Home
Recipes
Cakes
Sheet Cakes
5-Ingredient Lemon Dump Cake Recipe

5-Ingredient Lemon Dump Cake Recipe

By What’s Baking

A heavenly, zesty lemon dessert with a golden, buttery crust that melts in your mouth while offering the perfect balance of tangy and sweet flavors.
Difficulty:
Beginner
Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
45 mins
Serves:
1 cake (12 slices)
Intact golden lemon dump cake cooling in a rectangular white ceramic baking dish on a wire rack.

Ingredients

<ul class="ingredients-main-list"><li class="ingredients-single-item">1 box (430g) yellow cake mix</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">115g unsalted butter, cold and thinly sliced</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">2 lemons (juice and zest)</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">1 can (400g) lemon pie filling</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">150ml water</li></ul>

Equipment

<ul class="equipment-main-list"><li class="equipment-single-item">23cm x 33cm (9x13-inch) baking dish</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Microplane or zester</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Juicer</li></ul>
BAKE SMARTER

Kitchen Converter

Quickly switch between common baking units without leaving the recipe.

Convert
⇄
Result—

Volume uses US cups, tablespoons, and teaspoons. Converting weight to volume depends on the ingredient.

Directions

<ol class="no-list-style"><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 1</h4>Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and position a rack in the middle. Lightly grease your 23cm x 33cm baking dish with a small amount of butter or cooking spray. This prevents the cake from sticking and makes serving easier.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 2</h4>Wash your lemons thoroughly under warm water, as you'll be using both the juice and zest. Using your microplane or zester, carefully remove the yellow zest from both lemons, being careful to avoid the bitter white pith beneath. The oils in the zest contain intense lemon flavor that will permeate throughout your cake.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 3</h4>Cut the zested lemons in half and juice them completely, straining out any seeds. You should get approximately 60-80ml of fresh juice. Fresh lemon juice provides a bright, authentic flavor that bottled versions simply can't match.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 4</h4>Pour the lemon pie filling into your prepared baking dish and spread it evenly across the bottom. The thick consistency of pie filling creates a luscious pudding-like layer that will contrast beautifully with your cake topping.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 5</h4>In a medium bowl, combine the lemon juice, lemon zest, and water. Pour this mixture over the pie filling, but do not stir. The liquid will help create moisture throughout the cake while adding extra lemon flavor.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 6</h4>Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the liquid mixture, ensuring it covers the entire surface. Use a gentle hand to spread it into an even layer without pressing down. The dry cake mix will hydrate during baking and form a perfect crust.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 7</h4>Arrange the thin slices of cold butter evenly over the cake mix, covering as much of the surface as possible. The cold butter will melt during baking, creating pockets of richness and helping the top develop a golden, slightly crisp texture. Any areas without butter might remain powdery, so aim for good coverage.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 8</h4>Bake for 45-50 minutes until the top is golden brown and the edges are bubbling slightly. You'll notice the cake developing distinct layers as it bakes—a custard-like bottom from the pie filling and a buttery cake layer on top.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 9</h4>Remove from the oven and let the cake cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. This cooling period allows the layers to set properly and makes serving neater. The cake can be served warm or at room temperature, perhaps with a dusting of icing sugar or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for extra indulgence.</li></ol>

Chef’s Notes

A few helpful details for making this recipe.

Can I use bottled lemon juice instead of fresh lemons in a dump cake?

While bottled lemon juice will work in a pinch, fresh lemons are highly recommended for the best flavour. Fresh lemons provide both juice and zest, which contains essential oils that give a more authentic, vibrant taste and aroma that bottled versions simply cannot match.

Why is it called a "dump cake" and how does it differ from regular cake?

The name "dump cake" comes from the simple preparation method where ingredients are dumped into the baking dish without mixing. Unlike traditional cakes requiring creaming, folding or beating, dump cakes form distinct layers during baking: a moist, pudding-like bottom and a buttery, crisp top crust.

How can I store leftover lemon dump cake and how long will it keep?

Store leftover lemon dump cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For best texture, allow it to come to room temperature before serving or warm individual slices briefly in the microwave. You can also freeze portions in airtight containers for up to 3 months.

Want to try something else in ...

More recipes you might like

Keep exploring with more recipes from What's Baking.

