Gluten Free Peach Cobbler Dump Cake

by Lynn

I recently posted my mom’s recipe for Peach Cobbler Dump Cake. I love that recipe and it is a childhood favorite that I still enjoy.

Now that I am eating gluten free, I can no longer eat many of the desserts that I used to enjoy. I am slowly learning new favorites, but I miss a few of the things that I used to eat.

I recently realized that I could easily adapt my mom’s Peach Cobbler Dump Cake by using a gluten free cake mix. I used the Betty Crocker gluten free yellow cake mix and it worked great. I was not sure how this would turn out because you never know with gluten free things. Sometimes they work and sometimes they do not.

I have tried the gluten free cakes mixes now for several things, and I have had mixed results. So, I was really glad this turned out so well. Now I have an easy gluten free dessert that I can make.

The gluten free cake mixes usually make an 8×8 pan instead of a 9×13 pan like a regular cake mix would. I was not sure how it would be best to adjust this recipe, so I just made it like I always did, but used the gluten free cake mix. It worked fine even though it was supposed to make a smaller cake.

This dessert turned out really well. It is not quite the same as the original version, but it is very close to it. This is definitely going to be a new favorite.

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{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }

darissa May 9, 2010 at 8:34 pm

Thanks for posting! I was just wondering about trying a dump cake with my Betty Crocker Gluten Free cake mix. I was curious if it was going to turn out or not! I am going to try this tonight for Mother’s Day. I think I might substitute blueberries instead of the peaches. But I will diffently try the peaches one day also. Thanks

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Jennifer May 30, 2010 at 5:23 pm

My mom used the Betty Crocker Gluten Free cake mix and the recipe above but it did not cook. Do you have any idea what she did wrong.

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Lynn May 30, 2010 at 6:12 pm

I have not had this problem with mine. Did it not get done at all? Or just not in 50 minutes?

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LS June 27, 2010 at 3:05 am

I had the same problem when I tried this recipe with blueberries. I thought it might not have enough moisture, so I drizzled a bit more butter on top and covered the pan with foil and baked 10 more minutes, which helped. I was thinking of mixing the butter along with vanilla to the cake mix prior to dumping it on the fruit. Has anyone tried this?

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Lynn June 28, 2010 at 4:03 pm

I am sorry to hear that. I am going to have to make this a few more times and see if I have any issues. It has worked for me just fine so far.

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LS June 28, 2010 at 8:52 pm

I tried again with success this time! I used a quart of blueberries mixed with 1/4 cup sugar. Then, after sprinkling on the cake mix, I patted it down slightly into the berries until it was somewhat smooth. When I spooned on the butter, I made sure that it was even all over. Everyone loved it! Thank you

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Marcy Smith July 2, 2010 at 12:36 pm

I have found that when baking gluten-free humidity and altitude play a huge role. Unusually high humidity in your area may play a role; try allowing the batter to sit uncovered for 60-90 seconds on the counter before baking. Time may increase 10-15 minutes. Going from sea-level to 3500 ft will double the cooking time.

Try the newer Namaste mixes. I love the flavors and consistency; even made a carrot cake from their spice cake mix.

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Kerri July 3, 2010 at 7:24 pm

I tried this gluten free recipe today. It didn’t turn out either. I am thinking I needed more butter because some of the cake mix did not have butter on it and then it didn’t cook. I also used no sugar added peaches so I am thinking I needed to use the regular for extra juice.

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Lynn July 3, 2010 at 9:37 pm

I am sorry this did not turn out. It has worked for me when I have made it. I am trying to figure out why it is not working for others. So, I am curious, what brand of cake mix did you use? I usually use the regular peaches, not the no sugar ones, but I am not sure how much that would matter. I am going to try to make this again this week and see if I can figure out what is not working for others.

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Shannon July 16, 2010 at 2:25 pm

Lynn,
Perhaps we should ask what brand of cake mix you used. Maybe that would eliminate some problem for others.

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Lynn July 16, 2010 at 5:03 pm

I used the Betty Crocker Gluten Free mix. You are right that may be the difference.

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Jenny August 14, 2010 at 3:31 pm

I have never used melted butter on my dump cakes. I have always made sure the filling was thin enough to cover the bottom of the pan easily and then used sliced up cubes of butter rather than melted. Never had one fail yet. If you need more moisture use applesauce.

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Liane August 14, 2010 at 3:33 pm

I use the Betty Crocker Gluten Free Mix also, but I use a stick of butter slightly melted and crumble it over the fruit. We are not a peach family so we use cherry pie filling and crushed pineapple (with the juice) and it turns out awesome!!!

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Suzi August 18, 2010 at 8:46 am

What size cans of pie filling and pineapple do you use?

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Liane August 18, 2010 at 11:13 am

I use the 16-20 ounce cans for each.

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Paddy August 14, 2010 at 3:38 pm

I’m going to try it but with fresh peaches mixed with splenda or sugar, we are unindated with white and yellow peaches, and it will be interesting to see if it turns out as well. Cake and peaches–YUMMMOLA.

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Margaret Henry August 14, 2010 at 4:32 pm

I was planning on using fresh peaches. Does anyone know how much sugar and water I should add to compensate for the missing syrup in the can?

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Lynn August 14, 2010 at 5:06 pm

I have never done it with fresh peaches so I am not sure. Fresh peaches when cooked will have some moisture in them. I don’t think it would be a lot of liquid that you would need to add.

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Paddy August 15, 2010 at 9:48 am

Just use some sugar or splenda and let them sit for a while. You can also mix in some frozen peaches, once they come to room temp they have extra juice.

