Description
This Lemon Dump Cake is a delightful and easy-to-make dessert featuring layers of tangy lemon curd, creamy sweetened cream cheese, and a buttery cake topping. Perfect for a quick treat, it brings bright citrus flavors combined with a moist, tender crumb and a golden, crisp top.
Ingredients
Scale
Lemon Layer
- 2 (12-ounce) jars lemon curd
Cream Cheese Mixture
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
Cake Topping
- 1 (15.25-ounce) box vanilla, lemon, yellow or white cake mix (we used white)
- ½ cup salted butter, cold (sliced into very thin pats)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the proper temperature for baking the cake evenly.
- Prepare Lemon Layer: Spread the lemon curd into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking and to create the base layer of the dessert.
- Mix Cream Cheese Layer: In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer to combine the softened cream cheese, egg, and granulated sugar until the mixture is smooth and fully combined, forming a creamy layer.
- Assemble Cream Cheese Layer: Drop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture evenly over the lemon curd layer in the baking dish, creating contrasting pockets of creamy sweetness.
- Add Cake Mix: Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the two layers below, covering the cream cheese and lemon curd to form the crumbly top layer.
- Add Butter: Slice the cold salted butter very thinly into small pats and spread them over the entire surface of the dry cake mix. Cover as much area as possible to help the cake topping crisp and brown during baking.
- Bake: Bake the assembled dump cake for about 40 minutes, or until the topping is nicely browned and the filling is bubbling around the edges, indicating it’s fully cooked.
- Rest and Serve: Allow the cake to rest for 15 minutes after baking to let the layers set slightly, making it easier to serve and enhancing the flavors.
Notes
- Use cold butter sliced thinly to ensure even browning and a crisp, crumbly topping.
- Letting the cake rest before serving improves texture and flavor melding.
- Choosing lemon or white cake mix accentuates the bright citrus flavor best.
- This recipe can be doubled for larger gatherings using a larger baking dish.
- Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Lemon Dump Cake, Easy Lemon Dessert, Lemon Curd Cake, Cream Cheese Dessert, Quick Lemon Cake
