If you’re looking for easy dump cake recipes, then this one should be at the top of your list! This Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake recipe is made with brownie mix instead of cake mix, and it is amazing! Make it to feed a crowd, or hoard it in the back of your fridge for after the kids go to sleep.
I’ve been on a dump cake kick lately… unfortunately for my waist line!
It’s summertime, so my husband is buying ALL the peaches.
By the way, Publix has the absolute BEST peaches around. They are tree-ripened, instead of being picked before they’re fully ripe, like many grocery store peaches. (Consider that your PSA for the day).
So, with a bunch of peaches in the house, we’ve been making LOADS of cobblers. And we’ve been testing cobbler dump cake recipes… basically a super simple (and I think yummier) version of a cobbler.
Most dump cake recipes call for boxed cake mix, but my genius husband had the idea to use…
wait for it…
BOXED BROWNIE MIX!
And it is to die for!
Especially when combined with cherries…. Yup, this chocolate cherry dump cake cobbler recipe with brownie mix will be your new favorite, go-to recipe for when you need a quick, crowd-pleasing dessert.
I don’t even have the words to describe how delicious this chocolate cherry dessert is!
By the way… if chocolate isn’t really your thing (I can’t imagine what it must be like to NOT like chocolate, but I know there’s a few of you out there), then try my blueberry peach cobbler dump cake! Equally easy and delicious!
But wait…
“What the heck is a dump cake?” you ask.
Well, it’s kind of exactly like it sounds. You just dump some canned fruits in the bottom of a Pyrex, and then dump boxed cake mix and super cold butter slices on top, bake it, and then dump it in your mouth. 🙂
Dump cakes couldn’t be easier to make… and they are freaking delicious.
Especially this Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake…
Here’s how to make it:
How to make the best Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake:
1. Put canned cherries in the bottom of a baking dish.
When I make dump cakes, I typically like to mix 1-2 cans of fruit with some fresh fruit. But in the case of this Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake, I didn’t feel like pitting a bunch of fresh cherries, so I opted to use all canned fruit instead.
To cut the sweetness just a bit, I mixed one can of cherry pie filling (I like the Comstock brand with extra fruit) with one can of tart cherries in water.
Here are the ingredients that we used for this amazing chocolate cherry deliciousness:
Just mix the two cans of cherries in a 9″ x 13″ Pyrex-type baking dish and move on to step 2.
2. Grate frozen butter.
Whip out your cheese grater and grate some…
BUTTER!
Be sure to freeze a stick of butter for at least an hour first so that it is easier to grate. I like to grate the frozen butter directly into a bowl with the boxed brownie mix like so…
3. Mix shredded butter with boxed brownie mix and sprinkle on top of the cherries.
Toss the shredded butter and dry brownie mix together, and then sprinkle on top of the cherry mixture.
4. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top.
This step is totally optional… If you don’t keep chocolate chips stocked in your pantry like I do, then you can skip it. But my motto in life… “Everything is better with a little extra chocolate.” 🙂
Just sprinkle a handful or so on top of the brownie mix.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes and enjoy your Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake!
After baking, let cool for about 30 minutes. Serve with ice cream, and enjoy!
Trust me, if you love chocolate-covered cherry anything, then you will love this chocolate cherry dump cake.
I mean just look at it… a cross between cherry pie and brownies… what could be better?!
Here’s the full recipe for this yummy Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake:
Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake
This easy Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake will be on repeat in your rotation of easy dump cake recipes! This Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake is made with boxed brownie mix instead of cake mix like most dump cake recipes, so it's full of extra chocolate goodness. A perfect, easy dessert to feed a crowd (or to just hide in the back of your fridge for when the kids go to sleep!).
Ingredients
- 14.5 oz can tart cherries in water
- 21 oz can cherry pie filling
- 17.8 oz box brownie mix (I used Betty Crocker Delights Supreme Triple Chunk)
- 1 stick frozen unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Open canned cherries and cherry pie filling and mix together in the bottom of a 9" x 13" baking dish.
- Dump dry brownie mix in large bowl.
- Grate 1 stick of frozen butter into brownie mix and toss to combine.
- Spread dry brownie mix and butter mixture in an even layer on top of cherries.
- Optional - Sprinkle chocolate chips on top of brownie mix.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let cool for approximately 30 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream.
Notes
Consistency after baking will be similar to a cobbler.
