![Southern Living Strawberry Dump Cake in a dish to serve. One serving spooned out topped with ice cream](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.southernliving.com/thmb/nvTUEO_G9nn-cgUAAC3j-9Op5pM=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Strawberry_Dumpcake_010-99fb7e3327ee4e19bc45e84662f77ebe.jpg)
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Strawberry dump cake could be one of the quickest and easiest cakes you ever create. Using three basic components, this strawberry dessert only takes a few minutes to assemble and will have dessert on your table in as little as an hour.
Reminiscent of a fruit cobbler, this strawberry dump cake is as simple as the name suggests, dumping a few ingredients into a baking dish without needing to mix anything. If you want to personalize this strawberry dump cake to your preferences, feel free to use a different flavor of boxed cake mix, such as strawberry, lemon, or chocolate.
Learn how to make strawberry dump cake, and serve it with a dollop of whipped cream, fresh strawberries, or vanilla ice cream for added deliciousness.
Strawberry Dump Cake Ingredients
This no-fuss strawberry dump cake really only requires three ingredients. A fourth, vanilla ice cream, is completely optional. Grab these ingredients from the pantry and fridge when you're ready to make this easy dessert:
- Strawberry pie filling: You can use fresh strawberries if you want—you won't get as much syrupy glaze—but a quick and easy shortcut is prepared pie filling. If you want even more strawberry goodness, add chopped strawberries to the filling.
- Cake mix: Take a shortcut to making a batter with a boxed cake mix. We suggest yellow for a classic flavor, but you can also use strawberry, white, or chocolate. The strawberry cake mix will make for a fun pink dessert.
- Butter: Butter melts into the cake mix to form the cobbler-like dessert.
- Vanilla ice cream: This is optional, but it certainly is welcome on our serving of strawberry dump cake. Other ideas for topping this cake are below.
![Southern Living Strawberry Dump Cake ingredients](https://www.southernliving.com/thmb/vPoG5-NPG_W-Dd9A_KXUlpboGmY=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Strawberry_Dumpcake_001-d0ae5aa7843a4d959b69a11b0354798c.jpg)
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
How To Make Strawberry Dump Cake
Making strawberry dump cake is as easy as 1, 2, 3, bake. The full recipe is below, but here's a brief recap:
- Step 1. Add strawberry filling: Coat a baking dish was cooking spray, and spoon in the strawberry filling.
- Step 2. Add cake mix: Sprinkle the cake mix over the strawberry pie filling.
- Step 3. Add butter: Cut the butter into pats, and liberally place them all over the top of the cake mix.
- Step 4. Bake: Put the pan in the oven, and let the cake bake, just short of an hour. The butter melts and blends with the cake mix to create a crisp, buttery crust.
Once the cake is finished, pull it from the oven, and let it cool for about 20 minutes. It's important to give this a few minutes to solidify. Top with vanilla ice cream or your preferred topping, and serve.
Cooking Tips for the Best Strawberry Dump Cake
This recipe is extremely straightforward, and people of any age or kitchen skill set should be able to execute this recipe without a problem. But here are a few tips that might make it even easier.
- Swap cake mix: In place of yellow cake mix, try strawberry or vanilla.
- Add fruit: The pie filling will have some fruit, but if you want even more, you can add it to the filling before sprinkling the cake mix.
- Evenly distribute butter: It's important butter is all over the top of the cake. This is how the cake mix is hydrated and turns into a crust. Dry spots will remain powdery.
- Add more butter: Check your cake after about 10 minutes. If you see any dry spots, add more butter.
![Southern Living Strawberry Dump Cake after baking ready to serve](https://www.southernliving.com/thmb/z-jDkvQ3BSIhaaweZJr5GmQjBSU=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Strawberry_Dumpcake_008-75d3593142ab4c52b2765336be554632.jpg)
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Topping Ideas for Strawberry Dump Cake
The best options for serving would be to add some fresh strawberries and either whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. These pairings are a perfect match for this type of dish.
To keep it super simple, it could also be served as is or with a light dusting of powdered sugar.
More Strawberry Desserts
If you're craving sweet ways to serve strawberries, consider one of these classics:
Ingredients
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Cooking spray
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1 (21 oz.) can strawberry pie filling
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1 (15.25 oz.) box yellow cake mix
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3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) cold butter, thinly sliced into square pats
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Vanilla ice cream, to serve (optional)
Directions
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Prepare pan:
Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9- in. x 13-in. baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
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Add pie filling to pan:
Dump the strawberry pie filling into the baking dish and spread it into an even layer.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
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Sprinkle cake mix over filling:
Scatter the dry cake mix evenly over the top of the pie filling.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Make sure the pie filling is completely covered.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
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Add butter:
Place pieces of butter over the top of the yellow cake mix, making sure the butter covers the cake mix as evenly as possible.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
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Bake cake:
Bake for about 50 to 60 minutes or until the top of the cake is golden and the filling is bubbly.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox