Lemon Cream Cheese Dump Cake Recipe
This Lemon Cream Cheese Dump Cake is a simple, crowd-pleasing dessert combining creamy lemon-flavored cream cheese with a crumbly cake topping. Using a box cake mix and canned lemon pie filling, this no-fuss recipe delivers a tangy, sweet treat baked to golden perfection in just under an hour.
- Author: Rico
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Cream Cheese Mixture
- 16 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for greasing the baking dish
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 large egg
Other Ingredients
- 1 (13.25 to 15.25-ounce) box yellow, butter, or lemon cake mix
- 1 (21-ounce) can lemon pie filling, divided
- Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, for serving (optional)
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish thoroughly with butter to prevent sticking.
- Make Cream Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, beat together the room temperature cream cheese, 10 tablespoons of melted butter, powdered sugar, and kosher salt until the mixture is smooth and creamy without lumps.
- Add Egg: Incorporate the large egg into the cream cheese mixture by mixing thoroughly until fully blended and smooth.
- Spread Cream Cheese Layer: Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture in the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form a uniform layer.
- Add Lemon Pie Filling: Spoon half of the lemon pie filling over the cream cheese layer and spread evenly with a spoon or spatula.
- Top with Cake Mix: Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the lemon pie filling layer without stirring, which will create a crumbly topping once baked.
- Add Remaining Butter: Drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon of melted butter evenly over the surface of the cake mix layer to help it brown nicely.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbly around the edges.
- Cool Slightly: Remove from oven and allow the cake to cool for a few minutes to set slightly.
- Serve: Serve warm, optionally topped with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgent touch.
Notes
- Use full-fat cream cheese for best texture and flavor.
- You can substitute lemon pie filling with fresh lemon curd if desired, though baking times may vary slightly.
- Do not stir the cake mix into the filling layers; this layering is key to achieve the signature dump cake crumbly top.
- For a smaller portion, this recipe can be halved and baked in an 8×8-inch dish.
- Leftovers can be stored refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days and gently reheated.
Keywords: Lemon dump cake, cream cheese dessert, easy lemon cake, lemon cream cheese cake, simple lemon dessert