Valentine’s Day Cherry Crunch Dessert Recipe
Fill wine or water goblets with Valentine’s Day Cherry Crunch Dessert recipe, and serve topped with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream!
Years ago in my 20’s, my sis gave me this easy recipe: Valentine’s Day Cherry Crunch Dessert. But guess what? This “cherry dump cake” is not just for a holiday–it’s the best “anytime” dessert. Which means it’s perfect for all seasons, and any occasion. You can also try my 4-ingredient Best Blueberry Crunch recipe!
The crumble base and top are made using a white or yellow cake mix. Easy!
Valentine’s Day Cherry Crunch Dessert
Grab these easy ingredients, and let’s get started!
- Cans of cherry pie filling (we use “light” which tastes great!)
- Cake mix
- Butter
- Walnuts
- Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream
Cherry Crunch Dessert Recipe
Indulge in sweet and tart cherry dessert nestled in a delicious crust (almost a crumble on top). Pop it in the oven for an easy bake and serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream!
Oh, and if you’re hosting a Galentine’s Day party, the watch my little video on Instagram for some “sweet” inspiration! You may also love my Lemon Cream Cherry Phyllo Tartlets or easy 4-ingredient Chocolate Cherry Cake.
What is a dump cake?
This Cherry Crunch Dessert is sort of like a dump cake. A dump cake is a really simple dessert — usually made with a cake mix + fruit filling — where you actually dump (or pour) the ingredients into a pan, stir, and bake.
Does cherry dump cake need to be refrigerated?
The leftover cherry crunch cake can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days.
Warm the leftovers and serve with whipped cream or Vanilla ice cream.
You can even freeze leftovers (if you have any) of this dessert. Defrost and either heat up in the oven or microwave.
How to make Cherry Crunch Dessert
- Preheat oven and lightly grease a 9×13 pan.
- Spread the cherry filling in the pan.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the dry cake mix, softened butter, and toasted chopped nuts.
- Sprinkle mixture over the cherries.
- Bake until brown on top.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Tips and substitutions:
I rarely make a dessert that I can’t stay out of, but this one tempts me severely! Also adding in other flavors of fruit is delish!
You could make this with Blueberry, Peach or use any pie filling you choose.
Substitute apple pie filling and sprinkle a little extra cinnamon over the top if you like.
To toast the nuts, lay them on a paper towel; cook in the microwave for 1 minute. Rearrange the nuts and cook 1 more minute. Cool and chop!
It’s also so darn easy.
Let everyone serve themselves, or serve in wine glasses for Valentine’s Day! FUN!
This recipe is an easy one, where you can always keep the ingredients on hand, and it’s good enough for company!
More dump cake ideas:
Pineapple Upside Down Cake Dump Cake [Crazy for Crust], and Black Forest Dump Cake Recipe [Rachel Cooks].
Try my Making Peach Upside Down Cake for Dinner Guests recipe or Best Strawberry Cobbler recipe.
This post originally posted February 2013 on RE.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 9×13 pan.
- Spread the cherry filling in the pan.
- Mix together the dry cake mix, softened butter, and toasted chopped nuts. Sprinkle over the cherries.
- Bake for 40-50 minutes or until brown on top.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Notes
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
The recipe called for mixing the ingredients, not realizing that it meant to simply pour the box and butter and walnut over the cherry filling. So I did actually mix it and it came out as cookie dough. I hope I didn’t mess it up. I will keep you updated.
Oh, no! I’ve never had anyone do that. Yes, the recipe says “dry” cake mix :)
Oh, yeah, you’ve also got to put a scoop of vanilla ice cream on it too, as it is very rich!
my family has been making this recipe for over 30 years. It tastes best if you use Comstock cherry pie filling, and the most important thing is you must use Duncan Hines white cake mix. It makes a huuuuuuge difference in the taste. Sometimes it’s hard to find, but the other white cake mixes can’t compare. Also we use pecans instead of walnuts. Much better!!!
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this dessert looks doable and delicious! Our children still talk about our “Mystery Menu Valentines Dinners”. I would make up a simple menu with silly names and the children must choose 2-3 items per course for a 3 course dinner.( use stickers or simple shapes next to menu items for non-readers). The funny part was that the utensils, drinks, and napkins were disguised as menu items as well! Here’s an example:
red bull= bbq brisket
knee high sunrise= corn on the cob
field fodder= slaw or salad
checkered flag=napkin
pitchfork=fork or spoon
cow patty= ice cream sandwich
moonshine=lemonade
Messy fun had by all- because table manners were optional!
Fun family memories
Love languages are so important, and this dessert is wonderful for whipping up and enjoying any night of the week.
It looks so good! Can’t wait to try the recipe!
I’m a hard-core quality time girl. Almost don’t need the others at all.
This looks delish!!
I absolutely love Valentine’s Day. But we haven’t talked about what we might do yet. I’ll be putting it out for a vote shortly. And that dessert? Yum! Definitely looks like something different that I need to try!
you had me at cherry…
I used to make this dessert often but I add a can of drained crushed pineapple to the cherries. So easy and soooo yummy! Thanks for reminding me of this!
What a fabulous cherry dessert and it’s so simple, I love that!
First of all, this dessert is LITERALLY one of my favorite things ever. We’ll go ahead and call cherry crunch dessert my love language ;)
Second, I really love what Kristen said about serving her family – those are the things her kids will remember forever, and what a cool way to live out the Gospel!
We started doing this too a few years ago when my in laws were living with us temporarily. We played “italian restaurant” for our Valentines dinner, played Italian music on Pandora while I made dinner, kids dipped fruit into chocolate for our dessert. We set the table up nice…it was so fun. I look forward to it every year!
I love this cherry dessert, oh my it looks so good Sandy!!
what great ideas! I’m not sure quite what we’re doing to V-day, but I am thinking maybe a special dinner for the fam!
We have always done a family dinner, too. I usually made a heart shaped cake. On each plate I would put a card, and that person’s favorite candy treat underneath the card. I also really like the love languages books. They really make you think about how best to show love to someone.
This recipe looks delicious and uncomplicated, which i love! We will definitely have a kid-friendly celebration. :) I have only read The 5 Love Languages for Children, but was just thinking what a profound effect it had on my parenting (even as I parent my “inner child”). <3
We always do fondue for Valentine’s Day, but due to activities Thursday we’re doing that dinner Saturday night instead. We’re still doing a nice dinner for Valentine’s Day – and that dessert would be great with it! Looks doable on a busy night – thanks!
My mom has always made a cake like this and I love it!
Such a wonderful quote! And I just love this dessert. How wonderful for Valentine’s Day.
YUM! This dessert looks wonderful and just right for Valentine’s Day. I’m pinning it to my Valentine’s Day board.
And I really appreciate the idea of expressing love to our families in just the ways that will best communicate our love so that they can receive. :)
My kids look so forward to this night and Nick and I do too. It’s probably one of my favorite traditions of the year.
LOVE this dessert!
I LOVE the love languages. I love Valentines Day. I love fun desserts like this.
this year Jason and I are going out (we do every year, we both love Valentines Day…), but I usually also make a special dinner for us, a day or two later. Last year I surprised him with a four course dinner – that was fun to pull off.
The dessert looks delicious! I always prepare a special dinner for my husband and children on Valentine’s Day. I pull out my sparkly beaded placemats, red goblets and lots of candles!
This sounds and looks perfect for a Valentine’s Day meal. I think you could probably bake it in individual ramekins too. That way it could be served warm with the scoop of ice cream. Oh boy!
Darla