Chocolate Dump Cake, how to make a dump cake with a chocolate cake mix and pudding mix, and no mixing bowls. This easy dump cake recipe only has 5 ingredients and ready in less than an hour. The best!
Wow, this Chocolate Dump Cake only has 5 ingredients. Yep, I’m not kidding. And did I mention you don’t need any mixing bowls? You just “dump” everything right in the pan. After my recent Pumpkin Dump Cake, I knew I had to try another, so an easy chocolate dump cake recipe it was.
I may be addicted to creating easy dump cake recipes. Crazy, I know.
I looked around the internet to see what else was out there for easy chocolate dump cakes. Yeah, there are a lot of chocolate dump cake recipes out there, but I didn’t see any recipes where you actually DUMP everything into the pan.
Everything I saw required mixing a cake mix, pudding mix, and milk in a mixing bowl or something along those lines. That’s all totally fine, but I wanted to test out what would happen if you did NOT mix it all together in a bowl and did things a little different.
I really was NOT expecting this to turn out. I’m so optimistic sometimes, haha! I really did not expect it to work so I did not even take pictures of anything before I baked this Chocolate Dump Cake.
But then it DID work. OMG I was shocked. It really did work and it actually tasted good and everyone loved it. What?!
This Chocolate Dum Cake is quite rich and brownie-like with a crispy bottom, soft center, and almost molten top. It’s NOT like a typical “cake” so if you’re looking for more of a traditional cake texture this is not it.
However, this is a super easy dump cake recipe for sure!
Chocolate not quite your thing? Be sure to also to check out my Caramel Apple Dump Cake, Pina Colada Dump Cake, and Blueberry Dump Cake.
What is a Dump Cake
If you’re just joining us and have NO idea what a dump cake is, let me first explain before you think I’m crazy.
Generally, a dump cake contains fruit “dumped” into a pan, topped with a dry cake mix, then drizzled with melted butter or slices of butter and then baked in the oven. The result is almost like a crisp/cobbler.
However, dump cakes have come a long way and can vary A LOT. Anything goes now.
Dump cakes are generally quick and easy and perfect for potlucks and feeding a lot of people since they are usually baked in a large baking dish. You can usually change dump cakes up with your favorite fruit, cake flavors, and mix-ins which is always nice.
How to Make a Chocolate Dump Cake
(For the full printable recipe card, scroll down. However, you may find these additional recipe notes helpful before starting.)
As I mentioned above, many other chocolate dump cakes require a mixing bowl and mixing everything together, so I wasn’t overly optimistic this was going to work when I chose NOT to mix things together.
Well it did work, wow!
So start off with a 13×9 inch baking dish. I just happened to use a glass one. Results may vary slightly though depending on the material of your baking dish. A nonstick or glass one is probably best though.
Place a stick of butter (1/2 cup) in your pan, then place the baking dish in the oven while you are preheating the oven. You really just want to melt the butter, so since you need to preheat your oven, this is just a quick and easy way to do it without dirtying anything else.
Check your butter periodically, and once melted, remove the pan from the oven. Make sure the butter is a nice even layer on the bottom, or use a fork (whisk or whatever…) to make sure it’s an even layer.
Sprinkle the DRY cake mix on top of the melted butter. I would suggest a cake mix that does NOT have a pudding mix in it. Check the label. (I used a Pillsbury Moist Supreme Devil’s Food 15.25 ounce cake mix.)
Do NOT make the cake according to the directions on the box. I repeat, do NOT mix the cake mix with any of the ingredients instructed on the box (such as oil and eggs). Using a fork or back of a spoon, carefully spread the DRY cake mix into a thin even layer over the melted butter.
Sprinkle the DRY instant pudding mix on top of the cake mix. Again, do NOT make the pudding according to the directions on the box. Just sprinkle the DRY mix on top of the cake mix into an even layer. Use a fork or back of a spoon if needed to spread the pudding mix into a thin even layer. (I used a 3.9 ounce box of JELL-O Instant Chocolate pudding.)
