October 10, 2023
Review RecipeLemon Dump Cake
This amazing lemon dump cake brings a lovely citrusy flavor to the dessert for a simple recipe to make for any occasion.
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Table of Contents
This bright and sunny lemon dump cake will become one of your favorite lemon desserts. It is filled with the tangy freshness of lemon, featuring lemon curd that is baked with cake mix and velvety cream cheese filling for a cake that is hard to resist.
Lemon Dump Cake Ingredients
You’ll need:
- 2 (12-ounce) jars of lemon curd
- 8 ounces of cream cheese, softened
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- ¼ cup of granulated sugar
- 1 (15.25-ounce) box of vanilla, lemon, yellow, or white cake mix (we used white)
- ½ cup salted butter, cold
PRO TIP:
When buying the cake mix at the grocery store, it is best to pick one that doesn’t have pudding mix in it; check the label to make sure.
Substitutions And Additions
LEMON ZEST: Add lemon zest to the cream cheese or on top of the cake for a more tangy lemon flavor.
CAKE MIX: Lemon cake mix will take the citrus up a level in this tasty cake but white or yellow cake works just fine.
How To Make This Lemon Dump Cake Recipe
STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F.
STEP TWO: Spread the lemon curd into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
You’ll want to use a 9×13-inch cake pan so that the texture and consistency are right. I’ve used an 11x 7-inch pan before, and it turned out a little too thick, which changed the delicious texture of the dump cake.
STEP THREE: In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer to combine cream cheese, egg, and granulated sugar until smooth.
STEP FOUR: Drop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture over the lemon curd.
STEP FIVE: Sprinkle the cake mix evenly over the first two layers.
STEP SIX: Slice very thin pats of butter and spread over the entire top of the dry cake mix. Cover as much of the cake mix as possible.
PRO TIP:
Using cold butter makes it easier to get the slices very thin. When the dump cake cooks, the butter melts and blends with the dry cake mix, but it won’t spread, so if parts of the cake mix are left uncovered, they may come out of the oven still dry and powdery.
STEP SEVEN: Bake for 40 minutes or until the topping is browned and the filling is bubbling around the edges.
PRO TIP:
You may end up with some dry cake mix spots on the top of the dump cake. This is normal and is where the butter did not saturate into the cake mix.
If you prefer, you can add additional pats of butter over the dry area – check the dump cake after about 30 minutes to determine if the melting pats of butter missed any areas.
STEP EIGHT: Allow dump cake to rest for 15 minutes before serving.
PRO TIP:
Allowing the dump cake to rest for a bit before serving will give the lemon curd time to cool just a bit so that it is not super runny when you scoop into it.
How To Serve This Lemon Dump Cake With Lemon Curd
Serve this yummy lemon cream cheese dump cake warm or cold with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream and homemade whipped cream or Cool Whip.
Add fresh blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries on top of the cake for a pop of color.
If you want another amazing citrus-flavored dump cake to serve with this lemon dump cake, try our peach dump cake.
If you are a lemon lover, try our lemon lasagna or lemon lava cake for more easy lemon dessert recipes.
MORE LEMON RECIPES
Storing This Lemon Cream Cheese Dump Cake
IN THE FRIDGE: Store this delicious dessert in the refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap or a lid, for 5-7 days.
IN THE FREEZER: Store this lemon dump cake in an airtight container for up to one month in the freezer. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight when you are ready to serve it.
A dump cake makes baking easy, just dump all your ingredients in a single pan and bake. This means no clean-up afterward and a tasty cake to enjoy.
The tart lemon flavor from the delicious lemon curd makes this lemon dump cake a refreshing choice for a quick dessert anytime.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a dump cake?
A dump cake is an easy and super moist cake in which the ingredients are simply dumped into the pan and baked. Usually, they use a boxed cake mix and a handful of additional ingredients.
Can you make lemon dump cake ahead of time?
This is a great recipe to make ahead. You can make lemon dump cake up to 2 days ahead of time. Just store it in the fridge until you are ready to serve.
Can I use a lemon cake mix instead of white?
