This gingerbread dump cake is moist and delicious with all the Christmas flavors you crave! Serve an easy gingerbread cake for brunch or dessert this year. Great recipe loved by all.
I thought this gingerbread dump cake should be added to our easy dump cake recipes list on The Typical Mom blog. Now that the holidays are rolling around we’re all about treats. (originally published 11/19, affiliate links present)
You’ll have to let us know what you think but I’d say it’s a great Christmas dessert that only requires 4 basic ingredients and you can whip up together fast!!
Gingerbread dump cake
- Gingerbread cake and cookie mix
- Apple pie filling – this is how you make homemade apple pie filling or you can buy a can here
- Butter
- Can of crushed pineapple
- Nuts – optional of course but honey roasted are yummy
- No added gingerbread spice is necessary for this
Easy right??!!
Unlike our homemade zucchini gingerbread loaf, this is super easy. It only requires a little bit of layering and dumping everything in. NO mixing is even required. Seriously.
Why I love dump cakes
- They can be whipped together at a moments notice, great when guests arrive unexpectedly
- Dump cakes only require a few ingredients
- You can use whichever type of pie filling you like traditionally in just about any dump cake recipe
- Dump cake recipes always come out moist
- There’s no need to cut a pretty slice, you just scoop out and serve
- Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top or whipped cream if you’re feeling really naughty
They’re just so good!!
Comfort food to the max let’s say.
Here’s a quick peek at the process of making this easy gingerbread cake with apples.
Like I said, dump cakes traditionally just use butter or layering of a can of pie filling + crushed pineapple. That is my go to method.
I have made the traditional 3 ingredient dump cake recipe before where you just use cake mix, egg and a lot of butter but it isn’t my preference.
That way comes out well…..very buttery and heavy to me, so most of my easy dump cakes have fruit and ie filling.
I thought apple and pineapple would compliment our gingerbread cake pretty well and my family agreed…but you could swap out the pie filling if you preferred.
What if you don’t care for pineapple or cannot eat it?
- I have had a few people ask me this and my only suggestion would be to replace the can of crushed pineapple with another can of apple pie filling.
- Note – this will probably make the cake take a bit longer to cook
It may be more dense because of the weight of the top layer of apple pie filling
This is what it looked like when it was done.
I waited until the very edges of the cake peeking out looked done and was pulling away from the sides and then allowed it to cool on a cooling rack so the whole cake can solidify a bit more before scooping out.
By all means if you are anxious and need dessert right when it looks like this and you pull your gingerbread cake out then scoop out immediately and serve!! It will just be a bit looser that way, that is all….but still delish!!
Looking for more Christmas desserts we have a few!
- Starbucks gingerbread loaf or ginger banana bread are great breakfast ideas.
- Gingerbread pumpkin bundt cake
- Christmas lasagna is fun
Pumpkin angel food cake and pineapple angel food cake are 2 ingredient dump cakes that are great for the Fall
Here are a few other quick easy dessert recipes you should try too:
We have a bunch of cake mix recipes to make things really easy. You can make things like our 2 ingredient pumpkin muffins, all the way to these cake mix gingerbread cookies.
Let us explain step by step how simple this one is to throw together though. There is a printable recipe card too below:
Time needed: 40 minutes
Gingerbread Dump Cake
- Prepare
Spray 13×9 pan with non stick spray. Pour apple pie filling into pan and spread evenly across bottom. Sprinkle dry gingerbread cake mix on top of that, spread evenly across pan.
Dump crushed pineapple on top of mix, spread evenly across pan.
Melt butter and pour on top, evenly. Sprinkle nuts on very top if you want to add those. - Bake
Put into preheated oven at 350 degrees for 40 – 45 minutes or until edges are light brown, cake-like, and no longer wet. Allow to cool on a cooling rack to firm up a bit. Scoop out and serve.
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Gingerbread Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box gingerbread cake mix 14.5 oz
- 1 can crushed pineapple 20 oz
- 1 can apple pie filling 21 oz
- 1/2 c nuts honey roasted pecans we used
- 6 tbsp butter melted
Instructions
- Spray 13×9 pan with non stick spray. Pour apple pie filling into pan and spread evenly across bottom.
- Sprinkle dry gingerbread cake mix on top of that, spread evenly across pan.
- Dump crushed pineapple on top of mix, spread evenly across pan.
- Melt butter and pour on top, evenly. Sprinkle nuts on very top if you want to add those.
- Put into preheated oven at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until edges are light brown, cake-like, and no longer wet.
- Allow to cool on a cooling rack to firm up a bit.
- Scoop out and serve.
Trista
Wednesday 27th of July 2022
Can you use the recipe in a crock pot?
The Typical Mom
Thursday 28th of July 2022
Not sure that would work
Stefanie
Tuesday 15th of December 2020
I'm having a hard time finding the gingerbread cake mix. Would spice cake mix work?
The Typical Mom
Tuesday 15th of December 2020
Yes, it just won't have as strong of a flavor
June
Monday 3rd of December 2018
Not crazy about apples what to substitute?
Susan Lang
Sunday 18th of November 2018
I made this last week for a luncheon at work. I did not make it before to taste it, so I just crossed my fingers. Then the only gingerbread cake/cookie mix I could find was Hodgson Mills, which was a whole wheat mixture and possibly too heavy. Amazingly, this cake was delicious and perfect. Great recipe!!!
The Typical Mom
Sunday 18th of November 2018
So glad everyone loved it!!
Marci
Thursday 15th of November 2018
I am wondering also about what to replace the pinapple with- it is a areflux trigger in our family. Thank you!
The Typical Mom
Thursday 15th of November 2018
My initial thought would be to use 2 cans of apple pie filling, it will be a big heavier and may take a bit longer to cook because of the weight on top but if I were to make without that is what I would try.