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Our dear friends recently welcomed a new baby, so of course I was thrilled to swing by with dinner! I was already planning to take over our Easy Tater Tot Casserole, but they also have three little boys at home. Bringing only the main course just didn’t feel like quite enough, we had to bring something fun for them, too!
This is exactly the type of situation where this easy Peach Dump Cake with pie filling comes in handy! It takes only a few ingredients, and about five minutes to put together. Canned peach (or your favorite!) pie filling keeps the fruit layer thick and saucy, while yellow cake mix and butter bake into a golden topping.
You also don’t have to save this one for peach season. Everything comes straight from the pantry or refrigerator, so it’s a dessert you can make any time of year. Serve it warm as-is, or add a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Peach Dump Cake
- Very little prep: You can have the entire dessert assembled and ready for the oven in about five minutes.
- Made with pantry staples: Canned peach pie filling and boxed cake mix do most of the work.
- No mixing bowl required for the batter: The dry cake mix goes right over the peaches.
- Great for sharing: A 9×13-inch pan gives you plenty for family dinners, potlucks, or taking a meal to a friend.
- Warm and comforting: The peach filling gets hot and bubbly while the topping becomes buttery and golden.
- Easy to change up: You can swap the peach filling for another flavor of pie filling whenever you want something different.
Ingredients
- Peach pie filling
- Yellow cake mix
- Salt
- Butter
- Ground cinnamon, optional
- Vanilla ice cream, optional for serving
Equipment
9×13-inch baking dish: A ceramic or glass baking dish works well for dump cakes because it gives the fruit plenty of room to bubble around the topping.
Small mixing bowl: You only need this to quickly combine the salt with the dry cake mix so it distributes evenly.
Spatula: A silicone spatula makes it easy to spread the peach pie filling into an even layer without scratching your baking dish.
Liquid measuring cup: I like using one with a pour spout for the melted butter. It makes it much easier to drizzle the butter slowly across the cake mix.
How to Make Easy Peach Dump Cake
Start by spreading the peach pie filling across the bottom of your baking dish. You want a fairly even layer so every serving gets plenty of peaches and that thick peach sauce.
Sprinkle cinnamon over the peaches if you’re using it. This is optional, but I like the little bit of warmth it adds without covering up the peach flavor.
Next, combine the dry cake mix with the salt. The small amount of salt helps balance the sweetness of the pie filling and cake mix. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the peaches.
This is where the “dump cake” part matters: don’t stir the layers together. The peach filling stays underneath while moisture from the fruit and butter works its way into the cake mix as everything bakes.
Slowly drizzle the melted butter across the dry cake mix. Try to cover as much of the surface as you can, but don’t worry about chasing every tiny dry spot. A few small areas of cake mix are fine.
Bake the peach dump cake at 350°F until the filling bubbles around the edges and the topping turns golden brown. That contrast between the soft peach filling and buttery cake topping is what you’re looking for.
Prefer an even crispier topping? I DO! 🙋♀️ Once the dump cake has finished baking, switch your oven to LOW broil for 3–5 minutes. Keep a close eye on it during this step. The top can go from golden to too dark pretty quickly under the broiler.
Give the dump cake a few minutes to rest after it comes out of the oven. The filling will be extremely hot at first and will thicken slightly as it sits. We especially like this one served warm with vanilla ice cream.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
PrintEasy Peach Dump Cake
This easy Peach Dump Cake is made with canned peach pie filling, yellow cake mix, and melted butter for a warm, gooey peach dessert with a crisp, buttery golden topping.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-55 minutes
- Total Time: about 1 hour
- Yield: 10-12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 (21-ounce) cans peach pie filling (You can swap this out for a different flavored pie filling if desired!)
- 1 box (13.25–15.25 ounces) yellow cake mix
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup (1½ sticks) butter, melted
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Spread both cans of peach pie filling evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle the cinnamon over the peach filling, if using.
- In a small bowl, stir the salt into the dry cake mix.
- Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the peach filling. Do not stir.
- Slowly drizzle the melted butter evenly over the cake mix, covering as much of the surface as possible.
- Bake uncovered at 350°F for 45–55 minutes, until the peach filling is bubbling around the edges and the topping is golden brown. For an extra-crispy topping, switch the oven to LOW broil for 3–5 minutes after baking. Watch it closely—the cake mix topping can brown quickly under the broiler.
- Let the peach dump cake cool for 10–15 minutes before serving. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, if desired.
Notes
Butter coverage: Try to drizzle the melted butter over as much of the cake mix as possible. A few small dry-looking spots are okay and will usually absorb moisture as the filling bubbles during baking.
Cake mix: Yellow cake mix gives the dump cake a classic buttery flavor. White or butter cake mix can also be used.
Cinnamon: The cinnamon is optional, but it pairs well with the peach filling.
Serving: This dessert is especially good served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Recipes That Pair Well With This
Peach Dump Cake works especially well after an easy, family-style meal. Since the dessert requires so little hands-on work, I like pairing it with dinners that are just as practical.
- French Onion Chicken and Rice Casserole – A cozy chicken-and-rice dinner followed by warm peach dump cake makes a simple comfort-food meal.
- One Pot Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta – Creamy chicken pasta makes an easy main dish when you want dessert handled without adding much extra prep.
- Garlic Parmesan Green Beans – Add these savory green beans alongside your main course before finishing the meal with something sweet.
