Banana Split Dump Cake (Printable Version)

Indulgent fruit and chocolate layered dessert with buttery cake topping

# What You'll Need:

→ Fruit Layer

01 - 3 large ripe bananas, sliced
02 - 1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple, drained
03 - 1 jar (10 oz) maraschino cherries, drained and halved

→ Sweet Layer

04 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar

→ Chocolate Layer

05 - 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

→ Cake Layer

06 - 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix

→ Butter

07 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

→ Optional Toppings

08 - Whipped cream
09 - Chopped nuts (walnuts or peanuts)
10 - Extra maraschino cherries
11 - Chocolate syrup

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Arrange sliced bananas evenly across the bottom of the prepared dish.
03 - Spread drained crushed pineapple over the banana layer.
04 - Scatter halved maraschino cherries across the pineapple layer.
05 - Evenly distribute granulated sugar over the fruit mixture.
06 - Spread semisweet chocolate chips uniformly over the fruit and sugar.
07 - Sprinkle dry yellow cake mix evenly over the entire surface.
08 - Pour melted butter over the cake mix, covering as much surface area as possible.
09 - Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until the top is golden brown and edges are bubbly.
10 - Allow to cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. Add whipped cream, nuts, extra cherries, and chocolate syrup if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Dump cake sounds unappealing but the result is magically delicious and tastes like you spent hours
  • Everything goes into one dish with zero mixing required, making it perfect for exhausted weeknights
  • The combination of warm fruit and gooey chocolate cake feels like an upgraded version of childhood nostalgia
02 -
  • The dry cake mix patches that remain visible after drizzling butter will still bake into a crisp topping
  • Serving warm is essential because the texture transforms from gooey to firm as it cools completely
  • Draining the pineapple thoroughly prevents the bottom layer from becoming too soggy
03 -
  • Rotate the baking dish halfway through for even browning
  • Use a pastry brush to spread the butter more evenly over the dry patches

Return