Easy Lemon Dump Cake
This easy lemon dump cake is made with lemon pie filling, cake mix, and butter for a simple dessert with bright citrus flavor and a soft, buttery topping. A quick, beginner-friendly recipe that’s perfect for spring and summer gatherings.
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 226Kcal
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix white or lemon cake mix also work well
- 1 22oz lemon pie filling (store-bought or homemade)
- ½ cup butter thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.
- Spread the lemon filling evenly across the bottom of the dish. Use a spoon or spatula to gently spread it into an even layer.
- Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the lemon layer.
- Try to cover the surface as evenly as possible.
- Place butter slices over cake mix layer.
- Make sure to cover as much of the dry mix as possible to avoid dry patches.
- Tip - if you feel you have big spaces without butter, just add more butter.
- Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the top is golden and the edges are lightly crisp.
- Let cool slightly before serving. I enjoy either ice cream or whipped cream on top!
Notes
Use lemon pie filling for the most consistent results and a classic dump cake texture. Lemon curd can be used, but the filling will be softer and less structured.
Drizzle the melted butter as evenly as possible over the cake mix to help prevent dry spots on top.
Do not mix the layers. Keeping the ingredients layered is what creates the signature dump cake texture.
If you notice a few dry patches after baking, lightly brush or drizzle a little extra melted butter over those areas while still warm.
This dessert is best served warm or at room temperature and is more scoopable than sliceable.
Optional: Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for an extra treat.
Nutrition (estimate)
Calories: 226Kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 375mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 236IU | Calcium: 93mg | Iron: 1mg