So at this point, make sure the cake mix and pudding mix is a flat thin even layer. Since there’s melted butter on the bottom of the pan, the cake mix may be a little wet. That’s ok!
Then drizzle the milk over the top of the pudding mix trying to get every area if possible. I just used skim milk but you could use 2% or whole milk. After your milk is in the pan, carefully tilt and swirl the pan just slightly to cover any dry spots.
You really want to make sure the top of the dump cake has milk all over it so that there aren’t any dry spots. Gently push down with a fork or back of a spoon to make sure the milk starts to absorb some of the cake and pudding mix. It should look like muddy chocolate milk at this point.
Sprinkle the top with chocolate chips in an even layer over the whole Chocolate Dump Cake. You can use your favorite mix-ins in addition to the chocolate chips or instead of.
Chopped candy (anyone have leftover Halloween candy?), nuts, toffee chips, and/or other types of baking chips (peanut butter chips) would also be great.
Just don’t OVERLOAD the top with mix-ins.
Bake the Chocolate Dump Cake for about 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees F. You’ll know it’s done when the milk and top appears just about “set”. BUT be careful to NOT overbake or it will get hard quick! You want the top to look not so jiggly but not hard so check on it on the earlier side.
I liked this dump cake warm right out of the oven, but room temperature and cold is also good.
The result is almost like a rich brownie but with a slightly crispy bottom (because of the melted butter) and a soft almost ooey-gooey top (because of the milk and pudding mix). It’s kind of like a hot fudge type cake, cookie, and brownie all together.
Top this easy dump cake with ice cream, whipped cream or whipped topping, chocolate sauce or your favorite ice cream sauce, and whatever mix-ins you used such as chocolate chips.
Can’t get enough of dump cakes? Check out my 17 Easy Dump Cake Recipes to try to get more ideas!
Did you make this dump cake? Would love to hear about it in the comments below.
Quick video my son Jordan made showing how to make a chocolate dump cake in no time…
Chocolate Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 15.25 ounces chocolate cake mix (1 box) (do NOT make according to package directions)
- 3.9 ounces instant chocolate pudding mix (1 box) (do NOT make according to package directions)
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 12 ounces chocolate chips
- Toppings (optional): ice cream, sweetened whipped cream or whipped topping, chocolate chips
Instructions
- Place butter in a 13x9 inch baking dish (glass or nonstick is probably best). Place baking dish in oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Check on the butter every now and then and once melted, remove pan from oven. Give the butter a quick stir so that it's well mixed and cover the bottom of the pan.
- Sprinkle the DRY cake mix on top of melted butter in a flat even layer. Use a fork or the back of a spoon to spread the cake mix evenly over the butter.
- Sprinkle the DRY pudding mix on top of the cake mix in a flat even layer. Use a fork or the back of a spoon to spread the pudding mix evenly over the cake mix.
- Drizzle the milk on top of the pudding mix. Carefully tilt and swirl pan to cover as much of the pudding as possible with the milk. Using a spoon or back of a fork, gently press down on the milk so that it starts to absorb some of the cake and pudding mix and to cover any dry spots as much as possible. Sprinkle chocolate chips over top.
- Bake the cake at 350 degrees F for about 35-40 minutes or until top looks "set" (still soft and jiggly, but not runny and not hard), being careful to not overbake. Serve with your favorite toppings.
Notes
Nutrition:
(Nutrition data is provided when available for informational purposes only and calculated using an online nutritional calculator. For the most accurate information please calculate based on specific ingredients and brands you use as well as any changes you made to the recipe. I am not a certified nutritionist or registered dietician and any nutritional information provided should only be used as a general guideline and estimate.)
Ronda says
After baking, I saw dry areas, so mixed it all around making all the dry areas dissappear. This stirred in the creaminess of the chocolate chips, too. It is really yummy. Not as yummy looking, but who cares once you too it with ice cream and chocolate syrup? We didn’t. Thank you for this delicious recipe. (I’m diabetic, so used sugar free ingredients.)
