Sweet and tangy Lemon Dump Cake with buttery, golden topping. Easy to make with simple ingredients, this dessert is perfect for summer gatherings, holidays, or any time you want a bright, refreshing treat.

Lemon dump cake in a white dish with lemons beside it.
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Lemon Dump Cake is a simple, bright, and tangy dessert that comes together with little effort. This sweet and zesty lemon dessert is perfect for summer gatherings, holidays, or any time you want a refreshing, crowd-pleasing dessert.

It’s a refreshing and foolproof treat for spring, summer, or any time you crave something light and sunny. Also, try 35 Best Lemon Desserts.

You might also want to try Crock Pot Strawberry Dump Cake and Pineapple Dump Cake.

Quick and Easy Lemon Dump Cake!

A woman with long dark hair, wearing earrings and a burgundy top, smiles at the camera in front of a textured, beige background.

Lemon Dump Cake Recipe is the perfect treat to make when you are craving delicious lemon flavor. It is a combination of sweet and tart that makes this dessert so delicious. It is so easy with only 4 ingredients and one of our favorite oven baked dessert. Check out all our Easy Dump Cake Recipes including Easy Chocolate Dump Cake.

For more lemon desserts, make Lemon Icebox Pie, Lemon Trifle and Lemon Puppy Chow for 51 Easy Summer Desserts.

Why We Love This

  • Easy and Quick – Minimal prep, no mixing bowls required.
  • Bright Lemon Flavor – Sweet and tangy for a refreshing dessert.
  • Soft, Fluffy Cake Topping – Adds texture and pairs perfectly with the lemon filling.
  • Perfect for Any Occasion – Great for holidays, potlucks, or casual family desserts.
  • Kid-Friendly – Loved by both kids and adults alike.

Ingredients

Ingredients for Lemon Dump Cake - yellow box cake mix, cream cheese, butter, cool whip.
  • Yellow Cake Mix. Provides a rich, buttery base that pairs perfectly with the lemon filling.
  • Cream Cheese. Cut into small cubes so it melts evenly into the cake for a creamy, tangy layer.
  • Butter. Slice thinly to ensure even melting and a perfectly golden, crisp topping.
  • Cool Whip. Use store-bought or Homemade Whipped Cream to add a light, fluffy finishing touch before serving.

Find the complete ingredient list at the bottom of the page.

How To Make Lemon Dump Cake

Step 1. First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. While the oven is preheating, get your 9×9 baking dish ready to go. Spray it with cooking spray and set aside.

Lemon Pie filling spread in pan.

Step 2. Spread the lemon pie filling in the pan.

Cake mix sprinkled over pie filling.

Step 3. Next, sprinkle half of the dry cake mix on top of the lemon pie filling.

Cream Cheese pieces layered on top.

Step 4. Put cream cheese pieces on top of the pie filling.

Dry Cake Mix sprinkled on top.

Step 5. Finally, top the cream cheese mixture with the remaining cake mix.

Butter slices spread on cake.

Step 6. Add the thin pats of butter in a single layer all over the top of the cake mix. Try to cover the entire top of the dry cake mix with the butter slices.

Cake baked until golden brown.

Step 7. Bake the cake. It normally takes between 35-40 minutes, but oven times can vary. I like to use a toothpick inserted in the middle. If it comes out clean, it is ready.

Serving of lemon dump cake topped with whipped cream in a bowl

Serving Suggestions

  • Whipped Cream. This lemon dump cake tastes amazing topped with a dollop of whipped cream for extra sweetness.
  • Ice Cream. Add a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream on top for the perfect dessert combination that’s similar to a cobbler.
  • Fresh Fruit. Garnish each serving with fresh blueberries or raspberries to add a pop of color and a burst of fresh flavor.

Storage

Refrigerator
Cover the cooled cake tightly with plastic wrap or transfer it to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Freezer
Freeze leftovers in a freezer-safe container or wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil. Store for up to 3 months. Do not store at room temperature due to the cream cheese.

Reheating
Warm individual portions of leftover lemon dump cake in the microwave for about 20–30 seconds before serving if you prefer it warm.

More Easy Lemon Recipes

More Dump Cake Recipes

Whip up this bright and tangy Lemon Dump Cake for a simple, crowd-pleasing dessert! Share your creations in the comments, give the recipe a star rating, and don’t be afraid to experiment with toppings like fresh berries or a dusting of powdered sugar to make it your own.

Serving of Lemon Dump cake topped with ice cream on a plate

Lemon Dump Cake 

4.48 from 349 votes
Lemon Dump Cake is super easy with 4 ingredients. Each bite is bursting with lemon flavor and so rich from the cream cheese and lemon.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 9
Cuisine American
Course Dessert
Calories 220

Ingredients

  • 16 oz Lemon Pie Filling
  • 1 Yellow Cake Mix
  • 4 oz Cream Cheese diced into small pieces
  • 1/2 cup Butter cut into thin slices
  • Cool Whip

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Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 9X9 baking pan with a non stick cooking spray.
  • Place the lemon pie filling into the bottom of the pan.
  • Sprinkle half of the cake mix onto of the lemon pie filling.
  • Then top with the pieces of the cream cheese and then the remaining cake mix.
  • Top with the butter pieces in a single layer on top of the cake and cover as much as the surface as possible.
  • Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
  • Let cool before serving.
  • Serve topped with cool whip and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Refrigerate the leftovers in an air tight container for up to 5-6 days. 

Variations

  • Change the Cake Mix – Use other types of cake mixes- lemon cake mix and white cake mix make delicious options.
  • Pie filling– Use blueberry pie filling to make blueberry dump cake. This pairs well with lemon cake mix for lots of lemon and blueberry flavor. Strawberry pie filling is good as well. Try a combination to make Lemon Blueberry Dump Cake.
  • Lemon Curd – You can also add some lemon curd for extra lemon flavor or lemon pudding mix.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 220kcal, Carbohydrates 20g, Protein 1g, Fat 15g, Saturated Fat 9g, Trans Fat 1g, Cholesterol 52mg, Sodium 264mg, Potassium 34mg, Fiber 1g, Sugar 17g, Vitamin A 506IU, Calcium 29mg, Iron 1mg

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Desserts on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you create delicious desserts on a budget and do not require a ton of time. Together, we are going to make something sweet that the entire family will love!

4.48 from 349 votes (347 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Donna says:

    What size box of cake mix is used?

    1. Carrie says:

      I used a 15 oz cake mix for this recipe.

  2. K says:

    Can you use lemon cake mix?

    1. Carrie Barnard says:

      Yes, you can.

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