• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
State of Dinner
  • Recipes
  • Kitchen Tips
  • State Dishes
  • Start Here
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Kitchen Tips
  • State Dishes
  • Start Here
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Kitchen Tips
    • State Dishes
    • Start Here
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Dessert Recipes

    Easy Sweet Potato Dump Cake

    Published: Aug 25, 2023 · Modified: Sep 1, 2023 by Erin · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    • Share
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe
    Pinterest pin that says "sweet potato dump cake" and has serving of cake on a plate with a fork going into it.

    This one-bowl Sweet Potato Dump Cake is the perfect easy dessert recipe for any fall occasion. With sweet potato pie flavors in the creamy filling and a buttery cake mix topping, this simple dessert will quickly become a seasonal favorite!

    Square of cake on a plate showing sweet potato filling layer, crumble layer, dollop of whipped cream and chopped nuts.
    Jump to:
    • Why You Will Love This Recipe
    • What is Dump Cake?
    • Key Ingredients
    • How to Make Sweet Potato Dump Cake?
    • Storage and Freezing
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More Easy Dessert Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    Why You Will Love This Recipe

    • Easy to Make: As a one-bowl dump cake, you just dump all the ingredients in, mix, and bake. You don't even need an electric mixer!
    • Fall Flavors: The sweet potato filling gives it a comforting flavor that would be great for Thanksgiving or other fall gatherings.
    • A Twist on Classic Flavors: This is the perfect recipe for when you want the taste of pumpkin or sweet potato pie without messing with a pie crust.

    Looking for more sweet potato recipes? This Sweet Potato Dump Cake Recipe is similar to one of my favorite Thanksgiving dinner side dishes, sweet potato casserole. The dump cake is a little sweeter and more dessert-like. It's essentially a crustless sweet potato pie with a streusel topping.

    What is Dump Cake?

    Dump cakes are an easy dessert that is similar to a cobbler but with a cake-like topping.

    The basic formula is to combine your primary ingredients like fruit, sweeteners, and eggs in the bowl, then pour that batter into a baking dish. Top it off with a sprinkle of dry cake mix, a layer of nuts or spices if desired, and a drizzle of melted butter.

    Dump cakes are the perfect hassle-free dessert for those short on time but wanting homemade flavor. Just mix, dump, and bake for hands-off magic the whole family will love.

    Key Ingredients

    Overhead of the dump cake ingredients in individual bowls.

    See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full list of ingredients, including measurements.

    Sweet Potatoes: Choose sweet potatoes that are firm and free from major blemishes. 29 ounces of canned sweet potatoes can also be used. If you are using canned potatoes, rinse them and pat them dry before mashing.

    Evaporated Milk: Evaporated milk helps make a creamy textured filling. Half and half can also be used.

    Brown Sugar: Using light brown sugar adds a little bit of a molasses flavor along with sweetness. An equal amount of granulated sugar can be substituted.

    Eggs: Eggs act as a binder for the ingredients and also create a fluffy souffle-like texture in the filling.

    Cake Mix: This recipe uses just the boxed cake mix. It is not prepared into a batter. Some similar recipes call for spice cake but I much prefer the taste of yellow cake for this recipe.

    Nuts: Use your favorite type of nuts! I usually make this recipe with pecan chips because I like their size. But chopped walnuts would be great too! If you don't like nuts then you can leave them out or replace them with toffee bits.

    Butter: Yes, this recipe uses lots of butter! When it's poured over the cake mix and pecans it makes a streusel-like topping that is amazing!

    Angeled view showing the cake in pan with a piece missing.

    How to Prepare Sweet Potatoes 

    I recommend baking or microwaving your sweet potatoes for the best results.

