This easy lemon dump cake is super quick to whip up and only requires 5 simple ingredients, a cake mix, lemon pie filling, cream cheese, sugar and butter.
If you’ve never tried a dump cake before, you’re in for a treat. The name just comes from the fact that it’s a ‘dump things into a baking dish and go’ kind of recipe.
It’s very quick and easy to throw together and is a crowd pleaser. It’s got a creamy lemon pie filling on the bottom with pockets of cream cheese, then everything is topped with a crunchy cake mix topping along with melted butter.
Table of Contents:
This recipe is perfect for when you’re short on time but still want a delicious lemon dessert. It’s a great dessert to make because it only requires about 5 simple ingredients, so even if you’re not an experienced baker, you can still whip it up in no time.
This lemon cream cheese dump cake is best served warm with cool whip, but it’s also good cold. If you’re a fan of lemon desserts, you won’t want to miss this easy and delicious throw-together dessert cake that is bursting with lemon flavor.
Ingredient Notes:
Now let’s talk about just some of the ingredients in this easy lemon dessert. (The printable list of all ingredients are in the recipe card below.)
Lemon pie filling: This is the star of the show and it’s best to use a large can of this. The lemon pie filling will form the gooey bottom of this dessert.
Lemon cake mix: The cake mix will form the crunch topping for this cake and it’s SO flavorful!
Cream cheese and sugar: This will be blended together and will be like warm pockets of cream cheese goodness inside this cake.
Butter: Pats of butter are added all over the top of the cake mix, which melt into it to make a buttery, crumbly topping.
(Make sure to check out the FAQ section below in this post for ingredient and substitution questions.)
How to make this cake:
Let’s talk about how to make a lemon and cream cheese dump cake. (The printable instructions are in the recipe card below.)
Step 1:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 13×9 inch baking dish with non-stick baking spray.
Step 2:
Add the lemon pie filling to the baking dish and spread it evenly over the bottom.
Step 3:
Now, sprinkle about 1/4 of the dry cake mix all over the lemon pie filling.
Step 4:
Now, in a mixing bowl, add the room-temperature cream cheese and sugar and mix on medium-high speed with an electric mixer until smooth.
Step 5:
Drop the cream cheese mixture, using a tablespoon, on top of the lemon filling and cake mix. Just drop it as small globs all over everything.
Step 6:
Sprinkle the rest of the cake mix all over everything.
Step 7:
Now add thinly sliced butter evenly over the top and make sure you cover as much of the dry cake mix as you can.
Step 8:
Bake the dump cake at 350 degrees F for approximately 35-40 minutes.
Step 9:
Next, remove the cake from the oven and let it cool on a rack for about 20 minutes.
Step 10:
Enjoy this cake warm either plain, with whipped cream or with ice cream.
(Remember that the detailed instructions will also be in the recipe card below.)
Easy Lemon Dump Cake (with cream cheese)
Ingredients
- 1 (22 ounce) can lemon pie filling
- 1 lemon cake mix (I used Betty Crocker Delights Super Moist Lemon Cake mix)
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, thinly sliced (1 1/2 sticks)
- whipped cream (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spray a 13×9 inch baking dish with non-stick baking spray.
- Add the lemon pie filling to the dish and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle about 1/4 of the dry cake mix over the lemon pie filling.
- In a mixing bowl, add the room-temperature cream cheese and sugar and mix on medium-high speed with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Drop the cream cheese mixture, using a tablespoon, on top of the lemon filling and cake mix. You do not need to spread the cream cheese mixture out evenly. Just leave it as clumps. This will make nice warm pockets of cheesecake taste in this dessert.
- Sprinkle the rest of the cake mix over everything.
- Add the thinly sliced butter evenly over the top and try to cover as much of the dry cake mix as you can.
- Bake at 350 degrees F, on the middle rack, for approximately 35-40 minutes. Most of the top should be golden.
- Remove from the oven and cool on a rack for about 20 minutes.
- Serve warm either plain, with whipped cream or with ice cream.
- See the notes section for best ways to store this, serve it and for more questions.
Notes
If chilled, add a serving to a plate and microwave for about 15 seconds or so until warmed. This lemon dump cake is very good topped with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. For other questions: Make sure to check out the TIPS & FAQs for this recipe in the blog post, which should answer other questions you may have about ingredients, substitutions, etc. Nutritional values are an estimate. *This recipe card may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition
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Tips & FAQs:
I think so, but I have not personally tried that.
I’m not sure if that would work as lemon pudding is made with milk and I’m not sure how that would actually bake.
Yes, you can mix and match and probably use any type of filling and cake mix flavor you like.
Yes, you can. It may not be quite as lemony though.
No, you’ll just sprinkle on the cake mix dry. When the butter melts into it, it will make a nice crumble on the top.
Probably, although I don’t know if the end result would be too salty or not as I have only made this recipe with unsalted butter.
Just drop the cream cheese mixture as clumps and leave them as is. No need to spread the cream cheese mixture out.
The top of the cake will be golden brown.
No, I don’t think this cake would work frozen, then defrosted.
This dessert should be stored covered in the refrigerator and can last up to 5 days.
This dessert is best served warm, but can also be served cold if that’s your preference.
If chilled, add a serving to a plate and microwave for about 15 seconds or so until warmed. This lemon dump cake is very good topped with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Video:
Supplies used for this recipe:
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Can I make this with a GF cake mix instead? (My husband has Celiac)
Hi Kim. I haven’t tried this with gluten free cake mix. I’m sure it would work about the same though…I just don’t know how it would taste. It’s worth a try though!
I love this recipe, can’t wait to try it. I was wondering if I could add blueberries to this desert? but thought I should ask first !
Hi Barb, I think it would be fine to add blueberries. I haven’t tried it, but I think it would be fine. I’d probably add fresh blueberries or if you use frozen, thaw them first. 🙂
Wow! This came out amazing. I think blending the room temp cream cheese with the sugar works great. I also used yellow cake instead of lemon cake and the right amount of lemon flavor was perfect came through perfectly. In my opinion I think lemon cake would be too overpowering with lemon. I will add chopped pecans next time. Thank you for this amazing easy recipe!
Yay!!! So glad you liked it! Also that’s a good tip about using the yellow cake if people would like it less lemony. Thanks for the great review!