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
- 2 21 oz cans of cherry pie filling, we use "light"
- 1 box white cake mix, dry
- ½ cup butter, melted
- ¾ cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
- Whipped cream or ice cream, optional
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...
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