Bless my soul, this Cherry Cheesecake Dump Cake is just about the handiest dessert you'll ever make. Been baking this one since back when bell-bottoms were all the rage, and it never fails to hit the spot.
Now, don't let the name fool you – while we call it a "dump cake," it's actually quite lovely when it's done. Just like my old kitchen motto says: simple doesn't mean skimping on taste.
What makes this recipe such a keeper is that you won't be fussing with water baths or worrying about cracks in your cheesecake. Nope, this one's as straightforward as they come. You just layer your ingredients in the pan, and the oven does the rest of the work while you put your feet up.
Been making traditional cheesecakes for years, but sometimes you just want something that doesn't require all that fuss and bother. This recipe gives you those same creamy, sweet flavors without wearing yourself out in the kitchen.
Mind you, it's not exactly like grandma's classic cheesecake, but it's got its own charm. Think of it as cheesecake's laid-back cousin – just as tasty but much more forgiving. Perfect for when the church potluck catches you by surprise or when the grandkids pop in unexpectedly.
Recipe
A cherry cheesecake dump cake combines the simplicity of a dump cake with the decadent flavors of cheesecake and cherries. This dessert gets its name from the technique of dumping ingredients into a baking dish with minimal mixing, creating distinct layers that blend beautifully during baking.
The history of dessert traditions, like that of gingerbread cookies, showcases how certain flavors and methods evolve over time.
The beauty of this recipe lies in its versatility and ease of preparation, making it perfect for both novice bakers and experienced cooks. While traditional cheesecakes require careful attention to temperature control and water baths, this dump cake version delivers similar flavors with notably less effort and time investment.
Ingredients:
- 2 cans (21 oz each) cherry pie filling
- 2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread cherry pie filling evenly across the bottom of the dish. Beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth, then spread over cherries.
Sprinkle dry cake mix evenly over the cream cheese layer, followed by graham cracker crumbs. Pour melted butter evenly over the top. Bake for 45-50 minutes until golden brown and set in the middle. Cool completely before serving.
For best results, store the cake in the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving. Avoid overbeating the cream cheese mixture as this can lead to cracking during baking. If the top begins to brown too quickly during baking, cover loosely with aluminum foil.
The cake can be made up to 2 days in advance and keeps well when properly refrigerated.
A cherry cheesecake dump cake combines the best of three dessert worlds – the tangy sweetness of cherries, the rich creaminess of cheesecake, and the buttery crunch of cake mix topping. This simplified version emerged during the 1960s when convenience baking became popular in American kitchens.
Unlike traditional cheesecake that requires careful temperature monitoring and water baths, dump cakes earned their straightforward name from the method of simply dumping ingredients into a pan. The result is a layered dessert that delivers classic cheesecake flavor with notably less fuss, making it a reliable choice for potlucks, family gatherings, or whenever a craving for something sweet and creamy strikes.
Conclusion
Listen up – this is a real keeper of a recipe. Been making it for ages and it never fails to hit the spot. You'll love how the tart cherries mix with that creamy cheese layer – reminds me of the cheesecakes my mother used to make, but without all the fuss.
Don't let anyone tell you dump cakes aren't proper baking – this one's got all the flavor of a fancy cheesecake but it's as simple as can be. Just layer everything in the pan and let the oven do the work. Works every time, no special tricks needed.
The cream cheese gets all melty and mingles with those cherries while it bakes, creating something that'll have folks asking for the recipe. Nothing fancy about it, but boy, does it taste good. Perfect for when you need something sweet but don't want to spend all day in the kitchen.
Mind you, it might not look as pretty as those perfectly smooth cheesecakes in the magazines, but take it from me – nobody ever complained about the looks once they've had a spoonful. That's just good, honest baking right there.