Dump Cake

A “dump cake” is a cake where the ingredients are “dumped” into a mixing bowl. The name “dump cake” has been cited in print since at least January 1912. There are many kinds of dump cakes, such as “Apple Dump Cake,” “Cherry Dump Cake,” “Blueberry Dump Cake,” “Peach Dump Cake,” “Strawberry Dump Cake,” “Pineapple Dump Cake,” “Devil Dump Cake” or “Chocolate Dump Cake.”
 
Another name for a dump cake is “White Trash (Wedding) Cake.”
 
     
Dictionary of American Regional English
dump cake n
See quots.
1965 DARE File seME (as of 1957) Dump cake—the recipe [in a local cookbook] began ‘Dump..’ all the ingredients into a bowl.
1980 DARE File esWI (as of late 1930s), I can’t say that dump cake was ever popular but sometimes people made it. This was before we had cake mixes—and it was very easy. You put the dry ingredients into a cake pan, then added the liquid ingredients and stirred it all up and baked it. Result: a chocolate dump cake.
1984 Ibid esMN, [Radio:] Dump cake…Take one can pineapple, sliced; take one box cake mix; take one large bag miniature marshmallows. [Mix ingredients and bake.]
1984 Capital Times (Madison WI) 28 Mar 19/4 csWI, Dump Cake...Dump in undrained pineapple, filling corners. Dump in cherry pie filling…SPrinkle dry cake mix over fruit…Melt butter and dribble over top…Bake.
   
6 January 1912, Piqua (OH) Daily Call, “The Home Department,” pg. 4, col. 6:
Dump Cake.
Dump into a dish all together the following articles: One cup butter, two cups sugar, three eggs, four cups flour, one pound chopped raisins, one teaspoon soda in a cup of cold water, two teaspoons cream tartar. Any spice you choose. Mix well. Bake in two deep pans.
   
31 January 1912, Christian Science Monitor, pg. 6:
DUMP CAKE
DUMP into a dish all together the following articles: One cup butter, two cups sugar, three eggs, four cups flour, one pound chopped raisins, one teaspoon soda in a cup of cold water, two teaspoons cream tartar. Any spice you choose. Mix well. Bake in two deep pans.
 
14 April 1919, Boston (MA) Daily Globe, “Household Department,” pg. 11, col 6:
Dump Cake
Two eggs, 1/8 cup butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour, 1 1/8 teaspoon baking powder, 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Melt butter in cup, break in eggs and fill cup with milk Mix well with sugar and beat 15 minutes. Then add dry ingredients and beat well. Flavor with vanilla and bake in a loaf in a hot oven.
 
6 April 1936, Oakland (CA) Tribune, “Martha Lee’s Corner and Homemakers Forum,” pg. 20, col. 8:
Devil Dump Cake
Mrs. A. S. Boulware
Sift together
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 level teaspoon soda
1/2 cup ground chocolate
Add
1 cup buttermilk (or sour milk or sour cream)
1 egg (not separated)
Scant 1/2 cup melted butter.
Stir all together. Makes two layers.
 
19 October 1937, Hammond (IN) Times, “Opening Program Gives School a Fine Start,” pg. 1, col. 5:
New “Dump Cake
The mile-a-minute cake, one of the “dump” type cakes, was of interest to busy homemakers. In making this kind of cake all of the ingredients are measured and dumped into the mixing bowl, stirred for several minutes and poured into the pan, set in the oven and baked. It’s as simple as that. A peanut butter icing was used on this cake.
 
23 July 1948, Dallas (TX) Morning News, sec. 2, pg. 4, col. 2:
DUMP CAKE
Mrs. Cole calls the chocolate cake she contributed a “dump cake” because she dumps dromedary cake mix into a bowl, adds 1 cup of milk, beats the mixture in her electric mixer for 2 minutes and the cake dough is ready to bake.
 
27 October 1964, Laurel (MS) Leader-Call, “Around Home” by Esther Kerr, pg. 3, col. 1:
APPLE DUMP CAKE
Pour into a buttered 10 by 15 inch baking pan or shallow casserole one can of Comstock’s sliced apples. Sprinkle one third cup of dark brown sugar (moist type—not granulated) over the apples. Dump one package of Betty Crocker Honey Apple Spice Cake mix over the apples.
 
Sprinkle one cup chopped pecans over the cake mix and dot with two sticks of margarine cut in small pieces. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 to 50 minutes. Serve warm, plain or topped with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream if desired.
 
NOTE: Canned apples must be used in this recipe. Fresh apples will not cook properly in the time specified.
 
Google Books
Mountain Measures:
A collection of West Virginia recipes
By Junior League of Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston, WV: The League
1974
Pg. 302:
“DUMP” CAKE
1 large can crushed pineapple
1 large can cherry pie filling
1 large box yellow cake mix
1/2 cup chopped nuts
2 sticks margarine, cut in squares
Grease 9” x 13” cake pan. Dump in the pineapple and spread around the pan. Spread the cherries on top of that, then sprinkle the cake mix over the fruits. Add the nuts and place squares of margarine on top. Bake at 250 degrees for one hour. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream. Serves 8 to 12.
Mrs. Charles B. Gates, Jr.
   
Google Books
Title Dump Cake Twenty Fifth and More Ways to Make a Dump Cake
Author Consortium Cookbook
Publisher Prosperity & Profit Unlimited, 1984
ISBN 0318043106, 9780318043104
 
Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink
By John F. Mariani
New York, NY: Lebhar-Friedman
1999
Pg. 117:
dump cake. A cake made by “dumping” the ingredients directly into the baking pan, mixing them, and baking the batter.