I’m often asked if a lemon cake mix can be used instead of a yellow cake mix. The answer is YES!
Check out my Pineapple Lemon Dump Cake. It contains tangy pineapples topped with a buttery lemon cake crust.
DISCLAIMER (NOT SPONSORED). I have not been paid to endorse the new products pictured in this update. Just sharing a tip to help you make a great tasting dessert.
THE PINEAPPLES
After making this recipe several times, I’ve noticed that name brand canned pineapples taste MUCH better than some generic brands.
I have used some generic brands of pineapples that were great in this recipe. However, some were NOT good and that’s the reason for this update.
The popular brands of pineapples are always good when I use them to make my Pineapple Dump Cake.
DISCLOSURE: General Mills provided the Betty Crocker Yellow Cake Mix used to make the first version of this recipe back in 2018. I emailed a request to the company for complimentary boxes of cake mix. Products arrived a few days later. This food blogger was thrilled!
Original ingredients used to make the first recipe on July 17, 2018.
WHAT IS A DUMP CAKE?
A dump cake is made by dumping fruit or pie filling into a buttered pan and dumping cake mix on top.
Dots of cold butter are scattered over the top before baking.
Usually served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Perfect dessert for holiday dinners, potlucks and family gatherings.
A boxed cake mix combined with fruit is easy to make and soooo good!
Sprinkling lemon juice over the pineapples decreases sweetness and adds a pleasant tang.
Who invented dump cake?
A dump cake is made with simple pantry ingredients.
The earliest dump cake reference is from a Duncan Hines holiday baking brochure published in 1980.
In August 2018, I photographed this Pinterest page which is only visible to me. Photo confirms recipe received 164,000 impressions!
This is the #1 recipe in my collection so far. Yay!!
COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCTS RECEIVED IN 2018
It’s a blessing to receive complimentary products to help me create recipes.
Create a relaxing environment. Play favorite music while in the kitchen. I love listening to classical or gospel music.
Watch Recipe Videos. If you’re a visual learner (like me), watching a video tutorial is a very helpful when making a new recipe.
Mise en place is a super time saver. This French cooking term translates as “putting in place.” It means prepping/measuring ingredients and chopping food before you start cooking.
Enjoy!
Print Recipe
Pineapple Dump Cake
This dessert contains tangy pineapples topped with a yellow cake crust. Excellent served with vanilla ice cream or real whipped cream. Easy to make with a yellow cake mix. Recipe and photography by Beverly Davis for CornbreadMillionaire.com.
Grease casserole dish with 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter (not margarine). Save remainder to dot top of cake.
Dump pineapples with juice into a 9x13 buttered baking dish. Stir in vanilla extract and lemon juice.
Open the package of cake mix. Do not add any additional ingredients.
Dump or sprinkle "dry cake mix" evenly over fruit mixture in baking dish. Cover top of dry cake mix with pieces of cold unsalted butter (not margarine).
Bake 20 minutes. Carefully remove HOT baking dish from HOT oven.
Use back of spoon to combine melted butter with dry cake mix crumbs. Do this so the top cake crust will thoroughly bake. IMPORTANT: If this step is skipped, the top cake crust will consist of dry chunks.
Return to oven. Bake 20-25 more minutes or until top cake crust is thoroughly baked, golden brown and bubbly.
Serve warm or cold.
Top with vanilla ice cream or real whipped cream (optional).
NOTE: Refrigerate 2 hours up to overnight before serving cold.
Makes 12 servings.
Recipe Notes
54 thoughts on “Pineapple Dump Cake”
I am making this pineapple cake recipe now. My cake mix and melted butter is crumbly not sticky. Is that how its suppose to look. You said sticky in recipe. Well going with recipe exactly hope this is right.
Hi Marie! Melted butter should make it sticky. Here’s a great tip: Sprinkle crumbly batter evenly over fruit mixture in baking dish. Place in oven. It will bake nicely into a crumbly texture which is GOOD! To obtain a soft texture with “crumbly batter” simply remove from oven after 20 minutes. Smooth top crust with back of spoon. Return to oven and finish baking. Top crust will be soft (similar to a very tender cake). Thanks for asking! Enjoy your dessert.
