Easy Dump Cake Recipes With Cake Mix

julio 31, 2022 Publicar un comentario

Chocolate Dump Cake, how to make a dump cake with a chocolate cake mix and pudding mix, and no mixing bowls. This easy dump cake recipe only has 5 ingredients and ready in less than an hour. The best!

chocolate dump cake with ice cream on plate

Wow, this Chocolate Dump Cake only has 5 ingredients. Yep, I'm not kidding. And did I mention you don't need any mixing bowls? You just "dump" everything right in the pan. After my recent Pumpkin Dump Cake, I knew I had to try another, so an easy chocolate dump cake recipe it was.

chocolate dump cake in pan

I may be addicted to creating easy dump cake recipes. Crazy, I know.

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I looked around the internet to see what else was out there for easy chocolate dump cakes. Yeah, there are a lot of chocolate dump cake recipes out there, but I didn't see any recipes where you actually DUMP everything into the pan.

Everything I saw required mixing a cake mix, pudding mix, and milk in a mixing bowl or something along those lines. That's all totally fine, but I wanted to test out what would happen if you did NOT mix it all together in a bowl and did things a little different.

I really was NOT expecting this to turn out. I'm so optimistic sometimes, haha! I really did not expect it to work so I did not even take pictures of anything before I baked this Chocolate Dump Cake.

But then it DID work. OMG I was shocked. It really did work and it actually tasted good and everyone loved it. What?!

This Chocolate Dum Cake is quite rich and brownie-like with a crispy bottom, soft center, and almost molten top. It's NOT like a typical "cake" so if you're looking for more of a traditional cake texture this is not it.

However, this is a super easy dump cake recipe for sure!

Chocolate not quite your thing? Be sure to also to check out my Caramel Apple Dump Cake, Pina Colada Dump Cake, and Blueberry Dump Cake.

chocolate dump cake in pan with spoon

What is a Dump Cake

If you're just joining us and have NO idea what a dump cake is, let me first explain before you think I'm crazy.

Generally, a dump cake contains fruit "dumped" into a pan, topped with a dry cake mix, then drizzled with melted butter or slices of butter and then baked in the oven. The result is almost like a crisp/cobbler.

However, dump cakes have come a long way and can vary A LOT. Anything goes now.

Dump cakes are generally quick and easy and perfect for potlucks and feeding a lot of people since they are usually baked in a large baking dish. You can usually change dump cakes up with your favorite fruit, cake flavors, and mix-ins which is always nice.

chocolate dump cake on white plate

How to Make a Chocolate Dump Cake

(For the full printable recipe card, scroll down. However, you may find these additional recipe notes helpful before starting.)

As I mentioned above, many other chocolate dump cakes require a mixing bowl and mixing everything together, so I wasn't overly optimistic this was going to work when I chose NOT to mix things together.

Well it did work, wow!

So start off with a 13×9 inch baking dish. I just happened to use a glass one. Results may vary slightly though depending on the material of your baking dish. A nonstick or glass one is probably best though.

Place a stick of butter (1/2 cup) in your pan, then place the baking dish in the oven while you are preheating the oven. You really just want to melt the butter, so since you need to preheat your oven, this is just a quick and easy way to do it without dirtying anything else.

Check your butter periodically, and once melted, remove the pan from the oven. Make sure the butter is a nice even layer on the bottom, or use a fork (whisk or whatever…) to make sure it's an even layer.

Sprinkle the DRY cake mix on top of the melted butter. I would suggest a cake mix that does NOT have a pudding mix in it. Check the label. (I used a Pillsbury Moist Supreme Devil's Food 15.25 ounce cake mix.)

Do NOT make the cake according to the directions on the box. I repeat, do NOT mix the cake mix with any of the ingredients instructed on the box (such as oil and eggs). Using a fork or back of a spoon, carefully spread the DRY cake mix into a thin even layer over the melted butter.

Sprinkle the DRY instant pudding mix on top of the cake mix. Again, do NOT make the pudding according to the directions on the box. Just sprinkle the DRY mix on top of the cake mix into an even layer. Use a fork or back of a spoon if needed to spread the pudding mix into a thin even layer. (I used a 3.9 ounce box of JELL-O Instant Chocolate pudding.)

So at this point, make sure the cake mix and pudding mix is a flat thin even layer. Since there's melted butter on the bottom of the pan, the cake mix may be a little wet. That's ok!

Then drizzle the milk over the top of the pudding mix trying to get every area if possible. I just used skim milk but you could use 2% or whole milk. After your milk is in the pan, carefully tilt and swirl the pan just slightly to cover any dry spots.

chocolate dump cake with ice cream and chocolate sauce on plate

You really want to make sure the top of the dump cake has milk all over it so that there aren't any dry spots. Gently push down with a fork or back of a spoon to make sure the milk starts to absorb some of the cake and pudding mix. It should look like muddy chocolate milk at this point.

