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...
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!