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Warm, bubbly strawberries and a buttery golden topping make this Strawberry Dump Cake the kind of recipe every cook needs. With just 3 simple ingredients and less than 10 minutes of prep, this easy dessert bakes into a jammy, crispy treat that tastes downright homemade with almost no effort at all!
If there’s one dessert Southern cooks know how to appreciate, it’s a good dump cake. No mixers, no fancy steps, and barely any dishes? Now that’s the kind of recipe that earns a permanent spot in my recipe box!
I love making this strawberry version when I need something quick for guests or a last-minute family dinner. When dessert is expected, and you don’t have much time, it is truly a lifesaver!
And if you’re wondering how a dump cake even works, you’re not alone. Dump cakes work by layering fruit filling on the bottom, dry cake mix over the top, then butter that melts down while baking into a buttery, crisp topping. The moisture from the filling and the butter is enough to make the cake mix cook up perfectly. It’s pretty amazing!
You Will Love This Strawberry Dump Cake Recipe
- Easy recipe for beginners. If you can layer ingredients into a baking dish, you can make this dessert. There’s no special baking experience needed at all!
- Simple 3 ingredient dessert. With pie filling, cake mix, and butter, this recipe comes together using pantry staples you can keep on hand anytime dessert cravings hit.
- Perfect for hosting! This strawberry dump cake recipe feeds a crowd easily and looks extra pretty served with whipped cream and fresh strawberries on top.
- Minimal prep and cleanup. You only need one baking dish and a few minutes of prep. No mixing bowls needed!
Ingredients
- Strawberry pie filling: This is the easiest way to make this a true dump cake. Just use canned pie filling!
- Yellow cake mix: The dry cake mix forms the buttery topping as it bakes. If you prefer, you can use white cake mix.
- Cold butter: Thin slices of butter melt into the cake mix while baking and create that crisp golden topping dump cakes are known for.
- Toppings: To serve, feel free to top the cake off with fresh strawberries and Cool Whip!
How To Make Strawberry Dump Cake
✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!
Step 1 | Layer Strawberry Filling
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish. Spread the strawberry pie filling evenly in the bottom of the baking dish.
Step 5 | Top with Cake Mix
Evenly sprinkle the dry cake mix over the strawberry layer. Do not stir.
Step 3 | Layer on the Butter Slices
Lay thin slices of butter evenly over the top, covering as much of the dry mix as possible.
Step 4 | Bake & Enjoy
Bake for 45 to 50 minutes until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling around the edges. Let cool for about 10 minutes before serving.
Easy Variations
- Swap yellow cake mix for another flavor. White cake mix or strawberry cake mix both work beautifully in this recipe.
- Strawberry Cheesecake Dump Cake: Add cream cheese for a richer version. Drop softened cream cheese over the strawberry filling before adding the cake mix, then lightly swirl.
- Mix in fresh or frozen strawberries! Adding chopped strawberries gives the filling extra texture and balances some of the sweetness from the pie filling.
- Try different pie fillings. Cherry, blueberry, peach, or mixed berry pie filling all work well using the same method. Or try my cherry pineapple dump cake!
- Add crunchy toppings. Chopped pecans or sliced almonds sprinkled on top add a little crunch.
Expert Tips
- Grease the baking dish well! Even though this recipe is simple, lightly greasing the pan with melted butter or cooking spray helps prevent sticking around the edges.
- Use very cold butter. Cold butter sliced thinly melts slowly as the cake bakes, helping evenly moisten the dry cake mix!
- Do not stir the layers. This is very important! Dump cakes work best when the layers stay separate. Keeping the pie filling on the bottom and the cake mix on top helps create that classic cobbler-style texture.
- Allow the dump cake to cool slightly before serving. Letting it rest for about 10 minutes helps the strawberry filling thicken slightly, so it will scoop more cleanly!
What to Serve With Strawberry Dump Cake
This strawberry dump cake is especially delicious served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, strawberry cheesecake ice cream, or a big dollop of whipped cream. For brunches and showers, I love pairing it with fresh fruit and some coffee!
If you’re building a dessert table, this recipe fits right in beside classics like pineapple pistachio cake, banana pudding cake, or cheesecake salad!
Storage & Make-ahead Tips
Storage: Cover leftovers tightly and refrigerate to 4 days.
Make Ahead: Bake the dump cake earlier in the day and reheat gently in a warm oven before serving for the best texture.
Freeze: This recipe is not ideal for freezing since the topping can become soggy after thawing.
Recipe FAQs
A dump cake is an easy dessert made by “dumping” layers of fruit filling, dry cake mix, and butter into a baking dish, then baking everything together until bubbly and golden. As it bakes, the fruit becomes jammy while the cake mix and butter create a buttery, crisp topping similar to a cobbler.
Usually, this happens when the butter is not evenly distributed across the cake mix. Make sure the butter slices cover as much surface area as possible.
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Ingredients
- 2 21-ounce cans strawberry pie filling
- 1 15.25-ounce box of yellow cake mix
- ¾ cup cold butter - sliced, unsalted or salted to preference
- ½ cup fresh strawberries - sliced
- Cool Whip - optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.
- Spread the strawberry pie filling evenly in the bottom of the baking dish. Evenly sprinkle the dry cake mix over the strawberry layer. Do not stir.
- Lay thin slices of butter evenly over the top, covering as much of the dry mix as possible.
- Bake for 45 to 50 minutes until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling around the edges.
- Let cool for about 10 minutes before serving.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Add some fresh sliced strawberries if desired.
Notes
- Grease the baking dish well! Even though this recipe is simple, lightly greasing the pan with melted butter or cooking spray helps prevent sticking around the edges.
- Use very cold butter. Cold butter sliced thinly melts slowly as the cake bakes, helping evenly moisten the dry cake mix!
- Do not stir the layers. This is very important! Dump cakes work best when the layers stay separate. Keeping the pie filling on the bottom and the cake mix on top helps create that classic cobbler-style texture.
- Allow the dump cake to cool slightly before serving. Letting it rest for about 10 minutes helps the strawberry filling thicken slightly, so it will scoop more cleanly!
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