If you’re looking for some of the best delicious dump cake recipes, I’ve got you covered! Dump cakes are one of the easiest desserts you can make. With just a handful of ingredients, you can create a comforting dessert that is perfect for holidays, potlucks, family dinners, or anytime!
What is a Dump Cake?
A dump cake is an incredibly simple dessert typically made by “dumping” ingredients directly into a baking dish without the need for mixing bowls or complicated steps. Most recipes include:
- Fruit or pie filling
- A boxed cake mix
- Melted or sliced butter
- Optional toppings or mix-ins may include nuts, chocolate chips, caramel, coconut, spices, etc.
As the dump cake bakes, the fruit or bottom of the cake becomes bubbly while the cake mix forms a buttery, crisp topping that tastes like a cross between a cobbler, crisp, and cake.
Why You’ll Love Dump Cakes
- Perfect for beginner bakers
- Minimal amount of ingredients
- An old-fashioned and vintage recipe that you can easily update
- Minimal prep time
- One pan means easy cleanup
- Great for feeding a crowd
- Easy to customize with your favorite fruits and toppings
- Delicious served warm with ice cream or whipped cream
Tips for Making the Best Dump Cake
Before you start baking these delicious dump cake recipes, keep these simple tips in mind (but follow recipe directions if different):
- Spread the dry cake mix evenly over the filling.
- Cover as much of the cake mix as possible with butter (or other liquid or topping) for even browning.
- Don’t stir the layers unless the recipe specifically tells you to.
- Use quality pie fillings or fresh fruit for the best flavor.
- Bake until the top is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling around the edges.
- Let the dump cake rest for about 10 minutes before serving.
30 Delicious Dump Cake Recipes
1. Blueberry Dump Cake (Snappy Gourmet) – Only 7 ingredients including fresh or frozen blueberries, a cake mix, buttermilk, and a little orange
2. Pumpkin Dump Cake (Snappy Gourmet) – A cross between pumpkin pie, cobbler, and cake that is a simple dessert for fall and even Thanksgiving!
3. Cherry Dump Cake (Snappy Gourmet) – Frozen (or fresh) sweet cherries, fresh orange, and a yellow cake mix.
4. Chocolate Dump Cake (Snappy Gourmet) – People seem to love or hate this one. Only 5 ingredients and ready in less than an hour.
5. Piña Colada Dump Cake (Snappy Gourmet) – A fun cake twist on the popular pineapple, coconut, and rum cocktail!
6. Caramel Apple Dump Cake (Snappy Gourmet) – Fresh apples, caramel, and a yellow cake mix. This simple fall dessert is kind of a cross between an apple pie, cobbler, and crisp all in one! Top it with ice cream or whipped cream.
7. Lemon Cream Cheese Dump Cake (Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt)- Layers of lemon pie filling, cream cheese, and a crunchy cobbler topping made with a cake mix and butter.
8. Peach Dump Cake (Mom Foodie) – Only 3 ingredients including canned peaches, cake mix, and butter.
9. Quick and Easy Strawberry Dump Cake (Blackberry Babe) – You will need a box of cake mix, butter, sliced strawberries, and pie filling.
10. Pecan Pie Dump Cake (Southern Living) – A cross between a gooey pecan pie and a buttery, cakey cobbler.
11. Cherry Cheesecake Dump Cake (AllRecipes) – Cherry pie filling and vanilla cake mix plus some cream cheese, butter, egg, and vanilla, and you’ll have a cake and cheesecake in one!
12. Apple Cobbler Dump Cake (Saved Up With Love) – Only 4 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep!
13. Apple Spice Dump Cake (Momcrieff) – Apple pie filling, spice cake mix, and butter.
14. Rhubarb Dump Cake (Noshing with the Nolands) – Fresh or frozen rhubarb, sugar, cake mix, water, and butter is all you need for this comforting dump cake.
15. Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake (Dinners, Dishes & Desserts) – Just 4 ingredients to make a rich, fudgy, chocolate dump cake loaded with peanut butter cups!
