Ultimate Strawberry Dump Cake: Effortless Dessert with Cake Mix and Cream Cheese
Imagine the sweet, vibrant burst of fresh, juicy strawberries perfectly complemented by a warm, crisp, golden-brown crumble topping. This isn’t just any dessert; it’s a delightful strawberry dump cake that promises an incredible taste experience with minimal effort. Thanks to the clever use of a strawberry cake mix, preparing this indulgent treat is unbelievably simple, making it your new go-to recipe for quick, satisfying sweetness. Whether you’re a baking novice or a seasoned pro, this recipe guarantees a show-stopping dessert that tastes like it took hours, but actually comes together in minutes.
Irresistible Strawberry Dump Cake: A Simple Summer Treat
Summer is synonymous with an abundance of fresh, ripe strawberries, and what better way to celebrate this seasonal bounty than by transforming them into a spectacular dessert? Our quick and easy strawberry dump cake recipe is designed for maximum flavor with minimum fuss. The “dump cake” name itself signifies its simplicity – literally, you just dump the ingredients into a baking dish! This makes it an ideal choice for a last-minute gathering, a casual weeknight dessert, or when you simply crave a comforting, fruity treat without spending hours in the kitchen. The combination of sweet strawberries, tangy cream cheese, and a buttery cake mix crumble creates a symphony of textures and flavors that will impress everyone.
Discover More Delightful Fruit Desserts:
If you’re a fan of fruit-filled sweets, here are some other recipes you might love:
- Peach Danish in Puff Pastry
- Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake
- No-Bake Pineapple Banana Split
- Banana Walnut Bread
- Strawberry Pinwheels
- Apple Tiramisu
- Blackberry Cobbler with Lemon Cake Mix
Mastering Strawberry Preparation: How to Dice Strawberries
While this strawberry dump cake is incredibly easy, preparing your fresh strawberries is often the most hands-on step. Proper dicing ensures even cooking and a delightful texture throughout your dessert. Follow these simple tips and tricks for quickly and efficiently slicing your strawberries for the perfect filling:
- Hull Your Strawberries: Before you begin slicing, you’ll need to remove the green stems and leaves, a process known as hulling. The easiest way is to use a small, sharp paring knife to cut around the stem in a cone shape. If you want to maximize fruit, a clever trick is to slide a straw from the pointed bottom of the strawberry straight through to the top, popping off the stem and leaves with minimal waste. This method is surprisingly effective and fun!
- Create a Flat Surface: To ensure stability and safety while cutting, begin by creating a flat surface. Cut each strawberry in half lengthwise, then place the flat side down on your cutting board. This prevents the berry from rolling around and makes subsequent cuts much easier and safer.
- Consistent Dicing: First, cut each strawberry half in half again lengthwise through the center. You’ll now have four long pieces from each original strawberry. Then, turn these pieces and slice them widthwise, starting from the smaller end and working your way up to the broader end. Aim for uniform pieces, roughly ¼ to ½ inch in size. Consistent dicing is key for the strawberries to cook evenly and blend perfectly into the filling, creating a smooth, fruity layer.
Creative Variations and Serving Ideas for Your Strawberry Cream Cheese Dump Cake
The beauty of this strawberry cream cheese dump cake recipe lies in its adaptability. Because it’s so simple to prepare, you can easily customize it to suit your family’s tastes or whatever ingredients you have on hand. Get creative with these delicious recipe ideas to make your own unique strawberry and cream crumble:
- Fresh or Frozen Strawberries: While fresh, in-season strawberries offer unparalleled flavor and texture, frozen strawberries are an excellent alternative, especially when fresh ones aren’t available. If using frozen, opt for pre-sliced varieties for even quicker prep. If using whole frozen strawberries, allow them to thaw completely and drain any excess liquid before dicing them, as too much moisture can make the filling watery.
- Experiment with Strawberry Piece Sizes: Finely dicing the strawberries (as described above) is generally recommended for a smoother, more uniform fruit consistency in your crumble. However, if you prefer a chunkier, more rustic fruit texture, feel free to simply slice or quarter your strawberries instead of dicing them. Larger pieces will retain more of their shape and offer a more distinct fruity bite.
