Cake Mix Chocolate Cherry Cake
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My Cake Mix Chocolate Cherry Cake comes together in minutes thanks to a trusty box of cake mix. It tastes like something from your favorite bakery. It is rich, moist and a real crowd-pleaser.Whether you’re making it for a potluck, birthday, or just a Tuesday, this recipe is your easy ticket with 3 simple ingredients and 4 easy steps.
I really love making these quick and easy desserts for my family and my last minute gates. They are truly a wonder dessert. Here are two more of my favorites: mixed berry cobbler and my pineapple and cherry dump cake.
Why this Cherry Chocolate Cobbler Recipe Works
Simple, sinful chocolate cobbler has exceptional flavor and can be used in so many different ways.
- Foolproof: No fancy baking skills required.
- Delicious Flavor: Incredibly moist and chocolatey, with bursts of sweet cherries.
- Holiday Favorite: Perfect for holidays, celebrations, or last-minute guests.
- Special Occasion Worthy: Travels well and holds up beautifully over time.
- Versatile: Make it a 4-ingredient chocolate cherry cobbler by adding 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips to the chocolate mix .Try using a bundt pan as the baking dish to make it even more special.
Do I Prepare the Cake Mix as Directed on the Box?
No, for most chocolate cherry cake mix recipes (especially “dump cake” style), you do not follow the box directions. You’ll simply combine the dry cake mix with the cherry pie filling and other specified ingredients.
Pro Tip to Love Chocolate Cake
Pop the assembled dish in the fridge for 15–20 minutes before baking—this gives the butter a chance to soak a bit into the mix and helps the layers settle just right.
Ingredient Notes for Chocolate Cherry Cake
Only three simple ingredients will make you a wonderful chocolate and cherry cobbler that will love.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Chocolate Cake Mix: I make this cake with a rich chocolate cake flavor. I have made it with chocolate fudge cake mix and with a box of devil’s food cake.
- Cherry Pie Filling: Use a canned cherry pie filling to make this chocolate cherry dump cake recipe.
Variations and Substitutions to Make Chocolate Cherry Cake Recipe
As it bakes, the butter moistens the cake mix and the whole thing transforms into a gooey, rich, cobbler-like cake with a soft center and slightly crisp topping. Here are some simple variations.
- Cake Mix Flavor: While chocolate fudge or devil’s food cake mix is standard, you can experiment with other chocolate varieties (milk chocolate, dark chocolate, triple chocolate) or even a yellow cake mix for a different flavor profile.
- Pie Filling Alternatives: Substitute cherry pie filling with other fruit pie fillings like blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, or apple for a different fruit experience. If fresh or frozen cherries are available, you can use them, but you’ll likely need to adjust the liquid content in the recipe to account for the lack of pie filling “goo.” Some recipes might call for draining the cherries if using canned in syrup.
- Add-ins: Stir in extra chocolate chips (milk, dark, or white) for more chocolatey goodness. Chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds can add a lovely crunch. Shredded coconut can be added to the cake batter or sprinkled on top.
- Flavor Boosters: A touch of almond extract enhances the cherry flavor beautifully. A teaspoon of instant espresso powder can deepen the chocolate flavor without making the cake taste like coffee. For an adult twist, brush the baked cake with cherry liqueur (like Kirsch), cherry brandy, or amaretto.
- Topping Options: A simple dusting of powdered sugar is elegant and light. A rich chocolate ganache poured over the cooled cake is always a winner. Classic whipped cream or a cherry-infused whipped cream is a light and fluffy topping with maraschino cherries. A simple pour-over glaze made with sugar, butter, milk, and chocolate chips is a popular choice for this type of cake. Serving warm slices with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or chocolate ice cream is a delicious option.
How to Make Easy Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake
Chocolate and cherry are a classic pairing for a reason. The richness of chocolate complements the sweet and slightly tart flavor of the cherries, creating a decadent and satisfying dessert that appeals to a wide range of tastes. It’s reminiscent of a Black Forest cake but without the complexity
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Start: Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 8″x8″ casserole dish.
- Layer: First, place the cherry pie filling on the bottom, then sprinkle cake mix evenly over the top.
- Butter: Drizzle melted butter over the cake mix, covering it as best as possible.
- Bake: Next, bake covered with foil for 15 minutes, then uncovered for another 15 or until the top is set and golden. Finally: serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
Prep Ahead Suggestions for Cherry Chocolate Cake
- Glaze: Want a chocolate glaze? Wait until the day of serving to drizzle for maximum shine on your .cake mix chocolate cherry cake. Chocolate frosting is also a great topper.
