Easy Cherry Dump Cake Recipe with Buttery Pecan Crust Perfect for Beginners
A quick and easy cherry dump cake with a buttery pecan crust that combines a juicy cherry base, soft cakey middle, and crunchy nutty topping. Perfect for beginners and busy cooks craving a comforting dessert.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Total Time: 55-60 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cans (21 oz / 595 g each) cherry pie filling
- 1 box (15.25 oz / 432 g) yellow cake mix (without pudding)
- 1 cup (100 g) chopped pecans, toasted lightly
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish lightly with butter or non-stick spray.
- Spread the cherry pie filling evenly across the bottom of the baking dish using a spatula.
- Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix evenly over the cherry filling without stirring.
- Scatter the chopped, toasted pecans over the cake mix layer.
- Melt the unsalted butter completely and pour it gently over the pecans and cake mix to cover as much area as possible.
- Optionally, drizzle 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract over the top.
- Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes until the cherry filling is bubbly around the edges and the crust is golden brown.
- Let the cake cool for at least 15 minutes before serving to allow layers to set.
Notes
Toast pecans before using to enhance flavor. Use room temperature melted butter to avoid prematurely cooking the cake mix. If crust browns too fast, tent with foil after 30 minutes. Do not stir layers during baking to maintain texture contrast. Variations include swapping fruit fillings, nuts, or using gluten-free and vegan substitutes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12th of c
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 3
Keywords: cherry dump cake, pecan crust, easy dessert, quick cake, dump cake recipe, buttery pecan crust, beginner friendly, no mixing bowl dessert