Citrus Lemon Dump Cake (Printable)

Layers of tangy lemon, sweet mandarin oranges, and buttery golden cake create this bright, zesty dessert ready in 50 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fruit Layer

01 - 2 cups lemon pie filling
02 - 1 cup mandarin orange segments, drained
03 - 1 tablespoon lemon zest

→ Cake & Topping

04 - 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
06 - 1/2 cup whole milk
07 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - Spread lemon pie filling evenly across the bottom of the prepared dish. Distribute mandarin orange segments over the filling and sprinkle with fresh lemon zest.
03 - Sprinkle dry yellow cake mix evenly over the fruit layer. Do not stir or mix—layering creates the signature dump cake texture.
04 - Drizzle melted butter and whole milk over the cake mix, aiming to cover as much dry mix as possible. Sprinkle granulated sugar across the surface for added sweetness and caramelization.
05 - Bake for 35–40 minutes until the top turns golden brown and edges bubble vigorously. The cake should be set with slightly crisp edges.
06 - Cool for at least 15 minutes before serving to allow layers to set. Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The combination of lemon pie filling and fresh mandarin oranges creates this bright sunshine flavor that wakes up your whole palate
  • Its one of those rare desserts that actually tastes better with minimal effort—no mixing bowls or electric mixer needed
02 -
  • Dumping everything without mixing the layers is absolutely crucial—stirring creates a dense cake instead of that magical fruit and crispy combo
  • The resting period isnt optional, scoop too soon and youll end up with delicious but messy servings on every plate
03 -
  • Sprinkle the sugar over the butter drizzle rather than mixing it into the dry cake mix for the crunchiest crust possible
  • Room temperature ingredients help the butter and milk distribute more evenly across the cake mix

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