Are you like me and have a pile of rhubarb in the freezer from when you harvested it last spring? Some years after already baking in the summer, I still have 25 cups that get stowed away in the freezer. I wanted something easy to make, so with some research, I made this super simple Rhubarb Dump Cake.
Our rhubarb patch does very well, and we have numerous stalks each year with a wonderful deep ruby-red color. This makes for such wonderful desserts. I have made a cake similar to this called a Blueberry Breakfast Cake, where you dump the fruit into a 9×13-inch baking dish and put a batter on top.
For the blueberry cake, you actually make up a batter and pour it over. This Rhubarb Dump Cake recipe is even easier than that where you add the fruit, sugar, dry cake mix, water, and melted butter. Try our Lemon Dump Cake or Strawberry Dump Cake too.
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3 Rhubarb Plants – Crimson Red
The end result is something like a crisp or cobbler. Very cool! I saw many recipes that asked for jello, but I thought, no way, that is going to be too sweet on top of the other ingredients. I didn’t need color either for my rhubarb, so I omitted that.
So I decided to go without the jello for my recipe, and I am so glad I did. Not too crazy sweet, as the tart rhubarb balances it very nicely. This is such an easy and delicious recipe. You have nothing to lose.
What Desserts Can You Make With Rhubarb?
We have loads of desserts using rhubarb on our site, plus some with a strawberry-rhubarb combination. I love that strawberry flavor with rhubarb, too. It is such an easy ingredient to work with!
Once you start to grow a plant or two, you have a nice harvest every year, and they take very little care. Maybe just the occasional water; they really just grow like a weed on their own.
Here are all of our wonderful rhubarb dessert recipes!
How Do You Make a Rhubarb Dump Cake?
We are talking as simple as it gets in making the rhubarb dump cake. To make a rhubarb dump cake, all I did was spray a 9×13″ pan with cooking spray. Preheat your oven to 350 F.
I then added in the frozen, in this case, rhubarb. I sprinkled the sugar over the rhubarb and then followed that with the dry cake mix.
You then sprinkle the cake mix, pour the water and then melted butter, trying to evenly disperse all the ingredients.
What? No mixing? Yup, that is correct. DO NOT MIX, but put it directly into a preheated oven.
You can add fresh fruit also to make this; it doesn’t have to be frozen. Serve this dessert warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.
Rhubarb Dump Cake with Yellow Cake Mix
I love how the fruit bubbles up through the crust. This is so yummy; you won’t believe it. I liked the yellow cake mix for this recipe as opposed to a white cake mix to give it the warm contrast in colors.
Grab some of your frozen rhubarb and bring summer to life again in this easy dessert!!
Rhubarb Dump Cake
Video
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh or frozen rhubarb chopped
- 1 scant cup white sugar
- 1 package yellow cake mix
- 1 cup water
- 1/3 cup butter melted
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9×13″ pan with cooking spray.
- Add the rhubarb and spread out evenly on the bottom of the pan.
- Sprinkle over the sugar, followed by the cake mix.
- Pour over the water and melted butter evenly. DO NOT MIX!
- Bake for 45 min. until bubbling and the rhubarb is tender and the top is slightly browned.
Comments & Reviews
Michelle says
Have made this twice in the past month! Absolutely delicious! Once with rhubarb (fresh), strawberries and blueberries (both frozen), and tonight with sour cherries and blueberries (both frozen). Last time I had some dry cake mix, so tonight I used 2/3 of the cake mix, water and butter on top of the 4 cups of fruit and scant cup of sugar. Saving the left over cake mix to make a small one for my dad for Father’s Day.
Tara Noland says
I am so glad you are enjoying making it. It is just the easiest thing ever. Check out our new video as we just put it up yesterday.
Destiny says
Really easy, delicious recipe. I just found that it was really sugary for my liking. Next time I’ll try half the amount of sugar, and see how that goes.
Anna says
Could a person use other fruits in place of rhubarb?
Tara Noland says
Yes, I think most fruits would work in this recipe. Berries would be delicious!!
