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    Home » Sweets » Cakes

    Lemon Dump Cake

    August 30, 2021 by Chenée Lewis

    230 shares
    lemon dump cake

    Lemon dump cake with condensed milk only takes 5 ingredients and is one of the best lemon dump cake recipes!! This is a quick, easy dessert you'll love. And once you've tried this lemon cream cheese dump cake recipe, check out my Lemon Sour Cream Pound Cake, my Lemon Curd Cookies, or my Lemon Lavender Cupcakes for even more lemony goodness!

    lemon dump cake
    Lemon Dump Cake Recipe
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    *This post contains affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my disclosure for details*.

    Lemon Dump Cake with Condensed Milk

    When you're in the mood for a sweet, lemony treat, this dump cake is your answer! It's SO easy to make with just 5 ingredients, and so delicious! It's got creamy, tart lemon curd, the rich tanginess of cream cheese, and a buttery crust made with vanilla cake mix. You've got to try it!

    Dump cakes are a super quick and simple type of dessert that anyone can make! There's no mixing, creaming, or sifting, and the results are always consistently delicious! So it's perfect for beginner bakers, or to make with kids! And this is one of the best lemon dump cake recipes! I love the combination of lemon curd and sweetened condensed milk, and the cream cheese is a fantastic addition!

    Why is It Called Dump Cake?

    Dump cake gets its name from its preparation method -- you literally dump the ingredients right into the baking pan. There are a lot of fun varieties of dump cake, like my mini pumpkin dump cake, classic cherry-pineapple dump cake, and apple cinnamon dump cake!

    lemon dump cake
    Lemon Dump Cake Ingredients

    Lemon Curd Dump Cake Ingredients

    • lemon curd - I wanted to use lemon curd for this recipe because I LOVE its juicy lemon flavor. I also love that this recipe is a great way to use up leftover lemon curd! But you can make your own (check out my lemon curd cookies for my recipe), or just grab some store-bought lemon curd!
    • sweetened condensed milk - To add a bit of creamy sweetness, we're using a can of sweetened condensed milk. It creates a beautiful contrast to the tartness of the lemon curd.
    • cream cheese - I love the creamy tanginess that cream cheese adds to this recipe! Definitely opt for full-fat cream cheese, and make sure that it's softened before cutting it in.
    • vanilla cake mix - Here's the vanilla cake mix I use! If you prefer, you can also use a yellow cake mix or a lemon cake mix for even more lemon flavor!
    • salted butter - We'll be drizzling melted butter on top to create that perfect crust! I like to use salted butter for this dump cake to offset some of the sweetness. If you prefer to use unsalted butter, add in ¼ teaspoon of salt.

    Equipment Needed

    It's so easy! The ONLY key piece of equipment you'll need is an 8x8 baking pan. Here's the one I use! But you can also use a 9x9 baking pan, but your dump cake will be a bit flatter and will bake faster.

    Tips and F.A.Q.

    How do you know when dump cake is done?

    When it's done, the crust on your dump cake will be golden brown and the lemon cream cheese filling will be bubbling! Then you can take it out and serve it warm!

    lemon curd dump cake served on plates

    Do dump cakes have to be refrigerated?

    Your lemon dump cake should be served warm, but once it's cooled it should be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

    What if I can't find lemon curd?

    If you can't get your hands on lemon curd, you can make your own with just a few ingredients - it's way better than store-bought anyway! Or you can use a can of lemon creme pie filling in place of the lemon curd and sweetened condensed milk.

    Do you stir a dump cake?

    Many dump cake recipes instruct you not to stir the filling, but for this recipe you'll need to gently stir the lemon curd and condensed milk together to make sure your filling comes out evenly flavored. But that's all the stirring you'll need to do!

    What does lemon cake taste like?

    This dump cake has a tangy-sweet filling, and the cake mix topping is buttery and flavorful! You'll love it with a big dollop of whipped cream!

    More Lemon Recipes to Try

    • Lemon Icebox Pie
    • Lemon and Blackberry Cake
    • Vegan Olive Oil Cake with Lemon and Pistachio
    • Lemon Poppyseed Scones
    • Creamy Lemon-Garlic Roasted Cauliflower
    lemon dump cake

    Lemon Dump Cake

    Print Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Lemon dump cake with condensed milk only takes 5 ingredients and is one of the best lemon dump cake recipes!! This lemon dump cake with cream cheese is a quick, easy dessert you'll love.
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine :American
    Servings: 12 portions
    Calories: 462kcal
    Recipe Source: Chenée Lewis

    Equipment you may need

    • 8x8 baking dish
    • rubber spatula
    • measuring cups and spoons

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup (226 g) lemon curd - storebought or homemade
    • 14 oz. (397 g) sweetened condensed milk
    • 8 oz. (227 g) cream cheese - diced into small cubes
    • 1 box vanilla cake mix - 15.25 oz
    • ½ cup (114 g) salted butter - sliced into thin pieces, or melted