You can substitute lemon or yellow cake mix for the white cake mix. It will give you a more intense lemon flavor but will work fine in the recipe.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- No Bake Lemon Pie
- Chocolate Dump Cake
- Caramel Apple Dump Cake
- Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake
- Blueberry Dump Cake
- Cherry Dump Cake
- Lemon Custard Cake
- Lemon Cream Cheese Pie
- No Bake Lemon Pie
- Blueberry Cheesecake Dump Cake
- Lemon Curd
- Rhubarb Upside Down Cake
- Applesauce Cake
- Lemon Cake
- Lemon Pound Cake
- Strawberry Dump Cake
- Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake
- Apple Dump Cake
- Lemon Chiffon Cake
- Pumkin Dump Cake
- Mini Lemon Meringue Pies
- Lemon Drizzle Cake
- Blueberry Cream Cheese Dessert
- Lemon Cobbler
- Lemon Meringue Cupcakes
- Lemon Blueberry Cobbler
- Pineapple Upside Down Dump Cake
- Lemon Cake with Lemon Curd
Lemon Dump Cake
This amazing lemon dump cake brings a lovely citrusy flavor to the dessert for a simple recipe to make for any occasion.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 12
Ingredients
- 2 (12-ounce) jars lemon curd
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 (15.25-ounce) box vanilla, lemon, yellow or white cake mix (we used white)
- ½ cup salted butter, cold
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Spread the lemon curd into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer to combine cream cheese, egg, and granulated sugar until smooth and combined.
- Drop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture over the lemon curd.
- Sprinkle the cake mix evenly over the first two layers.
- Slice very thin pats of butter and spread over the entire top of the dry cake mix. Cover as much of the cake mix as possible.
- Bake for 40 minutes or until the topping is browned and the lemon curd filling is bubbling around the edges.
- Allow dump cake to rest for 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
- When buying the cake mix at the grocery store, it is best to pick one that doesn’t have pudding mix in it; check the label to make sure.
- You’ll want to use a 9×13-inch cake pan so that the texture and consistency are right. I’ve used an 11x 7-inch pan before, and it turned out a little too thick, which changed the delicious texture of the dump cake.
- Using cold butter makes it easier to get the slices very thin. When the dump cake cooks, the butter melts and blends with the dry cake mix, but it won’t spread, so if parts of the cake mix are left uncovered, they may come out of the oven still dry and powdery.
- You may end up with some dry cake mix spots on the top of the dump cake. This is normal and is where the butter did not saturate into the cake mix. If you prefer, you can add additional pats of butter over the dry area – check the dump cake after about 30 minutes to determine if the melting pats of butter missed any areas.
- Allowing the dump cake to rest for a bit before serving will give the lemon curd time to cool just a bit so that it is not super runny when you scoop into it.
Nutrition
Calories: 157kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 127mg | Potassium: 33mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 513IU | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg
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Comments
Carol says
Love dump cakes
Vanessa says
Thanks for this site
I love it. These recipes are great. Again I love it
Irene says
Making it tonight
Sue Michels says
Can this lemon dump cake be double and put on a sheet pan for a larger crowd
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Sue – we’ve never tried it on a sheet pan, I’m not sure how it would turn out. I would probably make two separate casserole dishes of it if I was serving a crowd. Enjoy!
Whitney says
Do you think I could use the Crock Pot instead of oven?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Whitney – we haven’t tested it that way and I’m not sure how good it would turn out!
Geneva Hemphill says
Love making dump cakes for my family and friends.
Lisa says
Should we store any leftovers in the refrigerator?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Lisa – you can store in the refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap or a lid, for up to 3 days. Enjoy!
Katen says
Where can I find lemon curd at the grocery store?
Could I use a vegetable peeler get the butter in thin slices, or would it be too thin?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Katen – you’ll find lemon curd in the jam/jelly section usually. It may be by the baking/pie fillings in some stores. I think that would work for the butter. Enjoy!
Judi Pontius says
The best recipes come through these sites
Thanks for sharing
Allie says
I am really trying to watch my calories and fat. I was wondering if I can substitute low fat cream cheese, egg whites and stevia in place of the other ones.
