Here’s a detailed recipe for a delicious and easy Lemon Cream Cheese Dump Cake — a citrusy, creamy, buttery dessert made with just a few ingredients. Perfect for when you need a quick treat with minimal effort and maximum flavor.
🍋 Lemon Cream Cheese Dump Cake Recipe
📌 Ingredients (Serves 8–10)
- 1 box (15.25 oz) lemon cake mix
- 2 cans (21 oz each) lemon pie filling (or use 1 can lemon + 1 can blueberry for a twist!)
- 8 oz cream cheese, cubed and softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (optional — for sweetening the cream cheese)
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- Optional toppings: powdered sugar, whipped cream, lemon zest
🍳 Instructions
1. Preheat Oven
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Layer the Pie Filling
- Pour the lemon pie filling evenly into the bottom of the baking dish.
- Spread it out so it covers the whole bottom.
3. Add Cream Cheese
- In a bowl, mix softened cream cheese with sugar (if using). This step adds sweetness and smoothness.
- Drop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture over the lemon filling.
- You don’t need to spread it — it will melt into pockets of creamy goodness as it bakes.
4. Add Cake Mix
- Sprinkle the dry lemon cake mix evenly over the top of the cream cheese and pie filling layers.
- Do not mix!
5. Top with Butter
- Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the dry cake mix.
- Try to cover as much of the surface as possible to ensure even baking and golden crispiness.
6. Bake
- Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.
- Let it cool for 15–20 minutes before serving — the filling will thicken slightly as it cools.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
- Serve warm with:
- A scoop of vanilla ice cream
- Whipped cream
- A sprinkle of powdered sugar
- Fresh berries or lemon zest
❓FAQs – Lemon Cream Cheese Dump Cake
🔹 What is a dump cake?
A dump cake is a super-simple dessert where ingredients are “dumped” into a pan in layers — no mixing required. It’s somewhere between a cobbler and a cake.
🔹 Can I use fresh lemon curd or homemade pie filling?
Yes! If using homemade lemon curd or pie filling, use about 3 cups total for the base layer.
🔹 Do I need to mix the cake mix with eggs or milk?
No. The beauty of a dump cake is that the dry cake mix gets moistened by the melted butter and filling. Do not prepare the cake mix as directed on the box.
🔹 Why is my cake mix still powdery after baking?
This can happen if the butter didn’t cover all the dry mix.
Fix:
- Pour butter slowly and evenly.
- Use a spoon to gently pat down any dry spots before baking.
- Add a bit more melted butter or a splash of milk in dry areas if needed.
🔹 Can I make it ahead?
Yes. You can assemble it a few hours ahead and refrigerate until ready to bake. Or bake it fully and store in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven at 300°F for 10–15 minutes.
🔹 Can I freeze lemon cream cheese dump cake?
Yes, you can freeze baked dump cake:
- Cool completely.
- Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months.
- Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the oven.
Would you like a blueberry-lemon variation, individual serving version, or a printable recipe card?