- Bake the Chocolate Cake Recipe: You can bake the easy cake up to two days ahead—store tightly wrapped at room temp.
- Portion: Slice the moist and delicious cake ahead and store in an airtight container to make serving even easier.
Alternate Cooking Methods for my Cake Mix Chocolate Cherry Cake
If you’re looking to switch things up from the classic oven method, here are a couple of alternate ways to make cherry chocolate dump cake:
- Slow Cooker Method: Grease the insert of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Add the ingredients and Cover and cook on LOW for 2–3 hours or HIGH for 1½ to 2 hours, until the top looks set and edges are bubbling.
- Air Fryer Version: (Small Batch): Ideal for a quick fix or for two: Use a 6-inch round baking pan that fits your air fryer. Layer boxed cake mix and cherry pie filling ingredients just like the original method. Air fry at 320°F for 20–25 minutes, checking for doneness in the last few minutes.
Store, Reheat and Use Leftover Chocolate Cherry Dessert
Chocolate Cherry Cake is wonderful because it’s usually very moist, which helps it keep well.
- Store: After the cake has cooled, cover the cake with plastic wrap. The best way to store chocolate cherry cake is in an airtight container. This prevents it from drying out and absorbing odors from the refrigerator.
- Freeze: Slice and freeze individually for up to 2 months. Wrap tightly in plastic and foil.
- Reuse: Crumble leftovers over ice cream or layer them into a cherry chocolate trifle with whipped cream.
Common Questions About This Chocolate Cherry Cobbler
This can be due to overmixing the batter (which develops too much gluten), not using enough liquid (if you deviated from the recipe), or baking the cake for too long. Ensure your oven temperature is accurate with an oven thermometer.
If you’re adding whole cherries or larger pieces, they might sink. Mixing a small amount of the dry cake mix with the cherries before folding them into the rest of the batter to help prevent sinking.
Expert Tips for Easy Chocolate Cherry Cake Recipe
While delicious on its own, it serves as a fantastic base for various toppings and additions, allowing for customization to suit different preferences or occasions.
- Don’t Overmix: This is crucial for a tender cake. Mix the batter just until the ingredients are combined and no dry streaks of cake mix remain. Overmixing develops gluten, leading to a tough, chewy cake.
- Room Temperature Ingredients (if applicable): If your recipe calls for eggs or other refrigerated ingredients beyond the cake mix and pie filling, bringing them to room temperature helps them incorporate more smoothly into the batter.
- Grease and Flour Your Pan: Even if using a non-stick pan, greasing and flouring (or using baking spray with flour) ensures the cake releases easily.
- Use a Wire Rack for Cooling: Allow the cake to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting or glazing. This prevents condensation from making the bottom of the cake soggy.
- Adjust Sweetness: Cherry pie filling is already quite sweet. If you prefer a less sweet cake, you can consider using a less sweet frosting or simply dusting with powdered sugar.
- Don’t Skip the Almond Extract: A small amount of almond extract truly enhances the cherry flavor and gives the cake a more sophisticated taste.
- Warm Frosting/Glaze: If you’re using a pour-over glaze, applying it while the cake is still slightly warm allows it to melt and seep into the cake a bit, creating a delicious, moist finish.
- More Like this recipe: Try my Caramel Apple Dump Cake.
More Recipes You Might Like
Cake Mix Chocolate Cherry Cake
Ingredients
- 24 ounces Cherry Pie Filling, 1 can
- 15.25 ounces Chocolate Cake Mix, 1 box
- ½ cup Butter, or melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Grease a 9" x 9" or 8" x 8" casserole dish.
- Pour the cherry pie filling into the casserole dish.
- Sprinkle the cake mix evenly over the cherry pie filling.
- Pour the melted butter over the cake mix, covering it as well as possible.
- Cover the casserole dish with tinfoil and bake for 15 minutes, then remove the tinfoil and continue to bake until cake mix appears cooked and no pools of melted butter remain, about 15 additional minutes.
- Scoop and serve with whipped cream or ice cream.
Christina’s Notes
- Don’t overmix—just stir until combined to keep the cake tender.
- Line your pan with parchment paper for easier removal.
- A bundt pan adds elegance, but a 9×13-inch works perfectly too.
- Add ½ cup mini chocolate chips to the batter for bonus richness.
- Want to get fancy? Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with chocolate ganache once cooled.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, scroll up on the page.
My Husband loved it and so easy to bake . will be making again.
So glad you enjoyed it.