Description
This White Chocolate Cranberry Dump Cake is a simple and delicious dessert perfect for the holiday season or any time you want a sweet treat with minimal effort. The combination of tart cranberry sauce, sweet white chocolate chips, and crunchy nuts baked under a golden vanilla cake topping creates a delightful blend of flavors and textures. Serve it warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for an irresistible finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- 1 (15 oz) can whole cranberry sauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cake and Topping
- 1 (15.25 oz) box vanilla cake mix
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips (optional; add more or omit as desired)
- 1 cup chopped pecans, macadamia nuts, or almonds (optional)
For Serving (Optional)
- Whipped cream
- Vanilla ice cream
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s at the right temperature for baking the dump cake evenly.
- Prepare the baking dish. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking and spread the whole cranberry sauce evenly at the bottom, making a flavorful base.
- Add the vanilla cake mix. Sprinkle the vanilla cake mix evenly over the cranberry sauce to cover it completely, creating the cake layer.
- Drizzle melted butter. Pour the melted unsalted butter evenly over the cake mix, which helps it bake into a moist and golden crust.
- Add toppings. Sprinkle white chocolate chips and chopped nuts (if using) evenly over the top to add sweetness and crunch.
- Bake the cake. Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
- Cool slightly. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool briefly to make serving easier and to enhance flavors.
- Serve. Serve the dump cake warm, optionally topped with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, and dusted with powdered sugar for an elegant touch.
Notes
- You can omit the white chocolate chips and nuts if preferred, or substitute nuts with your choice such as walnuts or hazelnuts.
- Use fresh cranberries cooked with sugar as an alternative to canned whole cranberry sauce for a fresher flavor.
- For a vegan version, use a dairy-free cake mix and substitute butter with a plant-based alternative.
- This dump cake can also be reheated gently in the microwave or oven before serving.
- Ensure the baking dish is large enough (9×13 inch) for even cooking and to prevent overflow.