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marie anne August 14, 2010 at 5:05 pm

I think most are not remembering that a regular cake mix makes a 2 layer cake a gluten free Betty Crocker makes 1 layer that could be the difference when ever I have make the substitution for a recipe that required a cake mix I have either used 2 GF mixes or halved the recipe. I have not failed yet.

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Lynn August 14, 2010 at 5:12 pm

You are right on that and I usually adjust it. On this one I did not notice a difference, but the issues that some have had may have to do with too much liquid. So, cutting back on the liquid from the canned peaches may help those that have had issues. I think the brand of cake mix may make a difference as well.

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Jenny August 15, 2010 at 1:18 pm

Well, I gave this recipe a shot with some delicious, fresh Red Haven peaches we just picked. They were super sweet and juicy, so I only added a 1/2 c. of sugar to them after I peeled and sliced them. I poured them into the 9×13, sprinkled the gluten-free Betty Crocker yellow cake mix on top, melted 1 1/4 stick of butter and added 2 tsp. vanilla to the butter before spooning it over the top. I was careful to cover all the dry cake mix with the butter/vanilla mixture. I baked per Lynn’s recipe (325 degrees for 50 minutes). Everyone loved it, although I thought it was too sweet! Next time I won’t add any sugar to my juicy peaches! Enjoying a dish with some vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt was divine.

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Lynn August 15, 2010 at 5:59 pm

Thank you for letting me know. I am so glad that it turned out well and that everyone enjoyed it. I will have to try it with fresh peaches.

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Paddy August 15, 2010 at 5:23 pm

I also mixed in some fresh orange juice. Hope that helps.

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Lynn August 15, 2010 at 5:59 pm

That sounds like a great addition.

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Paddy August 15, 2010 at 9:13 pm

It was so good. I added some mango and orange juice to make it juicier, and it was too good–I ate too much!!

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Paddy August 15, 2010 at 9:18 pm

I used cooking splenda instead of sugar, and you have to use less of that than regular (about 50%) less or it really makes your teeth sing. But adding the orange juice really brought out the peachy flavor, if that makes sense? I used about 5 nice size peaches, a small frozen package of mango and peaches from Whole Foods, 1/4 cup sugar Splenda, 1/4 cup orange juice, GF Betty Crocker White Cake mix, and a stick of butter. It made enough to feed our family of three for at least 3 times!! (I prob could eat the whole thing, but that would not be a good thing, gluten free or not!!!)

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Lynn August 15, 2010 at 9:25 pm

Thank you for letting us know. I am sure that will help others know how to adapt it with splenda. I really need to try it with fresh fruit and orange juice now. Thank you for the update!

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Robin August 20, 2010 at 6:04 pm

I’m making this recipe right now. I am curious though, when we use the cake mix it is the dry mix right? not the batter?
Sorry if its a silly question. Never made dump cake before.

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Lynn August 21, 2010 at 5:03 pm

I am sorry I did not get back to you quicker. I have not been on the computer much the last two days. I hope your desert turned out well. Yes, you just use the dry mix. You do not make thins into a batter.

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shari September 2, 2010 at 4:28 pm

Still confused about how many fresh peaches to use?? I’m also in Colorado, so any altidue adjustments would be helpful. FYI, I have NEVER doubled the cooking time for altitude (just usually add a bit more liquid & flour and adjust temperature, but it varies by recipe and I just always follow the recipe…) Thank you!~

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Katie January 16, 2011 at 7:31 pm

I made this tonight with pineapple and it was delicoious! My daughter loved it!

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Lynn January 16, 2011 at 7:56 pm

I am so glad that you enjoyed it!

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Keturah January 24, 2011 at 5:48 pm

Thanks for posting this. This pregnancy has made me extremely lactose-intolerant, and I think gluten intolerant as well. I wasn’t sure if I could use the gluten-free mix to make dump cake and your recipe along w/ all the comments helped me to make great dump cake sans dairy/gluten…I usually make it with pineapples and apples but this time I made it with cherry and pineapple and it turned out GREAT!!!! (the taste as you said is not quite the original version but it comes strikingly close!)
Thanks again!

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Lynn January 24, 2011 at 6:46 pm

I am so glad that you enjoyed it. Your version sounds great!

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Ella Bogan July 6, 2011 at 3:31 pm

Can you substitute blueberries for peaches? If so; how much blueberries do I use in place of the peaches? I want to make this this weekend. I’m making one peach & the other blueberry.

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Lynn July 6, 2011 at 3:48 pm

I have never made this with bueberries. I don’t know that it would work quite the same because the recipe calls for canned peaches and the juice. You might search online to see if there is a regular blueberry dump cake that you could adapt with this recipe. Sorry I could not be of more help.

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Ella Bogan July 6, 2011 at 5:08 pm

I will do that, thanks anyway!

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Vicki July 28, 2011 at 8:49 am

This sounds like it will be a great addition to our growing “gluten free” recipe box! We are still learning the ins and outs of gluten free living. My 7 year old daughter was just diagnosed 2 months ago. Thanks for the recipe. : ) I am going to try with fresh peaches and blueberries using a bob’s red mill white cake mix.

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Valerie January 24, 2012 at 2:56 pm

I don’t have a yellow cake mix on hand. I often look for a way to make the cake mix from scratch. Anyone have a recipe for that???
Gluten free!

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Chris January 28, 2012 at 6:24 pm

Has anyone ever tried this with pumpkin?

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