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A warm slice of Banana Dump Cake topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzle on a white plate.
Maryam

Banana Dump Cake

The easiest banana dessert you'll ever make - just dump, bake, and enjoy warm with melty vanilla ice cream.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 380
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Base
  • 4 large ripe bananas very ripe with brown spots, sliced 1/2 inch thick
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 0.5 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
For the Topping
  • 15.25 oz yellow cake mix 1 box, dry
  • 1 cup unsalted butter 2 sticks, melted
  • 1 cup chopped pecans toasted, optional

Equipment

  • 9x13-inch baking dish
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Rubber spatula

Method
 

Prep
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
  2. In a large bowl, gently toss banana slices with lemon juice, sugar, and cinnamon until evenly coated. The lemon juice keeps them from browning and brightens the flavor. Spread mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.
  3. Sprinkle dry cake mix evenly over the bananas - do not stir. Drizzle melted butter over the entire surface, covering as much of the dry mix as possible. Scatter pecans on top if using.
  4. Bake 40-45 minutes until the top is deep golden brown and bubbling around the edges. The center should look set, not wet or powdery. A few dry cake mix spots are normal and will absorb as it cools slightly.
  5. Let cool 15 minutes before serving - this allows the sauce underneath to thicken slightly. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Notes

Use very ripe bananas with plenty of brown spots for the sweetest, most intense banana flavor. For a caramel twist, drizzle 1/4 cup dulce de leche over the bananas before adding the cake mix. This cake keeps covered at room temperature for 2 days, though the topping softens - rewarm in a 300°F oven for 10 minutes to crisp it back up.