- Loaded Sheet Pan Nachos – A casual sheet pan dinner and an easy dump cake make a fun combination for family night.
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake – Serving a larger crowd? Add cookie cake to the dessert table alongside the warm peach dessert.
- Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars – The bright lemon flavor gives you a nice contrast when you want more than one dessert option.
More Recipes to Try
- Perfectly Easy No-Bake Cookies – Another simple dessert for days when you don’t want a complicated baking project.
- Soft Sugar Cookie Bars – Soft, frosted cookie bars that are easy to slice and share.
- Easy Oreo Cheesecake – A creamy Oreo dessert when you want something a little more special.
- Perfect Classic Cheesecake – Keep this classic cheesecake recipe on hand for holidays and celebrations.
- Bakery-Style Cinnamon Rolls – Soft homemade cinnamon rolls that can be made the same day or prepared for later.
- Fluffy Homemade Pancakes – An easy homemade breakfast recipe when you’re in the mood for something sweet.
Tips for Little Helpers
This is a particularly easy dessert for kids to help assemble because there isn’t any complicated mixing or shaping.
Little helpers can spread the peach filling into the baking dish, sprinkle on the cinnamon, and help distribute the cake mix. Older kids can slowly drizzle the melted butter with supervision.
The biggest thing to remember is that the layers do not get stirred together. That makes it an easy recipe for teaching kids to follow a method even when it looks a little unusual before baking.
Tips for Success
Spread the cake mix evenly. Large mounds of dry cake mix are more likely to remain powdery after baking. Gently level the top before adding the butter.
Cover as much cake mix as possible with butter. You don’t need perfect coverage, but a slow, even drizzle gives you a better golden topping.
Don’t stir the layers. The dessert works because the filling, cake mix, and butter remain layered as they bake.
Watch for bubbling around the edges. A browned top alone doesn’t always mean the dessert is ready. You also want to see the peach filling bubbling.
Use the broiler for extra crunch. For a crispier top, broil on LOW for 3–5 minutes after baking. Stay near the oven and watch it closely.
Let it rest before serving. The peach filling comes out of the oven extremely hot. A short rest also helps it thicken slightly.
FAQs
Why is it called a dump cake?
Dump cakes get their name from their simple preparation. Instead of mixing a traditional cake batter, the ingredients are layered or “dumped” into the baking dish before baking.
Do I prepare the cake mix according to the box directions?
No. Use the cake mix completely dry. Do not add the eggs, oil, water, or other ingredients listed on the cake mix box.
Do I stir peach dump cake before baking?
No. Keep the peach filling, dry cake mix, and melted butter in separate layers. The fruit filling and butter provide the moisture the cake mix needs as it bakes.
Why does my dump cake have a few dry spots?
Small dry areas can happen when the melted butter doesn’t reach every bit of cake mix. Try to drizzle the butter as evenly as possible. A few tiny spots are fine, but large powdery patches usually need better butter coverage.
Can I make the topping crispier?
Yes. After the dump cake finishes baking, place it under the LOW broiler for 3–5 minutes. Watch closely and remove it as soon as the top reaches the crispness you want.
Should peach dump cake be served warm or cold?
We prefer it warm. The fruit stays soft and saucy, and the warm topping is especially good with cold vanilla ice cream. You can also serve it at room temperature.
Can I use a different flavor of pie filling? Yes. You can swap the peach pie filling for a different flavored pie filling if desired. The same basic idea works well when you want to experiment with cherry, apple, blueberry, or another favorite
Storage
Allow leftover Peach Dump Cake to cool before storing it. Cover the baking dish tightly or transfer individual servings to an airtight container.
Store the leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
You can eat leftovers cold, but I prefer reheating individual servings until warm. Keep in mind that the topping will soften somewhat during refrigeration.
Freezing Instructions
Peach Dump Cake can be frozen, although the topping will lose most of its crisp texture after thawing.
Let the dessert cool completely first. Transfer it to a freezer-safe container or wrap the baking dish securely. Freeze for up to 2–3 months.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat it in the oven until warmed through if you want to restore some of the texture to the topping.
Variations
Change the pie filling: You can swap this out for a different flavored pie filling if desired! Cherry, apple, blueberry, or another favorite can give you an entirely different dessert with the same easy method.
Try another cake mix: Yellow cake mix gives us that classic buttery topping, but a butter cake mix or white cake mix can also work.
Add warm spices: Cinnamon is our simple choice, but a small amount of nutmeg or apple pie spice would also work well with the peaches.
Add nuts: Sprinkle chopped pecans over the cake mix before baking for some extra crunch.
Serve it à la mode: Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream just before serving. The cold ice cream against the warm peaches is hard to beat.
Make the topping extra crispy: Finish the baked dump cake under the LOW broiler for 3–5 minutes. Watch it the entire time so the top doesn’t burn.
Final Thoughts
This Peach Dump Cake is exactly the kind of dessert I like having in my back pocket. It doesn’t require a long ingredient list or much time in the kitchen, but you still get a warm dessert that feels like you brought something special.
That was especially true when we made it for our friends after their new baby arrived. Dinner was taken care of, but with three little boys waiting at home too, dessert felt important.
Sometimes bringing a meal is about more than making sure everyone gets fed. A pan of dinner helps. Adding something warm, sweet, and fun for the kids makes the whole thing feel a little more like a gift.
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