A blast from the past, this easy Dump Cake recipe only takes 4 ingredients. Switch up the filling ingredients depending on what you have on hand or what your favorite flavor is. A scoop of ice cream on top takes it to another level!
Years ago, we started a Sunday night dessert tradition. Basically, it was just a way to ensure that we all could sit down to dessert once a week. Usually it’s something easy, like chocolate chip cookies, and other times, I’ll try out a new recipe.
We are not always on top of it, though. Sometimes we have dessert leftover from something I made during the week. Sometimes, I’m too tired and just want to be out of the kitchen for the night.
On the nights when I don’t feel like getting crazy or fancy, I usually make up something that is super easy and super fast. Let’s be honest – that will often be a box of brownies. But then I started throwing this dump cake into the mix, because really, I’d say it’s almost easier than making a box of brownies!
4 ingredients are all you need. No mixing. This really takes 5 minutes or less to have it oven ready. And you can totally get crazy with the flavors.
It may be totally old school, but it really doesn’t get much easier!
How to Make Dump Cake
4 ingredients – that’s all you need! Here is how easy it is to throw this easy dessert together.
Start by spreading a can of pie filling into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
Next up is the can of crushed pineapple. You don’t drain this. And since your pie filling is already in the dish, it’s harder to spread it, so I just take a spoon and drop spoonfuls of the pineapple over the pie filling. Just make it as even as possible. You can use the back of your spoon to gently spread it, if needed, as well. It doesn’t have to be perfect!
Next take your dry cake and sprinkle it over the top of the pineapple.
Your last step is the butter. I take half of it and melt it and pour it over the top, then cut the remaining butter into small pieces and place them evenly over the cake. I find that this is the best way to make sure the butter gets to all of the cake mix to make a perfect cake. I don’t end up with any dry spots this way.
Bake the cake until it is golden brown on top and the filling is bubbling around the edges. I like to serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. (Although a spoonful when it’s cold from the fridge is delicious, as well!)
Dump Cake Variations
One of my favorite things about this cake is how easy it is to switch things up. The very first time I made a dump cake was when I found a can of blueberry pie filling hiding in my food storage and this was a great way to use it up. Here are a few of our favorite combinations, but feel free to branch out and try others, as well!
- Strawberry pie filling, crushed pineapple, white cake mix
- 2 cans cherry pie filling, chocolate cake mix
- 2 cans blueberry pie filling, lemon cake mix
- 2 cans apple pie filling, spice cake mix
- Peach pie filling, canned peaches, yellow cake mix
- And for a from scratch version, try this Gooey Caramel Chocolate Dump Cake
More Easy Dessert Recipes
Spice Cake Caramel Blondies
Blueberry Cobbler
Indoor S’mores
No Bake Cheesecake Recipe
Caramel Brownies
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Dump Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling
- 1 can (15 to 20 oz) crushed pineapple*
- 15.25 oz box packaged yellow cake mix
- 1 cup butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325ºF. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Spread the pie filling in the bottom of the baking dish.
- Evenly pour the pineapple over the top of the cherry pie filling.
- Sprinkle the dry cake mix over the pineapple.
- Melt 1/2 cup of the butter and pour evenly over the top of the cake mix.
- Take the remaining 1/2 cup of butter and cut into small pieces. Place the pieces of butter over the top of the cake.
- Bake the cake in the preheated oven until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling around the edges, about 40 minutes.
- Serve the cake warm with ice cream, if desired.
Denise says
The entire contents of the cans get dumped in, correct? Juices and all? I assume so since these aren’t “drain and dump” cakes, but wanted to make sure. Thanks!
Deborah says
Yep!
Debi Rankin says
Great want to try some of the variations example the blueberry with lemon cake mix do I add pineapple also?
Liz Jones says
Don’t have 9x 13 pan, Can use 2 8 inch pie pans?
Deborah says
I haven’t tried, but I’m guessing it should work.
Lana says
I was wondering the same thing. I want to give to older neighbors on Easter and 9×13 is too much for them. If you tried please post your results. Thank you. ~Lana
Debi Rankin says
Lana, I do the same, as gifts or ‘Happy’s’. You might want to try Dollar Store General Etc or Walmart they sometimes have smaller size decorative pans around those Seasons example Valentine’s Day excetera you might check their there the perfect amount and you can put them in a sack and wrap if you want
Carolyn Byrd says
I made this tonight and my whole family raved about it. It is so easy and quick to make.👍👌
Linda K says
I make this almost the same way. I put coconut and pecan pieces on top as well as the cake mix and butter. So good, a little piece is all I can handle, it’s rich.
Angela Polk says
This is the best dump cake ever!! It’s super easy to make and so delicious! I think the extra butter makes a bit difference. I love the traditional dump cake but today I used 2 cans of cherry pie filling and a triple fudge chocolate cake. Oh my goodness!! It was absolutely decadent!!
Jimmie M says
I tweaked it some to incorporate the ingredients I had on hand (strawberry pie filling, frozen berries, and a butter pecan cake mix) and it was awesome!
Sherri says
I have made this for my family for years. Different varieties of Pie Fillings, Cherry, Apple even Blueberry. I do add Pecans and Shredded Coconut along with the Cake Mix as the topping. It is definately a family favorite, especially warm with Vanilla Ice Cream.
Deborah Mcclintock says
I actually used sugar free pie filling and a sugar free cake yellow cake mix. Used 1/2 apple and 1/2 cherry. And it was as good as I remember. In the 1980’s!!!!
Jeannette Bailey says
So good
Linda Satterwhite says
Family and friends loved it and the simplicity of making it. I saw the other variations and gonna try the blueberry with lemon cake. However, I was under the impression you always had to use crushed pineapple in dump cakes.
Jean Harrett says
I really loved this recipe and my family loved it more. Win win !!!
gregory anderson says
Yes, this is the classic recipe alright. My wife and I have made this our 24 yrs married. Lots of dump cake over time. hahaha Just wanted to say tripling the recipe did not impact the directions nor the nutrition count. I get it. Just saying. Thanks for spreading the good word about this classic American dish from almost 100 years ago.
Mavornin says
Recipe was great!
Have a question: is honeydew melon something one could use in this recipe?
Deborah says
I have never tried using fresh fruit, only canned pie filling. I’m afraid that the water content in any melon would be too high for this recipe.
Andrea Charles says
In the recent past, I have been coming across different version of dump cake recipes and I should say, this is the most simplest and flavored one I should add. A dump cake in 45 minutes is exceptional not only to make it but also serves as an incredible element to add to a meal. Thank you Deborah, for putting in your time and effort in giving us additional details such as pictures of every step of making the dump cake, the different variations that can be tried, etc.
Robert Hicks says
My Mom used to make this. She would add pecans which really made it even more delicious.