This 3-Ingredient Cherry Dessert is one of the easiest warm desserts you can make with pantry staples. Juicy cherry pie filling bakes under a buttery golden cake-mix topping, giving you a soft fruit layer underneath and crisp, caramelized edges on top.
The original RecipesNeed version uses only three ingredients: one 21-ounce can of cherry pie filling, one 15.25-ounce box of yellow cake mix, and ¾ to 1 cup melted unsalted butter. Prep takes about 5 minutes and the dessert bakes for about 45 minutes.
Why You’ll Love This Cherry Dessert
There is almost no measuring, no mixing bowl, and no special technique. The layers go straight into the baking dish and stay separate while they bake. It is especially useful when you need a quick dessert for a potluck, family dinner, or last-minute gathering.
How to Layer It
Spread the cherry pie filling evenly across the bottom of the baking dish. Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix over the cherries and gently break up any large clumps. Do not stir the layers together.
Slowly drizzle the melted butter over the cake mix, covering as much of the dry surface as possible. Better butter coverage gives you fewer dry spots and a more evenly browned topping.
Bake Until Golden and Bubbling
Bake at 350°F until the cherry filling is bubbling and the topping is golden, usually about 40 to 45 minutes. Let it cool briefly before serving so the filling thickens slightly.
Serving Ideas
This dessert is especially good warm with vanilla ice cream or a spoonful of whipped cream. The contrast between the warm cherries and the cold topping is simple but hard to beat.
Tips for the Best Topping
- Keep the layers separate and do not stir.
- Drizzle the butter slowly so the cake mix is covered as evenly as possible.
- Bake until you see bubbling around the edges.
- Let the dessert cool for a few minutes before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different pie filling?
Yes. The same method works with other canned fruit pie fillings, although the flavor and sweetness will change.
Why are there dry patches of cake mix?
The butter probably did not reach those areas. Drizzle it slowly over the entire surface before baking.
3-Ingredient Cherry Dessert
Ingredients
- 1 can 21 ounces cherry pie filling
- 1 box 15.25 ounces yellow cake mix
- 1 ½ to 2 sticks ¾ to 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Prepare the oven and pan. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Make the cherry layer. Spoon the cherry pie filling into the prepared baking dish. Spread it evenly from corner to corner with a spatula.
- Add the cake mix. Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix evenly over the cherries, gently breaking apart any large clumps as you go. Keep the layers separate and do not stir.
- Pour over the butter. Slowly drizzle the melted butter across the entire surface of the cake mix. Try to moisten as much of the dry mixture as possible without mixing it into the cherries.
- Bake until golden. Place the baking dish on the center oven rack and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the cherry filling is bubbling around the edges.
- Rest before serving. Remove the dessert from the oven and let it stand for 5 to 10 minutes. Serve warm on its own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
