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If you’re looking for the EASIEST fall dessert, this caramel apple dump cake is just the recipe. It’s made with apple pie filling, caramel, yellow cake mix, and toasted nuts, all baked in one dish.
Are you looking for the BEST, EASY, and DELICIOUS dessert?
This caramel apple dump cake is exactly what you need! Seriously, this dessert could not be easier. Just throw the ingredients into the baking dish, bake, and BOOM dessert.
This dump cake recipe features apple pie spice mixed with toasted pecans, buttery caramel, yellow cake, and sweet apples. It’s a breeze to make and requires only seven ingredients—most of which might be in your pantry right now!
Plus, the ultimate upside to making dump cake is that it doesn’t require mixing all the ingredients. It’s magic in cake form!
What is the secret ingredient that makes it super fast? Apple pie filling! I have a few recipes featuring pie filling, such as my Apple Pie Filling Coffee Cake, Apple Pie Baked French Toast, or Easy Cherry Danish.
I love how easy it is to make this magic gooey cake!
What is a dump cake?
A dump cake is named because the ingredients are dumped into a pan and baked!
That’s right—you don’t even stir it all together. The picture below shows exactly what the cake will look like before you put it in the oven.
Regarding texture, a dump cake is a cross between a fruit cobbler and a cake.
This is a very “semi-homemade” dessert style, but don’t let that stop you. It’s super delicious, easy to make, and tasty to eat!
Want more magic? Try this peach dump cake recipe or this pumpkin dump cake.
Caramel apple dump cake ingredients
- apple pie filling – you can use your favorite apple pie filling. I like Lucky Leaf!
- apple pie spice – a tasty mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and allspice. If you don’t have apple pie spice, use cinnamon or a mix of cinnamon with a dash of nutmeg.
- lemon juice – this is to help cut the sweetness of the pie filling and caramels. If you don’t have lemon juice, you can use orange juice or apple cider.
- soft caramels – I like to use the Kraft-wrapped caramels you find in the candy section of the grocery store. If you can’t find that brand, you need about 1-1/2 cups of soft caramel.
- yellow cake mix – use whatever brand you like best. If you’re not a fan of yellow cake, you can use spice cake or white cake.
- toasted pecans – if you’re not a pecan fan, you can use toasted walnuts or leave the nuts out.
- unsalted butter – this is used on top of the cake before baking and helps everything bake up brown and delicious.
How to make caramel apple dump cake?
Making a dump cake could not be easier!
First, stir together apple pie filling, apple pie spice, and lemon juice in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
Pour that into a 9×13 baking dish and spread it out smooth.
Top with diced caramels spread evenly on dry yellow cake mix, toasted pecans, and diced unsalted butter.
Bake, and DEVOUR!
Just remember, the cake mix is sprinkled DRY. You can see the complete layout before baking a few pictures up.
FAQ’s
How do I store leftover dump cake?
Leftover dump cake can be stored tightly covered at room temperature for up to 2 days.
After that, it can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
You can freeze caramel apple dump cake for up to 3 months.
When I want to freeze, I bake the cake in a 9×13 disposable pan, let it cool, cover tightly, and freeze for up to 3 months.
More apple dessert recipes
Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 3 (20 ounce) cans apple pie filling
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon apple pie spice
- 1 (11 ounce) bag caramels, unwrapped and cut in half.
- 1 (15.2) ounce yellow cake mix
- ½ cup chopped toasted pecans
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cut into small chunks
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spray a 9×13 glass baking dish with non-stick spray, set aside.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl add apple pie filling, lemon juice, and apple pie spice. Stir together to combine.
- Pour the apple mixture into the prepared pan and smooth out.
- Arrange the caramel evenly over the apple pie fillings.
- Evenly sprinkle the dry cake mix over top.
- Sprinkle with chopped pecans.
- Place the chunks of butter over the top.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until the top starts to turn golden brown.
Notes
- If you can’t find an 11-ounce bag of soft caramels you need 1-1/2 cups of any other soft caramel.
- Replace the yellow cake mix with boxed spice cake or white cake mix.
- Substitute the pecans with walnuts or leave the nuts out of the dish.
- There is NO NEED TO STIR the mixture before baking. This is why it’s called a dump cake.
- If you have no lemon juice you can use apple cider or orange juice.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Instead of unwrapping all those carmels can you substitute Carmel ice cream sauce?
Hi Janet – I have not tried this but if you do please let me know how it works out!