Lemon Dump Cake Recipe
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Filled with tangy lemon curd, fluffy cake mix, and yummy cream cheese, my lemon dump cake recipe is the ultimate! This is one of those easy dessert recipes that comes together with just 15-minutes of prep time! Also called lemon cream cheese dump cake.
Don’t be fooled by the funny name — lemon dump cake is a delicious dessert! It’s bright, fresh, and filled with citrus flavors.
Who loves lemon desserts? Between my no bake lemon ice box pie, lemon cranberry bars, and my old-fashioned lemon squares, there’s plenty to choose from for my fellow citrus fruit lovers.
Be sure to try all of my delicious and new lemon week recipes: Lemonade Bundt Cake, Pink Vodka Lemonade Cocktail, One Pot Lemon Garlic Pasta, and Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake.
This lemon cream cheese dump cake comes together with minimal ingredients and you can prepare it in a flash. It’s simple, easy to prepare, and even easier to gobble up!
Why You Will Love This Lemon Dump Cake Recipe
- You only need 7 ingredients: You likely already have most of the ingredients for this recipe on hand! The only thing you may not recognize is lemon curd. It’s a dessert topping or spread that is oh-so-delicious. You can find it at the grocery store, or you can try your hand at homemade — recipe below.
- It’s light: I know that the last thing you want to do in the warmer months is eat something heavy. While you do need to bake this dish, once it’s finished baking, it’s light and fresh, thanks to the citrus flavors.
- It’s easy to make: This recipe is so easy to put together. The prep time is about 15 minutes, and then all that’s left to do is to let it bake!
Simple Ingredients
For the full recipe and ingredients in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Lemon Curd | Choose a lemon curd that uses real ingredients, no high fructose corn syrup, my favorites are Trader Joe’s, Bonne Mamon, and Tip Tree lemon curd.
- Cream Cheese | Room temperature, nice and soft; I used full fat, but you can use Neufchatel or low-fat cream cheese as well.
- Egg | Best at room temp, this provides lift and creaminess in the cream cheese layer
- Lemon Zest | This simple ingredient adds pop, tang and zest! Use a microplane to easily zest.
- Lemon juice | It wouldn’t be lemon desserts week without lemon juice! Check out my favorite citrus juicer!
- Vanilla Extract | Rodelle is sponsoring this post, but I would use it regardless, because it’s superior!
- Cake Mix | I used vanilla, but you can use white, yellow or even lemon cake mix
- Butter | I used salted butter, if you use unsalted, add ⅛ teaspoon of salt to the cream cheese mixture. Make sure it’s cold butter!
Butter Tip
Slice COLD BUTTER using a sharp knife, into about 26 thin slices, then fan them out slightly and place in fridge or freezer until ready to use.
How to Make Lemon Dump Cake
Step 1 | Prep pan, add curd
Before you begin, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Then, lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with non stick cooking spray so that your cake doesn’t stick. I love using La Tourangelle Baking spray, all natural and it’s gluten-free!
After you’ve stirred the lemon curd a bit (it will spread easier if you stir it), spread the lemon filling evenly on the bottom of the cake pan.
Step 2 | Make Cream Cheese Mixture
Add your cream cheese, egg, lemon zest, vanilla extract and lemon juice into a medium bowl. Beat the ingredients with a hand mixer until combined. You want the mixture to be smooth!
Place dollops of the lemon and cream cheese mixture over the lemon curd that you spread in the baking dish. Spread out as evenly as possible using an off-set spatula.
Step 3 | Finish the cake
Take the cake mix and sprinkle it over the lemon and cream cheese. Be careful to make it as even as possible! I gave mine a couple shakes back and forth and used a clean off-set spatula to smooth.
Pro Tip
Slice your butter while it’s cold, then place in the freezer until you are ready to place on the cake. Slice into ⅛ inch slices, that way you will have enough to spread over the top of the cake.
