Dump Cake Disaster - What Happened?

11/24/2014

You know those blog recipe posts about beautiful, delicious desserts that you see all over the internet? This isn't one of them. I said when I started this blog that I would share everything with you, warts and all.....and trust me, this is a wart. Come with me on this journey, join me in the distress, the anguish, the heartbreak of the.....

Yesterday, my husband was painting our bedroom, so I decided to do something nice for him and bake a cake. I had always heard about dump cakes and had always wanted to try one, so I decided to give it a try. I looked up a recipe on Food.com for a Pineapple Dump Cake. I found one that I had all the ingredients for and I proceeded to make it, exactly as the recipe directed.

After baking it for 40 minutes, I removed it from the oven. I looked at it in disbelief, it looked almost exactly like it did when I put it in the oven. The top was powder cake mix with paths of butter poured through them. You could push the powder around with your finger. I was like ??????? My husband came in the kitchen and says "Did you forget to stir it?" I just did not know what to do, so I decided to stir it. I stirred it and thoroughly mixed all the ingredients and put it back in to cook for another 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes, it looked completely unchanged......still a dobby mess. I put it back in for another 10 minutes, and after that it was a bit browner, but it did not, in anyway, resemble a cake. This is a piece of it.

It is soggy, chewy and pretty much awful. I just can't imagine what happened. I followed the recipe exactly and that same recipe got great comments from people who either were lying, or they knew something I didn't.

So I am asking you, my readers. Do you know what happened? What did I do wrong? If you have any experience with dump cakes, please leave me a comment!

Jade :(

59 Comments

Culinary Chick

11/24/2014 07:23:28 am

I read the recipe and it doesn't make sense. Maybe you should mix the juice of the pineapple with the cake mix, then dump.

Orca link

6/24/2017 12:48:47 am

I think you could be right to mix butter & juice w/cake mix before "dumping."

Kim

7/25/2020 09:30:43 pm

I completely had a disaster.. I tried to go off memory my phone died...so I mixed the cake on the box... Poured it on top of peaches...and put butter on top....as soon as I did that..Iremembered it was to be dry

Melanie Baker

1/19/2018 08:53:00 pm

Dump cakes are a favorite in my family so I make them all the time. You aren't supposed to mix any of the ingredients before putting them in the pan, hence the name dump cake.

Dorene Cook

3/28/2019 01:29:53 pm

All recipes.com said to mix pie filling with crushed pineapple in cake pan add dry cake mix, mix until blended drizzle 1/2 c. melted butter bake at 350 for 35-40 min or until golden brown. I just made 1 today March 28, 2019 and it is gooey like half baked I even baked longer than said. I will never bake another!😢

Geraldine

11/27/2021 05:49:41 am

My understanding of dump cake is win a cake you have baked fail in the oven by dropping or not rising. You use the cake by crumbling it up in a bowl with layers of vanilla pudding, canned cherries, pineapple, strawberries, coconut flakes (option) pecans, walnuts, cool whip or whip cream layers in a large bowl. All fruits of your choice. In a glass bowl it's beautiful and taste delicious. Provided the cake is done, but ugly to turn out on a cake plate. Crumble and layer with these delicious ingredients of your choice.

Sylvia Mayfield link

11/24/2014 02:34:01 pm

I can't imagine what could have gone wrong. Although the recipe author didn't specify, I would use undrained crushed pineapple and make sure the cake mix was sprinkled evenly.

Jadelynx link

11/24/2014 04:58:08 pm

I did use the whole undrained can of crushed pineapple and the mix was distributed evenly across the whole pan. I think that 1/2 a cup of butter was simply not enough, or it needed more liquid of some kind, maybe?

Melanie Baker

1/19/2018 09:45:20 pm

I make dump cakes pretty often, as they are a family favorite. The one thing I do differently than the recipe you followed is I do not melt the butter and pour it over the powdered cake mix. What I do is cut the stick of butter that the recipe calls for into butter pats and spread them out evenly over top of the powdered cake mix. When it's done that way as the butter melts it gets distributed more evenly than it would by melting it and pouring it on. Other than that I don't really do anything much differently than you did. One thing I do know is you definitely aren't supposed to mix any of the ingredients before you add them to the cake pan, hence the name dump cake. One other thing I want to mention is that even when a dump cake is made perfectly it doesn't exactly look like a traditional cake. There will still be little areas on top that still look powdery. And when you go to cut a piece and take it out of the pan it's kind of a mess. Hope my advice helps! Here is the recipe I follow and it turns out great every time!

