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### Instructions:
#### 1. **Preheat the Oven**:
– Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that your dump cake will bake evenly and get that perfect golden-brown finish.
#### 2. **Prepare the Baking Dish**:
– Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray or butter to prevent the cake from sticking.
#### 3. **Layer the Ingredients**:
– **First Layer**: Spread the lemon pie filling evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish. This is the tangy, juicy base that gives the dump cake its signature lemon flavor.
– **Second Layer**: Place the cream cheese on top of the lemon filling. You don’t need to mix it; simply dot the cream cheese in small chunks over the filling. The cream cheese will melt and create a smooth, creamy layer as the cake bakes.
– **Third Layer**: Sprinkle the entire box of dry yellow cake mix over the cream cheese. Try to cover it evenly, but don’t worry about smoothing it out—remember, this is a dump cake, and the unevenness will add to the texture as it bakes.
– **Final Touch**: Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the top of the dry cake mix. This will help create a golden, slightly crisp top layer that contrasts beautifully with the creamy filling below.
#### 4. **Bake**:
– Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. Keep an eye on it towards the end of the baking time, as ovens can vary. You want the top to be slightly crispy and set, while the inside remains creamy.
#### 5. **Cool and Serve**:
– Once the cake is done baking, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool slightly before serving. The cake will be hot and bubbly when it comes out of the oven, so give it a few minutes to set.
– Serve warm, or allow it to cool completely. You can enjoy it on its own, or top it with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgence!
### Why This Recipe Works:
1. **Lemon Pie Filling**: The use of lemon pie filling gives the cake that refreshing citrus flavor with minimal effort. You can even swap it out for other fruit pie fillings (like cherry, blueberry, or apple) if you want to customize the flavor.
2. **Cream Cheese**: The cream cheese helps mellow out the tartness of the lemon and adds a luscious creaminess that contrasts beautifully with the light, airy cake topping.
3. **Cake Mix**: Using a box of cake mix makes the process quick and easy, and the dry mix creates a delicious, slightly crispy topping that makes this dump cake irresistible.
4. **Butter**: The butter helps bind the ingredients together while creating a rich, golden crust that’s both soft and slightly crunchy—just perfect for a dump cake.
### Tips for the Perfect Dump Cake:
– **Adjust the Fruit Filling**: Feel free to experiment with different fruit pie fillings. While lemon is delicious, cherry, peach, or blueberry pie filling would work equally well for a different flavor profile.
– **Add Extra Zest**: If you love lemon, you can add a bit of lemon zest on top of the cream cheese layer for an extra burst of citrus flavor.
– **Make It a Crumble**: For a more crumbly texture, try sprinkling chopped nuts (like walnuts or almonds) on top of the cake mix before drizzling with butter. This adds crunch and an additional layer of flavor.
– **Serve with Ice Cream or Whipped Cream**: To elevate this simple dessert, serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or even a drizzle of lemon glaze for an extra decadent treat.
### Conclusion:
The **4-Ingredient Lemon Cream Cheese Dump Cake** is an easy, delicious dessert that delivers on both flavor and simplicity. With just a handful of ingredients and minimal effort, you can create a sweet, zesty treat that everyone will love. Whether you’re in a rush or just craving something indulgent, this dump cake is the perfect solution for a quick, satisfying dessert that requires little prep and even less cleanup. So next time you’re in the mood for something sweet, give this simple recipe a try—you won’t be disappointed!
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