Hi! I just put it back in the oven after letting it bake for 20 minutes as directed.l put about a tablespoon and a half of fresh grated ginger and some chopped pecans in the pineapple mixture.I will email pics when it’s done and it smells great!
This is going to sound really dumb but are you suppose to mix the cake mix together before you bake it ? The recipe doesent say that ,and it says “sprinkle” cake mix .
But here you say “batter”.
Hi Heather! That’s a good question. Not dumb at all. No need to mix the cake mix with any ingredients. Just open the package and sprinkle the dry cake mix over the pineapple mixture. Top with pieces of butter and bake. I’ll update the instructions. Thank you for visiting the blog and leaving a comment. Merry Christmas!
I used lime juice (prefer over lemon juice) and a no sugar added white cake mix (my family is borderline diabetic). OHMYGOODNESS! This is out of this world great. Followed the recipe completely otherwise. Thank you for posting this recipe
Hi Lejuana,
Sprinkle dry cake mix over pineapples. Dot all over with pieces of cold butter. Place in preheated oven.
Bake 20 minutes. Carefully remove HOT baking dish from HOT oven. Use back of spoon to lightly spread melted butter evenly over cake mix until all of mix is coated with butter. Do this so entire top crust will be buttery (no dry cake crumbs). This step is optional.
Bake 20-25 additional minutes or until top crust is bubbly and golden brown.
Please let me know if I may be of further assistance. Thank you for visiting. Please come again.
I only had key lime juice on hand. It came out awesome!!!!! More of a little Pina colada taste. Next time I’ll sprinkle some coconut on it! Thank you for sharing your recipe!
Hi Angie! Thanks for your interest in my recipe! I’ve never tested with one can of pineapples.
I’m “guessing” it will be a moist cake with small pieces of pineapples. Worth a try!
I made an apple Dump cake a few days ago with just one can but I used a 9×9 pan and I used a half a box of cake mix. Turned out great, Hope that helps.
Thank you for asking! Remove from oven. Use back of spoon to “smooth” top of cake until cake batter and melted butter are combined. Return to oven for 20-25 more minutes until top crust is brown and edges are bubbly.
Diana, although I’ve never tried the almond extract, I’m feeling like it should be a tasty alternative. I would love to know how it tastes. I’ve added it to my “TRY LIST.”
I’m going to try a little different technique, wish me luck. I’m going to drain the juice off the pineapple and replace it with coconut milk. Somebody in your comments has me yearning for a pina colada taste.
Hi Pam, thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. Although I’ve never tried brown sugar, I must say Pineapple Upside Down Dump Cake sounds like a winner. The brown sugar combined with the yellow cake mix will be a bit sweet. I would sprinkle the juice of one lemon over the pineapples BEFORE sprinkling the cake mix on top. My “guess” is it will have a delicious sweet/tart flavor. I love to experiment. May give this one a try. Please visit again!
Hi Lisa! Delighted you enjoyed my Pineapple Dump Cake! It’s one of THE most popular recipes on my blog. Thank you for visiting and leaving a wonderful compliment. I treasure God’s blessings! Please come again.
If I make this, I’m really going to go out on a limb. I have pineapple rings instead of crushed pineapple. I have a lemon cake mix instead of a yellow cake mix. I’m curious as to how that will turn out.
Hi, here’s the Pineapple Crunch recipe I have: only 3 ingredients.
1 box Butter pecan cake mix
1 20 oz can crushed pineapple
1stick melted butter
Dump pineapple and juice into buttered pan. Sprinkle cake mix evenly over pineapple. Pour melted butter cake mix. Bake 350 for 40 minutes or until golden brown. Served with ice cream. This is my family’s favorite dessert
Hi Destiny! Although I’ve never made this dessert with a lemon cake mix, my “guess” is yes it will pair well with the naturally sweet pineapples. Thank you for visiting my blog. Please come again!