Recommended Products
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 362Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 156mgCarbohydrates: 60gFiber: 1gSugar: 44gProtein: 2g
And if you love chocolate and/or dump cakes, then check out these other yummy dessert recipes:
Want even more dump cake recipes? Head here for 50 amazing dump cakes!
Comments & Reviews
Hi! Can I make this 1 day in advance?
Amy – DELICIOUS! I made your dump brownie with fresh peaches and cherries a few weeks ago and it was a major hit with everyone. This week I made a double batch with peaches and blueberries (since they were both on sale). We took it to 4 friends who’ve just gotten out of the hospital and they were thrilled. (had to bring them some vanilla ice cream too) Once I get everything peeled, it couldn’t have been easier. Thanks for making my friends and I very , very happy! Jay
revised due to typos 🤦🏾♀️
made it & it was delicious. I left mines in an hour though to assure doneness it was a bit hard once cooled I usually leave all my dump cakes in the oven an hour at 350 also shredded my butter on top of the cake all over don’t see the difference I do all my dump cakes like this too🤷🏾♀️.. is it supposed to be hard? it’s good but I expected moisture..I’ll try it again lol🤦🏾♀️
Hi Rita! The brownie does get a bit hard on top in some places, kind of like a crust more than a cake, but I find that it’s a nice balance with the cherries. As with most dump cakes, there will be some areas that are ooey-gooey and some that are a bit crustier.
Can I make this a day ahead?
Wow. Made this the other night. I couldn’t find the cherries in juice so I just used 2 cans of the pie filling. It was amazing and so easy. The brownie mix makes it. Fudgey, moist, rich. This will be my go-to for a quick, no fuss dessert.
That’s awesome, Julie! So glad you loved it! This really is a fantastic and super easy dessert, especially if you love chocolate. Thanks so much for your comment! 🙂
Have you tried using frozen mixed berries? I have a bag that I need to use plus a box of brownie mix.
Hi Kim! I have not tried frozen mixed berries, but it could possibly work if you thaw the berries in the fridge first… I would think that you would want the extra moisture that would be left in the bag after thawing. Let me know if you try it out! 🙂
In the picture it appears you have some in single serving containers.
Did you bake them that way?
Hi Elizabeth! I have done it both ways… for these photos we used 2 of the smaller enamel dishes and one 9″ x 9″ Pyrex. We have also made it in a 9″ x 13″ Pyrex dish. Either way it’s awesome! The most important part is to make sure that you let it cool down for at least 45 minutes, because it thickens as it cools, just like a pie does. You can also just add butter slices on top of the dry brownie mix before baking if you don’t want to grate the butter. 🙂
Excellent. I couldn’t find canned cherries in water but did find Bing cherries in a jar. My neighbors and dinners guests loved it. Thank you
Yeah! So glad that everyone loved it! This is one of my absolute favorite quick and easy desserts… probably because I am a MAJOR chocolate lover! Thanks so much for your comment. 🙂
Can I just put pats of butter like most dump cakes do?
Hi Deb! I haven’t tested it that way… but I think it should work. Just be sure to let it cool down for at least 45 minutes to an hour, because that will allow the cherry pie filling/cherries to stiffen up like a cherry pie. Let me know how it turns out! 🙂
Do you drain the tart cherries?
Hi Michele! I have never drained the tart cherries, but I’m sure that you can if you want to, or even drain 1/2 the liquid… but you DO need to make sure that you mix them VERY well with the cherry pie filling. The consistency of the finished dump cake should be very much like a cobbler, after it cools fully. When it first comes out of the oven it will probably look pretty liquid-y, but don’t panic! It will thicken as it cools. We actually just made this last week for dessert… it’s one of my current cravings! 🙂
I made exactly to the recipe….baked an extra 45 minutes & still like soup?
Did you mix the cherry pie filling and the canned tart cherries well? And did you let it cool for a full 30 minutes after taking it out of the oven? I also suggest setting it on a trivet to let it cool, because it helps air get under the pan also, rather than just setting it on top of the stove to cool. If anything, I would suggest letting it cool for an additional 20-30 minutes, because it will thicken up as it cools. This recipe IS supposed to be very much like a cobbler, or even like a crock pot hot fudge cake if you’ve ever had one of those. It should be very ooey-gooey and fudge-y, but not like soup. I actually made this exact recipe just last week to film a video to add to the post, and it turned out perfectly. So sorry it didn’t work out for you! 🙁