Cherry Chocolate Dump Cake in Crock Pot

An incredibly easy 3 ingredient cherry chocolate dump cake made in the slow cooker using canned cherries and a fudgy box cake mix with butter. I also share timing and rising tips, depending on the size of your slow cooker (or crock pot!)

Last year, I shared with you my chocolate apple slow cooker dump cake. It came about because I had a box of Betty Crocker's Devil's Food chocolate cake mix which my husband had bought.

BUT, I simply couldn't be bothered to make it. And when 2020 happened, I decided to be extremely resourceful by purging my kitchen cupboards to limit shopping trips.

This was also met with a glut of apples from the garden that I'd cored and frozen. And after playing around with a slow cooker apple dump cake, I was pleasantly surprised. So, I thought I'd make it again, but this time, delve into a tub of cherry pie filling I had.

3 Ingredient Chocolate Pudding Dump Cake

Making this cherry chocolate cake in a slow cooker is incredibly easy. And although you can make it in any size slow cooker, it will create different results, which we'll explore shortly.

To make this cherry pie chocolate cake, you'll need just 3 ingredients:

• 3.5 cups (1200g / 42oz) cherry pie filling*
• 1 box of Betty Crocker Devil's Food Cake Mix Box
• ¾ cups (180g) melted butter

Depending on whether you live in the UK or US: You can find my cherry dump cake recipe card towards the bottom with how many cherry pie cans this is. Or click below:

Jump to Recipe

How to Make Slow Cooker Cherry Chocolate Dump Cake

There are 5 steps to make this crock pot dump cake, with minimal prep.

1. Spray the sides of the slow cooker with oil spray (optional)
2. Spread the cherry pie fruit filling along the bottom of the slow cooker
3. Top with Betty Crocker chocolate cake mix and level off
4. Drizzle melted butter and tilt until covered OR scatter butter pats*
5. Cover and bake for 2-4 hours, depending on the size of your slow cooker

*See below for what to dump cake texture to expect.

Should I Add Butter Pats or Melted Butter?

Topping your chocolate dump cake with butter pats or melted butter creates different results.

Slow Cooker Dump Cake Texture Rule

1. If you want more of a sponge topping, melt your butter first
2. For a crisp chocolate dump cake in places, then butter pats is perfect and/or baking in the oven instead.

I much prefer melting my butter first, because I can try and give all of the dump cake chocolate cake mix a coating. But, the size of your slow cooker makes a big difference, too.

What Size Slow Cooker Do I Need?

Any size crock pot or slow cooker will work with a dump cake.

Note, in a smaller slow cooker, you'll find it easier for the melted butter to cover the cake mix on top and gives a beautiful rise. BUT, it takes twice as long to bake.

Adversely, a larger crock pot makes it difficult to coat all the cake with melted butter. Or, you may want to use more until it is fully coated, increasing the calories. BUT, it does takes half the time to bake as it doesn't rise as much fo bake through.

So, you'll need to make a decision as to how soon you want to serve it and the texture you're looking for.

Baking Times for Slow Cooker Dump Cake

Note, the smaller your slow cooker, the longer the chocolate cake topping will take to bake. The reason for this is, there's less surface area for your sponge cake to spread out.

• Around 3L takes 3-4 hours on high
• Around 6.5L takes 2-3 hours on high

Note, below, I baked my crock pot chocolate dump cake in a larger 6.5L one.

Can I Bake Cherry Dump Cake in the Oven?

Yes, of course! You can find how I baked my apple spice dump cake from scratch in the oven here.

I baked it in rectangular baking dish, approximately 2" deep for 45 minutes at 160c fan / 180c / Gas mark 4 or 350F.

The Difference Between Dump Cake in a Slow Cooker and Oven

What I love about baking a crockpot dump cake is that there's less babysitting required. And also, the lid traps moisture, encouraging the sponge to expand and rise more.

If you prefer a cherry crisp dump cake, or chewy topping, then you're better off baking in the oven.

Serving Suggestions for Cherry Dump Cake

We think cherry chocolate dump cake is best served hot out of the slow cooker. It's beautiful with a dollop of ice cream, partially melting on top.

Other times, we'll eat dump cake with custard or cream, either runny or whipped.

How Do You Reheat Dump Cake?

The easiest way to reheat slow cooker chocolate dump cake is to, first, divide it in portions. Then microwave it as and when.

You could transfer it to the oven in an oven-safe dish, cover with foil and heat through in the oven for about 20 minutes at 160c fan / 180c / Gas mark 4 or 350F.

If you've baked slow cooker chocolate dump cake ahead and you're fortunate to be able to store it in the fridge, then you can reheat the same way. Just bring it to high for 30 minutes or auto for the same.

Storing Leftover Dump Cake

We keep all desserts and puddings in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Or, in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months, then full defrost in the fridge before reheating.

More Easy Dessert Recipes

• Gluten free Christmas mincemeat dump cake
• Toffee apple spice dump cake from scratch in the oven
• Cherry Madeira cake recipe
• Easy Nutella brownies with fruit and nut chocolate
• Raspberry butterfly buns recipe
• Easy fruit shortcake biscuits recipe
• Apple and raisin cake
• Easy Nutella cookies recipe
• Strawberry blondies
• Chewy chocolate chip cookie bars
• Raspberry and chocolate traybake cake
• Boozy chocolate fridge cake

Cherry Chocolate Dump Cake in Slow Cooker

📖 Recipe