I am making this pineapple cake recipe now. My cake mix and melted butter is crumbly not sticky. Is that how its suppose to look. You said sticky in recipe. Well going with recipe exactly hope this is right.
Hi Marie! Melted butter should make it sticky. Here’s a great tip: Sprinkle crumbly batter evenly over fruit mixture in baking dish. Place in oven. It will bake nicely into a crumbly texture which is GOOD! To obtain a soft texture with “crumbly batter” simply remove from oven after 20 minutes. Smooth top crust with back of spoon. Return to oven and finish baking. Top crust will be soft (similar to a very tender cake). Thanks for asking! Enjoy your dessert.
Hi! I just put it back in the oven after letting it bake for 20 minutes as directed.l put about a tablespoon and a half of fresh grated ginger and some chopped pecans in the pineapple mixture.I will email pics when it’s done and it smells great!
Hi Thera! Your recipe sounds great. Please share your results. I would love to know. Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment.
This is going to sound really dumb but are you suppose to mix the cake mix together before you bake it ? The recipe doesent say that ,and it says “sprinkle” cake mix .
But here you say “batter”.
Hi Heather! That’s a good question. Not dumb at all. No need to mix the cake mix with any ingredients. Just open the package and sprinkle the dry cake mix over the pineapple mixture. Top with pieces of butter and bake. I’ll update the instructions. Thank you for visiting the blog and leaving a comment. Merry Christmas!
How many oz of pinnaple in total?, 20 or 40?
Hi Maria! Thank you for asking! Two cans (20 ounces each). Total is 40 ounces. I’ve also updated the recipe. Enjoy!
I used lime juice (prefer over lemon juice) and a no sugar added white cake mix (my family is borderline diabetic). OHMYGOODNESS! This is out of this world great. Followed the recipe completely otherwise. Thank you for posting this recipe
Hi Tracy!
You are welcome! I greatly appreciate our positive comment. Made my day! Delighted to know you made this recipe work for you and your family to enjoy.
Do I mix the cake batter like I’m baking a cake before adding it on top or does the cake mix go on dry
Hi Lejuana,
Sprinkle dry cake mix over pineapples. Dot all over with pieces of cold butter. Place in preheated oven.
Bake 20 minutes. Carefully remove HOT baking dish from HOT oven. Use back of spoon to lightly spread melted butter evenly over cake mix until all of mix is coated with butter. Do this so entire top crust will be buttery (no dry cake crumbs). This step is optional.
Bake 20-25 additional minutes or until top crust is bubbly and golden brown.
Please let me know if I may be of further assistance. Thank you for visiting. Please come again.
What if I don’t have the lemon juice or vanilla extract on hand what would be a good substitute
Hi Paris! Pineapple extract is a good substitute. Lemon juice adds a tasty tang. If you omit, the cake will be sweet.
I have made this recipe before and it is delicious. I add walnuts. Sprinkle chopped walnuts evenly over the cake mix then add the butter. YUM!
Hi Andi! Thank you for visiting and sharing your delicious recipe. Happy holidays!
I only had key lime juice on hand. It came out awesome!!!!! More of a little Pina colada taste. Next time I’ll sprinkle some coconut on it! Thank you for sharing your recipe!
Gloria, you’re welcome. Greatly appreciate you for visiting my blog and sharing your awesome experience. The shredded coconut sounds delicious.
Can you store out of refrigerator?
Jamie, I always store in fridge. Warm in preheated 350 degree oven for 10 minutes. Better than microwave in my opinion.
Perfect cake for making while in quarantine! Thanks for the easy recipe!
Yep…I’m right here with ya…since I had the ingredients on hand I decided to give it a try! I prefer cakes like this over cakes with icing.
Yes, Wanda! I hope you enjoyed every bite. Dump cakes are far better than frosted cakes in my opinion. Stay safe!
Hi Krystal! Yes, it’s perfect for this quarantine. Enjoy every bite. Stay safe!