16. Berry Dump Cake (Food Network) – Any combination of fresh or frozen blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, or strawberries will work in this mixed berry cake.
17. Slow Cooker Pineapple Upside-Down Dump Cake (Taste of Home) – All the flavors of pineapple upside-down cake and made in a crockpot for easy cooking.
18. Cinnamon Roll Dump Cake (Upstate Ramblings) – Combines the cozy taste of classic cinnamon rolls with the no-fuss dump cake.
19. Blackberry Dump Cake (Vintage Kitchen Notes) – Cobbler-like dessert with juicy blackberries and a buttery, cakey topping made from cake mix.
20. Gluten-Free Apple Oat Dump Cake (House of Mar) – All you need is butter, gluten-free vanilla or spice cake mix, apple pie filling, gluten-free oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon or apple pie spice.
21. Banana Dump Cake (Averie Cooks) – Great way to use up some ripe bananas you may have around!
22. Dump Cake from Scratch (Simply Recipes) – Use your favorite fresh or frozen fruit, and a simple homemade cake mix.
22. German Chocolate Dump Cake (AllRecipes) – This one is more of a traditional cake with chocolate, pecans, and coconut, but simple and not a lot of mixing. The batter, filling, and topping elements are all baked together.
23. Oreo Dump Cake (The Country Cook) – Layers of Oreo cookies, sweetened condensed milk, whipped topping, cake mix, butter, and more delicious Oreos! Yum!
24. Pineapple Dump Cake (The Kitchn) – Only 5 ingredients in this simple dessert including crushed and sliced canned pineapple, brown sugar, a cake mix, and butter.
25. Carrot Dump Cake (Taste of Home) – Canned pineapple, shredded fresh carrots, walnuts, spice cake mix, and butter for a delicious dessert.
26. Sweet Potato Dump Cake (Plowing Through Life) – Layers of potatoes with a sweet, crunchy cake topping.
27. S’mores Dump Cake (Julia Pacheco) – All your favorite s’mores flavors right in a gooey dump cake.
28. Instant Pot Cherry Dump Cake (Meatloaf Melodrama) – A cherry cobbler-like dump cake made in a pressure cooker with cake mix and cherry pie filling.
29. Apricot Dump Cake (Miss in the Kitchen) – Apricot pie filling with a crunchy almond and buttery cake mix topping.
30. Tropical Dump Cake (Cupcakes & Cutlery) – Fun combination of pineapple and mandarin oranges!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called a dump cake?
It’s called a dump cake because the ingredients are literally dumped into the baking dish instead of being mixed first. Although some modern versions of dump cakes may require a little mixing.
Can you use fresh fruit?
Yes! Although canned pie filling is the traditional choice, you can use fresh (or frozen) peaches, apples, berries, cherries, pears, and other fruits. Depending on the fruit, you may want to add a little sugar and cornstarch.
What cake mix works best?
Yellow cake mix is the classic choice, but these also work well:
- White cake mix
- Butter cake mix
- Spice cake mix
- Chocolate cake mix
- Lemon cake mix
- Strawberry cake mix
Can dump cake be made ahead?
Absolutely. Bake it earlier in the day and reheat before serving. It’s also delicious cold straight from the refrigerator.
Can you freeze dump cake?
Yes. Once cooled, cover tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
What to Serve with Dump Cake
Dump cakes are delicious on their own but even better with:
- Vanilla ice cream or a complementary ice cream flavor
- Whipped cream or whipped topping
- Caramel or chocolate sauce
- Toasted nuts like pecans or walnuts
- Fresh berries
- Cinnamon or a dash of another spice
- Powdered sugar
- Chopped candy
Hope you enjoy all these delicious dump cake recipes!
About Lisa Huff
Lisa Huff is a Cookbook Author, Freelance Recipe Developer, Food Photographer, Blogger/Writer, and award-winning home chef. She loves creating unique recipes from healthy to decadent including cocktails, appetizers, main dishes, dessert recipes and more and has appeared on various shows, publications, and websites.
