollops of whipped cream cheese all over the cherries.
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Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the top.
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Drizzle the melted butter over the cake mix, covering as much of the surface as possible.
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Bake for 30–40 minutes, until the top is golden and bubbly.
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Let cool for 10–15 minutes before serving.
Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Variations
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Cherry Cheesecake Version: Use regular cream cheese cut into cubes instead of whipped
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Chocolate Cherry: Use chocolate cake mix
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Almond Cherry: Add ½ teaspoon almond extract to the cherry layer
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Berry Blend: Use one can cherry and one can blueberry
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Peach Cherry: Use one can peach filling + one can cherry
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Coconut Cherry: Sprinkle shredded coconut on top before baking
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Nutty Crunch: Add sliced almonds or chopped pecans
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Holiday Style: Add cinnamon and nutmeg
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Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free cake mix
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Low-Sugar: Use sugar-free pie filling and reduced-sugar cake mix
20 Helpful Tips
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Spread cherries evenly so every bite has fruit.
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Small cream cheese dollops melt best.
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Don’t mix layers — dump and bake!
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Drizzle butter slowly to cover more surface.
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Use foil if the top browns too fast.
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Let cool before cutting for clean slices.
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Use glass or ceramic baking dishes for best results.
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Serve warm for gooey texture.
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Add extra butter for richer flavor.
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Use room-temp cream cheese for better melting.
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Spray dish well to avoid sticking.
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Try with pineapple filling for tropical flavor.
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Add vanilla ice cream for serving.
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This dessert thickens as it cools.
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Store leftovers covered in the fridge.
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Reheat in microwave or oven.
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Sprinkle sugar on top for crispness.
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Add oats for crumble texture.
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Double recipe for a crowd.
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Great for potlucks and holidays.
20 Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I use regular cream cheese?
Yes, just cut it into small cubes.
2. Do I have to melt the butter?
Yes, it helps coat the cake mix evenly.
3. Can I use yellow cake mix?
Yes, it will taste just as good.
4. Can I use homemade pie filling?
Absolutely!
5. Does this need to be refrigerated?
Yes, after it cools.
6. Can I freeze it?
Yes, freeze up to 2 months.
7. Can I use less butter?
Yes, but the topping may be drier.
8. Can I make this in a crockpot?
Yes, cook on HIGH for 2–3 hours.
9. Why is my topping powdery?
It needs more butter.
10. Can I double it?
Yes, use a large pan.
11. Can I add nuts?
Definitely!
12. Can I use strawberry filling?
Yes, it works great.
13. Can I make it dairy-free?
Use dairy-free cream cheese and butter.
14. Can I serve it cold?
Yes, it’s delicious chilled.
15. Can I use fresh cherries?
Yes, cook them first with sugar.
16. Can I use cupcake liners?
Better baked in a pan.
17. Is it very sweet?
Yes — it’s a dessert!
18. Can I reduce sugar?
Use sugar-free filling.
19. Can I make it ahead?
Yes, up to 2 days.
20. What pairs best with it?
Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.















