This easy Rhubarb Dump Cake is one of the simplest spring desserts you can make. With just a few pantry ingredients and fresh or frozen rhubarb, this cozy cake-meets-cobbler comes together in minutes. The sweet and tart filling bubbles up under a buttery cake mix topping, creating a nostalgic dessert that’s perfect for potlucks, family gatherings, or using up seasonal rhubarb.
I love making this recipe during rhubarb season because it requires almost no prep and always gets rave reviews. Whether served warm with vanilla ice cream or chilled straight from the fridge, this classic dump cake is a reliable crowd-pleaser.
Do you like rhubarb recipes like I do? Make Rhubarb Healthy Orange Rhubarb Muffins with Buttermilk, Frosted Rhubarb Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting, Strawberry Rhubarb Lemonade, or Rhubarb Fruit Leather.
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Why You Will Love Rhubarb Dump Cake
It’s amazing how a simple box of cake mix can easily turn into a dessert with a streusel topping with just the help of some butter. Trust me this works, and all you do is place the butter over the top of the dry cake mix.
- Only a few simple ingredients
- No mixing bowls required
- Perfect balance of sweet and tart
- Great for spring and early summer
- Make-ahead friendly for parties
- Works with fresh or frozen rhubarb
Ingredients Needed for Rhubarb Dump Cake
- Chopped rhubarb - Pick it straight from the garden if you’re one of those lucky people with rhubarb. Don’t like rhubarb? Use your favorite fruit. Cherry pie filling or apple pie filling would work great.
- Sugar - Regular granulated sugar. I do not use sugar substitutes in any of my recipes but if you know the conversions feel free to do so.
- Yellow cake Mix - can sub sugar free cake mix if you like
- Butter, melted - The best butter to use for baking is unsalted butter so you can control the amount of salt that goes into the recipe. For some dump cakes online they just call for pats of butter over the dry cake mix. That also works as well if you don’t want to melt it.
- See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to Make Rhubarb Dump Cake
Step 1: In a greased glass 9 x 13 pan, lay the rhubarb and sugar in the pan.
Step 2: Over the rhubarb and sugar layer, sprinkle the cake mix over the top.
Step 3: Slice the cold butter into tablespoon size slices and place the butter all over the dry cake mix.
Step 4: Bake at 350 for 40 - 60 minutes or until golden & crispy on top. Check the cake at 40 to see if it's done. If it's not add on an extra 20 minutes.
Variations to Try
- Strawberry Rhubarb Dump Cake Replace some rhubarb with sliced strawberries for a sweeter flavor and beautiful color.
- Rhubarb Dump Cake Without Jello Skip gelatin and add cinnamon or vanilla for a more natural fruit filling.
- From-Scratch Rhubarb Dump Cake Use a homemade cake mix made from flour, sugar, and baking powder for a pantry-friendly version.
- Rhubarb Dump Cake with Different Cake Mix Flavors Try spice cake, butter cake, or vanilla cake mix for new flavor combinations.
- Frozen Rhubarb Dump Cake No need to thaw frozen rhubarb — just add extra baking time if needed.
Rhubarb Dump Cake Expert Tips
- Do not mix the layers or the topping won’t form properly
- Cut rhubarb into small pieces for even baking
- Chill before slicing for cleaner portions
- Add extra butter pats for a crispier topping
- Taste rhubarb — very tart rhubarb may need more sugar
⭐ Serving Suggestions
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream - Ninja Creami Vanilla Ice Cream
- Top with whipped cream or custard
- Bring to BBQs or potlucks
- Perfect spring dessert for Mother’s Day or Easter
- Great way to use garden rhubarb
Recipe FAQs
Yes — frozen rhubarb works well and doesn’t need to be thawed first.
Keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
The butter or liquid may not have been evenly distributed.
The butter can make the cake a little gooey right as you take it out of the oven. It is best to let the cake sit out for awhile to set to prevent that from happening.
Other Recipes To Try
If you tried this Rhubarb Dump Cake or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries
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Rhubarb Dump Cake
- Prep Time: 20min
- Cook Time: 40 min
- Total Time: 40 min
- Yield: 24 1x
- Category: Easy
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Rhubarb Dump Cake is so easy, it literally requires no mixing! Just dump all the ingredients in the cake pan by layers and watch the cake/crisp do it's magic in the oven
Ingredients
- 4-5 cups chopped rhubarb
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 box of yellow cake
- 2 sticks of butter, cut into cold cubes
Instructions
- In a greased glass 9 x 9 pan, lay the rhubarb and sugar in the pan.
- Over the rhubarb and sugar layer, sprinkle the cake mix over the top.
- Slice the butter into small cubes the size of tablespoon. Then place the butter evenly over the dry cake mix.
- Bake at 350 for 40 - 60 minutes or until golden & crispy on top.
Notes
myWW points: Blue 7; Green 7; Purple 7
The butter can make the cake a little gooey right as you take it out of the oven. It is best to let the cake sit out for awhile to set to prevent that from happening.
Nutrition
- Calories: 208
- Sugar: 20
- Fat: 9
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 33
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 1
Recipe adapted from Our Fun with Five
Jenna says
There is no jello in this recipe. Maybe you saw that on a different site.
Kathryn Norton says
it says to leave out the jello?????
didn't see anywhere where Jello was used in this recipe.
Jenna says
I've tested it with both sizes. They both work. The 9X9 in pan will just be a thicker cake.
Dorothy says
I noticed there are 2 pan sizes mentioned. Please let me know 9x13 or 9x9.
Thank you
Dr. Olivia says
I made this with a lemon cake mix, fresh rhubarb. The flavors complimented one another and turned out wonderful! Next time, I will cut the sugar by half, was a bit too sweet, but delicious!
Jenna says
The only two I can see that would work are spice cake or white cake mix.
Catherine Davis says
I specifically don’t like yellow cake mix, can you suggest me something else as yellow cake mix's replacement?
Jenna says
Glad you liked it!
Joan Dubiel says
the best thing i have ever had!!! 🙂
Jenna says
Yes that would be delicious!