Sabrina says
I have used blueberry + pineapple
Gloria murillo says
I noticed after I baked this, there was loose powdered cake mix on top.
Tara Noland says
That does happen in spots, just serve with ice cream and it will all be good.
Dede says
I make sure it is completely covered with the melted butter.
Louise says
I have frozen rhubarb that’s thawed. Do I have to drain the liquid first from the rhubarb before adding cake mix??
Tara Noland says
The best way to use frozen rhubarb is not to thaw it first and just add it in frozen. I think you will have to drain off some of the moisture now to use it but it is honestly not something I have worked with. I would go straight to a compote instead. https://noshingwiththenolands.com/strawberry-rhubarb-compote-for-mothers-day-sundaysupper/
Kali says
I’d drain it but reserve the liquid. Use the reserved liquid to replace part of the water that gets sprinkled over the top. That way, you don’t lose any of the flavor!
Tara Noland says
Thank you so much for your comments Kali, appreciated.
Sandy says
Can this be frozen? We’re camping and no access to an oven?
Tara Noland says
Frozen instead of baked? Or frozen after baking?
Michele says
Can it be Frozen after baking?
Tara Noland says
I have not done this as it disappears quickly here but I think you would be okay trying it.
Kali says
Have you got a Dutch oven? Dump cakes cooked over the coals in a Dutch oven are a super traditional camp dessert.
Judy says
I’m making it right now, we have a rhubarb plant and we picked it, I got 4 cups out of it❤️We love rhubarb❤️
Kim says
Can you make this a day in advance?
Tara Noland says
Yes, you could make it the day ahead for sure. Just cool, cover and refrigerate.
Krystel says
Oh my, this looks so very good. Maybe a suggestion for the next big family gathering
Jennifer says
I love the taste of rhubarb. a friend grows it and every year she gives me a huge bag of it to use to make recipes with. I will have to try this out.
Ashley says
I haven’t had rhubarb cake in a long time. This looks amazing, I want some!
Stephanie Pass says
This looks good! I have never tasted rhubarb. I’m kinda scared of it, lol. I’ve always wondered what something like Strawberry Rhubarb tastes like, but then I’m worried I’ll hate it, which seems ridiculous, lol. What does it taste like?
Tara Noland says
Good question. Rhubarb is kind of hard to nail down for flavor as I find it is unique on its own. Raw and by itself it is very tart and crunchy like celery. As a child I loved to get a raw stick and a small bowl of sugar and find a cool spot under a tree and dip and munch away. The leaves are highly poisonous so you don’t want to eat those. Once sugar is added to rhubarb as in a dessert it takes on a whole new flavor and I would akin it to a Granny Smith apple. Rhubarb on its own is fantastic or pairs beautiuflly with berries like strawberries or blueberries.
Debbie Guinan says
I have tons of Rhubarb as did my Dad. It is beautiful and the best fertilizer horse manure. But you have to let it sit for a year so it doesn’t burn up the plants. I will stand out there and pull a stalk and eat it raw. Love it no matter what ya do with it. You either LOVE it or HATE it. I freeze a lot every year for dump cake, Pie, Crisp, and I make a lot of rhubarb sauce and freeze that. Have eaten my whole life.
Rachel says
This looks really good. My husband loves anything with rhubbarb in it. We get it from his grandfather every year.
Dawn Nieves says
I’ve never had a cake with rhubarb in it. But this has sold me! It looks so good. I can’t wait to try it
Kathy says
This recipe looks amazing. I could really go for this right now. I’ll have to get all the ingredients so I can make it soon.
Amy Desrosiers says
I still have yet to try rhubarb!! I need to make a batch for my family to see how they would enjoy this fun root!
Liz Mays says
This is definitely going to be a good dessert for Spring. I love that rhubarb flavor and this sounds super easy.
Marcie W. says
I’ve never had rhubarb but would be interested in trying it. I think this cake would make for a tasty introduction!
reesa says
I have never made anything with rhubarb, this sounds delicious! I love how easy dump cakes are.
Stacie says
That looks so good! I love rhubarb in baked goods, and it doesn’t get easier than dump cake!