Ingredients:
- 1 can of crushed pineapple in juice
- 1 can of cherry pie filling
- 1 box of yellow cake mix
- 1 stick of butter

Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Lightly spray a 13 x 9 cake pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- Add the crushed pineapple, juice and all, to the cake pan and spread it out evenly.
- Add the cherry pie filling on top of the pineapple and spread it out evenly.
- Sprinkle the cake mix over the cherry pie filling as evenly as possible.
- Cut the stick of butter into butter pats and spread them out evenly on top of the cake mix.
- Bake at 350° for 45 minutes. Until the top starts to brown and the fruit starts bubbling up all around the edge of the pan.

Rose

6/5/2019 01:04:55 pm

I got my recipe from Cooks.com
I’m sending you pic of it now & it works drain half the juice off the pineapple & I have found pineapple chunks work best any fruit pie filling works or you can make your own pie filling from frozen fruit be sure to drain juice & as you can see it calls for 1& 1/2 sticks of butter & I have found it is best to top with nuts & or coconut about 10 minutes before the hour of baking time so they are not burned.
It is suppose to be gooey jinxed dump cake. But not runny! I had the same problem the first time I used this recipe so ever since I have used chunky pineapple & drained juice off if cab had lots of juice! https://share.icloud.com/photos/0L5HvfzFZZvVUuPx4EYQnGldQ

Katie

2/3/2022 03:54:26 pm

I did the same thing my dump cake I had to leave in for over an hour it was all liquid so these ingredients are in the recipe is bogus

Kathy

8/12/2024 06:02:04 pm

I made a cherry dump cake exactly as the recipe I found. Turned out with powdery cake mix on top. I discovered that the one-fourth cup of butter in the recipe should have been one whole cup. We mixed the powder (dry cake mix) in with the cherry pie filling and ate it anyway !!! Next time I will remember one cup of butter !!!

Susan link

11/24/2014 04:46:52 pm

I haven't got a clue, it sure doesn't look like cake, but what I love is that you blogged a failure, it made you real. I am going to remember that for my own blogs!

Jadelynx link

11/24/2014 05:00:23 pm

Oh, I am real enough.....lol......and this cake was a "real" failure. I still have no idea what happened or why. I figure if you are going to share your life in a blog, you may as well share the bad along with the good.

Nina

6/23/2017 01:34:58 pm

If you mix the cake mix WITH the butter, it will moisten the entire mix, thus eliminating any powder mix after baked

Liz

10/30/2017 04:44:31 am

OMG! I just finished baking a peach dump cake and had an identical xperience.. Go figure! I evened out the lumpy top & sprinkled more butter on the powdery spots. It's done but I'm afraid to look at it. I tried to make this a couple of weeks xcept was using canned apricots but I goofed & mixed the cake b4 I poured it over the apricots. It turned out ok but I was set hoping 4 better. Dump cake sounds like a great idea but I suspect there's some tricks 2 make it work!
UPDATE- the flavor is decent but it would have been much easier 2 make a peach cobbler or a peach pie. That being said, a good dose of ice cream or whipped cream would improve this hot mess! LOL, your description was very funny & on point!

Gloria

9/3/2018 03:01:58 pm

I don't know what happened but I had the same bad experience twice They turned out awful and I followed directions exactly like everyone else What the he k happened,I am frustrated, just took out of oven

Jfa99

2/17/2020 12:09:41 am

Thank you for posting. I thought it was just me. I just had the same disaster. Cooked 1hr10mins. Runny soup on the bottom, dry (blowable) powder on the top. And I did cut up butter pats (5 rows of 6 pats = 30 total) for top of cake mix. I finally caved and stirred it and baked another 20 minutes. Mine looks just like yours. A gross soggy blob. Are you supposed to mix cake mix as directed on box before putting it on top of fruit? I didn't do that as the recipes didn't say to. Does "Dump Cake" mean dump in trash after baking? Lol
Never again.

Sarah

6/6/2021 03:44:02 am

I tried to make an Oreo dump cake tonight, emphasize on tried lol. It did not work. The recipe I followed (to a T might I add) called for one layer of oreos, sweetened condensed milk- 1 14oz can poured over the oreos, 8oz cool whip then cover with 1 box chocolate cake mix, did not mix it, add 1 and a 1/2 sticks of butter cut into tiny pieces to cover the whole thing then bake at 350 for 45 mins. Well... it turned into a rock hard goopy mess! The scm turned the cookies hard as a rock covered with a caramel goo. The actual cake part turned out alright if you could separate it from the rock hard edges and bottom lol! Needless to say I think I'll stick to the regular way of making cakes lmao!

