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Strawberry Dump Cake

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pinterest image of cake on a plate with berries in the background and text overlay

Strawberry dump cake is the ultimate easy summer dessert. Sweet strawberries, soft cake topping, and just a few minutes of prep make this a recipe you’ll make over and over again!

 

slice of cake on a plate topped with ice cream with strawberries in the background

OK, can we agree that fresh berries are the very best thing about spring and summer? (If you live someplace snowy I can accept if berries are second on your list after sunny weather.)

This strawberry dump cake is the easiest way to celebrate those awesome berries that will be finding their way to markets and farm stands soon.

Serve this cake with ice cream on top and prepare to be wowed! I’m thinking this will be your go-to dessert for barbecues alllll summer long. (You can totally use other fruit too—blackberries and peaches are two delicious choices!)

Why you’ll love this strawberry dump cake:

  • All of the ingredients are kitchen staples you probably already have on hand. If you don’t have them on hand right now you can find them at any grocery store!
  • Even though it’s made from scratch, this cake only takes a few minutes and a little stirring to put together. You don’t need a mixer or any kind of fancy equipment. This is the perfect dessert for novice bakers!
  • Because you can serve this cake warm or cold, it’s a good make-ahead option. You can make it a day ahead and store it overnight. Reheat it in the microwave or just serve straight out of the fridge. It’s delicious either way!

How to make your cake

The first step is to macerate your strawberries. “Macerate” is just a fancy way to say you’re softening some kind of food in liquid.

In the case of berries and many other fruits, you don’t actually need to add liquid; sprinkling strawberries with granulated sugar is enough to get them to release their juices and soften quite a bit.
how to macerate strawberries in sugar

  • Put your berries in a bowl
  • Sprinkle with a 1/2-cup of granulated sugar and stir
  • Let sit for 30 minutes; your berries will get nice an saucy

Then it’s time to assemble your cake—it’s ridiculously simple.
how to make strawberry dump cake

  • Mix flour, sugar, and a few other ingredients in a bowl
  • Pour melted butter into a cake pan
  • Pour the cake batter over that
  • Top with the berries

Bake for about 50 minutes and that’s it. The berries will sink to the bottom of the cake and the cake topping with be golden, as in the photo below.

overhead photograph of finished strawberry dump cake

Let the cake cool a bit (or cool it completely!) so the juices can set up a little, then serve.

How to store your cake

Uneaten cake can be stored, covered, at in the fridge for up to 3 days. Be sure to cool your cake completely to room temperature before you cover it and move it to the fridge.

If you cover your cake while it’s still warm, it will sweat and get soggy.

Serving ideas

  • You can serve your cake warm or cold
  • Top it with ice cream
  • Top it with whipped cream and sliced strawberries
  • Dust the top with powdered sugar
  • If you like chocolate and berries together, don’t be afraid to throw some hot fudge sauce on top!

Can I use other berries?

Yes! You definitely can, just macerate them the same way you would the strawberries. You could even use other fruit, like peaches or plums, or use a combination. 

I personally love using half strawberries and half raspberries. It’s such a good combo!

A few more recipes you might enjoy:
Rhubarb Dump Cake
Fresh Peach Dump Cake
Apple Blueberry Crisp
Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes

slice of cake with ice cream on top and a hand taking a bite with a fork

Did you make this strawberry dump cake? That’s great! Let me know what you think with a comment and a rating below. Then post a pic on IG–tag @theitsybitsykitchen so I can see your delicious creations!

4.89 from 9 votes
slice of cake on a plate topped with ice cream with strawberries in the background
Print
Strawberry Dump Cake
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
48 mins
Total Time
1 hr 3 mins
 

Strawberry dump cake is an incredibly easy dessert that's made completely from scratch. It takes just a few minutes to put together and you don't even need a mixer!

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 9
Author: Kelsie
Ingredients
  • 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
  1. Combine the berries and 1/2-cup of sugar in a mixing bowl and stir together. Let sit for 30 minutes at room temperature.
  2. Once the berries have been sitting for half an hour, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  3. Melt the butter and pour into the bottom of an 11- by 7-inch (or 9-inch square) baking dish.
  4. Stir the flour, remaining 1 cup of sugar, milk, baking powder, and salt together in a mixing bowl until smooth. Pour over the melted butter.
  5. Pour the strawberries (and their juices!) over the batter; it will look like there’s a lot of liquid but that’s fine. Don’t be tempted to stir or swirl!
  6. Set baking dish on a large baking sheet in case any juices bubble over, and bake 48 to 58 minutes, until the berries have sunk to the bottom of the pan and the cake is golden brown on top.
  7. Let cool for 30 minutes to an hour—longer is fine—so the juices can set up a bit, then serve with whipped cream or ice cream.
Recipe Notes
  • Uneaten cake can be stored, covered, in the fridge for up to 3 days. (Be sure to cool your cake completely before covering and refrigerating it.)
  • You can use other berries or other fruits like peaches or plums in place of the strawberries. 
  • This cake is delicious served warm or cold, topped with ice cream or whipped cream.

