This easy Labor Day dessert is the kind of back-pocket recipe that helps when you need something festive, comforting, and simple without turning the whole kitchen upside down. Using a solid unthawed frozen pound cake loaf as the base gives you a rich, buttery shortcut, and with just two more ingredients, it bakes into a warm, crowd-pleasing treat that feels a little like a cobbler and a little like a pudding cake. It is especially handy for holiday weekends when you want a homemade dessert but would rather spend your time with family and friends than fussing over a long ingredient list.
Serve this baked dessert warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped topping for an extra-special finish. Fresh strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries make it feel just right for Labor Day, and if you are bringing it to a cookout, it pairs nicely with grilled burgers, barbecue chicken, and corn on the cob before finishing the meal on a sweet, cozy note.
3-Ingredient Oven Baked Labor Day Dessert
Servings: 8
Ingredients
1 solid unthawed frozen pound cake loaf, about 10 to 16 ounces
1 can cherry pie filling, 21 ounces
1 can lemon-lime soda, 12 ounces
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
2. Place the solid unthawed frozen pound cake loaf in the prepared baking dish. If it fits best whole, leave it whole. If you can safely cut it into thick slices, that works too and helps the filling settle around it.
3. Spoon the cherry pie filling evenly over and around the pound cake loaf, covering as much of the top as you can.
4. Slowly pour the lemon-lime soda over the top and around the sides of the cake and filling. Do not stir.
5. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the top is golden in spots, the filling is bubbling, and the cake has softened and absorbed some of the juices.
6. Let the dessert rest for 10 minutes before spooning into bowls or onto plates for serving.
Variations & Tips
Berry Swap: Try blueberry or strawberry pie filling instead of cherry for a different holiday color and flavor. Blueberry is especially nice if you want to add fresh strawberries on the side for a red, white, and blue dessert table.
Extra Cozy Flavor: A light sprinkle of cinnamon or a little vanilla extract added over the filling can make the dessert taste even more homemade, even though it is wonderfully simple.
For Picky Eaters: If your family prefers plain flavors, serve the warm baked pound cake with some of the fruit spooned mostly to the side, so each person can choose how much topping they want.
Best Serving Tip: This dessert is at its best warm, when the cake is soft and buttery and the fruit filling is bubbly. If you have leftovers, cover and refrigerate them, then reheat individual portions in the microwave for a quick treat the next day.