I only have one can crushed pineapple. Will this still work?
Hi Angie! Thanks for your interest in my recipe! I’ve never tested with one can of pineapples.
I’m “guessing” it will be a moist cake with small pieces of pineapples. Worth a try!
How did it taste? I only had one can of crushed pineapple too
I made an apple Dump cake a few days ago with just one can but I used a 9×9 pan and I used a half a box of cake mix. Turned out great, Hope that helps.
Cindy, thank you for the helpful tip! Helps a lot. Making one soon.
How long did you cook it?
Thank you for asking! Remove from oven. Use back of spoon to “smooth” top of cake until cake batter and melted butter are combined. Return to oven for 20-25 more minutes until top crust is brown and edges are bubbly.
In quarantine in NC and making this today. Stay safe and healthy everyone.
Charlotte, I hope you enjoyed the Pineapple Dump Cake. Determined to stay safe!
Can I use salted butter
Argerta, although I’ve never used salted butter in this recipe, my “guess” is yes. I’ve used salted butter in other cake recipes and they were good.
Unfortunately the store only had salted butter so I’m giving it a try now! Very excited! Thanks for the easy recipe!
Katelynn, I’ve used salted butter a few times. Cake was still good. I hope you enjoy!
Hello, I used pineapple but added a can of apple sauce and it turned out great. Bakrd an extra 5 minutes.
Dorrlyn, that sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing.
I’m making today.My bottle of vanilla extract was empty. All I had was Almond extract so I’m trying it.Fingers crossed.
Diana, although I’ve never tried the almond extract, I’m feeling like it should be a tasty alternative. I would love to know how it tastes. I’ve added it to my “TRY LIST.”
I’m going to try a little different technique, wish me luck. I’m going to drain the juice off the pineapple and replace it with coconut milk. Somebody in your comments has me yearning for a pina colada taste.
This cake is in the oven. Made as directed but added chopped pecan over the pineapple. Can’t wait to taste. Need to get some ice cream. YUM!
Hi Bonnie! I can imagine how good the chopped pecans are in this dessert. Thank you for sharing and for visiting my blog.
Could I put some brown sugar in the bottom of pan then add the pineapple for a taste more like an upside down cake?
Hi Pam, thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. Although I’ve never tried brown sugar, I must say Pineapple Upside Down Dump Cake sounds like a winner. The brown sugar combined with the yellow cake mix will be a bit sweet. I would sprinkle the juice of one lemon over the pineapples BEFORE sprinkling the cake mix on top. My “guess” is it will have a delicious sweet/tart flavor. I love to experiment. May give this one a try. Please visit again!
Omggggg this is my first time making a dump cake and I have to tell you I am not disappointed whoever invented this God bless you !
Hi Lisa! Delighted you enjoyed my Pineapple Dump Cake! It’s one of THE most popular recipes on my blog. Thank you for visiting and leaving a wonderful compliment. I treasure God’s blessings! Please come again.
If I make this, I’m really going to go out on a limb. I have pineapple rings instead of crushed pineapple. I have a lemon cake mix instead of a yellow cake mix. I’m curious as to how that will turn out.
Hi, here’s the Pineapple Crunch recipe I have: only 3 ingredients.
1 box Butter pecan cake mix
1 20 oz can crushed pineapple
1stick melted butter
Dump pineapple and juice into buttered pan. Sprinkle cake mix evenly over pineapple. Pour melted butter cake mix. Bake 350 for 40 minutes or until golden brown. Served with ice cream. This is my family’s favorite dessert
I’m going try it today
Hi Carolyn! I hope you enjoy as much as we do. Thank you for visiting my blog. Please come again!
Anyone done this with lemon cake mix? I have all the ingredients in my pantry except for the yellow cake mix. Wondering if lemon would pair well.
Hi Destiny! Although I’ve never made this dessert with a lemon cake mix, my “guess” is yes it will pair well with the naturally sweet pineapples. Thank you for visiting my blog. Please come again!