Buttery Golden Topping Over Sweet, Jammy Cherry Filling – The Ultimate No-Fuss Comfort Dessert
If you love desserts that taste amazing but require almost zero effort, cherry cobbler dump cake is about to become your new favorite recipe.
This dessert is the perfect combination of sweet, tart cherries and a soft, buttery, golden topping that bakes into a fluffy cobbler-like crust. It’s rich, fruity, and incredibly comforting. And the best part? You don’t need fancy techniques or complicated steps.
You simply layer everything in a baking dish and let the oven do the magic.
That’s why it’s called a “dump cake” — you literally dump the ingredients in, bake, and enjoy.
As it bakes, the cherries bubble into a thick, glossy filling while the topping turns golden brown and slightly crisp on top, soft underneath. Every spoonful gives you warm fruit and buttery crust together.
Serve it warm with ice cream and it tastes like pure happiness.
Perfect for:
- Family dinners
- Holidays
- Potlucks
- Last-minute guests
- Or late-night cravings
Simple ingredients. Big flavor. Zero stress.
🕒 Preparation Time
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Bake time: 40–45 minutes
- Total time: 55 minutes
- Servings: 8–10
🧄 Ingredients
For the cherry filling
- 2 cans (21 oz each) cherry pie filling
OR - 5 cups fresh or frozen cherries + 3/4 cup sugar + 2 tablespoons cornstarch
For the topping
Option 1 – Super easy (classic dump cake)
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1/2 cup melted butter
Option 2 – Homemade cobbler topping (more rustic, like the photo)
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup cold butter, cubed
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Optional extras
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream
👨🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
Method 1 – Classic Dump Cake (Easiest Way)
This is the fastest version.
Step 1 – Prepare baking dish
Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish lightly with butter or spray.
Step 2 – Add cherries
Pour both cans of cherry pie filling into the dish.
Spread evenly.
If you want extra flavor, add a splash of almond or vanilla extract.
Step 3 – Add cake mix
Sprinkle dry cake mix evenly over the cherries.
Do NOT mix.
Just spread it flat.
This dry layer forms the cobbler crust while baking.
Step 4 – Add butter
Drizzle melted butter evenly over the top.
Try to cover as much surface as possible.
The butter melts into the cake mix and creates that golden crust.
Step 5 – Bake
Bake for 40–45 minutes until:
✔ top is golden brown
✔ edges bubbling
✔ crust looks set
Let cool 10–15 minutes before serving.
Done. Super easy.
Method 2 – Homemade Cobbler Dough (Best Flavor)
If you want a more homemade, biscuit-style topping like your picture, follow this method.
Step 1 – Prepare cherries
Pour cherry filling into greased baking dish.
Spread evenly.
Set aside.
Step 2 – Make dough
In a bowl mix:
- flour
- sugar
- baking powder
- salt
Add cold butter cubes.
Rub with fingers until crumbly.
Add milk and vanilla.
Mix gently until dough forms.
Do NOT overmix.
Step 3 – Add topping
Drop spoonfuls of dough over cherries.
Leave small gaps between pieces.
This creates that classic cobbler look.
Step 4 – Bake
Bake at 190°C (375°F) for 40–45 minutes until:
✔ golden top
✔ thick bubbling filling
✔ crust cooked through
Let rest before serving.
🍒 Texture Guide
Perfect cobbler should be:
Top → golden, buttery, slightly crisp
Inside → soft and fluffy
Filling → thick, juicy, jammy
Each spoonful = crust + cherries together.
🍨 Serving Ideas
This dessert tastes best warm with:
- Vanilla ice cream
- Whipped cream
- Custard
- Cream cheese glaze
- Caramel drizzle
Hot + cold combo is unbeatable.
🔥 Pro Tips for Best Results
Don’t stir layers
Keeps cobbler texture
Bake until bubbling
Ensures thick filling
Use real butter
Better flavor
Let cool slightly
Helps set
Add almond extract
Enhances cherry flavor
🍓 Flavor Variations
You can easily switch fruits:
Peach cobbler
Use peach pie filling
Apple cinnamon
Add apples + cinnamon
Mixed berries
Strawberries + blueberries
Pineapple
Add crushed pineapple
Chocolate cherry
Add chocolate chips
Lemon cherry
Add lemon zest
🥶 Storage Tips
Fridge
Up to 4 days
Reheat
Microwave or oven
Freezer
Up to 2 months
❤️ Why Everyone Loves Cherry Cobbler
This dessert is:
Sweet
Fruity
Buttery
Warm
Comforting
Ridiculously easy
It feels homemade even when it takes only 5–10 minutes to prepare.
It’s messy in the best possible way.
It’s nostalgic.
And honestly… nobody ever takes just one serving.