Strawberry Cheesecake Dump Cake
Warm strawberries, tangy cheesecake pockets, and a buttery vanilla topping that somehow tastes like you tried harder than you did. We won't tell.
Servings 10
Calories 469kcal
Ingredients
strawberry layer
- 21 ounces strawberry pie filling
- 1½ cups sliced fresh strawberries
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch salt
cheesecake layer
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 egg room temperature
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract optional but gorgeous
- Pinch salt
topping
- 15.25 ounce vanilla cake mix or whatever size your brand carries
- 10 tablespoons butter melted
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream or whole milk
- Optional: coarse sugar for the top
Instructions
prep
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
strawberry base
- Spread the strawberry pie filling evenly in the bottom of the dish. Gently fold in the fresh strawberries, lemon zest, vanilla, and salt. Don’t overmix—you want pockets of fruit, not jam soup.
cheesecake layer
- In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese on low speed until smooth and creamy. Add the egg, sugar, vanilla, almond extract (if using), and salt. Beat on low speed until fully combined and silky.
- Spoon the cheesecake mixture over the strawberry layer in dollops. No spreading. Let it be rustic.
topping
- In a separate bowl, stir the dry cake mix with melted butter and heavy cream until large, buttery crumbs form.
- Scatter the crumbs evenly over the cheesecake layer. If you like a little crunch, sprinkle the top lightly with coarse sugar.
bake
- Bake uncovered for 40–50 minutes, until the top is golden, the edges are bubbly, and the center looks set but still soft.
- Let stand for at least 15 minutes before serving. This is not a suggestion—it needs a moment to pull itself together.
Notes
Storage: Cover any leftovers and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Freeze for up to 2 months.
Tips:
- The cake mix topping is more like a streusel than a cake. Don't overwork it.
- You can add 1 cup extra fresh strawberries if you'd like the fruit firmer.
- Spread the topping loosely.
Nutrition
Calories: 469kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 482mg | Potassium: 104mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 725IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 142mg | Iron: 1mg
