Featured Reader Review
Susie said, “Picking 4 lbs of blueberries means blueberry dump cake! Discovered this on vacation and the easiest, fastest crowd pleaser ever!!”
Blueberry dump cake is the answer to all your dessert cravings when you want something that tastes homemade but takes minimal time and effort. You’ll start by tossing fresh, sweet blueberries with a little sugar, a pinch of cinnamon, and a swirl of lemon zest and juice — it’s basically the same blueberry pie filling I use in my mini galettes (just as luscious, but here it’s even easier to whip up!). A bit of cornstarch helps thicken the berries as they bake, creating that jammy, pie-like texture we all love.
From there, you simply sprinkle a box of yellow cake mix over the fruit, then finish by pouring melted butter on top. Don’t worry about mixing it in — the magic happens on its own in the oven.
Obsessed with blueberry desserts? Be sure to try my summery blueberry shortcakes, creamy blueberry pie milkshakes, or this easier-than-pie homemade blueberry crisp next! Or check out all my easy dessert recipes for more inspiration!
Why I Love This Recipe
In just under an hour, the cake bakes up golden on top, soft in the middle, and the berries become luxuriously jam-like beneath. Think of it as somewhere between a cobbler and a pie, with a little bit of both in each irresistible bite. And of course, it’s practically begging to be topped with ice cream or fresh whipped cream!
Tips For Best Results
- Fresh is best. Yes, store-bought pie filling will technically work, but if you have a few extra minutes to stir together real blueberries, sugar, and lemon juice, you’ll taste the difference immediately.
- Don’t skip the lemon! Lemon juice thickens the filling (when mixed with cornstarch) and the zest brightens up the overall flavor. It’s a small addition that makes a big impact.
- Hands off. Dump cakes get their name for a reason — everything is layered without mixing. Trust the process and let the oven do the rest.
- Serve warm. The interplay of hot, jammy blueberries with cold ice cream or whipped cream? Absolutely unbeatable.
Variations & Substitutions
- No fresh blueberries? Frozen is just fine! I love using frozen Wild Maine blueberries; just toss them in straight from the bag.
- Try other fruits! Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, peaches, or apricots are all amazing. Try a combo of mixed berries, or try my pumpkin dump cake, chocolate cherry dump cake, or make a cinnamon apple version in the fall!
- Alternate cake mixes. You can experiment with white cake mix, chocolate cake mix, or even funfetti if you want to mix things up.
- Bigger crowd? Use a 9×13″ baking dish instead. It’ll bake up a bit thinner, so keep an eye on it around the 45-minute mark.
This blueberry dump cake may just become your new go-to dessert. It’s simple, it’s quick, and it’s got all those beloved flavors of a homemade blueberry pie in a fraction of the time. Who said homemade baking had to be complicated?
Tips For The Best Homemade Dump Cake
- Make the blueberry filling from scratch! Avoid using a store-bought pie filling, making it fresh is just so much tastier!
- If possible, use fresh blueberries! We haven’t been able to get our hands on wild Maine blueberries yet this season, but if you can find those, even better!
- Don’t skip the lemon juice and zest! The lemon juice helps to make a slurry with the cornstarch (and in turn thicken the filling), while bringing out the natural sweetness of the berries. Lemons and blueberries together forever!
- Resist the urge to stir the cake! No need to stir the blueberries, cake mix, and melted butter. Simply layer all ingredients in a tart pan, cake pan, or other baking dish, then pop in the oven. It’s hands off from there!
I’m already dreaming about making this Blueberry Dump Cake again. If you give it a try, please let us know by leaving a review and rating below! I think you’ll agree it’s pretty irresistible!
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Other easy dessert recipes to check out:
- Key lime cheesecake parfaits
- Cookie butter skillet cookie
- Cannoli cream parfaits
- No-bake chocolate mousse pie
- Rosemary shortbread recipe
Tell Us What You Think!
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Blueberry Dump Cake (with Yellow Cake Mix)
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 – 2 ½ cups fresh blueberries
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 lemon zested and 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp Kosher salt
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- ¾ cup unsalted butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Place a rack in the center of the oven.
