Dessert
Panic Pie Recipe 
... from Aunt Sandy's Kitchen
- Serves: 8 servings
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cooking: 40 minutes
Aunt Sandy’s Panic Pie is an easy cherry pineapple dump cake dessert made with cherry pie filling, crushed pineapple, yellow cake mix, melted butter, and chopped pecans. It bakes up hot, bubbly, buttery, and lightly golden on top.
If you need a quick Southern dessert for Sunday dinner, potlucks, holidays, or family gatherings, this Panic Pie recipe is a simple no-stir layered dessert that comes together fast and tastes like an old-fashioned cherry pineapple cobbler-style cake.
🛒 Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
- Pour the cherry pie filling evenly into the bottom of the baking dish.
- Pour the crushed pineapple evenly over the cherry pie filling.
- Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix evenly over the fruit layer.
- Pour the melted butter evenly over the cake mix.
- Sprinkle the chopped pecans evenly over the top.
- Do not stir the layers.
- Bake at 350°F for 30 to 45 minutes, or until hot, bubbly, and lightly browned on top.
- Let the Panic Pie cool slightly before serving.
Enjoy!
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👉 Visit My Amazon StorefrontRecipe Notes
- This recipe works best when the layers are left alone. Do not stir after adding the cake mix, butter, and pecans. The butter melts into the dry cake mix while baking and helps create a golden, cobbler-like topping.
- For a fruitier dessert, use 2 cans of cherry pie filling. For a lighter fruit layer, use 1 can. Crushed pineapple in heavy syrup adds extra sweetness and moisture, but regular crushed pineapple can also be used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called Panic Pie?
Panic Pie is a fun family-style name for a quick dessert you can make when you need something sweet in a hurry. It is similar to a cherry pineapple dump cake.
Do I stir the layers together?
No. Do not stir the layers. The fruit, cake mix, butter, and pecans should stay layered so the topping bakes up correctly.
Can I use 1 can or 2 cans of cherry pie filling?
Yes. Use 1 can for a thinner fruit layer or 2 cans for a richer, more cherry-filled dessert.
Can I serve Panic Pie warm?
Yes. Let it cool slightly after baking, then serve it warm by itself or with vanilla ice cream.
Can I make this dessert ahead of time?
Yes. Panic Pie can be baked ahead, covered, and refrigerated. Reheat individual servings in the microwave or warm the baking dish in the oven before serving.
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