Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake

Our easy cherry pineapple dump cake with cake mix turns out amazing! It is our favorite canned fruit dessert cake mix recipe made with pie filling, butter and coconut too.

This recipe is our latest creation and boy was it delicious! I was lucky enough to find pineapple cake mix and started thinking from there. I have been making a lot of easy dump cake recipes lately just because they’re so easy and all 5 of us love them.

You really can use any flavor of cake mix you like, that is up to you. White will really let the other colors and ingredients you can see shine though just so you know. We have used several and they are all great. Cherry pie filling was a great pairing but if you prefer blueberries you could easily make that switch. This is what I used.

I didn’t have a can of crushed pineapple (which is what I would typically use). So I used these pineapple slices and just cut them into smaller tidbits right in the can, that worked just fine. That is what I mean when I say that dump cakes are so versatile! Seriously….use what is in your cupboard.

If you love cake mix hacks like we do this is going to be a real big hit. Not only is it easy to throw together but there are hundreds of possibilities. Use different mixes, diced fruit and/or pie filling flavors.

Ingredient Notes

You are going to want a regular sized can of cherry pie filling, 20 oz. size. Reason why you can’t really use fresh produce is you need all that ooey gooey “sauce” in the can too which adds to the moisture necessary to make the batter of the cake so it will rise and get as moist as possible.

We then used a Can of pineapple, tidbits are great or crushed adds not only more moisture and flavor but added texture.

Your Box of cake mix can be Pillsbury, Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines. I highly recommend a name brand as they will yield the best tender result. We used pineapple cake mix but if you cannot find it use white or homemade yellow cake mix instead.

I prefer salted Kerrygold Butter for the best richness and flavor. If you need a plant based dairy free alternative that will work but note that those tend to not be salted so I might add a pinch into the mix.

Shredded sweetened Coconut is optional for the top of the cake but I highly recommend this addition as it brings it all together with a sprinkle of honey roasted pecans too.

Variations

Like I said you could use blueberry pie filling instead of cherry with this one, and coconut on top is optional. If you can’t find pineapple cake mix you can order it online here or use a box of yellow or white.

Use pineapple tidbits for a chunkier version like you see here (I prefer this). Or crushed pineapple in a can works well too but has a different texture entirely.

I wouldn’t use pineapple chunks because they’re going to be quite heavy on top. Though if all you have is a can of slices like I did then just cut it right in the can into tidbits using a knife going around the entire thing.

Tips

There are many methods of making a dump cake and I have used them all, you can: Use egg instead of melted butter to make it rise more like in this cherry pie filling dump cake recipe. For more flavor like our sock it to me cake with cake mix, use fruit juice instead of water for more flavor, lots of hacks we share yall.

I typically will always layer the ingredients and not mix unless I am making it in a smaller form like our Chocolate cherry dump cake.

It really depends on your preference and what you’re used to I guess but for this one I thought layering worked well. Many people put the cake mix on the top with just the butter drizzled on top and any small toppings you want to add but I really don’t like any dry mix left over.

I sandwich the cake mix in between the pie filling and the can of pineapple and it works out really well. No dry mix left, though it has a tendency to not rise as much because of the weight of the pineapple….BUT…. Let me tell you this is probably one of our favorite easy dump cake recipes!

You’re going to want to melt your stick of butter and preheat oven to 350 degrees. I do this first using the microwave for about 30 seconds, or slice the butter for 20 seconds. Then bake and enjoy right out of the oven if you want! Just scoop it out because it isn’t supposed to come out in slices.

Why does my dump cake have powder on it?

Don’t worry, go ahead and still eat it. If that look bothers you just fold it into the middle. That is just mix that didn’t get fully incorporated. It won’t hurt you, next time just make sure the butter covers the powder before baking.

Does dump cake have to be refrigerated?

Whether you are baking in the oven or Instant Pot you would want to save it the same way, once it has cooled completely to room temperature. If you have some left once you’ve served it then yes I would refrigerate the leftovers. I enjoy it warm so I don’t want it cold initially.

If you have fruit in it at all you would need to keep it cold once it has cooled or it will spoil. Just transfer it into an airtight container and it can be enjoyed again within 3 days. Eat it cold or warmed in the microwave. I will sometimes eat this or our Pineapple angel food cake recipe with 2 ingredients for breakfast. 😉

How do you reheat dump cake?

The best way to reheat dump cake is to microwave it. If you have an entire peach dump cake or other version to reheat, do it in the oven for about 20 minutes at 350°F or until warm. Again, serve it with whipped cream or ice cream and it’s like new again For more goodness, try our cherry bread recipe too.

Once you’ve tried this bit of heaven, try these other dump cakes too: Gingerbread dump cake is great during the holidays with a box of dry mix too. Pumpkin pie dump cake is our favorite fall treat during those later months too when it is snowing outside, ooey and gooey with ice cream on top.

Upside down cherry pie is something we accidentally made but it was so good we thought we’d share the recipe. Here’s the printable cherry pineapple dump cake recipe and video below so you can get started!