Our lazy day crockpot Black Forest dump cake will be the hit of any gathering or potluck. The classic chocolate cherry combo makes this moist and irresistible dessert an absolute winner.
This super simple and delectable recipe is sure to satisfy everyone - even those with the most demanding sweet tooth!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Who doesn't love a delicious and easy dessert? This Black Forest dump cake with cherry pie filling is just that! It's made with simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand and cooked in your crockpot.
You can prepare this Black Forest dump cake recipe right before taking kids to sports practice before dinner, and have a dessert everyone will rave about by dinner time!
- Easy to make. There's no need to preheat the oven or mix anything together. Just dump all of the ingredients in the crockpot and let it cook!
- Affordable. I purchase my cherry pie filling at the Dollar Tree, but regular grocery stores have it also. The ingredients in this Black Forest cobbler style cake are inexpensive, and easy to stock up on when on sale too!
- Perfect for any occasion. It's great for a potluck, a family gathering, or just a weeknight dessert.
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Crockpot Black Forest Dump Cake Ingredients
- How to Make Crockpot Black Cherry Cobbler Cake
- Serving Suggestions
- Related Recipes
- Substitutions and Variations
- Equipment
- Storage and Reheating
- Tips for Success
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
- 📖 Recipe
- Food Safety
Crockpot Black Forest Dump Cake Ingredients
This black forest dump cake recipe is the perfect combination of sweet and tart, thanks to the cherry pie filling and chocolate cake mix. In keeping with the Black Forest being in Germany, I used a German Chocolate Cake mix.
You can use any chocolate cake mix you like, including a brownie mix for a chewier cake!
- Cherry Pie filling - Canned, if you get it from Dollar Tree, use two cans, as they are smaller than grocery store brands.
- German chocolate cake mix - Or any type of chocolate cake or brownie mix. You can also use our Hershey's Cocoa Brownies recipe instead of a store bought mix.
- Butter - Melted.
- Water - Or milk if you want a richer cake batter.
- Powdered sugar - For sprinkling on cooled cake before serving.
- Toppings - Cool Whip, Reddi Whip, whipped cream, or vanilla ice cream if you want to dress your Black Forest dump cake up.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Crockpot Black Cherry Cobbler Cake
This Black Forest cobbler style cake is made cherry pie filling in the bottom of the slow cooker and the cake batter poured in on top of the filling. It's then baked in a crockpot until the cake is cooked.
The result is a moist and delicious chocolate cake with hot cherry filling beneath, that's bursting with flavor.
Dump In The Cherry Pie Filling
- Open up the cherry pie filling and empty it into the bottom of a 4 quart slow cooker.
PRO TIP: Dollar Tree sells 15 oz cans of fruity cherry pie filling for $1.25 per can. I use two cans, and often it's less expensive than one 20 oz 'branded' can at the grocery store ($3.99 to $5.79 a can). Just saying...
Mix Up The Cake Batter
- Mix the cake mix with the water and butter and stir until you have a batter similar to lumpy pancake batter. Just water and butter, no eggs.
Pour Batter Over Cherry Pie Filling
- Pour the dump cake batter over the cherry pie filling layer in the slow cooker.
Cover And Bake
PRO TIP: Take a large dish towel, any type, and drape it over the slow cooker BEFORE you add the lid. The dish towel will absorb the condensation and keep the top of the cake dry.
- Cover the crockpot with the lid and cook for 4 hours on LOW, or 2 hours on HIGH.
- When the cook time has completed, check with a tooth pick. It should come out clean.
PRO TIP: Allow the cake to cook for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Dust the top of the cake with some sifted powdered sugar as a garnish.
Serving Suggestions
This Black Forest cherry dump cake is the perfect solution for those busy weeknights when you don't have a lot of time to cook. Made with just a few simple ingredients, this cake is sure to become a family favorite.
Serve it warm with ice cream or whipped cream along with an easy to prepare dinner entree recipe like:
- Copycat Mall Bourbon Chicken
- Broiled Chicken Thighs
- Instant Pot Chili No Beans
- Chicken and Gravy Over Mashed Potatoes
- Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheddar Chicken
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Related Recipes
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few substitutions and variations when making this crockpot Black Forest dump cake recipe with cherry pie filling:
- You can use defrosted frozen cherries instead of the cherry pie filling.
- A brownie mix makes a denser, less fluffy cake topping if you want a fudgy Black Forest cobbler cake.
- Sprinkle in some chocolate chips on top of the cake batter right before placing the lid on the crock pot.
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are some of my favorite pieces of equipment that I use when making this Black Forest dump cake.
Storage and Reheating
- This Black Forest cobbler cake can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Transfer the cake and cherry mixture to a plastic covered container and you can also freeze it for up to 3 months.
- To reheat, thaw the cake overnight in the refrigerator and then bake it in a 300 degree Fahrenheit oven for 15-20 minutes, or reheat in the microwave until heated.
Tips for Success
- Let the cake sit for 10 to 15 minutes to set up, before scooping out into serving bowls.
- For a richer flavor, mix 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips into the cake batter before pouring on top of the cherry pie filling.
- If you don't have a crockpot, you can bake this cake in a 9x13 inch baking dish at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-35 minutes, or until the cake is cooked through springs back to the touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both dump cakes and cobblers are types of fruit desserts, but they have some key differences in terms of ingredients and preparation. A dump cake typically consists of a layer of fruit that's topped with a layer of dry cake mix, and then a layer of butter.
A cobbler, on the other hand, consists of a fruit filling that's topped with a thick, sweet dough. The dough is usually dropped by spoonfuls onto the fruit before baking, giving the dessert its characteristic "cobbled" appearance.
Yes! Our Hershey's Cocoa Brownies recipe is a perfectly size homemade, chewy and fudgy brownie that would be PERFECT with this easy Black Forest cake recipe!
Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
📖 Recipe
Crockpot Black Forest Dump Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 can Cherry Pie filling two if they are from Dollar Tree
- 1 German chocolate cake mix
- ½ cup Butter
- 1½ cup Water
- 2 tablespoon Powdered sugar sifted on top of baked cake
Instructions
- Open up the cherry pie filling and empty it into the bottom of a 4 quart slow cooker.PRO TIP: Dollar Tree sells 15 oz cans of fruity cherry pie filling for $1.25 per can. I use two cans, and often it's less expensive than one 20 oz 'branded' can at the grocery store ($3.99 to $5.79 a can). Just saying...1 can Cherry Pie filling
- Mix the cake mix with the water and butter and stir until you have a batter similar to lumpy pancake batter. Just water and butter, no eggs.1 German chocolate cake mix, ½ cup Butter, 1½ cup Water
- Pour the dump cake batter over the cherry pie filling layer in the slow cooker.
- Cover the crockpot with the lid and cook for 4 hours on LOW, or 2 hours on HIGH.PRO TIP: Take a large dish towel, any type, and drape it over the slow cooker BEFORE you add the lid. The dish towel will absorb the condensation and keep the top of the cake dry.
- When the cook time has completed, check with a tooth pick. It should come out clean.
Notes
- Let the cake sit for 10 to 15 minutes to set up, before scooping out into serving bowls.
- For a richer flavor, mix 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips into the cake batter before pouring on top of the cherry pie filling.
- If you don't have a crockpot, you can bake this cake in a 9x13 inch baking dish at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-35 minutes, or until the cake is cooked through springs back to the touch.
Nutrition
Food Safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
- Wash hands after touching raw meat.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
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