Cherry Crumb Cake With Cake Mix

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My easy cherry crumb cake recipe includes a deliciously buttery and crumbly streusel-like topping on a moist yellow cake bursting with cherries.

Cake Mix Cherry Crumb Cake

You know one of the many things I find interesting is what someone considers to be a treat for themselves. My son loves grabbing a milkshake or a smoothie while out. My daughter is a cantaloupe fanatic (that is putting it mildly), my husband loves fresh cherries, and me? I love a good crumb cake – although I am able to love many desserts at once because I just have such a big heart~winks~.

My favorite crumb cakes are the bakery type with a THICK layer of crumbs. I mean, if you are going to have a piece of cake, why not make it an amazing piece of cake? This recipe hits all the right notes. A nice thick layer of crumbs, bursts of flavorful cherries, and a buttery, not too sweet cake. I know you think it’s going to be overly sweet with that thick layer of crumbs but it really isn’t. In fact, it’s much less sweet than a traditional cake with icing on top. But the beauty of this is that it is also dense and filling, perfect served alongside a cup of coffee or a glass of iced tea, like the one I have pictured.

Fortunately, this cherry crumb cake is very easy to prepare. First, we need to make the cake batter using a cake mix and a jar of maraschino cherries. Told ya it’s just bursting with cherry flavor! Then we add the streusel topping, which includes a combination of flour, butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Then pop it in the oven and it will be ready to serve in about 45 minutes.

If you’re in a crumb cake mood, I definitely approve 😉. You may also want to check out these crumb cake recipes: banana crumb cake, pumpkin crumb cake, and apple crumble cake. Okay, my stomach is rumbling just thinking about these delicious cakes, so let’s get baking!

Recipe Ingredients

  • Cake mix: yellow cake, butter golden, or white cake.
  • Milk
  • Eggs
  • Vanilla extract
  • Unsalted butter
  • Maraschino cherries
  • All-purpose flour
  • Brown sugar
  • Ground cinnamon

How to Make Cherry Crumb Cake

Slice of Cherry Crumb Cake

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.

Place the cake mix, milk, eggs, vanilla, and melted butter in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed until blended and smooth, scraping down the side of the bowl if needed (about 2 minutes).

Fold chopped cherries in by hand, then pour the cake batter into the prepared pan.

In a separate medium bowl, combine the butter, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon and cut together using a long-tined fork or pastry cutter until well mixed and crumbly.

Sprinkle the crumb mixture over the top of the cake batter.

Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (about 45 minutes). Allow to cool slightly and then sprinkle the top with confectioners’ sugar or powdered sugar, if desired.

Enjoy your cherry coffee cake… I know I will!

Storage

Store leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. You can also freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

Recipe Notes

  • If you like, add 1/2 cup of chopped nuts to your crumb topping for added flavor and texture. Chopped walnuts and pecans are most popular, but you could also use pistachios, hazelnuts, or almonds.
  • If you use almonds, substitute the vanilla extract for almond extract to enhance the flavor and make a delicious almond cherry crumb cake. You can also use almond milk instead of whole milk.
  • Another way to add extra flavor to your cherry cake is to add 2 teaspoons of lemon zest or 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg to the crumble topping.
  • I find maraschino cherries easy to use, but if you like, you can substitute for about a pound of fresh cherries (pitted and chopped) or frozen cherries. For frozen cherries, you’ll need to thaw them before chopping. I’d also recommend tossing the cherries in about a tablespoon of flour before adding them to the batter, to ensure they don’t sink to the bottom of the cake. I skip this step with my cherries as I don’t have this problem.

You may also like these recipes bursting with cherries:

Cherry Jello Pie

Lemon Cherry Cheesecake

Cherry Bars

Cherry Cream Cheese Pie From Grandmama’s Kitchen

Easy Crescent Cherry Cream Cheese Cobbler

Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake

Cherry Crumb Cake

My easy cherry crumb cake recipe includes a deliciously buttery and crumbly streusel-like topping on a moist yellow cake bursting with cherries.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cake, cherry
Calories: 286kcal

Ingredients

Cake

  • 1 box yellow, butter golden, or white cake mix
  • ¾ cup whole milk
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ½ cup butter, melted and cooled slightly 1 stick
  • 1 10-ounce jar maraschino cherries, drained, rinsed, and chopped

Crumb Topping

  • 1 cup butter at room temperature 2 sticks
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
  • Place the cake mix, milk, eggs, vanilla, and melted butter in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed until blended and smooth, scraping down the side of the bowl if needed (about 2 minutes). Fold chopped cherries in by hand, then pour the cake batter into the prepared pan.
    1 box yellow, butter golden, or white cake mix, ¾ cup whole milk, 3 large eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, ½ cup butter, melted and cooled slightly, 1 10-ounce jar maraschino cherries, drained, rinsed, and chopped
  • In a separate medium bowl, combine the butter, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon and cut together using a long-tined fork or pastry cutter until well mixed and crumbly. Sprinkle the crumb mixture over the top of the cake batter.
    1 cup butter at room temperature, 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup packed light brown sugar, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (about 45 minutes). Allow to cool slightly and then sprinkle the top with confectioners' sugar, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 286kcal
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35 Comments

  1. I have frozen cherries, I am going to try this with them. Not as sweet as maraschinos, but I think they will be good.

  2. I love the tea mason jar with the silver straw. Would like to know where did you get the straw. Would love to make a few.of the mason jar with straws for tea. Love the cherry crumb cake can’t wait to make it. God Bless my friend

  3. For a treat, I like to make ice cream at home: only three ingredients and an electric mixer, plus chilling time in any freezer-safe container. It’s fast, easy and a little too rich to have more than a bit, which helps stop over-indulging. And, what do you know, that ice cream is *perfect* on top of dessert recipes right here at SP!

  4. YOU HAVE A NICE WEBSITE AND VERY TASTY RECIPES. THOSE AD CHOICES ARE VERY
    ANNOYING. DO WHAT YOU CAN TO GET RID OF THEM, THAN YOU WILL HAVE ONE OF
    BEST FOOD SITES ON THE INTERNET.

    I made the Cake Mix Cherry Crumb Cake, it is so good.
    Thank you.

    1. I think Christy said once that the ads help keep this site free for all of us (but I’m not sure). Love Southern Plate

      1. You nailed it Gloria. I wish I could have an ad free site as well, but the fact of the matter is that this site costs over $2000 a month just to operate, not to mention buying the groceries and all of the work I put into it (I like to have a little paycheck for my work, too). So if I got rid of the ads, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have the best site on the net (that was very sweet of you to say though), because I wouldn’t be able to keep it online. I appreciate your consideration and thank you for coming despite me having to pay the piper to keep the lights on 🙂

  5. Hi Christy!

    I agree, crumb cakes with a thick layer of crumbs are the best, and I can’t wait to try this one!
    Do you think I could use frozen blueberries instead of the cherries? I happen to have some blueberries in the freezer, but no cherries.

    I like to treat myself to a Dairy Queen ice cream cone when I’m out. I love that soft serve!

    Thank you for great recipes, advice, and wonderful inspiration!

  6. I’m having company and needed this recipe, thank you!
    My favorite treat is a butterfinger blast from Sonic – that happens RARELY, though. I grew up in the sixties and just love Baby Ruth’s and Butterfinger’s!

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