Darn If I Know Cake (Cherry Almond Dump Cake)

Darn If I Know Cake is one of those recipes with random ingredients that comes together for a delightful family-pleasing dessert. This cherry almond dump cake with coconut goes together in the pan it’s baked in. That means no extra dishes to wash. Canned cherry pie filling and crushed pineapple are mixed to create a decadent fruit filling, while a cake mix, almonds, shredded coconut and margarine form the ultimate crisp on top.

Cherry Almond Dump Cake with Coconut

This recipe belongs to our Aunt Helen, and I found it nicely typed up in Grandma’s wooden recipe box. We’ve also seen this called a DarnED if I Know Cake and it’s really similar to a dump cake with fruit pie filling. Here’s The Country Cook’s Cherry Dump Cake recipe!

There’s no flour or eggs in this crazy cake. I was intrigued since I’d never seen a version of this type of dump cake with crushed pineapple.  I whipped it up for New Year’s Eve, and was pleasantly surprised that my oldest daughter fell in love with it. As a bonus, I had all the ingredients in the pantry and refrigerator so no extra trip to the grocery store!

Ingredient List

• Crushed Pineapple
• Canned Cherry Pie Filling
• White Cake Mix or Yellow Cake Mix
• Shredded Coconut
• Chopped pecans, walnuts, or sliced almonds
• Margarine or Butter

I used a white Christmas funfetti cake mix that I found on mark down at Aldi.  (Who else loves mark downs?)  But, you could use any white or yellow cake mix that you have on hand.  You could even change up the pie filling for blueberry or something else of your personal preference.

I’ve also found other treasures in this same recipe box including Grandma’s Chicken and Rice Casserole, Grandma’s Homemade Ketchup, and Aunt Marian’s Cream Cheese Mints.

How to Make Darn if I Know Cake

Step by Step Instructions

1. In a greased 13 x 9-inch baking dish, mix together cherry pie filling and undrained crushed pineapple.
2. Sprinkle one box of dry cake mix over the filling.
3. Next, sprinkle sliced almonds and shredded coconut on top of the cake mix.
4. Top with sliced margarine.
5. Bake until golden brown.
6. If desired, serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Storage Instructions

Cool cake completely. Cover with a tight-fitting lid or transfer to an airtight container.

For the full recipe for Darn If I Know Dump Cake, scroll to the bottom of this post. 

Recipe Variations

• Use different types of pie filling such as apple, peach, blueberry or strawberry.
• Omit the coconut; instead, add some vanilla extract or almond extract for flavor.
• The cake mix aisle is packed with flavors. Use a different one for a new cake spin.
• Add a simple glaze over top before serving.

Cake Mix Dessert Recipes

We always keep dry cake mixes in the pantry.  We use them for so much more than the recipe on the box.  Some of our favorites are

• Grandma’s Fanciful Fudge Cake
• Triple Chocolate Cake Mix
• Pistachio Coffee Cake
• Pumpkin Crunch
• Yellow Cake Mix Gooey Bars
• Easy Cake Mix Caramel Bars
• Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls

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