{{Short description|American dessert, similar to a cobbler}}
thumb|A piece of blackberry dump cake served with whipped cream.
A '''dump cake''' is an American dessert similar to a cobbler but with a cake-like topping. It is so named because it is prepared by "dumping" ingredients (typically canned fruit or pie filling, followed by a boxed cake mix) into a cake pan without mixing.
==History== The origins of the dump cake are somewhat unclear.<ref name="spruce"/> It has been suggested that the name originated with a recipe published by Duncan Hines in 1980,{{r|scrappy|best|pinch}} though the name is attested in a number of American community cookbooks and periodicals from the 1970s and 60s.{{r|scouting|ursuline|noun|vintageford}}
Some sources have suggested the cakes became popular in the 1950s following the emergence of prepared cake mixes after World War II.<ref name="bee"/>
Among the earliest published recipes was submitted by a reader ("Mrs. Tom A. (Velma) Harris") to the ''Sapulpa Daily Herald'' in September 1964.<ref name="Sapulpa"/>
A 1968 article on dump cakes in Saskatoon's ''Star-Phoenix'' described the recipe as "going the rounds in the United States mid-west at the moment".<ref name="star-phoenix"/>
It has been compared to the wacky cake, another 20th century American cake which does not use eggs and which has a simple method of preparation.<ref name="scrappy"/>
==Preparation== A prototypical dump cake recipe begins with adding one or more cans of fruit or pie filling to a shallow baking dish. A boxed cake mix is then spread on top. This is then topped with butter or margarine (in pieces or melted), and baked in the oven. Some recipes call for the addition of further toppings such as nuts or shredded coconut.<ref name="best"/><ref name="fromscratch"/>
In some variants, the cake mix may be replaced by a homemade combination of dry ingredients, and the canned fruit may be replaced or augmented with fresh or frozen fruit.<ref name="epicurious" /><ref name="fromscratch"/><ref name="spruce"/>
<gallery widths="280px" heights=180px> Pumpkin dump cake addition of cake mix.jpg|A prepared cake mix is spread on top of canned pumpkin pie filling in a rectangular baking dish. Pumpkin dump cake pouring butter.jpg|Melted butter is poured over the cake mix prior to baking. Some recipes call for solid pieces of butter instead. </gallery>
==Variations== In Hawaii, a popular variation of the "pumpkin dump cake" is called '''pumpkin crunch'''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dekneef |first1=Matthew |title=How to Make Hawaii-Style Pumpkin Crunch, a Local Mom's Recipe |url=https://www.hawaiimagazine.com/how-to-make-hawaii-style-pumpkin-crunch-a-local-moms-recipe/ |website=Hawaii Magazine |access-date=18 October 2023 |date=24 November 2016}}</ref> The earliest known published recipe for Hawaiian "''pumpkin crunch cake''" in 1996 identifies the dessert as a dump cake.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Enomoto |first1=Catherine Kekoa |title=Light Crunch Cake a pumpkin eater's delight |url=https://archives.starbulletin.com/1996/09/25/features/request.html |website=archives.starbulletin.com |publisher=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |access-date=18 October 2023 |date=September 25, 1996}}</ref> The recipes for pumpkin crunch and mainland pumpkin dump cake are nearly identical.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Busch |first1=Carolyn |title=Pumpkin Dump Cake |url=https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/26060/pumpkin-dump-cake/ |website=Allrecipes |access-date=18 October 2023 |language=en |date=July 6, 2023 |archive-date=26 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626034421/https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/26060/pumpkin-dump-cake/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, it is exclusively served as a dessert bar. After the cake is finished baking, it is chilled thoroughly before inverting the cake upside-down, with the crumb topping serving as a bottom crust and optionally topped with whipped cream.<ref>{{cite web |title=Here’s the recipe for Sam Choy’s Kitchen famous Pumpkin Crunch |url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2018/11/22/heres-recipe-sam-choys-kitchen-famous-pumpkin-crunch/ |website=Hawaii News Now |access-date=18 October 2023 |language=en |date=20 November 2019 |archive-date=2 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102055609/https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2018/11/22/heres-recipe-sam-choys-kitchen-famous-pumpkin-crunch/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Chef Sam Choy of Hawaii is credited for popularizing this recipe.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hanson |first1=Kait |title=What Is Pumpkin Crunch? And Why Is It So Famous in Hawaii? |url=https://www.allrecipes.com/article/pumpkin-crunch-hawaii/ |website=Allrecipes |access-date=18 October 2023 |language=en |date=September 28, 2020 |archive-date=25 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125042520/https://www.allrecipes.com/article/pumpkin-crunch-hawaii/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== See also ==
