Easy 3-Ingredient Crockpot Chocolate Cherry Cobbler: A Slow Cooker Black Forest Dessert
For all the Black Forest Cake enthusiasts seeking a quick and effortless dessert solution, get ready to fall in love with this incredible crockpot chocolate cherry cobbler. Much like our popular crockpot apple cobbler, this delightful treat requires just three simple ingredients, making it an absolute breeze to prepare. It’s the perfect choice when you crave a rich, warm, and comforting dessert without spending hours in the kitchen.
Over the years, our community has shared countless fantastic flavor combinations for slow cooker cobblers. Inspired by your creativity and love for simple, delicious desserts, I decided to venture into a Black Forest-inspired rendition. This crockpot chocolate cherry cobbler, which some might also affectionately call a chocolate cherry dump cake for the slow cooker, is incredibly quick to assemble. It emerges from the crockpot perfectly warm and bubbly, absolutely ideal when served with a generous scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream.
The Irresistible Charm of Crockpot Chocolate Cherry Cobbler
Whether you call it a dump cake, a cobbler, or a Black Forest-inspired delight, one thing is for sure: this dessert is absolutely amazing. It’s delicious, it’s mouth-watering, and it will have you reaching for seconds. My love for crockpot desserts stems from their incredible convenience – you can truly set it and forget it for a few hours. In this case, just four hours of slow cooking transforms simple ingredients into a decadent treat.
Imagine this: a few hours before you plan to sit down for dinner, you spend mere minutes tossing a handful of ingredients into your slow cooker. Then, you simply walk away and let the magic happen. After dinner, as you’re winding down, you lift the lid to reveal a piping hot, fragrant, and utterly delicious dessert. It’s the ultimate hands-off indulgence, making entertaining a breeze or simply providing a stress-free weeknight treat. You’re welcome!
How to Make This Effortless Chocolate Cherry Cobbler in Your Crockpot
I genuinely promise you, this recipe could not be any easier. It’s designed for maximum flavor with minimal effort, perfect for busy schedules or those new to slow cooking. The process is straightforward and foolproof:
- First, ensure you have your melted butter ready.
- Next, spread your cherry pie filling evenly at the bottom of your crockpot.
- Then, generously sprinkle the dry chocolate cake mix over the cherry layer.
- Finally, drizzle the melted butter over the cake mix. Do not stir! The slow cooker’s gentle, consistent heat will work its magic, transforming the dry cake mix into a wonderfully moist, cake-like topping.
- Cover and cook. That’s truly all there is to it, folks!
The beauty of this method, often referred to as a “dump cake” technique, lies in its simplicity. The moisture from the pie filling and the slow, even heat of the crockpot combine to perfectly bake the cake mix, creating a soft, tender cobbler topping that melds beautifully with the warm, fruity cherry base.
Related Recipe: Craving more cherry goodness? Check out our classic Cherry Pie recipe!
Essential Ingredients for Your Crockpot Chocolate Cherry Cobbler
The magic of this recipe lies in its incredibly short ingredient list. You likely have most of these on hand already!
- Canned cherry pie filling: The foundation of our cobbler. Two 21-ounce cans will give you the perfect amount of luscious cherry goodness.
- Chocolate cake mix: Any standard boxed chocolate cake mix will do the trick. It provides the ‘cake’ part of our cobbler without any extra fuss.
- Melted butter: This is crucial for creating that delicious, slightly crispy, and golden-brown topping.
- Vanilla ice cream (optional, but highly recommended!): A classic pairing with warm cobbler. The cool creaminess beautifully contrasts with the warm, rich dessert. Why wouldn’t you?
- Maraschino cherries (optional, for a fancy touch): A few bright red cherries can add a lovely visual appeal, echoing the Black Forest theme.
Handy Kitchen Tools You’ll Find Helpful
While this recipe is simple, having the right tools can make it even smoother.
- Crockpot: The star of the show! A 6-quart or larger slow cooker works best for this recipe.
- Serving spoon: For scooping out generous portions of your delicious cobbler.
- Serving dishes: Bowls or ramekins are perfect for individual servings.
- Ice cream scoop: To neatly dollop that essential scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Frequently Asked Questions About Slow Cooker Cobblers
Over the years, many people have had questions about making my various cobbler recipes in the crockpot. Here are some of the most common inquiries, tailored specifically for this chocolate cherry version:
Can I use different pie fillings or cake flavors?
Absolutely, experimentation is encouraged! The beauty of this “dump cake” style recipe is its versatility. Feel free to explore your favorite flavor combinations. For instance, a chocolate cake mix would be fantastic with strawberry, raspberry, or even blueberry pie filling. Alternatively, if you love cherries but want a different cake flavor, try pairing cherry pie filling with a white cake mix for a lighter, more classic cherry-dessert profile. Don’t forget to come back and share your delicious discoveries with us!
Can I use fresh cherries instead of canned pie filling?
While canned cherry pie filling offers unmatched convenience for this quick recipe, you certainly can use fresh cherries if you prefer. However, be aware that this would significantly increase the preparation time and complexity, making it less of a “super easy” recipe. You would need to wash, pit, and potentially sweeten the fresh cherries with some sugar and maybe a touch of cornstarch or flour to create a sauce as they cook. For a homemade touch without the full effort of pitting, you could also make your own cherry pie filling from scratch, then proceed with the recipe as written.
What about gluten-free and dairy-free options?
Good news for those with dietary restrictions! There are several excellent gluten-free chocolate cake mixes available on the market today. While I haven’t personally tested them with this specific recipe, they generally behave similarly to traditional cake mixes in dump cakes. If you try a gluten-free option, I’d love to hear about your results! For dairy-free needs, simply substitute an equal amount of dairy-free margarine or your preferred butter alternative for the melted butter. Most slow cooker cobblers are quite forgiving, so these substitutions should work wonderfully.
Can this recipe be made in an Instant Pot?
Yes, many Instant Pot models include a “Slow Cook” function. You can follow the same instructions and cooking times as for a traditional slow cooker. Set your Instant Pot to “Slow Cook” on low for four hours. Make sure to use a glass lid or a slow cooker lid if your Instant Pot didn’t come with one, or simply use the pressure cooker lid set to “venting” to allow moisture to escape and the cake to cook properly.
Can I save the leftovers?
Absolutely! Leftovers of this chocolate cherry cobbler are still delicious. Store any remaining cobbler in an airtight container with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. When refrigerated, the cobbler topping might become a bit firm. To restore its gooey, warm glory, simply reheat individual portions in the microwave for a minute or two, or warm it gently in an oven.
Other Delicious Cobbler Desserts to Try
If you love the ease and comfort of cobblers, especially those made in a crockpot, here are some other fantastic recipes from our collection:
- Quick Apple Cranberry Cobbler
- Cran Apple Crisp
- Blueberry Cobbler
- French Vanilla Peach Cobbler
- Crockpot Apple Cobbler
Ready to see just how easy this truly is? Watch the video below for a quick step-by-step guide!
Crockpot Chocolate Cherry Cobbler
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Ingredients
- 42 ounces cherry pie filling 2 21-ounce cans
- 15.5 ounce chocolate cake mix
- 6 tbsp butter melted
- 6 scoops vanilla ice cream optional
- Maraschino cherries optional
Instructions
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Empty both cans of cherry pie filling into the crock.
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Sprinkle the dry cake mix mixture on top of the cherries.
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Spoon the melted butter onto the cake mix layer. Do not mix the butter with the cake mix. The moisture generated by the slow cooker will bake the cake.
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Cook on high setting for 4 hours (or on low for 6 hours).
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Spoon cobbler into dishes and serve warm topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.
