This is a spring and summer must-make for anyone who likes lemon. I love a lemon desserts—and when it’s this easy, I’m in heaven. A little sweet, a little tart, and with very little effort—this lemon dump cake can be all yours.
A classic dump cake is as easy as it gets for a homemade cake. This lemon version is full of zest, the fresh, tangy, fruity flavor of this cake is a crowd-pleaser. If that weren’t enough, there’s also a buttery cake topping that takes this simple dessert to the next level.
I love the ease of a dump cake. Have you ever spent so much time cooking that you aren’t really interested in it by the time you serve it? Well, this is not that cake! Easy to make and enjoy.
If you love good dump cakes, try my: cherry pineapple dump cake, pumpkin dump cake, peach dump cake, cherry dump cake, and apple dump cake. All of them are dump cake-o-licious! Easy-Peasy wonderfully yummy.
So for the lemon lovers in your life, let’s bake this!!!
What Is A Dump Cake
A dump cake is just what the name implies. You prepare a baking dish, and literally “dump,” the ingredients in a layering fashion into the dish. There’s virtually no prep in this recipe other than slicing the butter!
It’s one of the quickest and easiest desserts ever! It’s the perfect last-minute dessert for everything from a midweek family dinner to a church dinner or neighborhood potluck. It’s a guaranteed hit!
Lemon Dump Cake Ingredients ~ Just 4!
- Lemon Pie Filling: This stuff is amazing and so convenient! You’ll love the results when you use this!!
- Cream Cheese: Cut into small cubes so you get the wonderfully creamy, tangy cheese in every bite!
- Yellow Cake Mix: You can use a yellow cake mix, white, or even lemon cake mix for an added lemon punch!
- Butter: I use unsalted butter.
Storing + Make-Ahead
- How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge? You’ll want to cover it loosely with cling wrap or foil to protect its integrity. This cake can last up to a week in the fridge.
- Make-Ahead Tips: This dump cake only has a 10-minute prep time so there really isn’t a bunch of prep to speak of. But, it’s great in the fridge for a few days so you can always make it a day ahead.
Serving Recommendations
This is so delicious on its own warm out of the oven, but if you want to gild the lily, ( as I always want to…) top it with some fresh homemade whipped cream, Cool Whip, or good quality vanilla ice cream.
Garnish, if desired with fresh mint. I have mint growing in my garden so it’s always fresh and available!
How to Make Lemon Dump Cake
- Spread the lemon pie filling.
- Add cream cheese cubes on top.
- Spread yellow cake mix evenly.
- Add sliced butter on top
- Bake.
See full instructions below.
More Fan Favorite Lemon Desserts
- Lemon Ricotta Cookies
- Lemon Buttermilk Cake
- Lemon Bars
- Lemon Pound Cake
- Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
- Lemon Sugar Cookies
- Lemon Blueberry Bars
- Lemon Lush
Lemon Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 2 (21-ounce) cans lemon pie filling
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 8 ounces cream cheese, cut into small cubes
- 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 Sticks) butter, cut into 24 slices
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9 X 13-inch baking dish with nonstick baking spray.
- Pour 2 cans of lemon pie filling into the prepared baking dish. Place the cream cheese cubes (8 ounces) in a single layer over the lemon pie filling.
- Evenly spread cake mix (1 box) over the top of the filling and press down firmly. Arrange butter slices (24 slices) evenly over the cake mix.
- Bake in preheated oven, 50-60 minutes, or until top indeep golden brown and bubbly. Let set a few minutes and serve.
Fans Also Made:
Nutrition
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May I assemble the recipe but not bake and refrigerate overnight for baking the next day?
Hi, Helen. This only takes less than 10 minutes to prepare. It’s best to prep and bake the same day 🙂
Can I use King Arthur Gluten Free cake mix
Hi, Bobbie! Yes, that’ll work. Enjoy baking and let us know how it turns out 🙂
It was good, goes together like any other dump cake. I didn’t like the fact that the cream cheese didn’t melt, just stayed in small clumps.
LOVE lemon desserts so much! This is great!
