My pineapple dump cake with 3 ingredients recipe is easy and delicious! With just crushed pineapple, white cake mix, and butter, along with some lemon juice if you choose, you can make one of the best cobblers for beginner cooks who need to feed a crowd. If you want to learn how to make pineapple dump cake with 3 ingredients, keep reading!
Pineapple Dump Cake with 3 Ingredients
My easy pineapple dump cake with 3 ingredients recipe is great because it has just a few ingredients:
Crushed Pineapple – 2, 20 oz cans, drained
Cake Mix – 1 15.25 oz box white cake mix
Butter – 2 sticks unsalted butter
Optional:
Lemon Juice – 1 Tablespoon
Tools:
9×13 Baking Dish – If you don’t have this large of a baking dish, you can use two 8×8 pans, too.
Spatula – To spread out the crushed pineapple in the baking dish.
Fork – For smoothing out the cake mix, I recommend a fork.
Spoon – Scooping out the last bit of pineapple from the can will probably be easier with a spoon.
Can I Use Pineapple Chunks, Tidbits, or Rings?
Yes. Although I think the texture of crushed pineapple would be best for this recipe, you can use pineapple chunks, tidbits, or rings, too: use a total of 40 oz of canned pineapple, whichever type you prefer. If using rings, cut them into smaller pieces so they are small pieces of pineapple in every bite.
How to Make Pineapple Dump Cake with 3 Ingredients
Learning how to make pineapple dump cake with 3 ingredients is easy. Just follow these simple steps:
Grease the Pan
Don’t forget to grease the pan before you start the recipe. You could use a non-stick spray, but I just opened one of the sticks of butter and rubbed it on the inside of the baking dish.
Put the Butter Back in the Refrigerator
After greasing the pan, be sure to put the rest of the butter back in the refrigerator. You’ll need to cut it into thin pads later on in the recipe, and this is much easier to do when the butter is cold.
Drain the Canned Crushed Pineapple
I drained 2/3 cup of juice out of each can. Although the pineapple was drained thoroughly, there was still a bit of juice left in each can, maybe about 2 Tablespoons. If you try to get 100% of the juice out of the pineapple, your filling will be dry, so don’t overdo it.
Dump the Crushed Pineapple into the Pan
Next, as the name of the recipe suggests, “dump” the crushed pineapple into the baking dish and then spread it out evenly with a spatula or spoon. Do the best you can–I doesn’t have to be perfect.
Add Lemon Juice (If Using)
Although this is optional, I highly suggest sprinkling in 1 Tablespoon of freshly-squeezed lemon juice over the crushed pineapple and then gently mixing it into the fruit. The lemon juice will really help bring out the flavor, helping make the canned pineapple taste like fresh.
Dump in the White Cake Mix
Once you’re done with the filling, “dump” in the white cake mix by shaking the bag as you move it slowly across the top. Don’t worry about getting it distributed evenly–you’ll do that in the next step.
Smooth Out the Cake Mix
Then, take a fork and smooth out the cake mix, breaking up any lumps as you distribute the cake mix evenly across the top. Remember to NOT MIX–simply spread the raw cake mix across the top of the crushed pineapple.
Cut the Butter into Thin Slices and Lay Them On Top of the Cake Mix
Use a sharp knife to cut the butter into thin slices, about 4-6 slices per Tablespoon. This is much easier if the butter is cold, so be sure to keep the butter in the refrigerator until you get to this step.
As you cut the butter, lay the slices on top of the cake mix, placing them 1/8 to 1/4-inch apart–basically almost touching, but not quite. The idea is for the butter to melt down and spread out as the dump cake bakes in the oven, turning the raw cake mix into buttery, crunchy crumble.
Bake the Dump Cake
Once your pineapple dump cake with 3 ingredients is assembled, bake it at 350F, uncovered, for 1 hour.
Serve
Let the dump cake cool at least 10-15 minutes before serving, at least 30 if you want the slices to hold their shape, then enjoy!
