There is something delightfully old-fashioned about a simple baked dessert that comes together with just a handful of pantry treats, and this playful spider dessert is the sort of thing children remember long after the plates are cleared. It has the easy charm of a Midwestern dump dessert, where convenience meets a little whimsy, and it is especially handy for fall gatherings, school parties, or a cozy family movie night when you want something sweet without a lot of fuss.
Serve this warm with scoops of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped topping to balance the rich sweetness, and if you want to make it feel extra special, set out a little bowl of chopped nuts or chocolate syrup for folks to add at the table. A mug of hot cider, coffee, or cold milk makes a mighty fine companion alongside all that gooey chocolate and fruit.
5-Ingredient Oven Baked Spider Dessert
Servings: 8
Ingredients
1 package raw unwrapped black gummy spiders, about 10 to 12 ounces
1 box chocolate cake mix, about 15.25 ounces
1 can cherry pie filling, 21 ounces
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease a 9x13-inch oven-safe glass baking dish.
2. Spread the cherry pie filling evenly across the bottom of the baking dish.
3. Sprinkle the dry chocolate cake mix evenly over the cherry filling without stirring.
4. Drizzle the melted butter all over the top, trying to moisten as much of the cake mix as you can.
5. Scatter the chocolate chips over the top, then arrange the raw unwrapped black gummy spiders across the surface.
6. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the filling is bubbling around the edges and the top looks set and slightly crisp in places.
7. Let the dessert rest for 10 minutes before scooping and serving warm.
Variations & Tips
Make it less sweet: If you want to tame the sweetness a touch, use dark chocolate cake mix or swap half of the chocolate chips for chopped toasted pecans. That little bit of bitterness and crunch helps round things out nicely.
Try a different fruit layer: Cherry gives this dessert a rich, black-forest sort of flavor, but blackberry or raspberry pie filling would also be mighty tasty and keep that dark, spooky look folks enjoy in a Halloween dessert.
For cleaner scoops: Letting the dessert rest after baking is important. The filling thickens a bit as it sits, so you will get prettier spoonfuls and less runniness on the plate.
Serve for a party: This dessert is easy to carry to potlucks and family get-togethers. If you are feeding a crowd, set it out right in the baking dish with a big serving spoon and let everyone help themselves while it is still warm.