Photo Credit: Drizzle Me Skinny.
This Tropical Slow Cooker Dump Cake is the perfect dessert when you’re craving something easy, delicious, and light on points. With a mix of cherry pie filling, tart cherries, and pineapple, each bite bursts with sweet and tangy flavors. The coconut flour in the keto-friendly cake mix adds a unique twist, while the shredded coconut garnish amplifies the tropical vibe. Don’t worry if coconut isn’t your thing; you can easily swap it out with a yellow cake mix and choose your preferred toppings. Plus, it’s a breeze to make—just dump everything in the slow cooker and let it work its magic!
Ingredients in Slow Cooker Pineapple Cherry Dump Cake
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To create a simple and delightful dessert, gather the following ingredients: a 20 oz can of light or sugar-free cherry pie filling, a 14.5 oz can of tart pitted cherries in water (drained), and a 20 oz can of pineapple tidbits or chunks (also drained). You’ll also need 2-4 tablespoons of light butter substitute, such as I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! Light—start with 2 tablespoons and adjust if needed. Add cinnamon to taste, and top it all off with a box of sugar-free or keto-friendly yellow cake mix. This combination will yield a delicious treat with minimal effort.
Prepare Ingredients
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Drain the pineapple tidbits and pitted cherries. Lightly spray your slow cooker with cooking spray.
Layer the Fruits
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Spread the pie filling, cherries, and half of the pineapple pieces evenly on the bottom of a 7- or 8-quart slow cooker. Sprinkle with a dash of cinnamon.
Add Cake Mix and Toppings
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Evenly distribute the cake mix over the fruit layer. Scatter the remaining pineapple pieces on top and add another dash of cinnamon. Melt the butter substitute and drizzle it over the top.
Cook the Dump Cake
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Cover the slow cooker and bake the dump cake on HIGH for 1 hour, then optionally rotate the insert and fluff the top of the cake mix with a fork if needed. If the mix appears dry, carefully drizzle more melted butter substitute. Replace the lid with a paper towel shield underneath to prevent condensation, and continue cooking on HIGH for an additional 1.5 to 2 hours until the fruit is bubbly and the topping resembles a streusel.
Rest and Serve
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Remove the lid and allow the dump cake to rest for a few minutes before serving to let it firm up. Enjoy warm.
Variations and Substitutions for Weight Watchers Dump Cake
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- Topping Ideas: Elevate the presentation by topping your dump cake with shredded coconut, pineapple icing, whipped cream, or extra cherries. These additions add both flavor and visual appeal.
- Splurge Version: If you’re okay with the extra Weight Watchers points, use two cans of cherry pie filling instead of one can of filling and one can of whole cherries for a richer, more indulgent dessert.
- Cake Mix Type: Choose a low-point cake mix that suits your needs, such as lower-sugar, sugar-free, or keto options. Duncan Hines Keto mix is a great low-point option, but feel free to use your favorite.
- Oven Method: If you prefer a crispier topping, bake the dump cake in the oven instead of using a slow cooker. Keep an eye on the moisture content, as the oven method may require a bit more butter substitute on top. A 9×13 pan works well; bake until the fruit bubbles at the edges and the top is golden.
- Crunchy Topping: For a crispy bite, sprinkle chopped walnuts, macadamia nuts, almonds, or your favorite nuts on top before baking.
Tips and Tricks for Making Tropical Dump Cake in the Slow Cooker
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- Slow Cooker Differences: Keep in mind that cooking times may vary depending on your slow cooker. If yours tends to cook faster or has hot spots, you might need to monitor it more closely.
- Prevent Overcooking: Watch the edges of the fruit filling; if it starts to overcook or burn, gently loosen it with a rubber spatula and move fresh fruit to the sides to prevent burning.
- Address Dry Topping: If the topping looks dry halfway through cooking, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of melted light butter substitute. However, with the moisture from the fruit and slow cooker condensation, this might not be necessary. Fluffing the top with a fork can also help break up any dry flour pockets.
- Even Cooking: Turning the slow cooker insert can promote even cooking. If your slow cooker heats evenly, this step may not be necessary.
- Portion Size: The cake is rich and sweet, so the portions are small. If you prefer larger servings, you can adjust the portion size to serve nine people, which will increase the WW points by 1 point per serving.