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Allie – we haven’t tested it with those substitutions so I’m not sure. The stevia should be fine but using low-fat cream cheese and only egg white may impact the end result.
Lynn smith says
can you use lemon pie filling instead of curd..???
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Lynn – you’ll want to use lemon curd for it to turn out correctly. Enjoy!
Nilda says
Can you use lemon pie filling in this recipe?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Nilda – it will not turn out properly with lemon pie filling so using lemon curd is important. Enjoy!
Carrol smith says
Can I use lemon pie filling instead of lemon curd?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Carrol – you’ll want to use lemon curd for the recipe to turn out correctly. Enjoy!
Mary Grace says
Can I substitute lemon pudding for the lemon curd?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, there – you’ll need to use lemon curd for this recipe to work properly. Enjoy!
Natasha says
This looks super delicious. Anything with lemons is super zesty and fresh and full of flavour! I would add fresh berries on top, as I love berries on any cake, and the sweetness of the berries with the lemon flavour goes so well. Can’t wait to make this 😍🍋
jan Z says
I make dump cakes all the time, have never made one with the lemon curd or cream cheese, will for sure make this one. Looks smashing. I take dump cakes to lots of meetings or pot lucks, normally take two as they go so fast. I take canned whip cream and leave several cans by each dump cake and it goes fast.
Megan McIntosh says
I have made dump cake and I can’t wait to try this one. It looks amazing.
pauline wilson says
I am defenitly going to make this..I love anythingwith lemon and so does my neighbor so going to make it and share..it looks so yummy…and I am always looking for something different to make..thank you so much for sharing this with the public
Mary says
I think this would be amazing topped with red raspberries! Love your recipes!
Lisa A Stebbins says
My grandma made this, so good.
pauline wilson says
i have already left a comment but I forgot to say that I would use a lemon cake for a more lemony taste, and i have never made a dump cake before this will be my first.. my question is where would I find lemoncurd? thank you in advance
Staci says
I love to make dump cakes. I have made a lemon blueberry before and it was delicious.
Julie says
*I have made dump cakes before but never a lemon one.
*No, I don’t think I would serve ice cream with it.
*I think to keep the lemon flavor amped up I would always use lemon cake mix, but a yellow cake mix is what I usually have on hand, so who knows?
*I will probably serve this with berries instead of ice cream. I always have blueberries. 🙂
Antonina Lechowicz says
I love dump cakes, such an easy dessert. I would use the vanilla cake mix in the recipe.
Antonina Lechowicz says
I love dump cakes, such an easy dessert. I would use the vanilla cake mix in the recipe.
Ann Dagani says
You had me at lemon! Just printed the recipe and will be making this for sure!!
Tammy Bezy says
I will try this for my next pool party. I will use the white cake.
Linda Daniel says
Wow! I love lemon curd, I have never made a dump cake that sounds this good. I’m off to the store now. Thanks for sharing!
Melissa B Mitchell says
I will be making this with a lemon cake mix! As lemon-y as possible!
Leshia Mccann says
This looks delicious but I would add some fresh strawberries and raspberries too it.
Wilhelmina Mack says
I think I would use the vanilla cake.
With all the delicious lemon curd, I wouldn’t want to have any artificial lemon flavor. I can’t wait to I make it !
Carol A Clendenen says
Mmmmm I would serve this beauty with raspberries
Kelly Kardos says
I have never made a dump cake before. This steams summer!
Kelly Kardos says
**it screams summer
Marilyn Kingston says
Made this receipe for my daughter and my grandchildren. This was enjoy very much by them. Past recipe on to several people.
Barbara Daniels says
I have made Dump cake before, but used cherry pie filling with crushed pineapple. But this sounds amazing and I am going to try this. I think I would try it with vanilla cake mix with blueberries on top, I like the idea of vanilla ice cream as well. I am up to trying different ingredients. Thanks for this recipe.
Barbara Daniels says
I have made Dump cake before, but used cherry pie filling with crushed pineapple. But this sounds amazing and I am going to try this. I think I would try it with vanilla cake mix with blueberries on top, I like the idea of vanilla ice cream as well. Thanks you for this recipe idea.
