How to Make a Better Dump Cake (2024)

FAQs

What is the biggest mistake to avoid when making a dump cake? ›

However, anyone well-versed in the ways of the dump cake will tell you that there is one rule you should never break when making a dump cake. Since it's not a step that you'll ever see in most other cake recipes, it can be easily missed. The mistake to avoid is simple: Don't mix it.

Add Milk, Coffee, or Soda

Boxed cakes often call for water, but swapping it out for equal amounts of milk, coffee, or even soda will give you a moister, more tender, and flavorful cake.

Once baked, a dump cake comes out like a cross between fluffy cake and melty cobbler. Soft ooey-gooey bars come to mind, except more scoopable. Many people choose to use store-bought pie filling or canned fruit as the base, but you can really customize it to fit your taste.

Bake until the tops are brown and bubbly, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Serve with whipped cream.

1) You forgot to add baking powder, or you used expired baking powder. 2) Your pan is too big, so the mixture can't rise enough to fill it. Or 3) You over whisked.

Sour cream is one of the fattiest dairy products; the extra fat content (for example, adding sour cream to a cake instead of milk) will make the cake moister and richer, says Wilk. "Fat, in any form (butter, lard, cream, etc.) shortens gluten strands, which essentially leads to the most tender baked goods," she adds.

Martina says, “Late in the mixing stage, eggs will incorporate better if you lightly beat them before adding to the batter. The finished cake may be slightly shorter than expected, but its flavor and tenderness shouldn't be affected.” For egg-leavened cakes, the eggs are crucial.

Do you refrigerate dump cake? There's no dairy in this recipe, but we'd still recommend you refrigerate dump cake. It'll help it last longer in the fridge. Cover the dish in plastic wrap, and store it in the fridge 4 to 5 days.

It's important to pay attention to the specifics called for in a recipe, but in general, most cakes are best removed from the pan after cooling for 10 to 20 minutes. Try it too soon, and it may fall apart. Wait too long, and it may stick.

How do you ensure that a dump cake is properly baked and not undercooked in the center? ›

Just like with regular cakes, you can stick a toothpick or a skewer into the middle of the cake part. If it comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs (but not wet batter), it's done. Give the top a gentle press. If they feel set and not mushy, then they're done cooking.

Besides the cringe-worthy name, most dump cakes are way too sweet and can be kind of a one-note experience. Using canned pie filling and cake mix also means loads of preservatives and who knows what else going into your cake. Also, sometimes when you just "dump" things into a pan, they don't always bake evenly.

How to Store a Dump Cake. Store the dump cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Cover with foil and reheat in the oven at 350 degrees F until heated through.