Spiced blackberry dump cake is a no mixing dessert of fresh blackberries tossed with sugar and a little cinnamon and nutmeg, topped with dry yellow cake mix and sliced butter, then baked until golden and bubbling. It takes ten minutes to prepare, bakes in fifty, and serves eight.
The berries cook down into a jammy fruit layer while the butter melts into the cake mix and bakes into a crisp, buttery crust with soft spots like a cobbler. Cinnamon and nutmeg add warmth, a handful of blueberries or raspberries adds variety, and the whole dessert goes together without a mixer or a bowl for the batter.
Table of Contents
What Makes Spiced Blackberry Dump Cake Work
There is no batter to mix, since the cake mix goes on dry.
Fresh berries turn into a juicy, jammy filling under the crust.
Warm spices add depth to the tart fruit.
What You Need for Spiced Blackberry Dump Cake
- The fruit is four cups of fresh blackberries and one cup of blueberries or raspberries, tossed with one cup of sugar.
- The topping is one box of yellow cake mix and one cup of melted unsalted butter, with one teaspoon of cinnamon and one teaspoon of nutmeg.
Blackberries. They give a tart, juicy filling.
Sugar. It draws out the juice and sweetens the berries.
Yellow cake mix. It forms the crisp, buttery topping.
Butter. It melts into the mix and browns it.
Cinnamon and nutmeg. They add warmth.
How to Make Spiced Blackberry Dump Cake
1. Heat the oven. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a nine by thirteen inch baking dish.
2. Macerate. Toss the berries with the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg and let them sit for ten minutes.
3. Add the fruit. Spread the berries evenly in the dish.
4. Top. Sprinkle the dry cake mix over the fruit and pour or dot the butter on top.
5. Bake. Bake for forty five to fifty minutes until golden and bubbling, then cool for ten minutes.
Spread the cake mix evenly and do not stir it. The mix should sit in a layer on top of the fruit, and the butter soaks into it from above. If you see dry patches after buttering, dot a little more butter over them, or the topping will bake into floury spots instead of crisp ones.
Let the dish rest for ten minutes after baking. The fruit is extremely hot and runny straight from the oven, and it thickens as it cools. Serve it warm, not hot, so the juices hold and the topping stays crisp at the surface, with tender cake underneath where it meets the fruit.
Serving Ideas for Spiced Blackberry Dump Cake
Serve the cake warm in bowls with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. For more fruit desserts, try pecan pie dump cake, strawberry cheesecake dump cake, southern butter batter blackberry cobbler, or buttery peach cobbler.
Notes and Swaps for Spiced Blackberry Dump Cake
Flag the allergens. This dessert contains wheat, milk, soy, and sometimes eggs from the cake mix and butter, so check every label.
Taste the berries. Pick a berry, taste it before sugaring, and add a little more sugar if they are very sour.
Check the doneness. The topping should be golden and the fruit should bubble around the edges.
Use melted butter. It soaks in evenly.
Cover with foil. If the top browns too quickly.
Add lemon zest. It brightens the fruit.
Use frozen berries. Thaw and drain them first.
Check trusted guidance. Read the FDA safe food handling guidance for handling fruit and dairy desserts.
For a nuttier topping, scatter chopped pecans or walnuts over the cake mix before the butter. For a tangier fruit layer, add a tablespoon of lemon juice to the berries. Both changes bake in the same time and add extra texture and flavor to a dish that is already easy to make.
You can swap the blackberries for peaches, cherries, or mixed berries, and the yellow mix for white or spice cake. Use the same amounts and the same baking time. Add a tablespoon of cornstarch to the fruit if it is very juicy, which helps the filling thicken so the dessert is easier to scoop.
Making Spiced Blackberry Dump Cake Ahead
Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat single portions in the microwave for thirty seconds, or warm the whole dish in a 350 degree oven for fifteen minutes to crisp the top again. You can freeze the baked dessert for up to two months, though the topping softens when thawed.
Common Questions About Spiced Blackberry Dump Cake
Do you stir spiced blackberry dump cake?
No. Layer it dry and let the butter soak in.
Can you make spiced blackberry dump cake ahead of time?
Assemble it a few hours early and bake when needed.
Can you freeze spiced blackberry dump cake?
Yes, for up to two months, though the topping softens.
Can I use frozen blackberries?
Yes. Thaw and drain them first.
Can I use a different cake mix?
Yes. White or spice cake mix also works.
Spiced Blackberry Dump Cake
Equipment
- 9×13 inch baking dish
- Mixing bowl
- Saucepan
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 4 cup fresh blackberries
- 1 cup blueberries or raspberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
Instructions
Cooking
- Heat. Heat the oven to 350 F and grease a dish.
- Toss. Toss the berries with the sugar and spices.
- Layer. Spread the fruit in the dish.
- Top. Sprinkle with the cake mix and add the butter.
- Bake. Bake 45 to 50 minutes until golden.
