shelled and unshelled pecans (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I am a bit uninspired this week for my “It is Saturday, So It Must Be Recipe Day” so I am going to propose that we have an interactive post today. You are always great at this, so I know we are going to have fun and maybe learn a few things in the process. (Well, that sounds boring, but wait….)
My sister gave me the following recipe when I told her that I had volunteered to take the dessert to a potluck. First of all: WHAT WAS I THINKING? I usually volunteer to bring the salad, or a side dish, or bread (which is what I am bringing to a dinner tonight). But no, I got a little brave, and was buoyed by Robert Allen’s somewhat goading but inspiring quote: “Everything you want is just outside of your comfort zone.”
dump cake! (Photo credit: Ameel Khan)
So I volunteered to make dessert. Then I panicked. Of course I make desserts for my family on occasion, and have been known to make a mean birthday cake decorated with all manner of candies, but baking for people outside my family is definitely not something even close to my comfort zone. So I asked my sister Peggy for a suggestion, and she emailed me this recipe, saying it was easy and really tasted good.
It has a rather indelicate name, and should I ever actually make it I may rename it Nutty Super Wonderful Cherry and Pineapple Cake, but for today, I will stick with the name that came with the recipe:
DUMP CAKE
1 – 20 oz. can crushed pineapple with juice, undrained
1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling
1 pkg. classic yellow cake mix
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
½ cup (I stick) of butter or margarine
i} Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 13 x 9 inch pan
ii} Dump pineapple with juice into pan. Spread evenly. Dump in pie filling. Sprinkle cake mix evenly over cherry layer. Sprinkle pecans or walnuts over cake mix. Dot with butter.
iii} Bake 50 minutes or until top is lightly browned. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Serves 12 – 16
Now, if you did not get the subtlety of this recipe—the word to take note of is “dump”—do not pour the ingredients into the pan, because then it would be called “Pour Cake” and that just has no personality.
No, I did not end up making this cake, but I think that I will for my husband’s birthday on March 21st as he loves cherries. The night of the potluck, I went out and bought a fancy dancey fudge chocolate bar cake decorated with chocolate curls. It was good—but I really wish I had made the dump cake.
Now here is the interactive part: this recipe probably has other renditions—if you know one, provide it for all of us interested in expanding our repertoires.
Are you familiar with this recipe or one that is blissfully similar?
Related articles
- DUMP CAKE…decadent and sinfully simple (fork-lore.com)
On the Homefront 
No, but I am familiar with the routine of trooping to the store to buy a dessert for potluck banquets or gathering 🙂 — happy Saturday!
sometimes do you bring it home and put it on a plate and put plastic wrap over it and pretend it is yours? I do that.
You’re assuming I have time to run back home again with the store-bought dessert before I am supposed to show up with dessert in hand at the designated potluck event!
ha ha ha – I like the way you operate! store bought and proud of it — you are my kind of girl!
I don’t know any other cake recipes like this, but a variation on the theme (dump) is Impossible Pie from the Bisquick boxes back in the seventies.
Impossible Pie
2 C milk
1 C sugar
1/2 C Bisquick
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 stick melted butter or margarine
1/2 C shredded coconut
Dump all ingredients in blender, blend, pour into a greased 10″ pie pan, bake @ 350F for 45 minutes or until knife comes out clean. Chill overnight and you’ve got a custard pie, complete with crust and toasted coconut topping!
I’m looking forward to trying the cake recipe! xoxoM
sounds delicious and so easy–I am really fond of easy…thanks Margarita
Do you have to use a blender for it to become custard?
I don’t think so, as long as it’s well blended and the lumps are out of the Bisquick (or any pancake/biscuit) mix and the eggs are well incorporated.
so I think I may try this with my handy dandy mixer – thanks Margarita!
My father in law makes dump cake too – tastes pretty good, even though the name is amazingly unappetizing. Have fun tonight!
thank you – garlic bread is more my speed–what is this with the men who cook in your family–have them rub elbows with the men who do not cook in my family (though my youngest has learned to cook while he is away at school)
I know – its nice to have married into a family of male cooks. It almost (but not quite) led me to try for another kid to see if he could pass it along to another generation. At least the girls will have good role models.
exactly and not think it unusual that everyone do the jobs and they not be male and female
Now this is my kind of recipe! I tried something like this once before and it turned out well. I think I’d like the one with coconut, too. Yum.
that coconut one sounds really good and I have most of the ingredients here
My grandmother used to make a dump cake when she was too lazy to make her normal baked goods.
I understand your grandmother perfectly
I thought you would 🙂
Yes. My mother used to make this exact dump cake. Grandmother did as well. 🙂
do you like it?
Yes! I love all of the ingredients, and I”m a cake eater!! 🙂
I’m anxious to hear of someone who tried this and liked it. It sounds like my kind of recipe. Takes maybe 5 minutes to make? One encouraging word from your commenters, and it will be my next “baking” project. 🙂
Maddie said she liked it and my sister loves it
I remember when we used to eat dump cakes and desserts with chocolate curls…I think I remember those days, lol. The book club gals roll their eyes when & if I bring a dessert. One of them took a bite and then nodded and said, “Yes. This would be a good breakfast cookie.” tee hee…
you health nuts — and you are probably are the healthier for it in mind and body
That is about my level of ability for baking . . . dumping!
mine too — it is a perfect analogy
I have never heard of Dump cake but it sure sounds yummy.. i love all of the ingredients so may have to give this a go 😉
It sounds good — must give it a try
i’d never heard of dump cake until someone commented on one of my posts about it ~ sounds good to me!
I should do a follow-up after I have actually made it!
A dump cake sounds simple and delicious 😀
Cheers
CCU
too simple for you — you are much more gourmet than that!
Yes, I used to make this dump cake all the time! Thanks for renewing my interest. It is really delicious and great to take along to parties.
thank you — a commenter said all they wanted was to hear that someone else liked it–you have now provided that –
Im just the opposite, love to bake for others outside my home, but am beyond nervous to cook for anyone other than my man. Dump cake sounds and looks delicious!
I have had a few testimonials as to its goodness–first of all my sis would not have given it to me if she was not convinced it was good
I’ve made this cake often, in my past life when I used to bake! Well, I still bake, but now it’s in small amounts. I rarely do a full recipe of anything unless I’m baking to take in to my office or to give to a friend. But I can promise you’ll like this cake. Easy and delicious! ~ Sheila
Thanks Sheila – I must give it a whirl!