A Dump Cake Is The Beginner Friendly Dessert Anyone Can Make

No, dump cakes aren't the most appealingly named dessert. It sounds clunky, clumsy, even a little sloppy. But anyone who has tasted a scoop of dump cake, much more of a cobbler than a cake (not to be confused with a crisp or a crumble), knows exactly how delicious it can be. Usually, dump cakes consist of a fruit pie filling base with a cake top. But rather than adding a layer of cake batter atop pie filling, the cake mix is, well, dumped on top of the base. Then, butter is either drizzled over the top or added in small slices to melt during baking. No eggs are harmed in the baking process.

The result is a bubbly, gooey filling with a crumbly, toasty, just-set top that is undeniably delicious (and wonderful with an accompanying scoop of ice cream). Not just this, but it's incredibly simple to make, requiring minimal ingredients and prep. The base of these cakes are usually a canned pie filling that is already sweet, and the top is an already flavored cake mix (yellow cake is most common) that needs only some butter to bring it together. Of course, not everyone is a fan of the humble dump cake. We choose to believe they simply haven't had a good version of the dish, or maybe they haven't found their ideal recipe. There are many ways you can jeuje up your dump cake for optimal results.

So you're looking to spruce up your dump cake, or maybe you're hoping to make the best possible dump cake for your next picnic or party. Either way, there are a few ways in which you can up the deliciousness on your next dump cake. For starters, you might want to rethink the premade pie filling base. Canned pie filling is delicious (of course), but it is also incredibly sweet. When paired with the already sweet box cake mix top, it might prove to be overpowering. Instead, try using fresh or frozen fruit that has been mixed with sugar, a bit of lemon juice and zest, a pinch of salt, and corn starch for thickening (if you please). You can even mix in some cinnamon for added flavor.

Another amendment you might want to make to your next dump cake is to top it with some lovely roasted nuts, such as pecans, for a nice and tasty crunch. You will also want to be careful with your layering, making sure the butter and mix are evenly distributed so that they bake to a uniform color and texture. For a truly customized taste, you can even create your own batter for the topping, though one might wonder if going through those extra steps even qualifies as a dump cake. However, if the result is tasty enough, no one will question your methods.