Thanksgiving is filled with food traditions and cultures that are passed down through generations, but what I love most about living in diverse and multicultural environments is learning about new ones! As I was thinking about how to use our leftover, my sister-in-law told me about this amazing Cranberry Dumping Cake that was made by a co-worker of her’s. She said the recipe had been passed down to her co-worker through her own family’s generations and was super easy to make, with minimal ingredients needed. Sign me up!

What is a Dumping Cake?

What on earth is a Dump Cake, you ask? I asked the same thing! Dump Cakes are a fruit filled cake using a boxed cake mix and pie filling. The process is simple and you can use whatever fruit you want. A traditional dump cake is an apple cranberry dump cake, but the list of dump cake ideas is endless. A Dump Cake isn’t the most beautiful, but the ease and flavors make it an easy treat in our household.

Related: Cuban Chocolate Cake

Today we’re trying a cranberry dump cake with pineapple chunks to brighten up the flavors and add our own twist on a classic recipe.

Cranberry Dump Cake with Pineapples

How to a dump cake is SO easy. Here’s all you need to make this Cranberry Dump Cake. You can absolutely make a homemade cranberry sauce with pineapple if you have the time. Just add the fruit with sugar and put on medium-low heat, stirring often until it cooks into a jam-like consistency. 

• 1 (14 ounce) can whole berry cranberry sauce 
• 9 ounces of yellow cake mix
• 1 (14 ounce) can pineapple chunks, chopped into bite-sized pieces, liquid reserved
• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

Related: Mustard Pork Chops with Mixed Berry Sauce

How to Make a Dump Cake

Essentially, the liquid from the fruit sauce will cook the dry cake mix, so be sure to keep the liquid consistency. Because my homemade cranberry sauce was fairly thick, I mix in the pineapple juice along with the chunks all together before dumping into a cake pan.

• Dump cranberry sauce and pineapple chunks into the bottom of a cake pan.
• Sprinkle dry cake mix on top. Spread evenly with a wooden spoon.
• Drop pieces of butter all over.

Cook for 45 minutes – 1 hour at 350 degrees, or until the top of your dump cake is golden brown.

This cranberry dump cake recipe is made with cake mix and presumably meant to be dessert, but we’ve eaten it for breakfast too! It was so easy to make, my 4 year old practically made it on her own. Next time you’re wondering what to do with your Thanksgiving leftover cranberry sauce, give this dumping cake recipe a try.

Cranberry Dumping Cake with Pineapples

What on earth is a Dump Cake, you ask? I asked the same thing! Dump Cakes are a fruit filled cake using a boxed cake mix and pie filling. The process is simple and you can use whatever fruit you want. A traditional dump cake is an apple cranberry dump cake, but the list of dump cake ideas is endless. A Dump Cake isn’t the most beautiful, but the ease and flavors make it an easy treat in our household. Dump on, my friends.

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Ingredients

• 1 (14 ounce) can whole berry cranberry sauce
• 9 ounces of yellow cake mix
• 1 (14 ounce) can pineapple chunks, chopped into bit sized pieces, liquid reserved
• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

Instructions

Essentially, the liquid from the fruit sauce will cook the dry cake mix, so be sure to keep the liquid consistency. Because my homemade cranberry sauce was fairly thick, I mix in the pineapple juice along with the chunks all together before dumping into a cake pan.

• Dump cranberry sauce and pineapple chunks into the bottom of a cake pan.
• Sprinkle dry cake mix on top. Spread evenly with a wooden spoon.
• Drop pieces of butter all over.

Cook for 45 minutes – 1 hour at 350 degrees, or until the top of your dump cake is golden brown.