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Easy 5 Ingredient Lemon Dump Cake With Cream Cheese

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Looking for a simple and scrumptious dessert that won’t take up hours of your time? Enter the Easy Lemon Dump Cake with Cream Cheese! 

This easy recipe combines the zesty flavor of lemon with the creamy goodness of cream cheese, all in one quick dessert. 


With only five ingredients and few simple steps, you can whip up this delightful dessert in no time.

There is a small white plate with a square piece of lemon cake on it. There is white powered sugar sprinkled over the cake and a dollop of whipped cream on top of the cake. There is a silver fork resting on the backside of the plate. There is a light brown cloth napkin laying next to the plate. There is a half of lemon and a whole lemon in the background. All items are on a wood surface.

Irresistible Reasons Why We Love Lemon Dump Cake With Cream Cheese

  • The refreshing lemon flavor is like a burst of sunshine in every bite making it the perfect treat for lemon lovers!
  • It’s the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. The sweetness from the cake mix and the tanginess from the lemon filling complement each other. The layer of cream cheese adds a delicious texture to the dump cake.
  • This simple recipe is so effortless to make. With only five basic ingredients and minimal prep work, anyone can whip up this delicious dessert without breaking a sweat.  It’s the perfect go-to recipe for busy days or family gatherings.

What Ingredients Do I Need For A Lemon Cream Cheese Dump Cake?

There is a large white bowl with white dry cake mix in it. There is a smaller white bowl with lemon pie filling in it. There is a small white square plate with a stick of butter and a block of cream cheese on it. There is a small clear bowl with white sugar and a small wooden spoon in it. Items are on a white and black terrazzo surface.

Five Simple Ingredients

1. Boxed cake mix

2. Lemon curd


3. Cream cheese – softened 

4. Sugar

5. Salted butter

Equipment and Helpful tools

  • 9×13 Baking dish
  • Medium or large mixing bowl
  • Rubber spatula
  • Large spoon
  • Kitchen knife
  • Oven mitts
  • Wire cooling rack

Easy Dump Cake Recipe

There is a white bowl with a white creamy mixture in it. There is a spoon resting in the bowl. There is a small clear glass bow in the background with white sugar and a small wooden spoon in it. There is part of a cream colored fringed cloth napkin. Items are on a white and black terrazzo surface.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Mix softened cream cheese (see Top Tips) and sugar.
  • Throughly blend and set aside.
There is a clear rectangular baking dish with lemon pie filling spread on the bottom. There is a white bowl in the background with a gray rubber spatula resting in it. Items are on a white and black terrazzo surface.
  • Spoon lemon curd in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
There is a clear rectangular baking dish with scoops of cream cheese on top of lemon pie filling. There is a white bowl with a silver spoon and a small red rubber spatula in it. Items are on a white and black terrazzo surface.
  • Spoon dollops of the cream cheese mixture on top of the pie filling (lemon curd) in the baking dish.
There is a clear rectangular baking dish with dry white cake mix partially covering scoops of cream cheese and lemon pie filling. There is a white bowl with white dry cake mix and a silver spoon in it. Items are on a white and black terrazzo surface.
  • Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the lemon and cream cheese mixtures to cover the layers underneath. 
There is a clear rectangular baking dish with dry white cake mix covering scoops of cream cheese and lemon pie filling. There is a stick of butter and a silver knife on a small white square plate in the background. All the items are on a white and black terrazzo surface.
  • Use a knife or spatula and form an even layer.
There is a clear rectangular baking dish with dry white cake mix covering scoops of cream cheese and lemon pie filling. There is thin slices of butter on top of the dry cake mix. The baking dish on a white and black terrazzo surface.
  • Place thin slices of butter over the top of the cake mix.
There is a clear rectangular baking dish with baked white cake mix over scoops of cream cheese and lemon pie filling. The baking dish is resting on a black wire cooling rack. The wire rack is on a white and black terrazzo surface.
  • Bake in preheated oven until the top is golden brown.
  • Serve warm or room temperature with a dollop of cool whip, sprinkle confectioner’s sugar, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

See recipe card below for complete measurements, details, and total time.

Let’s Talk Ingredients

Lemon curd – Lemon pie filling can be used. I like to use lemon curd because it has more tangy lemon flavor.

Boxed cake mix – There are a variety of cake mixes you can use: yellow cake mix, lemon cake mix, vanilla cake mix, or white cake mix.

Cream cheese – Velvety cream cheese adds a whole new layer of both flavor and texture. (see Top Tips)

Sugar – Adding just a little bit of sugar balances out the tart lemon flavor.

Butter – Both salted and unsalted butter can be used in this recipe. (see Top Tips)

There is a small white plate with a square piece of lemon cake on it. There is white powered sugar sprinkled over the cake and a dollop of whipped cream on top of the cake. There is a silver fork resting on the backside of the plate. There is a light brown cloth napkin laying next to the plate. There is a half of lemon and a whole lemon in the background. All items are on a wood surface.

Top Tips

Soften the cream cheese in the microwave! For an 8-ounce block of cream cheese, place the completely unwrapped cheese on a microwave-safe plate or bowl and microwave it on high for 15 seconds. Stir and microwave for another 10 seconds. Repeat this step until you get the consistency you want.