Pineapple Dump Cake with 3 Ingredients FAQ’s
Although learning how you make pineapple dump cake with 3 ingredients is easy, here are answers to some frequently asked questions to make sure you can enjoy the best dessert possible.
How Many Servings Does this Recipe Make?
This recipe makes about 12-16 servings that are large enough for a satisfying dessert after a normal meal.
What to Serve with Pineapple Dump Cake with 3 Ingredients?
Although my pineapple dump cake with 3 ingredients is delicious on its own, it’s also great served with vanilla ice cream, Cool Whip, or whipped cream. If you want something especially tasty, make my easy homemade whipped cream recipe for a special treat.
How Long To Bake Pineapple Dump Cake? *
Bake pineapple dump cake for 60 minutes at 350F, uncovered. If your oven is hotter / cooler than normal or if your filling has more / less juice than mine did, baking time may vary, so check the dump cake at the 45-minute mark.
How Long Does Pineapple Dump Cake with 3 Ingredients Last?
Your pineapple dump cake with 3 ingredients should last 2-3 in the refrigerator. Although it will likely be safe to eat for longer, the moisture in your refrigerator will start making the topping unpleasantly soggy.
Pineapple Dump Cake with 3 Ingredients Recipe Variations
If you’re looking for ways to build on this base recipe, be sure to try:
Pineapple Cherry Dump Cake – Paula Deen’s recipe from Grandma Peg combines replaces one of the cans of pineapple with cherry pie filling to make an amazing dessert.
Add Coconut and Nuts – This Food.com recipe calls for adding flaked coconut and chopped nuts. I’ve never tried it, but I think the flavor and texture would be delicious. For the nuts, I think both chopped walnuts or peanuts would be delicious, whichever you prefer.
More Pineapple Recipes
If you agree that pineapple is delicious, especially in desserts, then don’t miss my other recipes:
Pineapple Upside Down Cake with Crushed Pineapple – Cake mix makes this class dessert easy.
Pineapple Pie Recipe – This double-crust, old-fashioned pie is one of my favorites. Definitely worth a try!
Pineapple Coconut Cake with Cake Mix – Cream cheese frosting and pineapple filling make this amazing.
More 3-Ingredient Dump Cake Recipes
3-ingredient cobblers are great recipes for beginner cooks, so be sure to check out these as well:
Pumpkin Dump Cake with 3 Ingredients – This easy dessert is perfect for fall, especially Thanksgiving.
Cherry Dump Cake with 3 Ingredients – Bright red filling and golden brown topping are great together.
3 Ingredient Apple Dump Cake – This cobbler is even better with the addition of lemon juice and spices.
Pineapple Dump Cake with 3 Ingredients Recipe Instructions
Pineapple Dump Cake with 3 Ingredients
Ingredients
- 2 20 oz cans crushed pineapple, drained
- 1 15.25 oz box white cake mix
- 2 sticks unsalted butter (226g)
- Optional: 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- *For a juicier filling, add back in between 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the drained pineapple juice
Instructions
- Grease a 9×13 baking dish.
- Drain most of the juice off the pineapple. For a juicier filling, reserve the juice for later in the recipe.
- Dump the drained pineapple into the baking dish and use a spatula to spread it out evenly.
- If you want a juicier filling, add between 1/4 and 1/2 cup to the filling.
- Sprinkle 1 Tablespoon lemon juice on top of the pineapple filling.
- Dump the raw cake mix on top of the pineapple, trying to distribute it as evenly as possible.
- Use a fork a spoon to even out the cake mix, breaking up lumps along the way.
- Cut the butter into thin slices, about 4-6 per Tablespoon, and then lay the pads of butter on top of the cake mix. Spread them out so they are almost touching–but not quite–about 1/4 inch apart, if not a bit closer.
- Bake the dump cake at 350F, uncovered, for 1 hour.
- Cool the pineapple dump cake with 3 ingredients for at least 10-15 minutes, 30 minutes if you want the slices to hold their shape.
- Serve and enjoy!
YouTube Video
Be sure to watch my YouTube video tutorial, too:
