Lemon Dump Cake Recipe

Easy Lemon Dump Cake Recipe that tastes amazing. You only need four ingredients to make this epic Lemon Cream Cheese Dump Cake! This cake is perfect for family dinners, potlucks, summer barbecues, or any day you want a lemon dessert.

Lemon Dump Cake Recipe

I love how easy this dump cake recipe is to make! It only takes four ingredients and a few minutes to put together. You can leave out the cream cheese, but it helps balance the strong lemon flavor with a bit of creaminess.

This easy dump cake takes minutes to prepare, and then you patiently wait for it to bake. The wait time is truly the most challenging part of this recipe.

We like serving it alone or topping it with a dollop of Cool Whip/whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

It is the perfect lemon dessert recipe for summer parties, barbecues, potlucks, or family dinners. It is so easy to make that you don't have to worry about taking lots of time in the kitchen to make something.

If you love lemon recipes, check out these favorites: Strawberry Lemonade, Lemon Angel Bars, Lemon Cheesecake Bars, and Lemon Blueberry Dump Cake.

Ingredients

Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients needed to make an epic Lemon Dump Cake! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.

• Yellow Cake Mix
• Lemon Pie Filling
• Cream Cheese
• Butter

Optional: White Chocolate Chips, lemon zest

Equipment Needed

• Cooking Spray
• 9x13 baking dish
• Spatula
• Microwave Butter Cover
• Heat resistant oven mitts - A few years ago we had a fire scare when we didn't realize we had turned a burner on and a cloth potholder caught fire. Thankfully we walked by the kitchen and saw the smoke and were able to get it out ourselves. Since then we have only used these heat-resistant potholders.

How to Make Lemon Dump Cake

I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

The first step is to spray your 9x13 pan with non-stick spray. Then spread out the lemon cake filling in the bottom until evenly spread over the pan. Top with pieces of cream cheese evenly.

You can double the cream cheese if you want each bite to have a nice piece of cream cheese in it.

Sprinkle with cake mix crumbles made with dry cake mix and melted butter.

Bake until golden brown and enjoy this delicious dessert!

Optional - sprinkle lemon zest on top of the cake for a garnish.

Crockpot Lemon Dump Cake

This recipe can easily be adapted to your slow cooker! Just follow the steps above and then bake on high for 2 hours. I do suggest making sure you spray the slow cooker with non-stick spray to make clean up a lot easier.

Preparation and Storage

Make Ahead: With only five minutes of prep time, this Lemon Dump Cake comes together so quickly that you can make it whenever the craving for a sweet treat hits.

Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy them within three to five days.

Freezing/How to Freeze: Freeze leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe container and enjoy them within a month.

How to Reheat: Cream cheese does not melt; it just gets soft. When enjoying leftovers, I suggest heating this cake in the microwave for a few seconds to soften the cream cheese again.

 

Recipe Variations

Substitutions: You can make the Lemon Dump Cake with a yellow cake mix or lemon cake mix for more lemon flavor.

Lemon Blueberry dump cake - Add a layer of blueberry pie filling, garnish with fresh blueberries

Vegetarian Option: This dump cake recipe is vegetarian.

Vegan Option: Replace each of the four ingredients with a plant-based substitute to make it vegan. 

Gluten-Free: Gluten-free eaters should replace the yellow cake mix with a gluten-free alternative. Many canned lemon pie fillings are gluten-free but check for a gluten-free label if you are highly sensitive.

Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings: The written recipe makes eight servings using one box of yellow cake mix and scales to your desired yield.

Sugar-Free: The written recipe contains 43 grams of sugar per serving. Replace the yellow cake mix and canned lemon pie filling with sugar-free substitutes to make it sugar-free.

Tips for the Best Lemon Dump Cake

• Top with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
• Nutrition information, including calories, protein, calcium, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin c, potassium, cholesterol, sodium, trans fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, and more, will vary depending on the products used.

What to Serve with Lemon Dump Cake

With this four-ingredient recipe that takes only five minutes of prep and half an hour in the oven, you can enjoy a lemony cake in no time! Here are some pairing suggestions to inspire your menu planning.

Sides: Broccoli Casserole, Apple Stuffing, Funeral Potatoes, BLT Pasta Salad, Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon, Air Fryer Baked Potato, Jiffy Cornbread with Sour Cream, Sweet Potato Casserole with Candied Yams, Southern Style Green Beans, CrockPot Bourbon Baked Beans

Main Dishes: Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheddar Chicken, Stovetop Meatloaf, Chicken Casserole with Ritz Crackers, CrockPot Rosemary Pork, Cracker Barrel Chicken & Dumplings, CrockPot Macaroni & Cheese with Ham, CrockPot Salisbury Steak, CrockPot Ham & Cheese Grits

Desserts: Ooey-Gooey Butter Cake, Lemon Bars, Lemon Icebox Pie, Best Rice Krispie Treats, Bisquick Blueberry Cobbler, Pig Pickin' Cake, Bisquick Apple Cobbler, Bisquick Peach Cobbler, Molasses Cookies, Banana Bread, Classic Chocolate Brownies, Texas Sheet Cake Cookies

Drinks: Coke Slushie, Red Robin Freckled Lemonade, CopyCat McDonald's Sweet Tea

When to Serve

• Lunch
• Dinner
• Potlucks
• Cookouts
• Family and Friend Gatherings

Great Recipe Collections

40+ Delicious Easy Cake Mix Recipes 

60+ Easy Cream Cheese Recipes 

Easy Lemon Desserts That Taste Amazing

Easy Dessert Recipes with 5 Ingredients (Or Less!)

3-Ingredient Recipes (Appetizers, Entrees, Desserts)

Do you love recipes? Check out our copycat recipes, dessert recipes, and our CrockPot Recipes.

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