This easy cherry dessert is the kind of holiday recipe I love to keep in my back pocket when the oven is already busy and I still want something warm, cozy, and special for the table. Using canned sweet cherries in heavy syrup gives it a homey old-fashioned feel, almost like a shortcut cherry cobbler, and with just five ingredients it comes together quickly for Thanksgiving or any family dinner when you need a dependable dessert that tastes like you worked much harder than you did.
Serve this dessert warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a generous spoonful of whipped cream so it melts right into the cherry filling. If you are setting out a holiday spread, it also fits in beautifully alongside coffee after dinner, and for a little extra comfort you can pair it with toasted pecans or a light dusting of powdered sugar just before serving.
5-Ingredient Oven Baked Cherry Dessert
Servings: 8
Ingredients
2 cans sweet cherries in heavy syrup, undrained, 15 ounces each
1 box yellow cake mix, about 15.25 ounces
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease a 9x13-inch glass baking dish.
2. Pour both cans of sweet cherries with all of the syrup into the prepared baking dish and spread them out evenly.
3. Stir the vanilla extract and cinnamon gently into the cherries so the flavor is distributed throughout the filling.
4. Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix evenly over the top of the cherry mixture, covering as much of the surface as possible without stirring it in.
5. Drizzle the melted butter as evenly as you can over the cake mix, trying to moisten most of the dry spots for the best golden topping.
6. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the top is golden and the cherry filling is bubbling around the edges. Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Variations & Tips
For a crunchier topping: Sprinkle a small handful of chopped pecans or walnuts over the buttered cake mix before baking. This is especially nice for Thanksgiving when you want a little texture against the soft cherries.
For picky eaters: Leave out the cinnamon if your family prefers a simpler cherry flavor. The dessert will still be sweet, buttery, and comforting with just the vanilla added in.
For easier serving: Let the dessert cool for at least 10 minutes before scooping. That short rest helps the filling settle a bit and keeps each serving from sliding apart.
For a richer holiday version: Add a spoonful of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream right before serving. The cool creamy topping makes the warm cherries taste even more special.