Cherry Cheesecake Dump Cake in a Dutch Oven

Elevate your typical camping desserts with the indulgence of cheesecake, but with the convenience of a dump cake recipe made in a Dutch oven. Cherry Cheesecake Dump Cake made in a Dutch oven is an easy dessert that will be the highlight of your camping trip or backyard get together.

Cherry Cheesecake Dump Cake

• 1 Box Yellow Cake Mix
• 2 Cans of Cherry Pie Filling
• 1 Stick of Butter (Melted)
• 1 8oz Tub of Whipped Cream Cheese

Prepare 21 briquettes, 14 for the top lid and 7 below the Dutch Oven. In a well-seasoned Dutch oven or using a greased Dutch oven liner, pour the two cans of cherry pie filling. In a large bowl, dump the cake mix and melted butter together, mix together until it becomes a crumbly mixture. Spoon the whipped cream cheese over the top of the cherry pie filling and top with the crumbly cake mix. Place 14 briquettes on the top lid of the Dutch oven and 7 below. This will get the temperature to 350º. Bake approximately 30 minutes. Baking times will vary. Serve warm or chilled.

Ingredients

This four-ingredient recipe couldn’t be any simpler, perfect for camping. Use your favorite brand of yellow cake mix, or whatever Publix has on BOGO, if you are like me. Feel free to change up the pie fruit, I just really love cherry, but peach or apple would be amazing as well. Don’t forget your can opener.

If you want your cheesecake mixture to be a bit richer, add a little bit of sugar and vanilla. I like it without, I thought it was just the right accompaniment to the sweet cherries. And lastly don’t forget the butter. Melt it over the campfire or cheat like me, and microwave it in the camper.

Directions

Pour the two cans of cherries directly into a well-seasoned Dutch oven or use a greased Dutch oven liner. I baked it both ways, both worked great.

Next, in a large bowl, dump the yellow cake mix and melted butter together. Mix them together until it becomes a crumbly mixture. Set aside.

Stir the cream cheese and plop it onto the cherries. Try to spread it as much as you can.

Finally top with the crumble mixture, spreading evenly on top of the cherry and cream cream.

Baking

I have found that using a grilling chimney is the fastest and easiest way to prepare the briquettes for the Dutch oven. Using grilling tongs, carefully place 7 briquettes where you plan on placing the Dutch oven. Set the Dutch oven directly over the briquettes. Then place 14 directly on the top lid. This will allow the Dutch oven to bake at 350º. I use a 10 inch Lodge Dutch Oven, so this recommended ratio to bake with. If your Dutch oven is smaller or bigger, consult your baking chart that came with your oven or refer to the Lodge Coal Chart.

Baking times will vary. Please keep that in mind. The first time I made this at Manatee Springs State Park campground, I burned it. I baked the cherry cheesecake dump cake for 35 minutes, rotating it once about halfway through, and it burned. My family still ate it. It was still delicious, just a little toasty on top.

My second attempt at home turned out beautifully. I bake it for 35 minutes as well, but I checked it at about 20 minutes in. I set the recipe bake time for 30 minutes, so everyone has a better chance of not burning their cake. But check it about halfway through, just to be safe.

Let it cool a bit before serving, or serve chilled. I liked it warm with a bit of vanilla ice cream on top.

Give Cherry Cheesecake Dump Cake a try on your next camping adventure. Happy Camping!

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