Lisa Huff says
Thanks Ronda!
Stacy says
I made this and was a little skeptical but it actually turned out really good! My husband loved it! The bottom cake part was a little hard but it made it have a nice crisp! So next time I just won’t cook it quite as long. Thanks for a quick and easy recipe for a chocolate fix! 😊
Lisa Huff says
Oh that makes me so happy, thank you! It’s such a hit or miss recipe so always love hearing when it works for people!
Karen says
It was a miss for me. I followed the instructions to a T and used a really good non stick pan, but the bottom was so hard that I could not get it out of my pan. Hoping with a good soak my pan comes clean.
Lisa Huff says
Sorry it was a miss for you. Either turns out really well or really horrible for people. Sounds like maybe it was a tad overbaked. Sorry!
Nancy says
Bottom part was flat and hard. Pudding top was
Good.
Would it work to put the pudding mix on the
Bottom and layer milk, cake mix and butter? I thought the cake would be cake not thin and tough. Tastes good though.
Lisa Huff says
Well personal preference. Some people have mixed all the ingredients in the pan and baked.
patricia says
fun video and I will be sure and do a little dance at the appropriate times! Well done Jordan!
Lisa Huff says
Thanks Patricia! :)
Kim says
I can’t believe how easy and delicious this was!!! My new go-to dessert. I topped with ice cream and chocolate sauce. Thank you!
Also great job on the how to video!
Lisa Huff says
Thank you so much Kim! Happy to hear it worked out well for you. It can be quite hit or miss.
Debbie says
Loved it!!
Lisa Huff says
Thank you Debbie!
A Gardner says
People would be CRAZY not to love this cake! Top with coffee ice cream and whipped cream! Super yummy!!!
Lisa Huff says
Thank you! :)
Peggy McConnell says
I don’t have pudding mix. Would it be OK to just leave that out?
Lisa Huff says
I haven’t tried it so can’t say for sure.
E.T. says
Hey! I tried this recipe and the bottom had a bit of a powdery taste left. After 35-40 mins, the middle was really runny and took longer to bake than the corners and overall the cake was in the oven for over an hour and the inside was still somewhat liquidy. Was I not supposed to fork the mixture down into the butter and milk a bit?
Lisa Huff says
It’s kind of a tricky recipe. I didn’t need to press or stir but others have had better luck doing that.
Pam M. says
Can these dump cakes be frozen?
Lisa Huff says
Technically you could freeze it but I personally think this one in particular is best warm out of the oven.
Lori Madsen says
My husband and I LOVED this delicious dessert! It looked exactly like your photo! We topped it off with ice cream and enjoyed every morsel! Thank you for such an easy recipe!
Lisa Huff says
Thanks Lori! So happy to hear it worked out well for you an that you and your husband loved it! It’s such an easy recipe but can be a little tricky.
Cindy says
I did everything according to recipe and watched video. Well the bottom of cake was a thin layer of hard choco buttery cardboard and the middle was dry mix with chocolate drops. Totally fail but still ate some. Could barely get the bottom out had to scrap and scrap. Wish it woulda worked it was easy but somehow needs to be mixed so middle is not dry powder. I did get milk covering everything so don’t know why it didn’t work.
Lisa Huff says
Sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, it’s a very hit or miss recipe. The bottom does get harder and cookie like.
Lynn Harrison says
Just made this recipe!! I love it! It’s perfect for a chocoholic!!
Lisa Huff says
Oh great, thank you! So happy to hear it worked out well for you!
Marie says
I already know I’ll love this recipe & make it for my son & his family next time I see them. I will only have a very small peice since last time I ate something just like this I got sick. BTW your son is very handsome.
Lisa Huff says
Aww thanks! Hope you like it. It seems to work GREAT for people or fail horribly. :) So easy though!