==References== <references>
<ref name="best">{{cite book|year=2014|title=The Absolute Best Dump Cake Cookbook|publisher=Rockbridge Press|isbn=9781623154929}}</ref> <ref name="epicurious">{{cite web|url=https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-make-dump-cake-recipe-fresher-tastier-easier-article|title=How to Make a Dump Cake That's Fresher and Tastier|last=Sacks|first=Katherine|date=2 November 2017|access-date=12 November 2021|archive-date=12 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112220334/https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-make-dump-cake-recipe-fresher-tastier-easier-article|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="fromscratch">{{cite book|year=2016|title=Dump Cakes from Scratch|last=Lee|first=Jennifer|publisher=Race Point Publishing|isbn=9781631062551}}</ref> <ref name="scrappy">{{cite web|last=Blais|first=Joanne|date=27 November 2020|title=Scrappy Chef- Simple Ingredients that Lead to a Delicious Cake!|url=https://www.sunjournal.com/2020/11/27/scrappy-chef-simple-ingredients-that-lead-to-a-delicious-cake/|work=The Rangeley Highlander|access-date=12 November 2021|archive-date=12 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112220335/https://www.sunjournal.com/2020/11/27/scrappy-chef-simple-ingredients-that-lead-to-a-delicious-cake/|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="pinch">{{cite web|url=https://www.justapinch.com/blog/articles/read/229937/history-of-the-dump-cake/|title=History of the Dump Cake|work=Just a Pinch|access-date=12 November 2021|archive-date=12 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112220334/https://www.justapinch.com/blog/articles/read/229937/history-of-the-dump-cake/|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="spruce">{{cite web|url=https://www.thespruceeats.com/intro-to-dump-cakes-304483|last=Pellegrinelli|first=Carroll|date=17 June 2020|title=15 Dump Cake Recipes|access-date=12 November 2021|archive-date=12 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112220336/https://www.thespruceeats.com/intro-to-dump-cakes-304483|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="bee">{{cite news|work=The Sacramento Bee|date=1 October 2014|title=Here's her pitch for easy desserts|page=D1|last=Arrington|first=Debbie}}</ref> <ref name="star-phoenix">{{cite news|work=Star-Phoenix|date=23 January 1968|page=7|title=Dump Cakes looks pretty, tastes good, despite name|last=Gagen|first=Helen}}</ref> <ref name="Sapulpa">{{cite news|work=Sapulpa Daily Herald|date=24 September 1964|title=Recipes -- With Flavor|page=13}}</ref> <ref name="scouting">{{cite magazine|date=September 1972|magazine=Scouting|title=Patrol Cooking|page=63|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vWwLVBVpo_EC&pg=RA1-PA63|access-date=2021-11-16}}</ref> <ref name="ursuline">{{cite book|title=Recipes and Reminiscences of New Orleans|year=1971|publisher=Ursuline Academy Cooperative Club|isbn=9780960471805|page=218|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uT8tAQAAMAAJ&q=%22dump+cake%22|access-date=2021-11-16|archive-date=2022-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223233038/https://books.google.com/books?id=uT8tAQAAMAAJ&q=%22dump+cake%22|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="noun">{{cite magazine|magazine=Noun: People, Places, Things|year=1978|page=23|publisher=Paradise Project, Edmunds Junior High School|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FoMMAQAAMAAJ&q=%22dump+cake%22|title=Noun: People, Places, Things|access-date=2021-11-16|archive-date=2022-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223190046/https://books.google.com/books?id=FoMMAQAAMAAJ&q=%22dump+cake%22|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="vintageford">{{cite magazine|magazine=The Vintage Ford|publisher=Model T Ford Club of America|year=1965|page=47|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HzpWAAAAMAAJ&q=%22dump+cake%22|title=The Vintage Ford|access-date=2021-11-16}}</ref>
</references>
==External links== *{{commons category inline|Dump cakes}}
Category:American cakes