    • Before cooking scrub the potatoes clean then prick them all over with a fork. 
    • To cook in the oven, place them directly on an oven rack lined with foil and bake at 425°F for 40-50 minutes until fork tender.
    • If you need them to cook faster, place the scrubbed potatoes in the microwave on high for 6 minutes. Flip and cook for 5 more minutes, or until tender.
    • I don't recommend boiling the sweet potatoes, as it can make the filling watery and diminish the flavor. 
    • Mash the sweet potatoes using a potato masher, or for smoother potatoes beat with a hand mixer on low speed.

    TIP: Cool the sweet potatoes to room temperature before mashing to prevent excess moisture in the batter.

    How to Make Sweet Potato Dump Cake?

    1. Prepare Filling

    • Place the mashed sweet potatoes, evaporated milk, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl. 
    • Whisk until all of the ingredients are incorporated together.
    • Then pour the sweet potato mixture into a 9x13 pan that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

    2. Add Cake Mix & Nuts

    • Sprinkle the cake mix evenly over the top of the sweet potatoes.
    • Then add nuts over the mix.

    3) Drizzle with Butter

    • Slowly pour the melted butter over the top of the cake mix.
    • Try to pour it as evenly as possible. It's okay to have some small spots of dry cake mix but you want most of it to be wet.
    • If you prefer, you can also slice the butter into thin slices instead of melting it, and place the slices evenly across the top of the cake.

    4) Bake

    • Place the pan in a 350°F (177°C) oven.
    • Bake for 60-70 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
    • Let the cake cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.
    • I love this served with Bourbon Whipped Cream.
    4 image collage showing batter in a bowl, in the pan sprinkling cake mix over top, nuts and butter added, and baked.

    Storage and Freezing

    • ​Wrap leftovers tightly with plastic wrap or transfer them to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
    • The whole desert can be frozen by wrapping the pan with a layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. 
    • You can also transfer individual portions in freezer-safe containers.
    • Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
    • Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

    TIP: Dump cake is frequently served warm with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream. But I enjoy it most after it has been refrigerated for a couple of hours.

    Serving of sweet potato dump cake on a plate kind of messy with bite missing.

    Recipe FAQs

    ​Is Sweet Potato Dump Cake supposed to be gooey? 

    The bottom layer is a little bit gooey. It is a thick custard that is a little softer than sweet potato pie. The cake layer has a streusel-like texture.

    Can you make Sweet Potato Cake in advance?

    Yes, this is an easy dessert to make a day or two in advance. Store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve it. It can be served chilled, or warm it up in the microwave first.

    Can I make this with pumpkin instead of sweet potatoes?

    Yes, for pumpkin dump cake simply replace the sweet potatoes with 29 ounces of pumpkin puree. You may also replace the cinnamon and nutmeg with 1 ½ teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice.

    More Easy Dessert Recipes

    • Square piece of Texas brownie cake with a bite out of it and a gold fork turned upside down resting on plate.
      Texas Sheet Cake with Buttermilk
    • Plate of peach cobbler with juicy peaches and flaky pie crust topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
      Easy Peach Cobbler with Pie Crust
    • 3 plates with a square of moist cake on each plate..
      Granny Cake with Coconut
    • Peanut butter cheesecake on a plate with the tip facing the camera, a bite on a fork, and fork tines impressed in the cheesecake.
      Creamy No-Bake Peanut Butter Cheesecake

    Let me know how you like this recipe by leaving a review! And follow along on Instagram @stateofdinner for behind-the-scenes and to be among the first to know when new recipes post!

    Recipe

    Square of sweet potato dump cake on a plate topped with whipped cream and nuts and a fork resting on the plate.