View all
Dark Black Caribbean fruitcake with a slice removed, revealing the dense fruit-filled crumb.
Cakes
Sheet Cakes

Black Caribbean Fruitcake Recipe

Rich with rum-soaked fruits and warm spices, this Black Caribbean fruitcake delivers deep molasses notes and a gloriously moist texture that intensifies beautifully with age.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Prep Time:
24 hours 30 mins
Cook Time:
2 hours 30 mins
Serves:
1 cake (16 slices)
View recipe
Warm fudgy chocolate dump cake being scooped from a white baking dish into a ceramic bowl with rich chocolate sauce.
Cakes
Sheet Cakes

Fudgy Chocolate Dump Cake Recipe

A decadent, intensely chocolatey cake with a moist interior and crackly top that magically forms its own layers as it bakes with minimal effort.
Difficulty:
Beginner
Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
40 mins
Serves:
1 cake (8 slices)
View recipe
An overhead shot of a dark chocolate sheet cake with glossy frosting in a rectangular baking pan, with one corner piece cut away to reveal the moist, tender crumb inside. The surface shows a slight sheen from the Coca-Cola frosting that has set to a crackly finish. A vintage Coca-Cola glass bottle sits in the background alongside a fork with a bite of cake on it. The scene is captured in warm, natural light on a rustic wooden table with scattered pecans and a light dusting of cocoa powder creating visual texture around the edges of the frame.
Cakes
Sheet Cakes

Coca-Cola Sheet Cake Recipe

Moist, fudgy chocolate sheet cake infused with Coca-Cola's caramel notes and topped with a glossy, poured chocolate frosting that sets to a perfect crackly finish.
Difficulty:
Beginner
Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
30 mins
Serves:
1 sheet cake (20 slices)
View recipe
An overhead shot of the tiramisu sheet cake displays a perfectly rectangular dessert with a velvety mascarpone frosting swirled across the top, lightly dusted with cocoa powder creating an elegant contrast. A cross-section reveals moist coffee-soaked cake layers interspersed with creamy filling. The cake sits on a rustic wooden serving board alongside a vintage coffee cup and scattered coffee beans, with a few chocolate shavings artfully placed on top. Soft window light highlights the textural details of the frosting and the rich cocoa dusting, while a silver cake server rests nearby, ready to portion this Italian-inspired dessert.
Cakes
Sheet Cakes

Tiramisu Sheet Cake Recipe

A luscious coffee-infused sheet cake layered with creamy mascarpone frosting and dusted with cocoa powder, capturing all the classic tiramisu flavors in a crowd-pleasing format.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Prep Time:
40 mins
Cook Time:
25 mins
Serves:
1 cake (16 slices)
View recipe
An overhead shot of a golden-yellow passion fruit sheet cake on a white ceramic rectangular platter against a pale blue linen. A knife rests beside a freshly cut slice revealing the moist, tender crumb. The cream cheese frosting appears velvety and smooth, decorated with thin swirls and topped with a vibrant passion fruit drizzle that creates amber pools on the surface. Fresh passion fruit halves and edible flowers are artfully scattered around the cake, while natural light streams in from a nearby window, highlighting the glistening seeds in the passion fruit topping and the slight gloss of the frosting.
Cakes
Sheet Cakes

Passion Fruit Sheet Cake Recipe

A tender, zesty sheet cake infused with tangy passion fruit flavor, topped with smooth cream cheese frosting and fresh passion fruit drizzle for a tropical dessert experience.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Prep Time:
30 mins
Cook Time:
25 mins
Serves:
1 cake (16 slices)
View recipe
An overhead shot of a golden-brown sheet cake with visible flecks of graham cracker crumbs throughout, cut into perfect squares revealing its moist, tender crumb. The cake is topped with a smooth layer of honey cream cheese frosting that glistens under soft natural light, with delicate drizzles of amber honey cascading down the sides. A few whole graham crackers are arranged artistically in one corner, while a small jar of honey with a wooden dipper sits nearby on a rustic wooden serving board. The warm, caramel tones of the cake contrast beautifully with the cream-colored frosting, creating a homey yet elegant presentation that highlights this nostalgic dessert's inviting texture.
Cakes
Sheet Cakes

Honey Graham Sheet Cake Recipe

This tender, cinnamon-kissed sheet cake channels the nostalgic flavor of graham crackers, topped with a luscious honey cream cheese frosting that melts into each warm, comforting bite.
Difficulty:
Beginner
Prep Time:
25 mins
Cook Time:
30 mins
Serves:
1 cake (16 slices)
View recipe