If you can open a can and melt some butter, you can make a dump cake. And once you’re hooked on easy desserts, the rest of these cakes are just as simple, most of them baked right in the air fryer.
A dump cake is exactly what it sounds like: fruit or pie filling goes in the pan, dry cake mix goes on top, and butter goes over that. No mixing, no mixer, and it bakes into a golden, cobbler-like topping over bubbling fruit.
Below you’ll find six dump cakes, cake mix shortcuts, chocolate cakes, everyday pound and bundt cakes, and pumpkin cakes for fall. Pin this list so you always have a last-minute dessert ready.
Easy Dump Cake Recipes
1. Air Fryer Apple Pie Dump Cake
Apple pie filling, yellow cake mix, and melted butter bake into a gooey, crumbly dessert with almost no effort. Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream.
2. Air Fryer Peach Dump Cake
Canned peaches and white or yellow cake mix turn golden and bubbly in the air fryer. Sprinkle old-fashioned oats on top for a crisp-style finish.
3. Air Fryer Blueberry Dump Cake
Just three ingredients: blueberry pie filling, cake mix, and butter. It’s ready in about 10 to 12 minutes at 320°F.
4. Air Fryer Strawberry Dump Cake
Sweet, slightly tart strawberries under a buttery cake topping. It adapts easily to a regular oven, too.
5. Air Fryer Chocolate Dump Cake
Chocolate cake mix layered with instant chocolate pudding for a rich, fudgy dump cake. A must for chocolate lovers.
6. Air Fryer Banana Bread Dump Cake
Mashed ripe bananas, yellow cake mix, and butter taste just like warm banana bread with a crisp top. Three ingredients, about 25 minutes.
Cake Mix Shortcut Cakes
7. Air Fryer 2-Ingredient Spice Cake
Spice cake mix plus a can of pumpkin puree. That’s it, and it bakes at 320°F in about 18 to 22 minutes.
8. Air Fryer Cake (Boxed Cake Mix)
The step-by-step guide to baking any boxed cake mix in the air fryer, including which pans fit best.
9. Air Fryer 7-Up Cake
A retro bundt made with yellow cake mix, lemon pudding, and 7-Up soda. Five ingredients and pure nostalgia.
10. Air Fryer 4 Ingredient Apple Cake
Brown sugar, eggs, apples, and flour make a soft, fluffy apple cake in under 30 minutes. Perfect for fall.
11. Air Fryer Smash Cake
A small, easy cake for a baby’s first birthday. It bakes in about 8 to 10 minutes, then gets frosting and sprinkles.
Chocolate Cakes
12. Air Fryer Chocolate Cake
Devil’s food cake mix baked into two layers and frosted. The air fryer gives it a lightly crisp edge and cleanup is easy.
13. Air Fryer One Bowl Chocolate Cake
One bowl, one whisk, one pan. This fudgy from-scratch cake bakes at 320°F in about 12 to 15 minutes.
14. Air Fryer Homemade Devil’s Food Cake
Buttermilk and hot coffee make this devil’s food cake deeply chocolatey and tender. Finish it with buttercream.
15. Pioneer Woman Coca-Cola Cake
A fudgy Southern sheet cake baked in a 9×13 with a warm poured cola frosting. Old-fashioned and ridiculously easy.
16. Instant Pot Red Velvet Cake
Moist red velvet made in the pressure cooker and topped with cream cheese frosting. Perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Pound, Bundt and Everyday Cakes
17. Air Fryer Easy Pound Cake
A classic, buttery pound cake that bakes at 320°F in 20 to 25 minutes. Try the lemon, marble, or pumpkin spice variations.
18. Air Fryer Keto Pound Cake
Rich and moist, but low-carb and keto-friendly. A great option for anyone cutting back on sugar.
19. Air Fryer Cinnamon-Swirl Bundt Coffee Cake
A ribbon of cinnamon and brown sugar runs through a tender bundt, finished with homemade caramel glaze. Ready in about 45 minutes.
20. Easy Air Fryer Almond Cake
Moist, tender, and full of almond flavor with a simple almond glaze. Pretty enough for a special occasion.
21. Instant Pot Vanilla Cake
A from-scratch vanilla cake made with cake flour in the pressure cooker. Frost it or serve it plain.
Pumpkin Cakes for Fall
22. Air Fryer Pumpkin Layer Cake
Two spiced pumpkin layers stacked with tangy cream cheese frosting. It looks impressive but it’s beginner-friendly.
23. Air Fryer Pumpkin Cake
A simple single-layer pumpkin cake, moist and full of fall flavor. A 7-inch pan fits most air fryers.
24. Air Fryer Pumpkin Lava Cake
Spiced pumpkin cake with a warm, molten center that cooks in 8 to 10 minutes. Dessert for two.
25. Air Fryer Pumpkin Mug Cake
A single-serve, egg-free pumpkin cake ready in about 12 minutes. Top with whipped cream and a dash of pumpkin spice.
Tips for the Best Dump Cake
- Don’t stir. Layering is the whole point; stirring turns it into a soggy batter.
- Slice the butter thin. Cover the cake mix in thin pats edge to edge, or drizzle melted butter evenly, so there are no dry, powdery patches.
- Keep the fruit juicy. Pie filling or fruit in syrup supplies the moisture that bakes the cake mix. If using fresh or frozen fruit, add a little sugar and liquid.
- Bake at 350°F for 45–55 minutes, until the top is golden and the fruit bubbles at the edges.
- Rest 15 minutes before serving so the filling thickens.
- Add crunch. Chopped pecans, walnuts, oats, or coconut on top give extra texture.
Dump Cake FAQs
Why is it called a dump cake?
Because you literally dump the ingredients into the pan and bake, with no mixing bowls or beaters involved.
Do you stir a dump cake?
No. Layer the fruit, dry cake mix, and butter, and let the oven do the work. Stirring leads to a gummy texture.
Why does my dump cake have dry spots?
Dry spots mean the butter didn’t reach that part of the cake mix. Cover the surface fully with thin butter slices or evenly drizzled melted butter.
Can you use fresh fruit in a dump cake?
Yes. Toss about 4–5 cups of fresh fruit with ½ cup sugar and a tablespoon of cornstarch so it releases enough juice.
Can I make a dump cake ahead of time?
Bake it up to a day ahead, cover, and reheat at 350°F for 10–15 minutes. Leftovers keep in the fridge for 3–4 days.
What do you serve with dump cake?
Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream are classic. Caramel sauce is great on apple and pumpkin versions.
Which Dump Cake Will You Make First?
With a can of fruit, a box of cake mix, and a stick of butter, a warm homemade dessert is less than an hour away. Start with the classic cherry pineapple, then work your way through the seasons.
Tried one of these easy dump cake recipes? Leave a comment and a star rating below, and save this list to your dessert board on Pinterest.
Brenda yates
Can’t wait to try these. They look great 😊