Kathi

3/20/2023 10:00:58 pm

You need the full amount of butter which is a stick and a half (1 1/2 Cups). I slice mine cold, into thin (about 2 teaspoon sized) slices and lay them touching all over the top of the powdery cake mix. This is not a cake like consistancy sorta cake, but has more of a cobbler vibe. And it is delicious! Tonight I used 1 can of cherry pie filling, 1 can of whole berry cranberry sauce, a box of fudge brownie mix and butter. OH MY GOSH! Heaven in a pan!

Debra

1/20/2024 09:12:07 pm

Well it’s 2024 snowy cold and icy roads. So I decided to make my first apple dump cake. Everything going good until I got distracted with a phone call. Guess what? I forgot to put the butter on top! I peeked in after 35 minutes and it looked the same as when I put it in. OMG I saw the butter on counter and couldn’t believe what I’ve f do one. I took it out put the butter on top baked another 35-40 minutes it came out perfect.😊

Susan link

11/25/2014 06:58:57 am

Hmm. My recipe calls for a can of cherry pie filling and a can of (undrained) crushed pineapple, then the dry cake mix on top followed by 2 sticks of butter (either melted or cut up in small pieces). If you just used the can of pineapple and not the pie filling, you probably just didn't have enough liquid to make things bubble up and properly bake the topping. And/or perhaps your oven temperature wasn't correct. Don't give up! Dump cake is our #1 favorite and I bake them frequently. If indeed you didn't use the pie filling, try it again with it. Oh, and NEVER STIR. That's the whole point of the "dump" cake!

Jadelynx link

11/27/2014 06:28:32 am

I have never seen a dump cake recipe that called for pie filling, though some do call for two cans of fruit. Two sticks of butter ??!! That is way too much fat for me, I think I will stick to the three ingredient cake that we love, it is just as easy. Just stir one can of fruit, two eggs and a cake mix and then pour in a 13 x 9 and bake 30 to 40 minutes at 350.

julie couch

12/22/2019 09:13:09 am

I made a cherry dump cake and it said to cherry pie filling....I did have the same problem with the dry cake mix areas but I'm not giving up cause the parts that did turn was del6

Annmarie

11/15/2016 08:28:26 am

Good morning, I have never made a dump cake before, so I am not able to help one of my friends, she made the cake for our teachers birthday lunch today at school, I am the cafeteria manager, and she asked me to fix the cake before lunch. I am used to making my cakes from scratch, so I need an expert opinion on how to do this.
From the looks of it the cake mix is still dry, it did not seem to have been incorporated into the mixture. That is all the info I got, can you hep me. oh she baked it already

Tina

3/13/2017 04:49:31 pm

Mine is ALWAYS Too runny gets dark brown and just won't set! Ugh! Done it numerous times!

Louise

4/10/2017 09:34:28 am

My dump cake failed as well. It just got darker but didn't actually bake. Big wet sloppy mess

Cynthia Barnett

11/19/2017 06:18:56 pm

I just tried to make a pumpkin dump cake. Followed directions but just ended up with cake mix work butter and nuts on top. I just don't understand. Used one stick of butter. Maybe should have used more? So disappointed.

Crosley

12/18/2017 01:12:43 pm

Those beautiful pictures have got to be a lie because I have tried this multiple times with the same exact results as you. I used peaches. I could have made yellow cupcakes and been happy. Lol

Chris Cullen

3/25/2018 08:06:20 pm

I see one difference. The recipe i used from Ree Drummond called for crushed pineapple in syrup not juice

Ramona Bass

4/3/2018 08:49:38 pm

I have made one apple dump cake. Perfect. I am as I type this, baking a pineapple cherry dumpcake and you all have me scared! I too put pats of thin sliced butter on top. A dump cake is really more like a cobbler. Not a solid structure like a regular cake. Also, mine bake at 350 for 55 to 60 minutes. 40 minutes would not be long enough.

Ramona Bass

4/14/2018 02:51:32 pm

To update. I made the pineapple cherry dumpcake and it was perfection! I take them to work and come home with an empty dish. The only thing I can figure is the baking time?