    Optional Toppings

    • lemon zest
    • powdered sugar
    • whipped cream

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350°F.
    • Dump lemon curd and sweetened condensed milk into a greased 8x8 baking pan. Mix to combine.
      1 cup lemon curd, 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
    • Top with diced cream cheese, then sprinkle cake mix on top evenly.
      8 oz. cream cheese, 1 box vanilla cake mix
    • Evenly lay butter pieces (or drizzle melted butter) evenly all over dry cake mix, trying to cover as much of the cake mix as possible.
      ½ cup salted butter
    • Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until topping is golden brown and lemon filling is bubbling.
    • Serve warm with whipped cream, and top with lemon zest and powdered sugar, if desired.
      lemon zest, powdered sugar, whipped cream

    Video

    Notes

    Storing: Your dump cake should be served warm, but once it's cooled it can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
    Lemon Curd: Check out my Lemon Curd Cookies for a recipe for homemade lemon curd!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 portion | Calories: 462 kcal | Carbohydrates: 65 g | Protein: 6 g | Fat: 20 g | Saturated Fat: 12 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5 g | Trans Fat: 1 g | Cholesterol: 52 mg | Sodium: 525 mg | Potassium: 178 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 48 g | Vitamin A: 578 IU | Vitamin C: 1 mg | Calcium: 209 mg | Iron: 1 mg
    Nutrition Disclaimer
    Tags: lemon cream cheese dump cake, lemon dump cake, lemon dump cake recipe
    Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can't wait to see (and share) your results! Follow me on Instagram at @chenee_today and tag #cheneetoday!

    PIN this lemon dump cake recipe for later!

    lemon dump cake
    Lemon Dump Cake - Pin for later!

    Last Updated on July 8, 2022 by Chenée Lewis

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    230 shares

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    1. Jazz

      September 15, 2021 at 10:51 am

      5 stars
      Nobody believed this was a cake mix cake! I love the flavor and the texture and have already gotten requests to make this again for the holidays. Thanks, Chenee!

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis

        September 15, 2021 at 4:31 pm

        I'm so glad it was a hit! Thanks for giving it a try!

        Reply
    2. Britney Brown

      September 12, 2021 at 6:12 pm

      5 stars
      I loved how easy this recipe was and it came out so well. The cake was super fluffy and the lemon flavor paired perfectly with a scoop of ice cream! So delicious!

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis

        September 15, 2021 at 6:12 pm

        Ice cream is always a great idea! Glad you liked it!

        Reply
    3. Dee Moore

      September 11, 2021 at 7:45 pm

      5 stars
      This lemon dump was the perfect sweet dessert for a lemon lover such as myself. I think the cake mix and lemon curd combo was genius!

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis

        September 22, 2021 at 5:13 pm

        Thank you! Fellow lemon lover here!

        Reply
    4. Jeri

      September 10, 2021 at 3:53 pm

      5 stars
      Husband and I loved this lemon dump cake. It had the perfect amount of tartness! Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis

        September 14, 2021 at 2:08 am

        Thank you! I love the sweet-tart flavors in the filling.

        Reply
    5. Tamara Johnson

      September 10, 2021 at 12:48 pm

      5 stars
      I made this cake for my husband this past weekend, and he fell in love! It was so easy to make, and absolutely delicious. I will be making it again soon because it got eaten very quickly!

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis

        September 14, 2021 at 2:09 am

        Thank you! It never lasts long over here either!

        Reply
    6. Marta

      September 08, 2021 at 8:54 pm

      5 stars
      One of our twins is a lemon dessert fanatic. Your dump cake received high praise. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis

        September 08, 2021 at 9:03 pm

        Yay!! I'm a lemon dessert fanatic too 🙂

        Reply
    7. Dail

      September 05, 2021 at 6:25 pm

      5 stars
      I knew when I read this recipe that I had to make it. What can I do differently next time to make the cake mix in the center bake? The edges are amazing, but there's about a 3 inch area in the center where the mix is still powdery. Should I add more butter? Bake it longer? I'll try anything to get this perfect next time. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis

        September 08, 2021 at 12:43 pm

        Hi! Thank you so much! You may need to spread the cake mix more evenly to make sure there isn't more of it in the center of the dish. Or you can also add a bit more butter (about 2 tbsp). Another method for dump cakes is to slice the butter thinly and cover the cake mix evenly with the slices of butter -- I prefer the melted butter method, but the sliced butter method might work for you to make sure the center gets enough butter coverage. Hope you have a chance to try it again!!

        Reply
        • Lilly

          September 12, 2021 at 1:46 pm

          5 stars
          My cake turned out perfect!! Thanks so much for the recipe and detailed instructions!

        • Chenée Lewis

          September 16, 2021 at 12:24 am

          Wonderful!! So glad you liked it!

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    About Chenée

    I’m Chenée (kinda rhymes with “today”) and I love all types of baking! But my favorite recipes are ones that are quick and easy, and still yield impressive results. The ones you can't help but make again and again! That's what I share here, and I hope I can make your baking life a little easier along the way. MORE ABOUT CHENÉE >>

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