Sprinkle the top with chocolate chips in an even layer over the whole Chocolate Dump Cake. You can use your favorite mix-ins in addition to the chocolate chips or instead of.

Chopped candy (anyone have leftover Halloween candy?), nuts, toffee chips, and/or other types of baking chips (peanut butter chips) would also be great.

Just don't OVERLOAD the top with mix-ins.

Bake the Chocolate Dump Cake for about 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees F. You'll know it's done when the milk and top appears just about "set". BUT be careful to NOT overbake or it will get hard quick! You want the top to look not so jiggly but not hard so check on it on the earlier side.

chocolate dump cake with ice cream on white plate

I liked this dump cake warm right out of the oven, but room temperature and cold is also good.

The result is almost like a rich brownie but with a slightly crispy bottom (because of the melted butter) and a soft almost ooey-gooey top (because of the milk and pudding mix). It's kind of like a hot fudge type cake, cookie, and brownie all together.

Top this easy dump cake with ice cream, whipped cream or whipped topping, chocolate sauce or your favorite ice cream sauce, and whatever mix-ins you used such as chocolate chips.

chocolate dump cake with ice cream and sauce

Can't get enough of dump cakes? Check out my 17 Easy Dump Cake Recipes to try to get more ideas!

Did you make this dump cake? Would love to hear about it in the comments below.

Quick video my son Jordan made showing how to make a chocolate dump cake in no time…

Hope you enjoy this Chocolate Dump Cake recipe!

Chocolate Dump Cake

Easy Chocolate Dump Cake recipe with only 5 ingredients and no mixing bowls! People tend to either LOVE or HATE this recipe. It's not like your standard "dump" cake. It will form a cookie crispy type crust on the bottom and soft almost molten top.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Yield 16 servings

Calories 185 kcal

1/2 cup unsalted butter
15.25 ounces chocolate cake mix (1 box) (do NOT make according to package directions)
3.9 ounces instant chocolate pudding mix (1 box) (do NOT make according to package directions)
1 1/2 cups milk
12 ounces chocolate chips
Toppings (optional): ice cream, sweetened whipped cream or whipped topping, chocolate chips

Place butter in a 13x9 inch baking dish (glass or nonstick is probably best). Place baking dish in oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Check on the butter every now and then and once melted, remove pan from oven. Give the butter a quick stir so that it's well mixed and cover the bottom of the pan.
Sprinkle the DRY cake mix on top of melted butter in a flat even layer. Use a fork or the back of a spoon to spread the cake mix evenly over the butter.
Sprinkle the DRY pudding mix on top of the cake mix in a flat even layer. Use a fork or the back of a spoon to spread the pudding mix evenly over the cake mix.
Drizzle the milk on top of the pudding mix. Carefully tilt and swirl pan to cover as much of the pudding as possible with the milk. Using a spoon or back of a fork, gently press down on the milk so that it starts to absorb some of the cake and pudding mix and to cover any dry spots as much as possible. Sprinkle chocolate chips over top.
Bake the cake at 350 degrees F for about 35-40 minutes or until top looks "set" (still soft and jiggly, but not runny and not hard), being careful to not overbake. Serve with your favorite toppings.

NOTES: People tend to LOVE or HATE this recipe. When it works, it's fabulous, but for some it's a disaster. I would not suggest making this for guests without trying it first beforehand. Also, be sure to read the directions thoroughly, watch the video, and read through the post above for more tips and notes for best results.

SNAPPY TIPS: Be sure to use the DRY mix for both the cake and pudding mix and ignore the directions on the box for both. Before you put the cake in the oven be sure to press down slightly on the top so that the cake and pudding mix start to absorb the milk. The top should look like a muddy chocolate milk before putting it in the oven. Check on this often and be careful to not overbake. The top should look just about "set" but NOT hard.

SNAPPY SUBSTITUTIONS: Instead of chocolate chips you can use your favorite mix-ins such as other varieties of baking chips, chopped candy, toffee chips, or nuts.

(I used a Pillsbury Moist Supreme Devil's Food cake mix and JELL-O instant chocolate pudding to test this recipe.)

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keywords: chocolate potluck dessert, easy dump cake recipe

(Nutrition data is provided when available for informational purposes only and calculated using an online nutritional calculator. For the most accurate information please calculate based on specific ingredients and brands you use as well as any changes you made to the recipe. I am not a certified nutritionist or registered dietician and any nutritional information provided should only be used as a general guideline and estimate.)

chocolate dump cake pin