Creating this Lemon Cream Cheese Dump Cake is a breeze with the following simple steps:

1. Preheat the Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C).

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

3. Mix Cream Cheese and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with granulated sugar until creamy and smooth.

4. Add Sour Cream and Vanilla: Stir in the sour cream and vanilla extract until well combined.

5. Layer the Cake Ingredients: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.

6. Add Lemon Pie Filling: Pour the lemon pie filling over the cream cheese layer, spreading it out evenly.

7. Prepare the Cake Mix: In a separate bowl, mix the lemon cake mix with the water, melted butter, and lemon zest until just combined.

8. Top with Cake Batter: Spoon the cake batter over the lemon pie filling. It’s okay if it doesn’t cover it completely.

9. Bake the Cake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes or until the edges are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

10. Cool: Remove from the oven and let it cool in the dish for about 10 minutes.

11. Dust with Powdered Sugar: If desired, dust with powdered sugar before serving.

These straightforward steps make the process of creating your delicious Lemon Cream Cheese Dump Cake seamless and enjoyable!