Get ready to meet your new favorite dessert: the incredibly simple and wildly delicious Strawberry Cheesecake Dump Cake. If you’re craving the rich flavors of creamy cheesecake and sweet strawberries but don’t have the time for a complicated recipe, you’ve come to the right place. This recipe combines the best of both worlds into one warm, bubbling, and absolutely irresistible dessert that requires just a few minutes of prep time. It’s the perfect easy-bake treat for potlucks, family gatherings, or a quiet night in.
This recipe is all about convenience without sacrificing flavor. You literally “dump” the ingredients into a baking dish and let the oven do all the magic. The result is a perfectly layered dessert with a gooey strawberry base, a creamy cheesecake center, and a buttery, golden-brown cake topping. It’s a game-changer for busy home cooks!
What Exactly Is a Dump Cake?
A dump cake gets its name from the preparation method. It’s one of the simplest desserts you can make! The ingredients are layered—or “dumped”—directly into a baking pan without any mixing bowls or electric mixers required. Typically, this involves a fruit filling at the bottom, followed by a layer of dry cake mix, and then topped with melted butter. As it bakes, the butter melts down, combines with the cake mix, and forms a delicious, crumbly, cobbler-like topping. It’s the ultimate low-effort, high-reward dessert.
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Cheesecake Dump Cake Recipe
- Incredibly Easy: With just 5 simple ingredients and no mixing bowls needed, this recipe is perfect for bakers of all skill levels.
- Minimal Prep Time: It only takes about 10 minutes to assemble before it goes into the oven.
- Rich and Creamy Flavor: The combination of strawberry pie filling and a simple cream cheese layer creates an authentic cheesecake taste.
- Perfectly Sweet and Buttery Topping: The yellow cake mix and butter bake into a golden, slightly crunchy crust that perfectly complements the soft filling.
- A Crowd-Pleasing Dessert: This recipe is always a hit at parties, potlucks, and family dinners. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
The 5 Simple Ingredients You’ll Need
One of the best parts of this recipe is the short ingredient list. You only need five basic items that are easy to find at any grocery store.
- Strawberry Pie Filling: Two cans of strawberry pie filling create the sweet, fruity base of our dump cake.
- Cream Cheese: A block of cream cheese, softened to room temperature, is key for that classic cheesecake flavor.
- Granulated Sugar: Just a touch of sugar is mixed with the cream cheese to create the sweet, creamy cheesecake layer.
- Yellow Cake Mix: One box of classic yellow cake mix provides the structure and buttery flavor for the topping. A white or golden butter cake mix also works beautifully.
- Unsalted Butter: You’ll need two sticks of cold unsalted butter, thinly sliced. This is crucial for creating the perfect golden-brown crust.
How to Make Strawberry Cheesecake Dump Cake
Making this dessert is as simple as 1-2-3. Just layer your ingredients and bake!
- Preheat and Prep: First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick spray or butter.
- Layer the Fruit: Spread both cans of strawberry pie filling evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Create the Cheesecake Layer: In a small bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and granulated sugar together until smooth. Drop small spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture over the strawberry filling. You don’t need to spread it perfectly; it will melt and create delicious pockets of cheesecake goodness as it bakes.
- Add the Cake Mix: Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix evenly over the strawberry and cream cheese layers. Gently pat it down to create a level surface, but do not mix it in.
- Top with Butter: Thinly slice the cold butter and arrange the slices in a single layer over the entire surface of the cake mix. Try to cover as much of the dry mix as possible to ensure a consistently moist and golden topping.
- Bake to Perfection: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 45-55 minutes. The dump cake is done when the top is golden brown and the fruit filling is bubbling around the edges.
- Cool and Serve: Let the Strawberry Cheesecake Dump Cake cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. This allows the layers to set slightly. It’s best served warm, on its own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
Pro Tips for the Perfect Dump Cake
- Use Cold Butter: Slicing the butter while it’s cold is much easier and allows for more even coverage on top of the cake mix. This prevents dry patches.
- Don’t Stir!: Resist the temptation to stir the layers together. The distinct layers are what make a dump cake magical.
- Soften the Cream Cheese: Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature to ensure it mixes smoothly with the sugar and is easy to dollop over the fruit.
- Customize Your Topping: For extra crunch and flavor, consider sprinkling a half cup of chopped pecans or sliced almonds over the cake mix before adding the butter.
Fun Variations to Try
While this strawberry cheesecake version is a classic, dump cakes are incredibly versatile. Feel free to experiment with other flavors!
- Cherry Cheesecake: Swap the strawberry pie filling for cherry pie filling.
- Blueberry Delight: Use blueberry pie filling and a lemon or white cake mix for a fresh flavor. This pairs well with our Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake (coming soon) for a full dessert spread.
- Peach Cobbler Dump Cake: Use canned peaches in heavy syrup (drained) and a spice cake mix for a cozy, autumnal dessert.
If you love fruity desserts, be sure to check out our easy Strawberry Pound Cake (coming soon) or our fan-favorite Blueberry Coffee Cake.
How to Store and Reheat Your Dump Cake
Store any leftover dump cake tightly covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Because of the cream cheese layer, it’s important to keep it refrigerated. You can enjoy it cold straight from the fridge, or reheat individual portions in the microwave for 30-45 seconds for that fresh-from-the-oven taste.
Frequently Asked Questions about Strawberry Cheesecake Dump Cake
Absolutely! You can bake it a day in advance and store it in the refrigerator. We recommend reheating it in the oven at 350°F for about 15-20 minutes, or until warmed through, to restore the crispy topping before serving.
While pie filling is recommended for its consistency and sweetness, you can use fresh or frozen strawberries. If using fresh, slice about 4 cups of strawberries and toss them with 1/2 cup of sugar and 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. If using frozen, thaw them first and drain any excess liquid before mixing with sugar and cornstarch.
Yes, because of the cream cheese layer, any leftovers must be covered and stored in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 4 days.
Dry spots usually happen when the butter doesn’t cover the cake mix evenly. To prevent this, make sure you slice your butter very thinly and distribute the pieces to cover as much of the surface of the dry cake mix as possible before baking.
A classic yellow cake mix provides a wonderful buttery flavor that complements the fruit and cheesecake layers. However, a white cake mix, butter pecan, or even a lemon cake mix would also be delicious alternatives.
More Delicious Dessert Recipes You’ll Love
If you enjoyed this simple yet elegant dessert, you might also want to explore other sweet treats. For a different take on a classic, our Slow Cooker Pepper Steak isn’t a dessert, but it’s another “set it and forget it” recipe that simplifies mealtime. Okay, just kidding! For a real dessert, give our amazing cakes a try!
Strawberry Cheesecake Dump Cake Recipe
Strawberry Cheesecake Dump Cake (The Easiest 5-Ingredient Dessert!)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Spread both cans of strawberry pie filling evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- In a small bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and granulated sugar together until smooth. Drop small spoonfuls of the mixture over the strawberry filling.
- Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix evenly over the strawberry and cream cheese layers. Do not mix.
- Thinly slice the cold butter and arrange the slices in a single layer over the entire surface of the cake mix, covering as much as possible.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the fruit filling is bubbling around the edges.
- Let the cake cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. This allows the layers to set. Serve warm.
Notes
Tip 2: Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for the ultimate dessert experience.
Tip 3: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Share Your Creation!
We are sure this Strawberry Cheesecake Dump Cake will become a staple in your dessert rotation. It’s the perfect blend of easy, elegant, and incredibly delicious. If you make this recipe, we’d love to see it! Share a photo of your masterpiece and tag us. Don’t forget to save this recipe to your favorite dessert board on Pinterest!