Barbara Daniels says
I have made Dump cake before, but used cherry pie filling with crushed pineapple. But this sounds amazing and I am going to try this. I think I would try it with vanilla cake mix with blueberries on top, I like the idea of vanilla ice cream .
Susie says
Looks amazing and quite easy. Now if only the rest of my family appreciated lemon as much as I do.
Brenda Warner says
Sounds good. I love lemon and blueberries. I think I would serve it with blueberries and whipped cream.
Kristy Smith says
100% serve with ice cream. Everything is better with vanilla ice cream. This is a great dessert for those hot summer nights here in Texas.
Deb says
I made this recipe for a lemon lover in my family using lemon cake mix along with npblueberries and it was a winner😘🍋🫐.Thanks
Meredith Leonard says
This recipe sounds delicious and is one I will certainly try because I love lemon-flavored desserts. I have made dump cake before: apple spice using apple pie filling, spice cake mix and nuts. I serve it drizzled with caramel sauce.
Elizabeth M Heimlich says
I have made dump cakes before, but this one looks particularily good!
Lori Pennington says
Lemon dump cake is my hubby’s favorite…..I make it with lemon cake mix…….I make it for special occasions…….
Suzie says
I haven’t tried it yet, but Ibhave made dump cakes before. This one sounds amazing! Yum!
Pam D. says
So delicious! I would make this with lemon cake mix!
Linda says
I have made dump cakes before with crushed pineapple and blueberry, strawberry and apple pie filling. So delicious and quick. I might try adding coconut or blueberries. Yum!
Vionel Bell says
I definitely would serve this with vanilla ice cream topped with fresh blueberries
Cathy Gamble says
I would definitely use a lemon cake mix to bring out more of that lemon flavor that we love so much in a desert. I have made dump cakes before, but this is a must do. I would love to add raspberries to this dump cake. More tart and sweet. Ice cream is a plus. Even whipped cream or just a cold glass of milk. Yum!
Penny Harper says
One of my favorite desserts is cherry dump cake. Cherry pie filling, crushed pineapple, vanilla cake mix, coconut, butter
Brigid M Janette says
I would use a yellow cake mix
Lisa Helton says
This looks soooo delicious!! I would definitely use lemon cake mix for that extra zing!!
Bethany King says
I love making dump cakes so easy and versatile. I like them best with a big scoop of vanilla icecream
Donna Crawford Weeks says
I haven’t tried it yet, but I love dump cakes and I’m going to try this one with a sugar-free cake mix!
Charlotte from AZ says
I haven’t tried it either but going to do it soon! I love the ease of dump cakes too and there’s no flavor or texture jeopardized. I will be using a Sugar Free Cake Mix also. Enjoy your weekend!
Karen says
This would be fantastic with homemade ice cream!
Gulnaz says
Looks delicious, I would love to try it 💗
Stacy says
I want to try this cake with some sliced strawberries for a strawberry lemonade feel.
Stephanie says
I have never made a dump cake & I look forward to making this & serving it with fresh blueberries on top😋
Stephanie says
I have never made a dump cake before but I look forward to trying this with fresh blueberries on top😋
Laura Yarzebinski says
I love lemon! This sounds so easy, refreshing, and delicious!
Anne says
I love lemon and dump cakes and I haven’t tried this one but will make it very soon.
Belinda says
I have never made a dump cake. And I am very excited to
Katie says
Can’t wait to try this recipe! I love lemon and this one looks like lemon overload without being too difficult to assemble. I’m thinking of using a vanilla cake mix so that the variety of lemon flavors don’t contradict each other.
Gloria McGork says
This looks delicious. Can’t wait to try it!
As for leaving comments, it’s extremely difficult since there are so many pop-up ads. I can’t see what I have typed.
Bonnie Dutting says
I would use lemon cake mix.
Vicki says
I would serve this with strawberries or raspberries
Doroth Blake says
I would use lemon cake mix with this recipe.
Jill says
I was thinking about splitting this recipe into two different Pyrex pans. One to take to a party one to keep at home. Do you think the consistency will be OK I would divide everything evenly.
