If you love the cozy flavors of caramel apples and warm apple pie, you’re going to want to save this Caramel Apple Dump Cake! It’s an incredibly easy fall dessert made with sweet apple pie filling, gooey caramel, buttery cake mix, and a hint of cinnamon.
The best part? You only need a handful of ingredients, and there’s no complicated mixing or homemade pie crust required. Just layer everything in a baking dish, pop it in the oven, and you’ll have a warm, golden dessert that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen.
Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and an extra drizzle of caramel sauce for the ultimate fall treat!
Why You’ll Love This Caramel Apple Dump Cake
- Super easy: No mixer or complicated preparation needed.
- Only a few ingredients: Perfect for a last-minute dessert.
- Perfect for fall: Full of cozy apple, cinnamon, and caramel flavors.
- Crowd-pleasing: Great for Thanksgiving, potlucks, parties, and family dinners.
- Delicious warm or cold: Although warm with vanilla ice cream is hard to beat!
Ingredients
- 2 cans (21 ounces each) apple pie filling
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce, plus more for drizzling
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans, optional
How to Make Caramel Apple Dump Cake
1. Prepare the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Add the Apple Filling
Spread both cans of apple pie filling evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Drizzle the caramel sauce over the apples, then sprinkle the cinnamon evenly over the top.
3. Add the Cake Mix
Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix evenly over the apple mixture. Do not stir. Keeping the layers separate is what gives this dump cake its delicious buttery, crumbly topping.
4. Add the Butter
Pour the melted butter evenly over the entire surface of the cake mix. Try to cover as much of the dry cake mix as possible.
If you’re using pecans, sprinkle them evenly over the top.
5. Bake
Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling around the edges.
Let the cake cool for about 10–15 minutes before serving.
6. Serve
Scoop the warm Caramel Apple Dump Cake into bowls and top with vanilla ice cream. Drizzle with additional caramel sauce for an extra indulgent finish.
Tips for the Best Apple Dump Cake
Don’t mix the layers. This is the most important part of making a dump cake. Simply layer the ingredients and let the oven do the work.
Cover the cake mix with butter. Try to distribute the melted butter evenly across the surface so you don’t end up with large patches of dry cake mix.
Add extra caramel. If you really love caramel apples, drizzle additional caramel sauce over each serving.
Try chopped pecans. Pecans add a delicious buttery crunch that pairs perfectly with the apples and caramel.
Serve it warm. This dessert is especially delicious straight from the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Variations
Caramel Apple Pecan Dump Cake
Add 1/2 to 1 cup of chopped pecans before baking for extra crunch.
Caramel Apple Spice Cake
Swap the yellow cake mix for a spice cake mix for even more warm fall flavor.
Apple Caramel Crumble
Add a little extra cinnamon and chopped walnuts or pecans to create a delicious crunchy topping.
Salted Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Use salted caramel sauce or sprinkle a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt over the finished dessert.
How to Store Leftovers
Cover leftover Caramel Apple Dump Cake tightly and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
To reheat, microwave individual portions for about 20–30 seconds, or warm them in a 300°F oven until heated through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this dump cake ahead of time?
Yes! You can bake it ahead of time and refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm the entire dish in the oven.
Do I have to use yellow cake mix?
No. Yellow cake mix works beautifully, but spice cake mix or butter pecan cake mix can also be delicious.
Can I use homemade apple pie filling?
Absolutely. Homemade apple pie filling works perfectly if you prefer to make it from scratch.
Can I make this without nuts?
Yes! Simply leave out the pecans. The dump cake will still have plenty of delicious caramel apple flavor.
Nutrition Information
Estimated nutrition per serving (based on 12 servings):
- Calories: 440
- Protein: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 61g
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Sugar: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sodium: 470mg
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the specific brands and ingredients used.
Final Thoughts
This Caramel Apple Dump Cake is one of those easy desserts that tastes like fall in every bite. The combination of tender cinnamon apples, gooey caramel, and buttery cake topping is incredibly comforting—and the fact that it comes together with just a few simple ingredients makes it even better.
Whether you’re looking for an easy fall dessert, Thanksgiving dessert, apple dessert recipe, caramel apple recipe, or quick dump cake, this one deserves a spot on your baking list.
Pin this recipe now so you can make it all season long! 🍎🍮
I hope you enjoyed learning about how to make this sweet caramel apple dump cake recipe! If you liked this one, you should check out my Classic Apple Pie recipe and the rest of my blog. If you have any questions, please contact me at: [email protected]