- Make the filling. Combine 2-2 ½ cups fresh blueberries (enough to create an even layer on the base of the baking dish), ⅓ cup granulated sugar, 1 ½ Tbsp cornstarch, 1 tsp lemon zest, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, ¼ tsp cinnamon, and ¼ tsp Kosher salt in an 11" pie dish or tart pan, stirring to evenly coat the berries.
- Add the cake mix. Pour 1 box of yellow cake mix on top. Spread into an even layer.
- Add melted butter. Melt ¾ cup unsalted butter, then pour directly on top of cake mix, trying to cover as much of the surface with butter as possible. Do not stir or mix.
- Bake the cake. Place the cake in a preheated oven and cook for 45-55 minutes, or until golden brown on top and the cake has puffed up.
- Cool, then serve. Allow the cake to cool slightly for 5 minutes, then serve immediately. We recommend serving with ice cream of fresh whipped cream!
Notes
- Blueberry filling: you can use store-bought pie filling, but making it fresh is so much better!
- Fresh blueberries: if possible, use fresh berries. Frozen will work in a pinch! No need to defrost, thaw, or pat down.
- Don’t skip the lemon juice and zest!
- Resist the urge to stir the cake! Simply layer the ingredients and bake.
- How do I make this in an 9×13 baking dish? Follow the instructions exactly as written, then bake for slightly less time, 45 minutes. Using a larger baking dish will result in a thinner cake, which will cook in less time than the pan seen here. The only note is to make sure you use enough berries to cover the entire surface of the pan or dish: add more as needed!
I grew up making Peach Cobbler this way as a child. It wasn’t until my adult life that I learned that it was called Dump Cake. A friend of mine recently asked if I had a good recipe for cobbler and when I passed this along to him, he turned his nose up at the idea because it wasn’t “homemade”. His loss, BIG time, because it is so freaking easy and everyone loves it! Sometimes the simplest path IS actually the best one. Definitely give it a try if you’re a skeptic.
People don’t know what they’re missing out on!! Dump cakes are where it’s at. The peach version sounds fabulous! Thanks so much for the review! xo, Ari
Picking 4 lbs of blueberries means blueberry dump cake! Discovered this on vacation and the easiest, fastest crowd pleaser ever!!
Thanks so much, Susie!! We love how simple it is too, even the kids can make it themselves! xo, Ari
Can I make this a day ahead of when I need it? Also will GF cake mix work?
Hi Susie, I think this cake is best fresh. But it’s -really- simple to make, given that you simply dump the cake into a baking dish and pour the wet mixture on top. If you wanted, you could prep the blueberries + cake mix the night before, then wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate. When ready, melt the butter and pour it on top before baking. Hope this helps! xo, Ari
This was incredibly easy and incredibly tasty! I had fresh blueberries that I used and they came out wonderful in this dish. I had close to 3 cups so I used them all. You can never have too many blueberries! I had a cheap golden butter cake mix that I used but here’s my kicker – I only had 1 stick of butter so I added 1/4 cup of 100% mayonnaise mixed with the melted butter. It came out beautiful; browned nicely, chewy crust around the edges (our favorite part). Thanks again for a super easy, super fast dessert!
Thanks so much for sharing your tweaks and feedback — sounds like it turned out perfectly! Cheers, Ari
I love this cake. So easy to make. I read reviews where some couldn’t get the butter to cover the cake mix. I did this in an 8×8 pan and had no problems. The first time I made this was with a yellow cake mix. The second time I used a white cake mix. Both delicious.
Thanks so much for sharing the specifics like which cake mix variety you used and the size of your pan. Info like this is super helpful to other readers. Really glad you enjoyed, Sandi! Cheers, Ari
Delicious, but I would lake the amount of sugar. Definitely, the best and easiest dump cake I have made. I forgot to grease an 8 x 8 glass dish, but nothing stuck. Clearly, a winner.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this easy cake! And always a good sign when none of the batter sticks to the pan. Yum! Cheers, Ari