Lemon Cream Cheese Dump Cake

 

Lemon Cream Cheese Dump Cake: A Zesty, Creamy Delight in Every Bite

There are few desserts as simple yet as irresistible as a dump cake. True to its name, you “dump” the ingredients together, bake, and end up with a luscious treat. But when you combine tangy lemon flavor with rich cream cheese, you get something truly extraordinary: Lemon Cream Cheese Dump Cake. This dessert is bright, creamy, slightly tart, and wonderfully sweet—all the things a spring or summer dessert should be.

Here’s how to make it, step by step.

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🛒 Ingredients You’ll Need

• 1 box lemon cake mix (15.25 oz)
• 2 cans lemon pie filling (21 oz each)
• 8 oz cream cheese (softened to room temperature)
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick, cold and sliced into thin pats)
• Optional garnish: powdered sugar, lemon zest, or whipped cream

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👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step Method

Step 1: Preheat and Prepare

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray. This ensures the cake won’t stick and makes serving much easier.

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Step 2: Spread the Lemon Pie Filling

Pour the lemon pie filling directly into the bottom of your greased baking dish. Use a spatula to spread it out evenly so every bite of the cake has that bright citrusy base.

Step 3: Make the Cream Cheese Layer

In a mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Drop spoonfuls of this mixture over the lemon pie filling. Don’t worry if it doesn’t spread evenly—part of the charm of dump cake is the surprise swirls and pockets of flavor that bake together.

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Step 4: Add the Cake Mix

Evenly sprinkle the dry lemon cake mix over the entire dish. Resist the urge to stir—the magic happens as the cake bakes, creating a golden crust on top while soaking up the creamy lemon layers beneath.

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Step 5: Add the Butter

Slice the cold butter into thin pats and place them evenly across the top of the cake mix. This will melt in the oven, moistening the cake mix and forming that deliciously crispy topping.

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Step 6: Bake to Golden Perfection

Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40–45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbling around the edges. The cream cheese will create creamy ribbons throughout the cake while the cake mix crisps beautifully on top.

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Step 7: Cool and Serve

Allow the cake to cool for at least 10–15 minutes before serving. This helps the layers set. You can enjoy it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or chilled straight from the fridge for a refreshing treat.

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🌟 Tips to Make It Extra Special

• Add zest: Stir a little fresh lemon zest into the cream cheese mixture for a stronger citrus punch.
• Berry twist: Add a layer of blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries on top of the pie filling before the cake mix for a fruity surprise.
• Creamy boost: Swirl in a few dollops of sweetened condensed milk for extra richness.
• Make it lighter: Use reduced-fat cream cheese and less sugar for a slightly healthier option without sacrificing flavor.

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🍋 Why This Cake is a Potluck Star

The beauty of the Lemon Cream Cheese Dump Cake lies in its simplicity—you don’t need to be a baking expert to make it, yet it delivers bakery-level flavor. The tangy lemon contrasts beautifully with the sweet cream cheese, while the buttery cake topping ties everything together. It’s zesty, creamy, and decadent, making it the ultimate dessert to wow guests at potlucks, family dinners, or summer gatherings.

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Would you like me to also write a chocolate or cherry version of this dump cake for variety, so you have multiple flavors to choose from