Description

Craving a dessert that’s sweet, creamy, and bursting with strawberry goodness but requires minimal effort? What if you could toss together a decadent cake with just a few ingredients and have it ready in under an hour? Say hello to Strawberry Cheesecake Dump Cake! This delightful treat combines juicy strawberry pie filling, rich cream cheese, and a buttery vanilla cake mix topping, baked to golden perfection.

Ingredients

For the Dump Cake

Vanilla or French Vanilla Cake Mix (15.25 oz, 1 box): Forms a buttery, crumbly topping that bakes into a golden crust.
Butter (1 stick, ½ cup, melted): Combines with the cake mix to create a rich, crisp topping.
Cream Cheese (8 oz, 1 package): Adds a creamy, tangy layer that mimics cheesecake flavor.
Strawberry Pie Filling (2 cans, 21 oz each): Provides a sweet, juicy base with vibrant strawberry flavor.

Substitutions and Variations

Cake Mix: Use yellow or white cake mix; for homemade, combine 2½ cups flour, 1½ cups sugar, 2½ tsp baking powder, ½ tsp salt, and mix with melted butter.
Butter: Swap with margarine or vegan butter for a dairy-free option; coconut oil works but adds a slight tropical flavor.
Cream Cheese: Use low-fat cream cheese, vegan cream cheese, or Neufchâtel for a lighter texture; softened cream cheese spread in dollops can substitute if slicing is difficult.
Strawberry Pie Filling: Replace with cherry, blueberry, or mixed berry pie filling; use homemade filling (2 lbs fresh strawberries, ¾ cup sugar, 2 tbsp cornstarch, cooked until thick).
Vegan Option: Use a vegan cake mix, vegan butter, vegan cream cheese, and vegan-friendly pie filling (check labels for gelatin).
Gluten-Free: Use a gluten-free cake mix and ensure pie filling is gluten-free.

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Instructions

Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Tip: Use a glass or metal dish for even baking, and ensure the oven is fully preheated.
Prepare the Cake Mix Topping:
- In a medium mixing bowl, melt 1 stick (½ cup) butter in the microwave or on the stovetop, about 30–60 seconds.
- Add 1 box (15.25 oz) vanilla or French vanilla cake mix to the melted butter and mix with a fork until well combined and crumbly, about 1–2 minutes.
- Set aside.
- Tip: Stir until the mixture resembles wet sand with small clumps for a textured topping; avoid overmixing to keep it crumbly.
Layer the Strawberry Filling:
- Pour 2 cans (21 oz each) of strawberry pie filling into the prepared 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Spread evenly with a spatula to cover the bottom of the dish.
- Tip: Smooth the filling to ensure an even base, and check for any large strawberry chunks to distribute evenly.
Add the Cream Cheese Layer:
- Unwrap 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese and slice into thin pieces (about ⅛–¼ inch thick) using a sharp knife.
- Lay the cream cheese slices evenly over the strawberry pie filling, covering as much of the surface as possible.
- Tip: Soften the cream cheese slightly (10–15 minutes at room temperature) for easier slicing, and overlap slices slightly if needed to cover gaps.
Top with Cake Mix:
- Sprinkle the crumbly cake mix mixture evenly over the cream cheese and strawberry layers, covering the entire surface.
- Use your hands or a spoon to spread it out, ensuring no large clumps remain.
- Tip: Distribute the topping evenly to avoid bare spots, and break up any large clumps for a uniform bake.
Bake:
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the strawberry filling is bubbling around the edges and the top is lightly golden brown.
- Check for doneness: the topping should be crisp, and the filling should be visibly bubbling.
- Tip: Rotate the dish halfway through if your oven has hot spots, and cover with foil if the top browns too quickly after 25 minutes.
Serve:
- Remove from the oven and let cool for 5–10 minutes to allow the layers to set slightly.
- Spoon or slice into 12–15 portions, serving warm, optionally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or fresh strawberries.
- Tip: Use a large spoon to capture all layers, and serve in bowls for a cozy, rustic presentation.