Make dessert quick, easy, and incredibly delicious with a 3-Ingredient Chocolate Covered Strawberry Dump Cake that’s ready for the oven in just 5 minutes! Whether you need a single-serving treat to satisfy a sweet tooth, a special dessert for a romantic date night for two, or a full-size cake to feed a crowd, this rich and fudgy dump cake is a perfect solution — no baking skills required!
As I write this post, it’s Friday before the long holiday weekend. It also happens to be our anniversary on Sunday, so I’m in the midst of packing my suitcase (and the three kids’ suitcases) for a weekend getaway. The boys will spend Saturday and Sunday with my parents while Keith and I sneak off to celebrate 12 years of marriage. Where did the time go?!
I’m so looking forward to uninterrupted adult conversation, quality time with my guy, shopping, dining out, and maybe even romantic desserts for two…that I don’t have to bake!
As you probably know by now, I am NOT a baker. I don’t love the measuring, the science, and the accuracy required to make a fancy cake work. I don’t love the intricate decorating. I don’t love the mess of flour and powdered sugar all over my kitchen, or the laborious individual cookie cutting. BUT, I sure do love dessert – and cake in particular.
Seriously…just 3 ingredients!
When I want a quick and easy dessert that I know will impress and taste amazing, I always find myself returning to the dump cake recipe that Aunt Bee shared with me many years ago. You can see her 5-Minute Cherry Crunch Dump Cake in this ancient post, and I have since found a zillion similar recipes all over the Internet. The original recipe is obviously great, but with anniversaries and Valentine’s Day on the brain, my mind automatically goes to chocolate. And what could be more romantic than a chocolate-covered strawberry with a glass of champagne?
I know! How about individually-portioned miniature chocolate-covered strawberry dump cakes that have a rich fudgy crust and a warm, gooey molten chocolate inside?! Paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (and a glass of champagne), this dessert is romantic, easy, and most of all: incredibly good!
Step 1: Place strawberry filling in a small ramekin or oven-safe bowl.
Step 2: Sprinkle dry chocolate cake mix over top.
Step 3: Add butter.
Step 4: Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes.
Your hot date doesn’t need to know that the dump cake only required 3 ingredients and about 5 minutes of your time. He will be too busy devouring the dessert, gazing into your eyes, and wondering how in the world he landed someone with such incredible skills in the kitchen! After twelve years of marriage and 3 little boys, you can take it from me: the way to a man’s heart is definitely through his stomach!
3-Ingredient Chocolate Covered Strawberry Dump Cake
Prep
Cook
Total
Yield 2
Ingredients
- ½ cup strawberry pie filling
- ½ cup dry chocolate cake mix (just the dry mix)
- 2 tablespoons butter, sliced into thin squares
- Optional, for serving: vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, or fresh strawberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spray two ramekins, large mugs, or oven-safe bowls with cooking spray.
- Place ¼ cup of strawberry pie filling in each ramekin. Sprinkle ¼ cup dry cake mix over pie filling in each ramekin. Divide butter over top of the cake mix in each ramekin, trying to cover as much of the cake mix as possible.
- Place ramekins on a baking sheet and put in the oven.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes (or until cooked through and bubbly).
Want a Single-Serve Option? Want to Serve Four? You can scale the ingredients for as many servings as you need. Cut the ingredients in half for one cake, or double them for four cakes.
Want to Prepare a Full-Size Cake to Serve a Crowd? Use an entire 21-ounce can of pie filling, an entire 15.25 ounce box of cake mix, and a full stick of butter. Bake the cake in a 13-inch by 9-inch baking dish for about 40-45 minutes.
Dump cakes are my favorite! I just discovered them a few years ago, and whenever I need a quick dessert for a party, that’s my go-to dish. I love this chocolate strawberry version, Blair! How fun would this be for Valentine’s Day!
Aren’t they the best? This is by far my favorite version yet!
Happy anniversary, you love birds!! I love dump cakes, and the fact that this is for two? Romantic perfection! 🙂
Thank you so much, Kate! Totally romantic (and easy)! 🙂
I started making dump cakes a few years ago. So easy and delicious to eat!
Exactly! I hope that you can try this, Joanne! 🙂
These look so cute and delicious! I’m definitely a baker, but sometimes I just want a simple, no-mess, no-fuss dessert. 🙂 This one looks like a keeper!
Hey, Valentina! This is definitely no-fuss, but oh-so-good!
So you dont need oil or eggs for these dump cakes just butter is that correct
That’s correct, Kat! I promise — the end result is amazing! 🙂
Thanks this will be my Valentines cake an thank you so much for the fast responded to my question
Thank you so much for your fast response to my question I seen plenty recipes I am anxious to try on here have wonderful day
Awesome!!! Enjoy, Kat!
Belated Happy Anniversary wishes.
When I make this dump cake, I melt the butter (unsalted) and mix it with the day cake mix and spread over the pie filling.
Try with other pie fillers for variety. My daughter loves to sub blueberry, my husband likes cherry and this week, I am going to experiment with lemon.
Thanks for all your recipes; while I do not make all of them, they provide inspiration and that is always a good thing!
Warm wishes for many more anniversaries!
Hi, Terri! Thanks so much for your kind wishes! 🙂
You’re right — melting the butter would work really well too! And I love playing around with different flavor combinations as well. I have a lemon version in mind for the spring, so let me know if you enjoy yours! 🙂
What size ramekins did you use? If you need 0.5 cup filling and 0.5 cup cake mix…is an 8 oz ramekin enough? Can I use a 6 oz ramekin?
Hi, Ryan! The round ramekin that you see in the photo is a 4-ounce ramekin. I wouldn’t go any smaller than that. I also tested it with different sizes, including the rectangular 8 ounce ramekin and a round 7-ounce ramekin. Anything between about 4 and 8 ounces will work! The key is to just make sure that you have a thin layer over butter over almost all of the dry mix so that it’s coated (and not powdery) when it’s done baking. Enjoy. 🙂
Cake for two? This sounds like a deeeeeeeeeelicious idea! What a clever idea using strawberry pie filling too!
This recipe is a godsend! It is perfect for when I have surprise guests over but I don’t have the time to prepare somethign more elaborate. So delicious, too!
This recipe is a godsend! It is perfect for when I have surprise guests over but I don’t have the time to prepare somethign more elaborate. So delicious, too! 😀
Thanks, Hope! I’m so glad that you love it! 🙂
I just made this for Valentine’s Day it is cooling right now but it looks so good and smells amazing!
Awesome, Kerry! I think it’s best served warm! 🙂