Pineapple Cherry Dump Cake: A Sweet, Buttery, Easy Step-by-Step Dessert Recipe

Pineapple Cherry Dump Cake is one of the easiest fruit desserts you can make. It is sweet, juicy, buttery, and golden on top, with a warm fruit filling underneath. The recipe gets its name from the simple method: you “dump” the ingredients into a baking dish, layer them, and bake until bubbly and crisp.

This dessert is perfect for holidays, family dinners, potlucks, summer gatherings, or any time you want a quick homemade treat without complicated mixing. It has the tropical sweetness of pineapple, the bright flavor of cherries, and the rich crunch of buttery cake topping.

What Makes Pineapple Cherry Dump Cake Special?

The beauty of this dessert is its simplicity. You do not need to prepare a cake batter. Instead, canned fruit is spread in a baking dish, dry cake mix is sprinkled over the top, and butter is added before baking.

As it bakes, the fruit becomes thick and bubbly while the cake mix turns into a golden, crumbly topping. The result is somewhere between a cobbler, fruit crisp, and soft cake.

It tastes delicious warm with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce.

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1 can crushed pineapple, about 20 oz, undrained
• 1 can cherry pie filling, about 21 oz
• 1 box yellow cake mix or white cake mix
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted or thinly sliced
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, optional
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon, optional

Optional Add-Ins

• ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
• ½ cup shredded coconut
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• Maraschino cherries for garnish
• Vanilla ice cream for serving
• Whipped cream for serving

Step 1: Prepare the Baking Dish

Preheat your oven to 350°F / 175°C.

Choose a 9×13 inch baking dish. Lightly grease the bottom and sides with butter or non-stick spray.

This helps prevent the fruit from sticking and makes serving easier.

Step 2: Add the Pineapple

Open the can of crushed pineapple and pour it directly into the baking dish.

Do not drain the pineapple. The juice is important because it helps create the soft fruit layer and gives moisture to the cake mix as it bakes.

Spread the pineapple evenly across the bottom of the dish using a spoon or spatula.

Step 3: Add the Cherry Filling

Spoon the cherry pie filling over the pineapple layer.

Spread it gently so the cherries are evenly distributed. You do not need to mix the pineapple and cherry completely. Keeping them slightly layered gives the cake a beautiful fruit texture and color.

The cherries add sweetness, thickness, and a bright red color that makes the dessert look rich and inviting.

Step 4: Add Extra Flavor

If you want a deeper flavor, add vanilla extract over the fruit layer.

You can also sprinkle a little cinnamon on top. Cinnamon is optional, but it adds warmth and balances the sweetness of the fruit.

For a more tropical version, sprinkle shredded coconut over the fruit before adding the cake mix.

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