To make your Tangy Lemon Cream Cheese Dump Cake, follow these easy steps:

1. Preheat Your Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that the cake bakes evenly.

2. Prepare the Baking Dish: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray or butter to prevent sticking.

3. Mix Cream Cheese and Sugar: In a medium bowl, blend the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar together until smooth and creamy. This will be the cream cheese layer of your dump cake.

4. Combine Cake Ingredients: In a separate large bowl, mix the lemon cake mix, melted butter, sour cream, lemon juice, water, and eggs. Stir until fully combined, avoiding overmixing to keep the cake light and fluffy.

5. Assemble the Cake: Pour half of the cake batter into the greased baking dish. Layer the cream cheese mixture on top, spreading it evenly. Pour the remaining cake batter over the cream cheese layer.

6. Bake: Place the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If the top begins to brown too quickly, tent it with foil.

7. Cool: Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool for 15-20 minutes before serving. This helps the flavors to meld and gives it a chance to set.

Each step contributes to creating an incredible dessert that’s easy enough for beginners while still impressing experienced bakers with its flavor.