Description
This Strawberry Cheesecake Dump Cake is the easiest cozy dessert I bake when I want something sweet without stress. Juicy strawberry pie filling bubbles under a creamy cheesecake layer, while buttery cake mix turns golden on top. It tastes like strawberry shortcake and cheesecake had the most delicious baby—perfect for potlucks, holidays, or a simple weeknight treat. Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream or chill it for a firmer, cheesecake-like slice.
Ingredients
- 2 cans (21 oz each) strawberry pie filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt (optional, balances sweetness)
- Fresh strawberries, for serving (optional)
- Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Spread both cans of strawberry pie filling evenly in the bottom of the dish.
- In a bowl, beat softened cream cheese with sugar and vanilla until smooth. Mix in the milk until creamy and spreadable.
- Spoon the cream cheese mixture over the strawberry layer and gently smooth it out (it doesn’t need to be perfect).
- Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the top. Do not stir.
- Drizzle melted butter evenly over the cake mix, aiming to moisten as much of the dry mix as possible. Sprinkle in salt if using.
- Bake 40–45 minutes, until the top is golden and the edges are bubbling.
- Cool 20–30 minutes before serving. Serve warm with ice cream, or chill for a firmer cheesecake-style texture.
Notes
Tips: If you see dry patches of cake mix after adding butter, drizzle 1–2 extra tablespoons of melted butter or dot with thin slices of butter. For a brighter flavor, add 1 teaspoon lemon zest to the cream cheese mixture. Swaps: Use cherry, blueberry, or mixed berry pie filling. Storage: Cover and refrigerate up to 4 days. Reheat portions 20–30 seconds in the microwave, or enjoy chilled. Make-ahead: Bake earlier in the day and chill; it slices more cleanly once cold.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 29g
- Sodium: 340mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 45mg