Is it considered a successful pot luck if there isn’t a dump cake? They’re a must at any pot luck. Made with simple pantry ingredients, it’s a dessert even a novice cook can make. But where did the dump cake originate and how did it get that name?
So, what is a dump cake? It’s a super easy dessert that’s a cross between a cake and a cobbler. It gets its name because all the ingredients are literally dumped into a 9×13 baking dish. No mixing bowl necessary.
We did some research and it seems that the first reference to a dump cake was in 1980. A basic recipe using a can of crushed pineapple, a can of cherry pie filling, a box of yellow cake mix, and sliced butter was published in Duncan Hines holiday baking brochure.
Since then, this easy dessert that even a beginner baker can make has definitely developed a cult following. One reason it’s so popular is that it can be modified based on handy ingredients or preferred tastes. Use your favorite canned fruit and cake mix to come up with your version of a dump cake.
A dump cake is an American dessert similar to a cobbler but with a cake-like topping. It is so named because it is prepared by “dumping” ingredients (typically canned fruit or pie filling, followed by a boxed cake mix) into a cake pan without mixing.
Since then, this easy dessert that even a beginner baker can make has definitely developed a cult following. One reason it’s so popular is that it can be modified based on handy ingredients or preferred tastes. Use your favorite canned fruit and cake mix to come up with your version of a dump cake.
Is it considered a successful pot luck if there isn’t a dump cake? They’re a must at any pot luck. Made with simple pantry ingredients, it’s a dessert even a novice cook can make. But where did the dump cake originate and how did it get that name?
So, what is a dump cake? It’s a super easy dessert that’s a cross between a cake and a cobbler. It gets its name because all the ingredients are literally dumped into a 9×13 baking dish. No mixing bowl necessary.
We did some research and it seems that the first reference to a dump cake was in 1980. A basic recipe using a can of crushed pineapple, a can of cherry pie filling, a box of yellow cake mix, and sliced butter was published in Duncan Hines holiday baking brochure.
While you can make a three-ingredient dump cake with just the fruit, cake mix, and butter, nothing stops you from adding pretzels, nuts, chocolate chips, or any other extra ingredient to create a more personalized cake. One of the most popular dump cake recipes in the 1960s used cherry pie filling, crushed pineapple, and chopped walnuts or pecans.
The church cookbook “Carolina Cookery: From Quaker Kitchens” was written in 1924 and contained a dump cake recipe created from scratch. It called for placing butter, eggs, and milk in a measuring cup. Those ingredients were then dumped into a bowl containing flour, sugar, and baking powder. The instructions told the reader to mix the ingredients and pour them into a pan before baking.
By the late 1950s and the 60s, local newspapers began featuring the box cake inclusion in recipes using either canned pie filling or Jell-O. The various recipes and ingredients used have only grown from there.
Contemporary dump cakes have become slightly more nutritious, using fresh or fewer processed ingredients. For example, recipe developer Ting Dalton created an easy cherry dump cake recipe for Mashed that substitutes a cherry compote and fresh cherries for the cherry pie filling. It may require more effort, but many dump cakes can be made with homemade fruit fillings for a more handcrafted taste.
This pastry is nearly impossible to mess up, but over the decades, there have been some dump cake fails. For instance, one TikToker went viral when they made a pumpkin dump cake using condensed milk, eggs, and sugar instead of a box mix but neglected to fully mix the ingredients. While all of these variations might not have been what the original creators of these cakes envisioned, everyone who has enjoyed a dump cake owes a debt of gratitude to them.
History Of The Dump Cake – 1924 Dump Cake Recipe – Not Your Mom’s Dump Cake…
FAQ
What is the biggest mistake to avoid when making a dump cake?
Is dump cake supposed to be gooey?
Is dump cake supposed to be refrigerated?
Why is my dump cake still powdery?
What is a dump cake?
A dump cake is an American dessert similar to a cobbler but with a cake -like topping. It is so named because it is prepared by “dumping” ingredients (typically canned fruit or pie filling, followed by a boxed cake mix) into a cake pan without mixing. The origins of the dump cake are somewhat unclear.
How do you make a dump cake?
A prototypical dump cake recipe begins with adding one or more cans of fruit or pie filling to a shallow baking dish. A boxed cake mix is then spread on top. This is then topped with butter or margarine (in pieces or melted), and baked in the oven.
Where did dump cake come from?
The origins of the dump cake are somewhat unclear. It has been suggested that the name originated with a recipe published by Duncan Hines in 1980, though the name is attested in a number of American community cookbooks and periodicals from the 1970s and 60s.
What is a BlackBerry dump cake?
A piece of blackberry dump cake served with whipped cream. A dump cake is an American dessert similar to a cobbler but with a cake -like topping. It is so named because it is prepared by “dumping” ingredients (typically canned fruit or pie filling, followed by a boxed cake mix) into a cake pan without mixing.