- Alternate Cake Mix Flavors: Don’t limit yourself to strawberry cake mix! This versatile recipe works beautifully with almost any flavor of cake mix. For a different twist, try using a classic yellow or white cake mix for a subtle vanilla undertone that allows the strawberry flavor to shine even more. A chocolate cake mix can also create a surprisingly delicious and decadent chocolate-covered strawberry experience. Lemon cake mix would add a delightful zesty contrast.
- Elevate with Toppings: A warm strawberry dump cake straight from the oven is delightful on its own, but toppings can take it to the next level!
- Whipped Cream: A generous dollop of freshly whipped cream adds a light, airy, and creamy contrast.
- Vanilla Ice Cream: A scoop of cold, creamy vanilla ice cream melting into the warm crumble is a classic and irresistible pairing.
- Powdered Sugar: A simple dusting of powdered sugar adds an elegant touch and a hint of extra sweetness.
- Fresh Mint: A few sprigs of fresh mint can brighten the flavors and add a beautiful pop of color.
- Chocolate Drizzle: For the ultimate indulgence, a drizzle of melted chocolate or chocolate syrup can turn it into a gourmet dessert.
- Nuts: Toasted pecans or walnuts sprinkled on top can add a lovely crunch and nutty flavor.
- Brighten with Lemon Juice: To enhance and brighten the natural sweetness of your fresh strawberries, try mixing in a tablespoon or two of fresh lemon juice along with the sugar and flour for the filling. The acidity of the lemon acts as a natural flavor enhancer, balancing the sweetness of the sugar and berries and adding a lovely zesty note that makes the fruit truly pop.
- Explore Other Berries: While strawberries are undoubtedly delicious in this simple dessert, don’t hesitate to experiment with other berries. Blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are all fantastic additions. You can substitute the strawberries entirely with another berry, or mix a variety of berries together to create a vibrant and flavorful mixed berry dump cake. A combination of strawberries and raspberries, for instance, offers a delightful sweet-tart balance.
Storage and Reheating Tips for Strawberry Dump Cake
This strawberry cobbler with cake mix is so incredibly delicious and satisfying, you might find yourself with no leftovers! However, if you do manage to have some crumble left in the pan, storing it properly ensures you can enjoy it for days to come. For best results, cover the baking pan tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it directly in the refrigerator. Alternatively, transfer individual leftover slices to an airtight container before refrigerating. This dump cake will keep well in the refrigerator for up to one week.
When you’re ready to enjoy your leftovers, the strawberry crumble can be eaten cold for a quick snack, or gently reheated. To reheat, simply place a serving in the microwave and warm it in 30-second intervals until it’s heated through to your desired temperature. For a crispier topping, you can also reheat portions in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through and the topping is slightly crisp again. This dessert also freezes surprisingly well; wrap individual portions tightly and freeze for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
The Ultimate Strawberry Crumble Recipe with Cake Mix
Essential Ingredients for Your Easy Strawberry Cake Crumble
One of the many reasons this dessert is so popular is its minimal ingredient list. You only need a few staple items to create this impressive and flavorful strawberry crumble right in your own kitchen. Gather these fresh and simple ingredients to get started:
- Fresh or frozen Strawberries (approx. 2 lbs / 4 ½ cups, hulled and diced)
- Granulated Sugar (divided)
- All-Purpose Flour
- Strawberry Cake Mix (or your preferred flavor)
- Cream Cheese (softened)
- Salted Butter (melted)
- Olive oil or cooking spray (for greasing the pan)
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Strawberry Cake Mix Crumble
Unlike traditional crumble recipes that often require preparing a crust from scratch, this easy dump cake streamlines the process significantly with the ingenious use of cake mix. This means you can achieve a perfectly golden, buttery crumble topping with just a few simple steps, saving you time and effort without compromising on taste. Follow these straightforward instructions for a quick and impressive dessert:
- Prepare the Strawberries: Begin by thoroughly cleaning your strawberries. Remove all stems and hull them carefully, then dice them into uniform pieces (as detailed in the “How to Dice Strawberries” section above). This preparation is often the most time-consuming part, but it’s essential for a great fruit filling. Once diced, gently combine the fresh berries with a portion of the granulated sugar and all-purpose flour in a bowl, stirring just enough to ensure they are evenly coated. This flour mixture helps thicken the strawberry juices as they bake, preventing a watery filling.