I do have a question for you. Do you have a homemade yellow cake mix that I could use instead of a boxed cake mix? I’m trying to avoid all the extra unhealthy additives in prepackaged items, like cake mixes, etc. but I love how quick dump cakes are to put together. Any suggestions for a DIY yellow cake mix?
Thanjks,
Rebecca
Hi, Rebecca! Lemon desserts are sooo good, right? No, I don’t have a recipe for it, but here’s you might wanna check: Homemade Yellow Cake Mix . Enjoy!
Awesome! Thanks so much! I can’t wait to try this with the lemon dump cake. I plan to use lemon curd instead of pie filling, since it doesn’t seem to be available near me. We have lots of Mennonite stores near us and they sell lemon curd, so I will try that out. Thanks again for your help, and for sharing the lemon dump cake recipe!! 🙂
I haven’t made this cake, but u could try an organic yellow cake mix, like ANNIE’S.
Hi Deb. I have to tell you I haven’t tried it with an organic cake mix, but I can’t imagine it being a problem.
Love the dump cakes. Have a pair of lactose intolerant people here, Can this be made without the cream cheese? Just the pie filling, cake mix and butter (or margarine for us)? Thanks
Hi! I haven’t tried that but I think this will work without cream cheese. Let us know how it turns out 🙂
Can’t wait to make this!
Enjoy, Glenda!
I am 100% going to make this today! Since this has cream cheese in it, does it need to be stored in the fridge?
I would refrigerate it. Here’s an article on whether things baked with cream cheese need to be refrigerated.
Just got all the ingredients for the lemon dump cake
Can’t wait to try it. Seems so simple also. I like that. I’ll let you know what I think. Thanks for the recipe.
Enjoy, Monica!
I have NEVER ever seen Lemon Pie filling in all my life. What’s the manufacturer name? I love all things lemon so I’d like to make it.
Thanks,
Janice
I buy Duncan Hines Comstock Comstock Original Lemon Creme Pie Filling And Topping!
What about using Jello Instant Lemon Pudding and Pie mix
Hi Kathy. I haven’t tried it that way but I’d love to hear how it comes out if you try it 🙂
Can you have it and put it in a 8×8 pan? Just curious as there are only 2 in our family and well…curious?
Yes you can , of course. It might be a little difficult halving the cake mix and pie filling. It’s doable though!
Would chopped pecans be okay to add?
Hi, Mary. I haven’t tried adding pecans.
This looks SOOOOO good. I can’t wait to try it.
Hi, just a question: do you think that I could substitute lemon curd for the pie filling?
Jennifer, I don’t see why not!
Happy to hear that, as I’ve never seen canned lemon pie filling – though one of the local bulk stores sometimes has it. Going to look for it when I go to buy spices, etc, so I too can bake this cake. IF the filling makes it home. A VERY big if 🤗. I have a spoon in the console of my truck. You know. Just in case 🤣
Blessings from a -26°F, Alberta, Canada 🍁 🇨🇦 afternoon!
Hello Kathleen,
Just looking for a bit of clarity regarding the lemon dump cake recipe. For the pudding and cake mixes, is it dry ingredients going in or do we actually mix these according to the directions on the boxes? If you would please clarify that for me (as sometimes I’m a wee bit slow/dense), I would appreciate it!!
Thank you 😊
Hi Rachel, in this recipe there is no pudding mix. As for the cake mix, it is used as an ingredient, yes, a dry ingredient and you do not mix according to package instructions!! This is a super easy recipe! You’re no slow!!! People ask me this exact question all the time!!! <3
Thank you Kathleen, I appreciate it!! Haha…. it’s cans if pie filling!! 🤦 Thank you for pointing that out as well. 🤓
If you can’t find the lemon pudding in the can, you could make 2 boxes Iof instant pudding, or the cooked pudding.
Have made all your recipes Cowboy stew was my husband favorite. Loved the dump cakes best so easy 😋 thank you Linda
Oh my Gosh, Linda you’ve made my day!!! So happy you’re cooking along with me. I’m planning more stew and dump cakes. Thanks so much for commenting!!! <3 <3