Magic Rhubarb Dump Cake
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There is nothing easier than a dump cake! The clue is right in the name, dump it and bake it, no mixing needed. And this one is made using fresh or frozen rhubarb for a rhubarb dump cake that is FULL of flavor!
Layers of rhubarb, strawberry jello, yellow cake mix, melted butter, and water bake together with no mixing to make this rhubarb dump cake a truly simple cake. Sweet and crispy on top, tangy rhubarb underneath!
Making a cake like this is one of the perfect storm sorts of ideas, you have extra rhubarb, you find a cake mix in the cupboard and a box of jello and suddenly you’re making a cake.
Why are there dry spots on this cake?
One of the hallmarks of this cake is that you don’t mix it. You simply layer it. Therefore you will have some spots of drier cake mix. They may LOOK completely dry but then underneath they’re touching the juicy part of the cake.
Can I eat raw cake mix? Don’t they tell you not to eat raw flour? The cake mix isn’t raw once you’ve baked it. There’s nothing to make you sick because it’s all been baked.
There are parts with crumbly dry bits though.
Why don’t you add sugar to this Dump Cake Recipe?
This is a “No Added Sugar Dump Cake Recipe.” There are plenty of recipes out there that call for added sugar. But I have to tell you that they’re too sweet for me! And I love sweets.
The Jello and the cake mix are full of sugar and they make this recipe sweet enough.
BUT YOU CAN ADD UP TO A CUP OF SUGAR!
BUT if you don’t think you’re going to like it with tangy rhubarb on the bottom and sweet crispy cake on the top you can always add up to a cup of sugar AFTER the Jello and BEFORE the cake mix. Don’t stir it in, this cake is about layering, no mixing!
What do I need to make this Rhubarb Dump Cake?
- Chopped Rhubarb
- Small Box of Jello, can be ANY flavor
- ***OPTIONAL*** 1/2-1 cup sugar, you don’t need it but then rhubarb is tangy so add as desired!
- Yellow or White Cake Mix
- Melted butter
- Water
- 9×13 pan
Do I thaw the Rhubarb Before adding it to the pan?
I do not thaw rhubarb before adding it to MOST recipes. It gets VERY soupy when it thaws out so it’s best used as close to frozen as possible. For this cake, I let it thaw for about 20 minutes or until I could break it apart with my hands BUT before it was soft and mushy.
Other Amazing Rhubarb Recipes
Rhubarb Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 4 cups chopped rhubarb fresh or frozen, if using frozen do not thaw!
- one 3 ounce box of Strawberry Jello or use ANY flavor you like
- ***OPTIONAL*** 1/2 cup sugar see notes for more info!
- one 16 ounce box yellow OR white cake mix I used a Duncan Hines yellow cake
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- preheat the oven to 350°
- layer the rhubarb in the bottom of a 9×13 pan, if it's frozen do not thaw it, just let it thaw enough to break apart
- sprinkle the Jello over the top
- sprinkle the dry cake mix over the Jello
- pour the melted butter on top of the cake mix
- and drizzle the water over the top of everything
- bake in the preheated oven 55-60 minutes or until the top is set in places and the fruit is bubbling hot
- cool a little before serving, this doesn't cut like a cake so be ready to scoop it up!
Notes
Nutrition
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How deelish! I haven’t had rhubarb in forever! This looks so easy that I’m going to have to try it soon for sure…YUM!
This was delicious without the extra sugar…the flavor of the rhubarb comes through! Will definitely make this again.
Hi, Laura–I plan to make this Rhubarb Dump Cake for our upcoming Fourth of July gathering, and I am not much of a baker. I would like to ask, please: for my friends who aren’t as accustomed to rhubarb, would it be possible to turn this into a Strawberry-Rhubarb Dump Cake?? If so, what changes need to be made to this wonderful recipe, which I’m very much looking forward to trying?? Especially any changes in ingredients or their amounts in this recipe, resulting from the addition of frozen strawberries (or I could use fresh strawberries, but I will definitely have to use frozen rhubarb)….!!
I can only imagine how busy you must be, but if you could possibly write back before July 1, I would be grateful. I am older, don’t drive, and will need suffficient time to assemble everything I need so as to make this Dump Cake in time for my gathering….!! 🙂
Many thanks, Laura, and kindest regards,
Anne B.
My favorite way to make rhubarb now! I make it in crockpot – a couple of tweaks, I just mix in the frozen berries with the rhubarb( Ive had sitting around for two weeks till almost dried out), I add the jello, a tablespoon or two of cornstarch, 1/3 cup sugar and the water and mix it all together , pop it into the greased crockpot, sprinkle on the cake mix and top with sliced butter, instead of melted and cook it on high with a paper towel under the lid to absorb the moisture and presto in 3 hours – its done. The cobbler/ dump cake is too yummy – I like it best cold, with a splash of heavy cream over it – so, so good. Thank u for the delicious recipe
Made this awesome dessert and it was a hit!! I used 1/3 c sugar and just less than 1 c water as the rhubarb had juice… will definitely make again. Hubby approved
This was super easy to make and so flavorful!