Kathy

11/24/2019 02:28:34 pm

I made a peach dump cake and the cake never cooked it was still gooey so I continue to cook it until the cake was done but the next day the cake was so hard no one could eat it what did I do wrong?

Jennifer Suire

4/14/2018 02:30:44 pm

I cut the cake mix in half. Dotted with a whole stick of butter. If fruit is frozen, thaw it. I also put 3 handfuls of old fashioned oats on top. 350° for 70 minutes.

Jennifer Suire

4/14/2018 05:10:07 pm

It is fantastic! Doesn't even need the ice cream!

Denise whitfield

7/20/2018 04:18:28 pm

I made a peach dump cake and it came out real watery what did I do wrong

Ramona Bass

8/1/2018 10:25:35 pm

What did you do step by step?

Amanda

8/1/2018 09:21:52 pm

The same thing happened to me! I did everything exactly as the recipe called for. It is barely brown & still powdery after an hour on 350! Bottom is super watery and top is powder. So disappointed.

Ramona Bass

8/1/2018 10:27:44 pm

I cant figure out where all the liquid would be coming from unless you used fresh fruit. I always use pie filling.

Marjorie

8/30/2018 06:52:06 pm

I had the same dry top results this week on my first Pineapple, Cherry Dump Cake. I was told by a friend that I was supposed to use the Jiffy Yellow Cake Mix, which is about half the size as a regular cake mix.

Ramona Bass

8/31/2018 11:36:55 am

A dump cake is supposed to be moist on the bottom where the fruit is. It takes quite a bit of butter to cover the top. I cut it into pats and cover it completely. I have entertained the idea of incorporating the unmelted butter with the dry cake mix just for the top layer but havent yet.

Ramona Bass

8/31/2018 11:44:33 am

Oh yes. You dont mix any of the ingredients together. The are layered. Also, the only cake mix I use is Betty Crocker super moist yellow. If you make an 8×10, only use 1/4 of the box each layer. A 9×13 , half the box on each layer. I hope this helps.

Marla

10/9/2018 06:34:33 pm

I had the opposite problem...I used 2 sticks of butter and it mixed completely with the cake mix during the baking process. I baked for 45 minutes. The crust topping was hard. Hard enough it was hard to pierce with a fork. It was ok to eat after breaking up the top but still disappointing. I have made these dump cakes many times with no problems.

Sherry

10/18/2018 08:28:40 am

I have a low carb apple dumb cake and it is a disaster.
It tastes ok but it isn't cooked all the way. It looks more like pudding.

Elva

11/4/2018 12:27:45 am

I have made this “dump” recipe twice. Both times it came out gooey! The only thing I have noticed is that I’m using a GLASS PAN. Not an ALUMINUM pan. Maybe the aluminum conducts the heat better than a glass pan. Either way I am NOT going to make it again!

Enid Vergara

12/30/2018 08:14:58 pm

Tonight I made a perfect dump cake/cobbler. I took two 14.5 oz cans of sliced pears in juice and dumped them into a glass 13x9 casserole. Sprinkled very lightly with white sugar and cinnamon.Then took a box of yellow cake mix...but note I think it was only about 15ozs in the package...and poured it over the fruit and juice. Then I stuck my hand in a plastic sandwich bag and pressed the dry cake mix down into the fruit/juice with that 'baggy' hand. [I think this may be the step many of you are missing]. Next I took a stick of cold butter and sliced it into pats distributing them evenly on top of the dry cake mix layer. Then sprinkled white sugar and cinnamon all over the top. Baked in a 375 degree oven for 45-50 minutes. I did check on it mid way through and pressed any little spots of dry cake mix down into the bubbling juices and let it continue to bake. I hope this helps. It turned out great!

Diane Compton

2/2/2019 12:50:28 pm

I also made this. Looked at it after 45 minutes. So didnt look right so mixed it up and put butter on it. Mine only wanted a half of stick. It's still mush. I ate it but is it really good for us to eat it. Not baked thu.

Elwyn Rainer

5/4/2019 11:21:21 pm

Made a peach one and i didn't like it. Doing a cherry one and some people mix the cake as if. Baking a regular cake. So im trying that now. So far it looks ok

Bass

12/22/2019 10:41:22 am

Trust me. That wont be a true dump cake. That will be a whatever upside down cake. They make it that way at my place of employment so I brought mine in and the folks liked mine much better.