Layer thin pats of butter over the top of the cake mix. Cover the entire top of the dry cake mix — again, as evenly as possible. I have found this method is preferable to drizzling the top with melted butter which many recipes call for, so do what you prefer.
You might have some powdery spots of cake mix after baking, but don’t worry it will bake up beautifully on this simple cake.
Bake your cake for about 35-45 minutes, or until the topping turns a light golden brown. The lemon mixture should be bubbly.
Once it’s done baking, let the cake cool for 10-15 minutes before serving. Garnish with your topping of choice — I love whipped cream (like this homemade cool whip), a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or my homemade lemon gelato — and enjoy!
High Altitude Variations
No modifications are required in this lemon dump cake with cream cheese recipe! Bake as directed at sea level or high altitude.
Variations
- Feel free to add more fruit to the top of your lemon cream cheese dump cake for serving! Blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries pair wonderfully with the lemon flavor.
- Change the Boxed Cake Mix | Use white, vanilla cake mix, lemon, or yellow cake mix for your recipes. Get creative!
- Change it up! Make a lemon blueberry dump cake or cherry dump cake. Simply replace the lemon curd with pie filling and follow my recipe above. Lemon goes great with berries. You could even add frozen or fresh blueberries (try 1 cup) and sprinkle on top of the cream cheese mixture, then spread the cake mix on top.
- Can’t find Lemon Curd? You may also use lemon pie filling, but buy a quality filling, some canned fillings have an off-taste.
Fresh Tips
- Don’t underestimate the power of making homemade lemon curd! It comes together easily and features all-natural ingredients.
- To store in the fridge, place any leftovers in an airtight container or wrap tightly with plastic wrap. It will keep for 5 days. To reheat, place it in your oven and heat at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes, or simply enjoy it at room temperature!
- You can also freeze this dessert for up to 3 months, then store the lemon cream cheese dump cake in a freezer-safe airtight container. Also, be aware that freezing may change the texture a bit, but won’t affect the taste. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight before following the reheating instructions above.
- I’ve read in some recipes that you should not use cake mix with pudding mix in it, so keep that in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
I told you not to let the funny name fool you! Lemon dump cake gets its name due to the fact that you basically “dump” all the ingredients together into your baking dish without really mixing. My version features cream cheese, which means that there is a bit of mixing involved, but you get the idea. It’s still an easy dump cake recipe.
Absolutely! This dish will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. If you want to get ahead of schedule (especially if you’re serving this dessert for an upcoming party), then you can make it a few days in advance. For optimal freshness, I recommend you do so 1-2 days before you plan to eat it.
Yes! Cut all ingredients in half, except the egg, that’s a tough one to cut in half and the egg will help make the cheesecake style layer. Layer into a square baking dish.
This lemon dump cake with cream cheese is the answer for lemon lovers who want a delectable and quick dessert.
More Dump Cake Recipes
- Pumpkin Dump Cake crazy delicious and perfect for the late summer and fall.
- Carmel Apple Dump Cake save this one for the fall!
- Easy Fresh Peach Dump Cake Recipe
- Blueberry Dump Cake Check out this cake from my friend Julie!
- Rhubarb Dump Cake Recipe {without Jello}
- Pineapple Dump Cake from my friend Julie!
- German Chocolate Dump Cake from my friend Sheila!
Be sure to also try my Award Winning Key Lime Pie, it’s a showstopper!
Don’t forget to give this recipe a 5 star rating and comment below the recipe!
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Thursday #LemonWeek Recipes
- Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins by Fresh April Flours
- Lemon Chess Pie by Palatable Pastime
- Strawberry Lemonade Bars by Best Cookie Recipes
- Lemon Dump Cake by The Fresh Cooky
- Easy Peasy Lemon Cookies by A Day In The Life On The Farm
- Lemon Cream Cheese Bundt Cake by An Affair From The Heart
- Lemon Ricotta Pancakes by Jen Around The World
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Lemon Dump Cake Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 12 ounce lemon curd jars, use a quality lemon curd
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 medium lemon zest
- 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice, fresh squeezed
- 1 teaspoon Rodelle Vanilla Extract
- 15.25 ounce boxed cake mix, white, yellow, vanilla or lemon cake mix
- 1/2 cup salted butter, cut into thin pats
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and lightly spray a 9×13 inch pan with cooking spray. Stir the lemon curd in the jar, then spread curd evenly onto the bottom of the 9×13 inch baking dish.
