How to make a super easy peach dump cake with pie filling, pecans, a cake mix, and a hint of cinnamon. Gluten-free or regular, it's the best dessert recipe!
A couple of months ago, my friend Linda from Life on Summerhill, introduced me to her favorite cherry dump cake recipe. It is so easy and delicious.
Of course, ever since, I've been thinking of ways to make it with other fruit. So far, I've come up with this very yummy peach cobbler dump cake, as well as fall-themed caramel apple pecan dump cake.
I'm telling you, friends, dump cake is one of the easiest desserts you'll ever make. It's true to its name, in that you literally dump all of your ingredients into a baking dish and bake it.
Now you can make this a gluten-free peach dump cake or chock full of gluten, whichever is your preference. I prefer to make it gluten-free with my favorite gluten-free cake mix (I'll share where to find it below).
And while you could probably use fresh peaches to make a fresh peach pie filling, I just make peach dump cake with peach pie filling in the can. It's called dump cake for a reason, so I pretty much take that to heart.
Ready to bake another scrumptious dessert? I know I am.
What Is a Dump Cake?
I actually wondered the same thing. And it's pretty true to its name.
A dump cake is essentially just that. It's a cake you basically dump into a baking dish and bake.
There's no mixing, no stirring, no work to it at all really, besides layering your ingredients in a baking dish.
You can even take it a step further and make this recipe in the CrockPot. You can do so by following the instructions for this easy CrockPot apple dump cake recipe; of course, you'll have to swap out the apple pie filling with peach pie filling, but other than that the two recipes are identical.
Why I Think You'll Love This Recipe
- This dump cake recipe is super quick to mix up and easy to make. True to its name, you literally just dump all of the ingredients into a baking pan and bake it.
- Peach dump cake uses 5 simple, everyday ingredients that you likely already have in your kitchen pantry.
- Although I use and prefer a regular old yellow cake mix, you can use any flavor cake mix you want. The sky is the limit!
- Better yet, I'll even show you how to make a gluten-free option that tastes just as good as the regular.
Ingredients & Substitutions Notes
- Peach Pie Filling – You can make homemade peach pie filling, but for the sake of ease I usually just use canned pie filling from the store. No peeling, no coring, no slicing, etc….It is a dump cake, after all.
- Cake Mix – Similarly to the pie filling, you can make a homemade yellow cake, but I prefer to use a yellow cake mix from the store….Or French vanilla, or Spice Cake….You choose the flavor you want.
- Chopped Pecans – Although I prefer chopped pecans, you can use chopped walnuts, black walnuts, or even sliced almonds too. If you don't like nuts, feel free to leave them out altogether!
- Salted Butter – I use salted butter, but if you only have unsalted butter, that's fine too. When substituting unsalted butter for salted, I recommend adding 1/4 teaspoon of salt for every stick of butter.
How to Make Peach Dump Cake
Making this peach dump cake with peach pie filling involves 4 basic steps. Before getting started, lightly coat your baking dish with cooking spray.
- In the bottom of a greased baking dish, layer 2 full, undrained cans of peach pie filling.
- Dump a box of yellow cake mix (just the dry cake mix) all over the top of the peaches, spreading it out evenly with a spatula if need be. Also, sprinkle the cinnamon over the cake mix.
- Sprinkle chopped pecans over the cake mix.
- With a small knife, thinly slice the butter over every inch of the top of the cake.
Then you just bake it at 350ºF for about an hour, and it's time to eat. Easy peasy!
This is a delicious dessert to serve at a potluck or get together. And it's easy to throw together in a short amount of time.
How to Make This a Gluten-Free Peach Dump Cake
If you do want gluten-free, you'll need to use a gluten-free yellow cake mix. Again, you can make homemade, but a cake mix so much easier.
You'll also want to buy a gluten-free peach pie filling. Fortunately, most pie fillings are naturally gluten-free, but it's always best to check all of the ingredient labels before purchasing.
Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ's
While it's best served warm, I do recommend you place any remaining leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
Yes, you can freeze this dessert. It should keep in the freezer for at least 3 months; just be sure to store it in an airtight container so it doesn't get freezer burn.
Alternative Dump Cake Toppings and Variations
There are a few things you can do to switch this recipe up.
- Use a different flavor pie filling, like cherry or apple or blueberry.
- As I mentioned above, you can also swap out the yellow cake mix with whatever flavor you prefer. Butter pecan, cinnamon swirl, French vanilla, etc., just to name a few.
- Dowse it with caramel syrup or even a little maple syrup! Actually, sometimes I dust mine with a little powdered sugar.
- Nothing goes better with dump cake than a big scoop of vanilla ice cream (or whatever flavor you prefer). Sometimes I'll even whip up a batch of homemade whipped cream to go with it.
- Perhaps the most underrated of all, throw in a pinch of nutmeg! That's one simple step that'll make this peach dump cake 10x as delicious as it already was (if that's even possible)!
More Peach Desserts for Your Dessert Table
- Learn how to bake up a Bisquick peach cobbler with fresh peaches in a cast iron skillet– Classic comfort food with a hint of cinnamon.
- Similarly, here's an easy campfire peach cobbler recipe. I have made this recipe many times when we were camping out in the boonies!
- Want more gluten-free? You'll love this easy gluten-free peach crisp with fresh peaches and a crispy oatmeal topping that is out-of-this-world delicious.
- Learn how to make a simple homemade peach jam without pectin. Super easy, 2 ingredient peach preserves recipe that was practically made for a hot biscuit.
- My dad used to make this homemade peach ice cream every summer, and to this day I think it's some of the best ice cream I've ever had. Except, back then we only had a hand-crank ice cream machine. Talk about wearing the arms out!
- Finally, don't skip out on these peaches and cream waffles. Drown them in maple syrup and top off with a big dollop of whipped cream and fresh peaches before serving with a piping hot cup of coffee. Now that's a real breakfast treat!
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Peach Dump Cake
Equipment
- 1 spatula
Ingredients
- 2 21- ounce cans peach pie filling*
- 1 box yellow cake mix*
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 2 sticks salted butter
Instructions
- Before getting started, pre-heat the oven to 350°F, and lightly coat your baking dish with cooking spray.
- Dump the pie filling, spreading it evenly over the bottom of the pan.
- Dump the dry cake mix over the pie filling, making sure it's spread evenly all around the pan.
- Sprinkle the cinnamon evenly over the cake mix.
- Then sprinkle chopped pecans over the cinnamon.
- Thinly slice 2 sticks of butter over the entire top of the cake.
- Bake at 350°F for about 1 hour, or until the cake turns a golden brown and the fruit filling is bubbly all around the edges.
- Serve while warm or cold, with a big dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
