Some desserts are complicated masterpieces. Others are the recipes you reach for when you want something sweet, homemade, and comforting without spending the entire afternoon in the kitchen.
This 3-Ingredient Cherry Dessert belongs firmly in the second category.
With just three simple ingredients, you can create a warm, fruity dessert with a soft, buttery topping and plenty of sweet cherry flavor. It's ideal for busy weeknights, last-minute guests, potlucks, holidays, or whenever you discover a can of cherry pie filling hiding in the pantry.
The best part? There's no complicated preparation and no long list of ingredients.
Why This Cherry Dessert Is So Easy
This recipe is practically tailor-made for those days when you don't feel like baking from scratch.
You'll need only:
- 3 ingredients
- One baking dish
- A mixing bowl
- Minimal preparation
- About 30 minutes in the oven
The cherry filling becomes hot and bubbly while the topping turns golden and lightly crisp around the edges.
Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and you've got a dessert that tastes much more elaborate than the effort required to make it.
Ingredients
- 1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
That's it!
Ingredient Tips
Cherry pie filling: Regular canned cherry pie filling works perfectly. You don't need to add sugar or other sweeteners.
Yellow cake mix: This gives the dessert a mild, buttery flavor that complements the cherries beautifully. White cake mix can also work.
Butter: Unsalted butter gives you more control over the overall flavor, but salted butter can be used if that's what you have.
How to Make 3-Ingredient Cherry Dessert
1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
2. Add the Cherry Filling