Related

Comments

  1. JazzB says

    August 12, 2020 at 9:31 pm

    4 stars
    Used this recipe with a can of apple pie filling in place of the strawberries. I think it might’ve worked better with the batter on top.

    Reply
    • Kelsie says

      August 13, 2020 at 10:34 am

      I think there’s probably more liquid in the pie filling so I’d definitely go with batter on top next time. Hope you enjoyed it anyway!

      Reply
  2. Dana says

    April 29, 2020 at 11:01 am

    5 stars
    I am SO ready for summer and fresh strawberry season! This cake looks so delicious, Kelsie and I love how quick it is to put together. Perfect for a quick dessert for a summer gathering. Actually I’ve got some strawberries in the fridge right now and I’m considering making it for dessert tonight. I just need to get some ice cream! Hope you’re doing well, my friend, and enjoying Spring so far! 😀 xo

    Reply
  3. Leanne says

    April 18, 2020 at 3:32 pm

    5 stars
    I definitely look forward to fresh berries! But I’ll be honest, it’s still cold and snowy here, so if we could actually have some spring weather first, that would be great!! Our local strawberry season isn’t until about July, so I’ll be keeping this recipe in mind for that time!

    Reply
  4. Mihaela says

    April 17, 2020 at 3:41 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe looks amazing! Adding it to my baking list!

    Reply
  5. grace says

    April 17, 2020 at 2:32 pm

    it’s been a dump cake kind of month! 🙂

    Reply
  6. David @ Spiced says

    April 17, 2020 at 3:38 am

    5 stars
    Given that I’m sitting at my desk watching the snow come down outside, I’m going to say sunny weather. But after that, BERRIES! And then right after that, BERRY DUMP CAKE!! This recipe sounds delicious, Kelsie. I’m pretty sure I could sit in the basement, watch Netflix and eat the whole thing. No shame in my game.

    Reply
  7. Katherine | Love In My Oven says

    April 16, 2020 at 7:42 pm

    5 stars
    We can definitely agree on that Kelsie! I always look forward to those fresh summer berries!! This dump cake make me dream of spring and summer desserts. I need it to come quickly! Looks delicious and I love an easy dessert like this!

    Reply
  8. Milena says

    April 16, 2020 at 11:25 am

    We woke up to six inches of fresh Colorado snow this morning and it is still dumping. Yes to sunshine, strawberries and strawberries in cakes! So ready.

    Reply
  9. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says

    April 16, 2020 at 9:46 am

    5 stars
    Fresh berries are definitely my favorite thing about spring and summer! And strawberries happen to be my favorite! Obviously I see this dump cake happening in my future!! I’ll be topping it with ALL the vanilla ice cream! Yummmm!

    Reply
  10. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

    April 16, 2020 at 9:03 am

    5 stars
    I make a peach dump cake every summer with all the beautiful summer peaches Kelsie! I’ll need to add this strawberry version to my baking list too!

    Reply
  11. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

    April 16, 2020 at 5:37 am

    5 stars
    You make it look too easy, Kelsie! Love all sorts of berries and summer berries are the best! Plus, who doesn’t love berries in dessert, right 😉 ? This would be perfect with a big ol’ scoop of ice-cream…now I’m hungry, lol. Pinned! Happy weekend ahead!

    Reply
  12. sherry says

    April 16, 2020 at 5:16 am

    maybe one day soon we can have BBQs again:) Can’t wait till social distancing is over. And it’s several months till strawberry season comes around again… but anyway, your cake looks tasty. cheers
    sherry

    Reply

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About

photo of Kelsie Roehl     Hey there! I’m Kelsie and this is where I share my buttery, sugary, and all-around delicious recipes. I LOVE to bake and I want you to love baking too, so all of my recipes are totally do-able for the home baker.  If you need a little dessert in your life, consider this your one-stop shop for anything sweet! Need a little more info? Here you go!

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