💥Got 5 minutes and a serious sweet tooth?
The Lazy Dessert That’ll Make You a Legend at Every Party
Need a quick dessert that tastes like you spent hours baking?
This 5-minute cherry cheesecake dump cake uses only 4 ingredients and is insanely easy—perfect for potlucks, BBQs.
No fancy prep, and a gooey cherry layer that tastes like childhood—this cake vanishes before it even cools. You don’t even need a bowl. Dump, bake, devour.
🍰 Wait… A Cheesecake That Takes 5 Minutes?
Let me tell you about the first time I made this dump cake.
It was July 3rd, I had completely forgotten that I signed up to bring dessert to a cookout, and the grocery store was already out of those red, white, and blue Jell-O things.
In desperation, I Googled “easy cherry dessert,” found this cheesecake dump cake, and gave it a shot.
Five minutes later it was in the oven. One hour after that, people were asking me for the “secret family recipe.”It’s not a secret.
It’s a dump cake.And it’s about to be your favorite go-to dessert, too.
🧁 What Even Is a Dump Cake?
A dump cake is the lazy genius of the baking world. You literally dump ingredients into a baking dish — no bowls, no mixers, no stress — and bake until golden and bubbling.
This one tastes like if cherry pie and cheesecake had a buttery, golden-baked baby. It’s gooey, sweet, tart, and topped with melty pockets of cream cheese and cake crumble.
Add vanilla ice cream on top? Game over.
🛒 Only 4 Ingredients? Yup.
You probably have most of these already.
📋 Ingredients
1 box vanilla or yellow cake mix
2 (21 oz) cans cherry pie filling
1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, cut into cubes
1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, sliced
Affiliate Pick:Want easy, even slices of cold butter? I love this OXO Stainless Steel Butter Cutter — perfect for dump cakes, toast, and everything in between.
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
🥣 Let’s Make It: 5-Minute PrepStep-by-Step:
1️⃣ Preheat the Oven
Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grab a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2️⃣ Dump the Filling
Open the cherry pie filling cans and dump them straight into the dish. Use a spoon to spread them evenly.
3️⃣ Cheesecake Time
Dot the cherry filling with cream cheese cubes. Space them out evenly so every scoop gets creamy goodness.
4️⃣ Add Cake Mix
Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over everything. Do not mix — just let it sit on top like a crumble blanket.
5️⃣ Top with Butter
Arrange thin butter slices across the surface of the dry mix. Try to cover as much of the top as possible. This is how it bakes into a golden topping.
⏲️ Bake
Pop it in the oven for 45–50 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly at the edges.Let it cool for 10–15 minutes before serving.
🔥 Why Everyone’s Obsessed With This Recipe
Only 4 ingredients (and no eggs or oil!)
Zero bowls needed — straight into the pan
No cleanup — unless you count licking the spoon
Crowd-pleaser — kids and adults devour it
Versatile — serve warm, room temp, or chilled
Pairs with ice cream, whipped cream, or coffee
If you’ve got 5 minutes, a can opener, and a baking dish, you’ve got dessert.
👩🍳 Real Life, Real Story: The Dump Cake That Saved a Family BBQ
One summer, I brought this to a family barbecue with my in-laws. I didn’t mention it was a dump cake — I just said it was “a cherry cheesecake cobbler.”
My sister-in-law, who never compliments food unless it’s French or at least caramelized, took a bite and said:“Did you bake this?
Like… from scratch?” 😳Reader, I said yes. And I don’t regret it. (But I did email her the real recipe after.)
🔁 Variations You’ll Want to Try Next
🍍 Pineapple Cherry Dump Cake: Add a can of crushed pineapple under the cherry layer. Tropical twist!
🍫 Black Forest Dump Cake: Use chocolate cake mix and sprinkle mini chocolate chips on top.
🍑 Peach Cheesecake Dump Cake: Swap in peach pie filling and a white cake mix. Southern comfort!
🍓 Triple Berry Cheesecake Cake: Use mixed berry pie filling — so pretty for spring!You could make one of these every week and still not get bored.
🧊 Storage & Reheating Tips
Fridge: Store leftovers in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 5 days.
Freezer: You can freeze portions for up to 2 months.
To Reheat: Microwave for 30–60 seconds per serving.
Or warm in the oven at 300°F for 10 minutes.
❓ Dump Cake FAQs
Do I mix the ingredients together?Nope! Just dump and layer. The cake mix stays on top, and the butter melts to bake it.
Can I use low-fat cream cheese?You can, but the full-fat version melts better and adds richness.
What if I don’t have cherry pie filling?Try blueberry, apple, or peach. Any canned fruit pie filling works
.Can I use a different size pan?A 9×13-inch works best for even baking, but you can use a deep 10×10 or similar — just adjust bake time slightly.
🔍 Why This Dessert Is Always Trending
Each summer, Google searches spike for:“4 ingredient dump cake”“quick cheesecake dessert with pie filling”“lazy cherry cheesecake dump cake”“easy July 4th dessert for a crowd
”This recipe nails all of those. Plus, it’s easy to remember and impossible to mess up — no matter how chaotic your holiday weekend gets
📸 Pro Tips for a Perfect Dump Cake Photo
Want to go viral on Pinterest or get more likes on Instagram?
Here’s how to plate it pretty:
Scoop it while warm so it’s gooeyAdd a scoop of vanilla ice cream (melting slightly = gold)
Drizzle with cherry juice from the pan
Garnish with mint or a cherry on topUse a neutral-colored plate for contrast
🔗 Related Recipe:Love lazy desserts? You’ll also adore my One Pan Honey Garlic Chicken — not sweet, but equally easy and impressive.
🍒 5-Minute Cherry Cheesecake Dump Cake (Only 4 Ingredients!)
Course: 30-Minute Meals10 -12
servings30
minutes40
minutes300
kcal🧾 Printable Recipe Card
: 5-Minute Cherry Cheesecake Dump Cake
Yield: 10–12 servings. Prep Time: 5 minutes
Bake Time: 45 minutes Total Time: 50 minutes
Ingredients
2 (21 oz) cans cherry pie filling
1 box vanilla cake mix
8 oz cream cheese, cubed
½ cup butter, sliced
Directions
- 1. Preheat oven to 350°F
.2. Dump cherry pie filling into a 9×13 dish.
3. Dot with cream cheese cubes.
4. Sprinkle dry cake mix evenly on top.
5. Cover with thin butter slices.
6. Bake for 45–50 min until golden & bubbling.
7. Cool slightly and serve warm (with ice cream, if you’re smart).
🧑🍳 About the Author
Hi, I’m Roxanne— the accidental dessert queen behind 30-Minute Bites. I’m not a trained pastry chef.
I’m just a girl with a sweet tooth and a timer. I specialize in low-effort, high-reward recipes that even my chaotic family can pull off on a weeknight.
If it’s on this blog, it means it passed the “no leftovers” test at my dinner table.—
📌 Save This for Later!
Don’t forget to Pin this 5-Minute Cherry Cheesecake Dump Cake to your “Quick Desserts” board.
You’ll thank yourself next time you forget to bring something to the potluck.