Use Chocolate Cake Mix, Pudding, And Chocolate Chips For The Start Of An Easy And Rich Dump Cake

A dump cake is not meant to impress. These easy-to-make, quintessentially American desserts are designed to be fast, low-maintenance, and completely foolproof. We're not showing off skill here, we're making delicious, gooey treats with packaged ingredients, boxed mixes, and, most importantly, minimal effort. It's all that's really needed to make a gloriously rich chocolate dessert — a handful of ingredients and a little spare time.

To make an easy chocolate dump cake, all you have to do is grab a box of chocolate cake mix, a box of instant chocolate pudding mix, and some chocolate chips. We ranked 13 boxed chocolate cake mixes if you want some recommendations. Once you have the right mixes, ignore the directions and grease a large baking dish.

Pour the powders in and whisk in some milk until a batter forms. The more milk, the gooier the result and vice versa. When everything is incorporated (a few lumps are fine) sprinkle with chocolate chips and bake. It's really that easy — no mixing bowl required.

There aren't too many ways in which dump cake can go wrong, but you do want to ensure the batter is whisked well to avoid dry spots. Also, double check that the pudding mix you're using is instant. Finally, dump cakes are meant to be incredibly moist and gooey. If you bake it for too long, it will dry out. Aim for about 40 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit and let the cake set for a few minutes before serving for the best texture. 

The other joy of dump cakes is that they allow for a lot of experimentation. Add some melted butter to the batter for more indulgence or a few drops of vanilla extract for flavor. Use more or less chocolate chips depending on your preference or try out different ones, like peanut butter chips, butterscotch, or white chocolate. You can also use different cake and pudding mixes. Try vanilla pudding, caramel pudding, raspberry, or a devil's food cake mix. 

Chopped nuts will add a little crunch, as will M&M's, while cherries or raspberries bring in a fruity punch. For even more decadence, drizzle the cake with peanut butter or salted caramel sauce before or after baking. Serve with ice cream, whipped cream, or cover with rich chocolate frosting. If you get the easy bake bug, try this key lime pie dump cake or a sweet rhubarb cake next for some alternatives to chocolate.