    Sweet Potato Dump Cake

    Recipe by: Erin
    This one-bowl Sweet Potato Dump Cake is the perfect easy dessert recipe for any fall occasion. With sweet potato pie flavors in the creamy filling and a buttery cake mix topping, this simple dessert will quickly become a seasonal favorite!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12
    Calories 480 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 cups (700 grams) mashed sweet potatoes 3-4 medium sweet potatoes
    • 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk or half and half
    • 1 cup (220 grams) brown sugar lightly packed
    • 3 eggs
    • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • 1 package (15.25 ounce) yellow cake mix not prepared
    • 1 cup (113 grams) chopped nuts
    • ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks, 170 grams) butter melted
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Spray a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick spray.
    • Place the mashed sweet potatoes, evaporated milk, brown sugar, eggs, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg in a large mixing bowl and whisk until fully combined.
      3 cups (700 grams) mashed sweet potatoes, 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk, 1 cup (220 grams) brown sugar, 3 eggs, 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • Spread the batter into the prepared baking dish.
    • Sprinkle the dry cake mix over the top of the batter. Gently spread the dry mix with your fingers so that it is fairly even, then add the nuts.
      1 package (15.25 ounce) yellow cake mix, 1 cup (113 grams) chopped nuts
    • Slowly pour the butter evenly over the top of the cake mix, being careful to cover as much of the cake mix as you can.
      ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks, 170 grams) butter
    • Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. Serve with whipped cream.

    Notes

    Storage: Once cooled, cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap and store the cake in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 5 days.
    Preparing Sweet Potatoes: Scrub and dry the sweet potatoes and pierce them with a fork several times. Then bake in a 425°F (220°C) oven over foil for 45-50 minutes, or microwave for 10-12 minutes, until soft. Cool potatoes before adding to the batter.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 480kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 475mg | Potassium: 309mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 41g | Vitamin A: 5204IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 214mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Share a photo of your creation with your friends!Mention @stateofdinner or tag #stateofdinner!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Pinterest pin that says "sweet potato dump cake" and has serving of cake on a plate with a fork going into it.
    Photo of Erin Gierhart

    Welcome! I'm Erin: Wife, mom, lover of great food, and former food safety administrator. I am passionate about cooking mostly from scratch recipes that bring comfort, without spending all day in the kitchen. Most recipes on this site can be made in under 30 minutes! This approach to cooking allows me to provide delicious meals for my family while freeing up time to spend with those I love.

    Let's Get Started→

    Popular Recipes

    • Overhead of a bowl of pork green chili on a plate with a lime wedge.
      Colorado Pork Green Chili
    • Pulling a serving of casserole from the pan, with chicken dripping off the server.
      Sour Cream Chicken Enchilada Casserole
    • Using a whipped cream dispenser to pile whipped cream in a jar.
      Homemade Whipped Cream Recipe for a Dispenser
    • Square piece of Texas brownie cake with a bite out of it and a gold fork turned upside down resting on plate.
      Texas Sheet Cake with Buttermilk
    • Pillowy whipped cream in a bowl with a spoon.
      How to Stabilize Whipped Cream with Cream of Tartar
    • Stack of 3 no bake peanut butter buckeye bars with a plate of bars in background.
      No-Bake Peanut Butter Buckeye Bars

    Summer Favorites

    • Piece of banana split bite on a plate with a bite out of it, jar of cherries and whole pie in background.
      No-Bake Banana Split Pie
    • Spinach caprese salad being served with wooden salad servers.
      Spinach Caprese Salad with Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette
    • Two highball glasses of Texas Ranch water, with limes and a Topo Chico.
      Texas Ranch Water Cocktail
    • Texas margarita garnished with lime and orange wedges.
      Texas Margarita
    • Close up of cherry pie with cream cheese filling in a graham cracker crust.
      No-Bake Cherry Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
    • Slice of no-bake vanilla cheesecake on a plate with whipped cream and a half of a strawberry on top.
      Easy No-Bake Vanilla Cheesecake

    As Featured In

    Logos of the various publications where State of Dinner has been featured.

    Footer

    Pinterest pin that says "sweet potato dump cake" and has serving of cake on a plate with a fork going into it.

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Get Started Here
    • Privacy Policy & Disclaimer

    Accessibility

    • Accessibility Policy

    Let's Work Together

    • Collaboration

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 State of Dinner