I Tried “Texas Pie” and It’s So Easy I’ll Be Making It Every Weekend

While I might love sweet treats, I’ll be the first to admit that making them can be a time-consuming task. Of course, depending on what you’re making, it might also put a hole in your wallet! The strawberry cheesecake cupcakes I made a couple months ago certainly took some time, and I definitely found that I prefer simpler recipes, like this banana pudding cheesecake ice cream, or a quick dump cake. 

So when I discovered the recipe for Texas Pie, I was definitely intrigued — it seemed like another delicious dump cake-style dessert. As someone from the south, I was really surprised that I had never heard of this dessert before, and I immediately wanted to give it a try. Just one look at the ingredient list had me convinced this would be simple — and, like many things born out of the Lone Star state, would deliver a delicious result. 

The best part? All you need are a few ingredients — a can of cherry pie filling, another of crushed pineapple with juice, a package of butter cake mix, flaked coconut, pecan halves, and margarine. 

1. Preheat your oven to 325°. While your oven is preheating, pour your cherry pie filling into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
2. Next, add in your pineapples without stirring. 
3. Pour your cake mix over the pineapple, followed by your coconut flakes. 
4. Lastly, sprinkle your nuts over the coconut flakes, adding the melted margarine over it all.
5. Bake for 40 minutes or until the top is golden brown. 

This dish only required a few ingredients, and it didn’t take long to make. It required just 10 minutes of prep time (as long as you’re aware of the full process before you start), and the cooking time was long enough for me to watch an episode of my current Netflix obsession. It’s perfect for anyone looking for a light-lift dessert that the entire family will enjoy. 

Taste-wise, however, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the cherry pie filling. That’s a personal preference, though, and has led me to consider a second try at this recipe. I see the potential in it and would probably enjoy it more with a few adjustments. If you’re a fan of cherry though, this should find its way to the top of your must-try list.

1. Use a different fruit filling. Though this recipe called for cherry pie filling, it’s easy to make it your own by using the fruit of your choice. For my next try, I would use a peach or blueberry filling.
2. Monitor the baking process. As every oven is different, it’s important to make sure that you keep your eye on the baking process to make sure it cooks fully. Though the cook time is listed at 40 minutes, I ended up cooking my pie for about 50-55 minutes to make sure it cooked all the way through.