Make sure your butter is cold, making it much easier to get the slices very thin. When the dump cake bakes, the butter melts and blends with the dry cake mix, but it won’t spread.

Parts of the cake mix that are left uncovered, may come out of the oven still dry and powdery so try and cover as much of the top of the dump cake as possible.

You can melt the butter and drizzle it over the top of the cake mix, if you’re more comfortable with this technique.

Easy 5 Ingredient Lemon Dump Cake With Cream Cheese

There is a small white plate with a square piece of lemon cake on it. There is a silver fork with a bite of cake on it on the plate. There is a part of a glass baking dish with lemon dump cake in it in the background. There is a lemon cut in half and a whole lemon next to each other in the background. All items are on a white and black terrazzo surface.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Store Dump Cake?

Cover leftover lemon dump cake with plastic wrap or store in an airtight container. Dump cakes with cream cheese should be stored in the fridge.

What Is The Difference Between Lemon Curd And Lemon Pie Filling?

Lemon curd is a cooked mixture of eggs, lemon juice and zest, sugar, and butter. Lemon pie filling is typically thickened with cornstarch and usually doesn’t contain butter. Both can be found at your local grocery store.

If you love this dessert, check out a couple of the best dump cake recipes

Strawberry Dump Cake

Peach Dump Cake

 Looking for more easy sweet treats? Check these delicious desserts from Join Me In The Kitchen!

Easy 3-Ingredient Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie With Caramel – super easy and kids love it!

How To Make An Easy Rustic Blueberry-Lemon Galette

Easy Marbled Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie Recipe

Easy Pecan Pie With Crunchy Praline Topping

Mini Pecan Raisin Tarts – a family favorite

Easy Pumpkin Pie Crunch Cake With Pecans And Toffee – great for family gatherings!

Yield: 12

Easy 5 Ingredient Lemon Dump Cake With Cream Cheese

There is a small white plate with a square piece of lemon cake on it. There is white powered sugar sprinkled over the cake and a dollop of whipped cream on top of the cake. There is a silver fork resting on the backside of the plate. There is a light brown cloth napkin laying next to the plate. There is a half of lemon and a whole lemon in the background. All items are on a wood surface.

This easy recipe combines the zesty flavor of lemon with the creamy goodness of cream cheese, all in one quick dessert. 

With only five ingredients and few simple steps, you can whip up this delightful dessert in no time.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 Box of white cake mix (15.25 ounces)
  • 24 Ounces lemon curd
  • 8 Ounces cream cheese - softened
  • 3 Tablespoons granulated white sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter - very cold

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Combine softened cream cheese (see Top Tips) and sugar in a mixing bowl. Throughly blend and set aside.
  3. Grease baking pan with non-stick spray to prevent sticking.
  4. Spoon lemon curd in the bottom of the baking dish, spreading evenly.
  5. Spoon dollops of the cream cheese mixture over the top of the pie filling (lemon curd) in the baking dish.
  6. Sprinkle the cake mix evenly over the lemon and cream cheese mixtures to cover the layers underneath.
  7. Use a knife or spatula and form an even layer.
  8. Slice thin pats of butter and spread over the entire top of the dry cake mix. Cover as much of the cake mix as possible.
  9. Bake about 35-40 minutes until the topping is golden brown.
  10. Serve warm or room temperature with a dollop of cool whip, sprinkle confectioner's sugar, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Notes

Equipment and Helpful tools

  • 9x13 Baking dish
  • Medium or large mixing bowl
  • Rubber spatula
  • Large spoon
  • Kitchen knife
  • Oven mitts
  • Wire cooling rack

Top Tips

  • Soften the cream cheese in the microwave! For an 8-ounce block of cream cheese, place the completely unwrapped cheese on a microwave-safe plate or bowl and microwave it on high for 15 seconds. Stir and microwave for another 10 seconds. Repeat this step until you get the consistency you want.

  • Make sure your butter is cold, making it much easier to get the slices very thin. When the dump cake bakes, the butter melts and blends with the dry cake mix, but it won’t spread. Parts of the cake mix that are left uncovered, may come out of the oven still dry and powdery so try and cover as much of the top of the dump cake as possible.

  • You can melt the butter and drizzle it over the top of the cake mix, if you're more comfortable with this technique.

© Laura @ Join me in the Kitchen
Cuisine: American / Category: Desserts

Miz Helen

Monday 21st of August 2023

Hi Laura, It was such a pleasure featuring your amazing Lemon Dump Cake, at Full Plate Thursday, 653! Thanks so much for sharing with us and we look forward to seeing you again soon! Miz Helen

Tammy

Sunday 6th of August 2023

Oh my gosh! It doesn't get any easier than this now does it?! What a delicious and delightful dessert!

Esmé Slabbert

Thursday 3rd of August 2023

Lovely, beautiful, awesome - love dump cakes. Pinning this one I visited you via In the Full Plate Thursday, 652 I linked up this week with = 36+37. If you have not joined us as yet at SSPS do come and share your awesome post/s with us You will find the linkup information under BLOGGING: https: // esmesalon . com / tag / seniorsalonpitstop (no spaces) We hope to meet you there virtually.

Laura @ Join me in the Kitchen

Friday 4th of August 2023

Thank you so much Esme! It is a fabulous dump cake. I will definitely check out SSPS. :) Cheers! Laura

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