Description
This White Chocolate Cranberry Dump Cake is a simple yet decadent dessert perfect for holiday gatherings or any special occasion. Combining tart cranberry sauce with sweet white chocolate and a moist vanilla cake mix, this easy-to-make dump cake requires minimal prep and yields a golden, bubbly, and irresistible treat. Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgent touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 (15.25 oz) box vanilla cake mix
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips (optional; add more or omit as desired)
Wet and Other Ingredients
- 1 (15 oz) can whole cranberry sauce
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Toppings and Mix-ins
- 1 cup chopped pecans, macadamia nuts, or almonds (optional)
- Whipped cream (optional, for serving)
- Vanilla ice cream (optional, for serving)
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar (optional, for dusting)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the dump cake.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish lightly to prevent sticking, then spread the entire can of whole cranberry sauce evenly across the bottom.
- Add Cake Mix: Sprinkle the vanilla cake mix over the cranberry sauce evenly, making sure the sauce is completely covered by the dry cake mix layer.
- Drizzle Butter: Pour and drizzle the melted unsalted butter over the top of the cake mix layer, ensuring it’s distributed evenly to help moisten the cake as it bakes.
- Top With Chips and Nuts: Sprinkle the white chocolate chips and chopped nuts evenly over the top for added texture and flavor. These are optional depending on preference.
- Bake: Place in the preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown on top and the edges are bubbling.
- Cool Slightly: Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool for a short time, roughly 10-15 minutes, so it sets a bit before serving.
- Serve: Serve warm, optionally topped with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream and dusted with powdered sugar for an elegant finish.
Notes
- If you prefer a non-nut version, simply omit the chopped nuts.
- Adjust the amount of white chocolate chips or omit them depending on your taste preference.
- This dump cake is best served warm but can be stored covered in the refrigerator and reheated.
- For added flavor, you can mix the vanilla extract directly into the melted butter before drizzling.
- Make sure not to stir the layers to preserve the classic dump cake texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