- Layer and Top the Berries: After evenly spreading your prepared strawberries in your baking pan, it’s time to add the magical layers that create the “dump cake” effect. First, dollop spoonfuls of softened cream cheese over the strawberries. Do not spread it out; just leave it in soft mounds – it will melt beautifully as it bakes. Next, sprinkle the dry strawberry cake mix evenly over the entire surface, ensuring good coverage. Finally, generously pour the melted salted butter over the cake mix layer as evenly as possible. The butter will seep into the cake mix, creating that wonderful, crispy crumble topping during baking.
- Bake to Golden Perfection: Place your prepared dump cake into a preheated oven and bake until the top is a beautiful golden brown and the strawberry filling is bubbly and tender. The aroma filling your kitchen will be absolutely irresistible! Once baked, allow the cake to cool slightly in the dish before serving. This brief resting period helps the filling set and makes it easier to serve. We highly recommend serving it warm, perhaps with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream or a cloud of whipped cream for an extra touch of indulgence.
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Easy Strawberry Dump Cake with Cream Cheese
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Pin Recipe
Equipment
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Cooking Spray
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Mixing Bowl
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Cutting Board
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9 x 13 Baking Dish
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Spatula
Ingredients
- 2 lbs strawberries approximately 4 ½ cups, stems removed and diced
- ⅛ + 1/4 cup granulated sugar divided
- 2 tbsp all purpose flour
- 1 box strawberry cake mix
- 1 block cream cheese softened
- 12 tbsp salted butter melted
- Olive oil or cooking spray
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350℉ (175°C). Lightly spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray to prevent sticking. Set this prepared dish aside. Now, diligently remove the stems from your fresh strawberries and dice them into small, consistent pieces. Pour these diced strawberries evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
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Evenly sprinkle the ⅛ cup of granulated sugar and the all-purpose flour over the strawberries. Using a spatula or spoon, gently stir the mixture to ensure the strawberries are lightly but thoroughly coated with the sugar and flour. This coating is crucial for creating a slightly thickened, perfectly sweet fruit filling.
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In a separate medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with the remaining ¼ cup of granulated sugar. Beat this mixture on medium speed until it’s wonderfully smooth, creamy, and well combined. Next, add spoonfuls of this cream cheese mixture directly on top of the strawberry layer in the baking dish. It’s important not to spread the cream cheese; simply leave it in distinct dollops. It will melt and create pockets of creamy goodness as the cake bakes.
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Now, take your box of strawberry cake mix and sprinkle its contents evenly over the layers of strawberries and cream cheese. Ensure a consistent layer across the entire dish. If you notice any large clumps in the cake mix, gently separate them with a spoon or your fingers, then lightly pat down the surface to create a smoother, more uniform topping layer. This dry mix will form the delicious crumble.
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Finally, pour the melted salted butter as evenly as possible over the entire surface of the dry cake mix. The butter will soak into the cake mix, transforming it into a rich, golden, and crispy crumble topping as it bakes. Try to get every bit of the cake mix covered to ensure a perfect crust.
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Place the baking dish in your preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes. The dump cake is ready when the top turns a beautiful golden brown, the strawberry filling is bubbling around the edges, and a toothpick inserted into the cake mix topping comes out mostly clean (indicating it’s cooked through). Once baked, remove it from the oven and let it cool in the baking dish for about 10 minutes before serving. This allows the fruit filling to set slightly. It’s absolutely divine served warm, especially with a dollop of fresh whipped cream or a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!
Notes
Feel free to substitute the strawberry cake mix with any other flavor you prefer. Yellow, white, lemon, and even chocolate cake mix are all excellent substitutions that create unique flavor profiles.
Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week in a tightly sealed container. Simply reheat individual portions in the microwave until warm, or enjoy them cold.
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