Teresa

9/30/2019 05:31:07 am

Can of CRUSHED pineapple, can cherry pie filling, sprinkle 1 box yellow cake mix, TWO sticks of butter, cut in2 pats and put in top.
350° (325° for GLASS) 9x13" pan for 1 hour.

ALWAYS comes out perfect!!!

yvonne j. link

10/2/2019 11:46:17 am

I have used the same recipe to bake several cherry/pineapple dump cakes. Some turn out good and others turn out not so well. I spent the morning trying to decide why this happens. From what I have found, it seems all the ingredients are pretty much the same no matter which brand you use of cake mix, crushed pineapple, or pie filling. All seem to have the same amount of ounces and or juice in them. So, having found that out, I have been reading this site and what all you ladies have had so say and it seems all of us are having the same problems. Even varying amounts of butter doesn't seem to be the answer. At this point, I have one more thing to say that may be the solution to our dump cake problem. It may be the "order" in which we layer the crushed pineapple and the cherry pie filling. I for one am going to try it both ways and see what happens. I will put the pineapple in the pan first, then the pie filling, then the cake, then the butter on top. --- I will then bake another one and put the pie filling in the pan first, then the pineapple, then the cake mix, then the butter. --- I like to put chopped pecans on the top of the dry cake mix then drizzle the butter over the top. The buttery flavored pecans really add to the taste of the dump cake.

Teresa Kamlot

10/2/2019 02:16:04 pm

I'm wondering if it's the type of pan? I always use a pyrex 9x13 on 325° but recipe says 350° for dark or coated pans.

Bass

12/22/2019 10:35:30 am

My best was putting pats of butter on top of the cake mix. It gave a nice crisper texture to compliment the softer, gooier, underneath.

Amber

1/21/2021 12:24:06 am

I stumbled across your blog
while looking up why my
dump cake was soggy when
going by the recipe to a tee.

I thought to myself maybe
I should bake it longer then
35-40 minutes. So I put the
cake back in the oven for
another hour. When the aroma
filled the room, is when I took
it out of the oven. I let it cool
for 20 minutes and it taste
awesome! I made a cinnamon,
brown sugar mixture to sprinkle
over the top too before baking.

I honestly think the timing is off.
The recipe says to bake on 350%
for 35-40 minutes, and I baked it
for about 1 1\2. The secret for
me to know when my cake is
done is when the aroma fills
the room. That's when I
checked my cake (cobbler)
and pull it out of the oven.

My boyfriend loves it too
I used pineapple tidbits,
blueberry pie filling and
a box of orange cake mix.
Yummy!! ...pEaCe...

Penny

8/7/2021 04:10:46 pm

Made peach dump cake today. One melted butter and one pats. Wish could post a pic. Go with thin pats all over!

Stephanie Caldwell

11/16/2021 08:11:38 pm

In my experience a dump cake is always "soggy". It's not a cake in the conventional sense. I don't know how to fix the powdery top issue and it happens about 1/3rd of the time I make one. I've tried both pats and melted butter and what works for one doesn't always work the next time. They frequrntly look terrible but always taste delicious, don't throw it out, just serve it up and if someone comments on the look just remind them that the taste is what counts!

Cynthia M Johnson

12/3/2021 06:31:34 pm

I'm chuckling as i read this. I had a dump cake disaster. Now, I'm the proud owner of Cherry chocolate pudding stuff. I was really proud of myself for mastering steaks and regular cake. This recipe called for a can of cherry pie filling and chocolate cake mix. I used "no sugar added" pie filling which was mixed with a can of "fat free" evaporated milk. I poured that into the bottom of a dutch oven and then dumped a packaged of sugar free cake over it, and evened it out. Lastly, i sprinkled a third cup of almonds and i drizzled some butter. The recipe called for 3/4 cup of butter so i used whipped butter, which, when melted only seemed to come up to half a cup. I was surprised that the recipe called for the Dutch oven to be covered and wondered if that's where my problem came in. I would love any feedback. Here's to making lemonade out of lemons.

Brandi Nixon

12/23/2021 07:09:32 pm

My granny used to make a dump cake that she taught me to make years ago. The only way it really cooks correctly is to shake you pan some once you add the dry cake mix so that more of the mix settles into your liquid. We also used two full sticks of butter dotted in pats across the top of the mix. When it Cooks correctly it is delicious. Hope this helps!

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Dump Cake Disaster - What Happened?

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