This Christmas Dump Cake is the perfect holiday dessert. You only need 4 ingredients to make cranberry dump cake.

Christmas Dump Cake in a baking dish with a scoop on the spoon
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We love making dump cake recipes. They only require a few ingredients and the results are a easy and delicious dessert that everyone loves. There is no need for a mixing bowl in this recipe. All the ingredients get layered in a baking dish and baked for an easy dessert recipe.

Impress your family and friends this holiday season with this Christmas Dump Cake. They will think you spent all day making it. You may love these dessert recipes, Grinch Desserts, No Bake Christmas Desserts and Chocolate Desserts for Christmas.

What is a Dump Cake?

It is a type of dessert that involves simple ingredients and very little preparation. It is a cake similar to cobbler and normally prepared with a cake mix, fruit, butter and other pantry staples.

The process is simple and involves dumping the fruit or filling in a pan. Then topping with cake mix and more. If you can toss a few ingredients into a pan, you can make this cake.

Ingredients

Ingredients needed - spice cake mix, cranberry sauce, chopped pecans, butter

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.

Variation Ideas

  • Change the Fruit – Instead of layering the dump cake with cranberry sauce, use apple pie filling. I have even made a peach dump cake and this one is my husbands favorite.
  • Change the Cake Mix – Feel free to use different cake mix to make this recipe. You can use a white cake mix or a yellow cake mix.
  • Cranberry Sauce – We used canned cranberry sauce in this recipe. You can try it with homemade cranberry sauce for a delicious option.

How to Make Christmas Dump Cake

  • Step 1 – Heat Oven – Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Step 2 – Prepare Baking Dish – Spray a 9X13 baking pan with a non-stick cooking spray.
Cranberry Sauce spread in the bottom of a baking dish

Step 3 – Dump Cranberry Sauce – Spread out the cranberry sauce evenly on the bottom of the pan.

Dry Cake Mix sprinkled cranberry sauce in a baking dish

Step 4 – Top with Dry Cake Mix – Sprinkle the cake mix on top.

Chopped pecans on the dry cake mix in the baking dish

Step 5 – Add the Chopped Nuts – Then sprinkle the chopped pecans, almonds or walnuts evenly on top of the cake mix.

Melted butter over the dry cake mix with the chopped pecans in a baking dish

Step 6 – Pour Melted Butter – Slowly pour the melted butter evenly on top of the cake. You do not have to stir.

  • Step 7 – Bake Dump Cake – Bake for 40-45 minutes until the top of the cake is golden brown.
  • Step 8 – Serve and Enjoy – Let the cake cool slightly. Then serve the cake warm topped with whipped topping or ice cream. 

Recipe Tips

  • Layer Ingredients – When making a dump cake, everything gets layered in the baking dish. There is no need to combine the ingredients once layered in the pan.
  • Prepare Baking Dish – Make sure to prepare the baking dish by spraying cooking spray. This helps to prevent the cake from sticking to the pan when serving.
  • Spreading the Ingredients – Layer the ingredients in the baking dish. Make sure that the entire bottom of the pan is covered.
  • Butter – In this dump cake recipes, we melted the butter instead of topping with butter slices.
Christmas Dump Cake on a plate with a scoop of ice cream

Topping Ideas

We love to serve this dump cake when it has slightly warmed. Add one of these delicious toppings to add more flavor.

  • More Chopped Nuts – We love the extra crunch it gives to the dump cake.
  • French Vanilla Ice Cream – When the dump cake is warm, we love to top with vanilla ice cream. It melts perfectly on the cake and it pairs perfectly with the cake.
  • Whipped Cream – This is the perfect rich and creamy option. Add a scoop before serving for a delicious option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Make in a Slow Cooker?

Yes, you can make this Dump Cake recipe in the slow cooker. Layer the dump cake ingredients in the slow cooker as you do in the baking dish. Make sure to spray crock pot before adding ingredients.
Allow the dump cake to cook on low for about 3 to 4 hours. You can also cook on high for about 2 hours.

How to Store Leftovers Dump Cake

If you have leftover, store in an airtight container. You can also just wrap the baking dish with plastic wrap and store in the fridge. The leftovers will last about 5 days.
When you are ready to serve again, I like to reheat an individual serving in the microwave for about 20 seconds. This gives it the perfect temperature and then topped with vanilla ice cream.

Christmas Dump Cake on a plate with a scoop of ice cream

More Christmas Dessert Recipes

We love to hear from you. If you make Christmas Dump Cake Recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review.

Christmas Dump Cake

5 from 1 vote
This Christmas Dump Cake is the perfect holiday dessert. You only need 4 ingredients to make cranberry dump cake.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 12
Cuisine American
Course Dessert
Calories 458

Ingredients

  • 1 box Spice Cake Mix 15.25 oz
  • 2 cans Cranberry Sauce 14 oz cans whole berry sauce
  • 1 cup Chopped Pecans
  • 3/4 cup Butter melted
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Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Spray a 9X13 baking pan with a non-stick cooking spray.
  • Spread out the cranberry sauce evenly on the bottom of the pan.
  • Sprinkle the cake mix on top and sprinkle the chopped pecans evenly on top of the cake mix.
  • Slowly pour the melted butter evenly on top of the cake. You do not have to stir.
  • Bake for 40-45 minutes until the top of the cake is golden brown.
  • Let the cake cool slightly and then serve the cake warm topped with whipped topping or ice cream.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 458kcal, Carbohydrates 60g, Protein 3g, Fat 24g, Saturated Fat 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat 3g, Monounsaturated Fat 10g, Trans Fat 0.5g, Cholesterol 31mg, Sodium 378mg, Potassium 206mg, Fiber 2g, Sugar 41g, Vitamin A 389IU, Vitamin C 1mg, Calcium 52mg, Iron 3mg

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About the Author

Hi! We are Carrie and Christina! Welcome to Christmas on a Dime!

We  are sisters and love everything about Christmas. We are here to help you celebrate the magic of Christmas all year long!

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