Lemon dump cake is a super easy and yummy dessert. It tastes sweet and a little sour, just like lemons! You don’t need to be a grown-up to help make it. It’s perfect for a party, a family gathering, or just a treat at home. Everyone will love its bright lemon flavor, and it’s so simple to make that you can do it with your family or friends. Let’s get started and make this yummy lemon dump cake recipe together!

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How to Make Lemon Dump Cake

Making a lemon dump cake is very easy! You only need a few things. Just mix them, bake, and eat! It’s a fun cake to make with your family, and it doesn’t take long at all. You will love how simple it is, and how tasty it turns out. This cake is perfect for anyone who loves lemony desserts.

Ingredients for Lemon Dump Cake Recipe

1 box lemon cake mix
2 cans lemon pie filling
1/2 cup melted butter
Optional: powdered sugar to sprinkle on top

These ingredients are easy to find, and they come together to make a delicious cake. The lemon pie filling makes the cake extra tangy, and the cake mix makes it soft and fluffy. The butter helps make the top crispy and golden. You can also add some powdered sugar on top to make it look extra pretty.

Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Turn on the oven to 350°F (175°C) so you have a preheated oven ready so it gets nice and hot for the cake. This is an important step because we want the cake to cook evenly and get that yummy golden color.
Grease the Dish: Grease a big 9×13-inch baking dish or square baking dish so the cake doesn’t stick. You can use butter or cooking spray. This will help the cake come out easily when it’s done. Make sure to cover all the sides and bottom so nothing sticks.
Add the Pie Filling: Spread the lemon pie filling (2 cans of lemon pie filling) in the prepared baking dish. Make sure it covers the whole bottom. This will make the cake taste super lemony and juicy! The pie filling makes the bottom layer soft and full of flavor.
Add the Cake Mix: Sprinkle the lemon cake mix (a box of cake mix) on top of the pie filling. Cover all of the pie filling with the cake mix. This will make the cake fluffy and give it a nice texture. The dry cake mix will soak up the pie filling while it bakes, making a perfect mix of flavors.
Add the Butter: Pour the melted unsalted butter or place butter slices evenly all over the cake mix. The butter will make the top crispy and golden. If you need to, use a spoon to spread it around so that all the cake mix is covered. This will help the cake cook evenly and give it a yummy buttery flavor.
Bake: Put the baking dish in the oven and bake for 35-45 minutes until the baked cake is golden and bubbly. The top will turn golden, and you will see bubbles. That means it’s ready! The cake should be soft on the inside and crispy on top. Make sure to let it bake until it’s nice and golden.
Cool and Serve: Let the cake cool down a little before serving. Store any leftover lemon dump cake in an airtight container. You can enjoy it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. If you want, sprinkle powdered sugar on top to make it look extra nice. You can eat it warm with ice cream or whipped cream. It’s so yummy! The warm cake with cold ice cream makes a great combination, and everyone will love it.

Tips for the Best Lemon Dump Cake

Butter Everywhere: Make sure to spread the butter all over so the cake cooks evenly. If some spots are dry, they might not taste as good, so it’s important to cover it well.
Extra Lemon Flavor: You can add some lemon zest to make it taste even more like lemon. Lemon zest makes the cake smell amazing and adds more fresh lemon flavor.
Serve Warm: It tastes best when it is warm, and it goes great with ice cream or whipped cream! The warm cake with the cold topping is a perfect match that makes this dessert extra special.

Ingredient Substitutes

Add Berries: You can put some fresh blueberries, a handful of blueberries, or raspberries in the lemon filling to make it fruity. The berries add a nice color and make the cake even more delicious.
Try a Different Cake Mix: If you don’t have lemon cake mix, like yellow cake mixes or even a chocolate cake mix, you can use vanilla cake mix. It will still taste great, but it won’t be as lemony. You could also try a white cake mix.
Add Coconut: Sprinkle some shredded coconut on top before baking to make it taste tropical. The coconut will toast in the oven, adding a sweet and crunchy layer on top.
Add Nuts: Put some chopped nuts like almonds, pecans, or even walnuts on top for some crunch. The nuts make the cake extra crunchy and add a new texture that everyone will enjoy.
Lemon Glaze: You can make a simple lemon glaze with powdered sugar, lemon curd, and lemon juice. Drizzle it on top after the cake cools a little for even more lemony flavor. It makes the cake look shiny and adds extra sweetness.

What to serve with

With Fresh Fruit: Serve the cake with fresh fruit like strawberries, blueberries, or even a bit of fresh mint for extra flavor. The fresh fruit goes really well with the lemony flavor of the cake.
Make It Fancy: If you want to make it look fancy, you can put a little whipped cream on each piece and add a lemon slice on top. This makes it look really special, like something you would get at a bakery.
Serve for Breakfast: This cake is not just for dessert! You can have a small piece for breakfast or brunch. It goes great with a cup of tea, milk, or even coffee cake for a sweet morning treat, and it’s a sweet way to start the day.

Final Thoughts

Lemon dump cake is easy to make and tastes so good! It’s sweet, tangy, and buttery. You can make it for your family or friends, and everyone will love it. The bright lemon flavor and yummy crust make it super special. It’s perfect for a birthday, a holiday, or just a regular day when you want something yummy. The best part is that it’s so easy, even kids can help make it! Next time you want a quick and yummy dessert, try this lemon dump cake or even a lemon cream cheese dump cake. It’s easy and fun, and you will want to make it again and again. Whether you serve it warm with ice cream or just by itself, this cake is always a hit. Enjoy the lemony goodness and have fun baking it!