Out here in the country, there are certain church potluck recipes that have earned a permanent place on the folding table, and this slow cooker chocolate cherry cake is one of them. It’s a cousin to those old-fashioned dump cakes that started showing up in Midwestern kitchens when boxed mixes and canned pie fillings first became pantry staples. Farm wives loved them because you could stir a few things together, set it aside, and get back to chores. This version keeps that same spirit—only three ingredients, all easy to keep on hand—and the slow cooker does the work while your house fills with the cozy smell of chocolate. It’s the kind of dessert you throw together when company calls to say they’re ‘just passing through’ or when you want something warm and sweet without fussing with the oven.
This cake is at its best served warm, spooned straight from the slow cooker into bowls. A scoop of vanilla ice cream is the classic partner, melting down into the chocolatey cherries like a little river of cream. Lightly sweetened whipped cream works just as well if you don’t have ice cream on hand. For a simple country-style dessert plate, you can serve smaller portions alongside a handful of salted peanuts or mixed nuts—the salty crunch plays nicely with the rich chocolate and tart cherries. A hot cup of coffee or black tea is right at home next to this cake, especially after a Sunday dinner of roast beef and potatoes or a simple weeknight pot of chili. It’s a flexible little dessert that fits in wherever you need a comforting, no-fuss sweet ending.
3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chocolate Cherry CakeServings: 8-10 servings
Ingredients
1 (21-ounce) can cherry pie filling
1 (15.25- to 16.5-ounce) box chocolate cake mix (dry mix only)
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
Directions
Lightly grease the inside of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker with butter or nonstick cooking spray to help prevent sticking.
Spread the cherry pie filling evenly over the bottom of the slow cooker, making sure it covers the surface from edge to edge.
In a medium bowl, add the dry chocolate cake mix. Pour the melted butter over the top and stir with a spoon or fork until the mixture is evenly moistened and crumbly. It will look more like thick crumbs than cake batter.
Sprinkle and gently spread this chocolate mixture evenly over the cherry pie filling, covering it as much as possible without stirring the layers together.
Cover the slow cooker with the lid. Cook on HIGH for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or on LOW for about 3 1/2 to 4 hours, until the top is set and looks cooked through and the cherries are bubbling around the edges.
Once done, turn off the slow cooker and let the cake sit, covered, for about 15 minutes. This helps it set up a bit and makes it easier to spoon out.
Serve the cake warm, scooping down through both the chocolate layer and the cherries so each serving has a little of everything.
Variations & Tips
If you’ve been cooking as long as I have, you know these simple recipes are just begging for a little personal touch. For a deeper chocolate flavor, stir a small handful of chocolate chips into the crumbly cake mixture before sprinkling it over the cherries. If you like a stronger cherry presence, add an extra half can of cherry pie filling or a handful of drained maraschino cherries on top of the filling before the cake layer. You can also trade the chocolate cake mix for a devil’s food or dark chocolate variety for a richer, less sweet dessert. For a Black Forest twist, drizzle the warm cake with a splash of kirsch or cherry brandy just before serving (for adults only, of course). If you’re cooking for a smaller household, you can make this in a smaller slow cooker and halve all the ingredients; just keep an eye on the cooking time, as it may finish a bit sooner. To keep the topping from getting too soft, place a clean kitchen towel under the lid while it cooks to catch extra moisture. And if anyone at your table prefers things less sweet, serve their portion with plain Greek yogurt instead of ice cream—the tanginess balances the chocolate and cherries nicely.
