This caramel apple dump cake recipe is a favorite dessert recipe that consists of using simple ingredients like melted butter, dry cake mix, caramel sauce, cinnamon, canned pie filling, and nuts if desired! Simply pour into a baking dish and bake!
In only 45 minutes, you’ll have a perfect dessert consisting of fall flavors that can be for a busy weeknight, a family get-together or even to take to someone in a care package! Look for more of a summer spin on this recipe? Then try our pineapple sunshine cake, or our carrot spice cake that’s also made with a cake mix!
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Why is it called a dump cake?
It’s called a dump cake because you literally dump the ingredients in to the baking dish and bake it.
That’s the beauty of a dump cake and these kinds of easy dessert recipes. An easy dump cake recipe uses cake mixes, fruit fillings (canned pie filling), and other easy ingredients most of the time, making it an easy recipe that will be a crowd pleaser and a cozy dessert that the entire family will love.
Dump cake can be served warm, right after baking. If you have leftovers, let it cool and then store it in an airtight container. Then, it can sit out at room temperature for a few days, however, it’s best to refrigerate it so it will stay fresh longer, at about 5 days.
Actually, no. The great thing about a dump cake is that you layer on most of the ingredients and pop it in to the oven, with very little effort! For this recipe, you will mix together the first few ingredients but then layer the cake mix and butter on top and then bake.
Caramel Apple Dump Cake With Cake Mix
For this recipe, you’ll use a store-bought box cake mix, to keep things even easier! Grab a butter golden cake mix, however feel free to experiment or try a different cake mix if it’s all you have on hand!
Other Cake Mixes that May Work:
- homemade cake mix
- white cake mix
- yellow cake mix
- spice cake mix
- butter pecan cake mix
- vanilla cake mix
How to Make a Dump Cake
As always, there’s a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post, but I’d love to walk you through the recipe with photos and extra tips to help you make this easy apple dump cake.
Ingredients:
- 2 cans of 20 or 21 oz. apple pie filling
- ½ cup caramel sauce (ice cream topping)
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 box yellow or golden cake mix
- 2 sticks (1 cup) melted butter
- ½ cups chopped pecans, if desired
Preheat Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and spray non-stick cooking spray inside of a 9 inch x13 inch baking dish.
First Layer
Expert Tip: although you can mix these ingredients in a separate bowl, save a dirty dish and pour and mix apple pie filling, caramel sauce, and cinnamon together in the baking dish, and spread evenly on the bottom.
Second Layer
Next, pour the cake mix right on top of the apple mixture and carefully spread it evenly over the top, covering the top of the apples completely.
Last Layer
Drizzle the melted butter over the cake mix, and spread it gently to cover evenly.
Optional Layer
If you prefer nuts you can then sprinkle the chopped pecans on top of the dump cake before baking.
How Long to Bake Dump Cake
Bake the caramel apple cake for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly around the edges.
How to Serve Dump Cake
Fall desserts and apple desserts in general are amazing with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and this easy caramel apple dump cake is no different!
Serve a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream with warm apple dump cake for tons of flavor!
Additional Toppings Ideas
Feel free to also top or serve this delicious cake with:
- whipped cream
- caramel bits
- extra drizzle of caramel
Related Recipes:
- Bread Pudding Recipe
- Caramel Cupcakes with Caramel Buttercream
- Gooey Butter Cake
- Peach Cobbler Using Bisquick
- Easy Cobbler Recipe
Recipe
Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 2 – 20 ounce cans apple pie filling
- ½ cup caramel sauce ice cream topping
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 15 ounces yellow or golden cake mix
- 1 cup melted butter
- ½ cup chopped pecans if desired
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees in a greased 9 x 13 inch pan, mix the apple pie filling, caramel sauce, and cinnamon together and spread evenly on the bottom.
- Pour the dry cake mix over the pie filling and spread out evenly.
- Drizzle the melted butter over the cake mix, and spread it gently to cover evenly.
- Sprinkle with chopped pecans.
- Bake at 350°F for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly around the edges.
- Serve slightly warm with ice cream.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Eleanor says
Where are the TEMPERATURE settings???? I know it’s variable but so is the time and you put THAT suggestion in! Help me out, please.
Jessica says
Hi Eleanor. I’m confused on what you’re looking for. Do you mean the oven temperature settings? It mentions bake at 350°F in the post and in the recipe card. Is it something else you’re looking for? Thank you.
Tammy says
Does this cake need to be refrigerated if made a day ahead ?
Jessica says
Hi Tammy! Great question. Yes, I would refrigerate this cake beforehand and if there are leftovers. But definitely recommend serving warm if possible!
Barbara Hutchinson says
This just might be the best dessert I have ever had. Wow! This one will be on repeat for sure!
Jessica says
Excellent!! So happy you liked this apple dessert too. It’s a great fall day recipe!
Beth says
Yummy! This was such a delicious dessert! We love apples and I’m so glad we had a few extra so I could make this. Such a great recipe and very addicting!
Jessica says
Excellent! I’m so glad to hear that you loved this apple dessert! Thank you for the review and for sharing!
Betsy says
What? How does this work?!? Love this and I am amazed! So delicious and so, so, so easy! Anyone can make this! Next time I’m putting my 9 year old in charge!
Jessica says
Oh I may have to do that with my kiddo too! He loved it and he may even be excited to make it this time! 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Jess says
This to me tastes just like a caramel apple, without the fear that you are going to lose a tooth in the hard caramel! I am in love with this!
Jessica says
Haha! That’s so true! Love that, thank you!