- In a medium bowl; add cream cheese, egg, vanilla extract, lemon zest and lemon juice, beat with a hand mixer until combined and smooth. Drop dollops of lemon cream cheese mixture over the lemon curd and then smooth with offset spatula.
- Sprinkle the cake mix over the lemon mixture, as evenly as possible.
- Slice the butter into very thin pats or slices and layer over the top of the dry cake mix, covering as evenly and as much of the cake mix as possible.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes or until the topping is golden and the lemon mixture is bubbly. Remove from the oven and let cool 10-15 minutes before serving. Serve warm or cooled to room temp.
- Delicious topped with homemade cool whip or a scoop of vanilla ice cream or lemon gelato.
✱ Kathleen’s Tips
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
The Fresh Cooky is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
About Kathleen Pope
Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer
Hi, I’m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen. Read more about Kathleen here.
Oops, I meant to post this here not on lemon curd, oh well, it’s going to be one of those days!
I love lemon curd, but now I make it in my instant pot, so easy and delicious! Now I’m hungry for lemon curd! As soon as our Wacky Cake is gone, I’m going to make this!
No worries Debbie, you are going to love this and I have got to try Lemon curd in the instant pot!
I am all about the lemon desserts lately and this one is perfection! So easy to make too. My whole family devoured it!
It is all those things, thanks os much Angela!
I love all things lemon especially during the summer months. This is such a tasty recipe with the perfect amount of lemon zest for flavor.
It really is! Thank you so much!
Great easy summer dessert. It’s so nice to have a recipe that’s easy and everyone loves, thank you!
Isn’t it though, even non lemon lovers love this dessert!
Wow this cake was so easy to make and perfect for summer. Even my super picky toddlers asked for more. This recipe was simple enough that they were even able to help me make it. We are going to make it again for a family event next week!
YAY! I love it when Toddlers get involved! Start them young!
So easy, so moist! Can’t wait to make again. Thank you. 🙂
Thank you thank you!
Thanks so much for the high altitude note. I bake at 7100 feet, and often have to figure out how to adjust a recipe. It’s so nice to know I won’t need to do that when I make this one!! It looks delicious!!!
Yay, so glad to know that helps!
I love anything lemon and this lemon dump cake is delicious! It’s the perfect amount of zest and is so flavorful!
Thanks so much Holley! Appreciate the kudos!
I love how easy this recipe is and how little prep time is involved! I can’t wait to make this and share it with my family!
I know you will love it!
We’ve made this several times and the cake is super delicious and flavorful!
Thank you so much! Love hearing that!
I made this cake over the weekend and everyone loved it! I got asked for the recipe several times!
That’s the best isn’t it!?
This dump cake is so easy and zingy!
Zingy, a great word for it!
I baked the cake today. It was delicious . I should imagine it will beaoutstanding and even better tomorrow if there is any left. Quick, easy and just the right dessert on a hot day
That is fabulous to hear Edith, thank you so much for your kind words!
All I can say it Yum!!!!!!!
Agreed!
Hopefully will make this next week. I am sitting on the bed in the Motel checking emails when I saw this. Making me hungry.
Haha!! Hope you love it, safe traveling!
This is a perfect summertime treat. Dump cakes are so easy and delish!
They are so very easy!!
This dump cake looks amazing. I cannot wait to try and make this for my family.
Thank you so much Jennifer! You will love it!
This was so easy and I used my favorite homemade lemon curd– AMAZINGLY delish!!
Even better with homemade Lynn! Thanks so much!
I want a piece of that lemony goodness.
I wish I could slip some through the internet!