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Jill – I would assume that would work ok! Enjoy!
joan says
can you use lemon pie filling instead of lemon curd?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Joan – it’s important to use lemon curd for this recipe to turn out correctly. Enjoy!
Vida Brake says
Can this dessert be frozen.
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Vida – you can store this lemon dump cake in an airtight container for up to 1 month in the freezer. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight when you are ready to serve it. Enjoy!
Amy says
Hi~I can’t wait to try this! Will I need to grease my baking dish first?😊
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Amy – yes, you should use non-stick spray first. Enjoy!
Monika says
Super easy, little time and delicious
Michele - vintage home designs says
This sounds delicious! I would like to feature your post on my Saturday Morning Gather post tomorrow.
Cassie says
Where can Lemon curd be purchased?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Cassie – it’s in the baking aisle by the pie filling. Enjoy!
Anita says
I find it hard you find lemon curd. Could I use two boxes of cook n serve Lemon pudding, prepared, instead?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Anita – it will not turn out correctly with pudding, unfortunately. You can make homemade lemon curd. Enjoy!
Naomi says
Has any one tried this recipe using a gluten free cake mix?
Pat says
Lemon curd is hard to find in my area if you can find it at all. So, can canned lemon pudding be used instead?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Pat – you’ll want to use lemon curd in this recipe for sure. We have this lemon curd recipe if you can’t find it in the store. Enjoy!
Vicki says
This sounds delicious. Which is better to use to bake…metal 9 x 13 cake pan or glass dish?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Vicki – we prefer using a glass dish but I’m sure metal would work just fine too. Enjoy!
Vix M says
I made this with a gluten free cake mix, vanilla yellow, and it turned out great. The mix was just over 19 ounces, so I made extra of the cream cheese mixture. Also added raspberries, tossed with cornstarch & sugar, to the top. It needed about 10-15 min extra cooking time.
Delicious!
Thank you for the recipe.
Dorothy says
a lot of dump cakes say can just melt the butter and mix with dry cake! so can I do it with this recipe? please respond to my email, I am a senior and get confused. thankyou. can you use homemade lemon curd?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Dorothy – just sent you an email! We would recommend following the instructions as outlined for best results. You can use homemade lemon curd. Enjoy!
Cindy says
If you are having dry spots on your cake, try grating frozen butter before making this dessert. It spreads more evenly and helps prevent the dry powdery top.
Vicki says
Can you use unsalted butter instead of salted?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Vicki – yes, enjoy!
Rhonda Palacios says
On this says 2jars lemon curd,I never seen at store but I do have ,lemon pie filling ,can I use that instead,should I use 2cans or just1 can
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Rhonda – you’ll want to stick with lemon curd for this recipe. If you don’t find it at your store, you can also make your own with our lemon curd recipe. Enjoy!
Janice says
Can you use lemon pie filling instead of the lemon curd?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Janice – you’ll want to stick with lemon curd for this recipe. You can make your own with our lemon curd recipe if you’re having a hard time finding it in stores. Enjoy!
Trish Wolfe says
i will comment when i make it
Mari says
Frozen butter grated or mandalin-sliced covers dump cake most easily
Marian L Comer says
Can’t wait to try dump cakes!!
Julie deem says
What is lemon curd and where do I buy it?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Julie – you’ll find lemon curd in your grocery by the pie filling. You can also make your own with our lemon curd recipe. Enjoy!
Dee tee says
You can buy it at world market but it is so easy to make
Sara Graham says
OMG! I made this for Sunday dinner dessert and it was a huge hit! I used lemon cake mix (minus pudding in the cake as suggested) and added fresh lemon zest to the cream cheese mixture. I did have to use 3/4 c butter slices to cover the whole cake. I will definitely make this again!!
Linda says
Can lemon pie filling be used instead of the lemon curd?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Linda – we would recommend using lemon curd for this recipe! You can buy it at the store or make your own with our lemon curd recipe here. Enjoy!
Gloria Flores says
I made the lemon dump cake recipe and the results compare to lemon pie but with none of the difficulty. The word dump is correct. My family loved this recipe. Next time I plan to use apple pie filling. My thanks and high fives to whoever created this recipe!