🍎🍯 Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Warm cinnamon apples, gooey caramel, buttery golden cake, and crunchy pecans come together in this effortless Caramel Apple Dump Cake.
This cozy dessert has all the flavors of a classic caramel apple without the work of making a pie from scratch. Apple pie filling is layered with cinnamon and caramel sauce, topped with dry yellow cake mix, and finished with melted butter before baking until golden and bubbling.
It’s the perfect easy dessert for fall gatherings, holidays, potlucks, or a simple weeknight treat.
⏱️ Recipe Information
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 45–50 minutes
Total Time: About 1 hour
Servings: 10–12
Difficulty: Easy
Method: Oven / Dump Cake
Pan: 9 × 13-inch baking dish
🛒 Ingredients
- 2 cans (21 oz / 595 g each) apple pie filling
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup (120 ml) caramel sauce, divided
- 1 box (15.25 oz / 432 g) yellow cake mix
- ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup chopped pecans, optional
For Serving — Optional
- Vanilla ice cream
- Extra caramel sauce
- Whipped cream
- Chopped pecans
- Pinch of flaky sea salt
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Lightly grease a 9 × 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or a thin layer of butter.
2. Add the Apple Filling
Spread both cans of apple pie filling evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Use a spatula to gently spread the filling into an even layer.
3. Add Cinnamon and Caramel
Sprinkle the ground cinnamon evenly over the apples.
Drizzle approximately ¼ cup of the caramel sauce over the apple filling.
Don’t worry if the caramel isn’t perfectly distributed—it will melt and spread as the cake bakes.
4. Add the Cake Mix
Sprinkle the entire box of dry yellow cake mix evenly over the apples.
Do not mix the cake mix into the apple filling.
For the best texture, make sure the dry mix is distributed as evenly as possible from edge to edge.
5. Add the Butter
Slowly drizzle the melted butter over the entire surface of the cake mix.
Try to cover as much of the dry cake mix as possible.
If a few small dry patches remain, that’s okay, but avoid leaving large areas completely untouched by butter.
6. Add the Pecans
If using pecans, sprinkle the chopped pecans evenly over the top.
They add a wonderful toasted crunch that complements the soft apples and caramel.
7. Bake
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven.
Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until:
- The top is golden brown and crisp.
- The edges are bubbling.
- The apple filling is hot and gooey.
- The cake topping is cooked through.
If the top begins browning too quickly, loosely cover the dish with aluminum foil for the remainder of the baking time.
8. Add More Caramel
Remove the dump cake from the oven and let it cool for approximately 10–15 minutes.
Drizzle the remaining ¼ cup caramel sauce over the warm cake.
Letting it rest briefly allows the filling to thicken slightly while keeping the dessert wonderfully gooey.
9. Serve
Spoon the warm Caramel Apple Dump Cake into bowls.
For the ultimate dessert, top each serving with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and an extra drizzle of warm caramel sauce.
Sprinkle with chopped pecans if desired.
Serve warm.
⭐ Chef’s Tips
Spread the cake mix evenly
The biggest secret to a good dump cake is even distribution. Spread the dry cake mix all the way to the edges before adding the butter.
Use enough butter
The melted butter helps transform the dry cake mix into a golden, buttery topping. Drizzle it as evenly as possible.
Don’t stir the layers
This is a true dump cake. Simply layer the ingredients and bake—mixing them together can change the texture.
Let it rest
Give the cake 10–15 minutes after baking. The apple filling will thicken slightly while remaining deliciously gooey.
Add the caramel after baking
Saving some caramel for the end gives you a fresh, rich caramel flavor that really stands out.
🍎 Easy Variations
Caramel Pecan Apple Dump Cake
Use the optional pecans and add an extra handful over the top before baking.
Salted Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Drizzle with salted caramel sauce and finish with a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt.
Apple Spice Dump Cake
Add ½ teaspoon nutmeg and ¼ teaspoon ground cloves along with the cinnamon.
Butter Pecan Apple Dump Cake
Replace the yellow cake mix with a butter pecan cake mix.
Oatmeal Apple Dump Cake
Sprinkle ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats over the cake mix before adding the butter for extra texture.
Cranberry Apple Dump Cake
Add ½–1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries over the apple filling for a tart contrast.
🍨 How to Serve
This dessert is especially delicious while warm.
Serve it with:
- Vanilla ice cream
- Whipped cream
- Warm caramel sauce
- Chopped toasted pecans
- Cinnamon sugar
- A light dusting of powdered sugar
The combination of warm apple filling and cold melting vanilla ice cream is hard to beat.
🧊 Storage
Cover the cooled cake tightly and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Because of the fruit filling, don’t leave leftovers at room temperature for extended periods.
🔥 Reheating
For individual servings, microwave for 30–60 seconds, or until warmed through.
For a larger portion, cover loosely with foil and reheat in a 325°F (165°C) oven until warm.
Add a fresh drizzle of caramel before serving.
❄️ Freezing
Allow the baked dump cake to cool completely.
Transfer portions to airtight freezer-safe containers or wrap the baking dish tightly.
Freeze for up to 2 months.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat before serving.
🍎🍯 Final Result
This Caramel Apple Dump Cake is everything you want in an easy fall dessert: tender cinnamon-spiced apples, gooey caramel, a buttery golden cake topping, and crunchy pecans in every bite.
Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and an extra caramel drizzle, and you’ve got an incredibly cozy dessert with almost no effort.
Just dump, bake, drizzle, and enjoy! 🍎🍯🥧✨