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Caramel Apple Dump Cake

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Prep Time: 5 minutes     Cook Time: 30 minutes

5 from 4 votes

This caramel apple dump cake recipe is so quick and easy. How quick and easy? Well, for a start you only need 4 ingredients! Also, there is barely any prep work involved apart from dumping the ingredients into a baking dish.

Caramel apple dump cake in a bowl with a spoon.
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Yellow cake mix and apple pie filling combine beautifully while butter and caramel bits finish it off perfectly. The kitchen will smell like a bakery and everyone will be super-impressed with your culinary efforts. You don’t have to tell them how easy this recipe was though. Shhh!

This is a lovely cobbler-like recipe to make during the fall when warm desserts are all the rage. With only 4 ingredients and a prep time of literally 2 minutes flat, there is absolutely no reason not to make this incredibly delicious dessert! It is totally foolproof.

Homemade butterscotch candy and this easy cinnamon roll cheesecake are two other fall favorites of mine that I make every year!

Main Ingredients

The ingredients to make apple caramel dump cake spread out on a table.

Apple fans are going to love this easy recipe. It’s an economic choice just bursting with fall flavor. With just 4 ingredients required, they are all main ingredients, so let’s take a look at what you’ll need to make it:

  • Apple pie filling: The main flavor. You can use any brand you want. Another option is to use pureed, cooked fresh apples and add in some sugar and spices, but it’s much simpler to use the pie filling.
  • Yellow cake mix: For the topping. If you prefer, you can use white cake mix or even spice cake mix for an equally yummy result.
  • Butter: For richness. You can either melt butter and then pour it over the top or thinly slice cold butter and dot it all over the top of the dessert. Either method will give the same result although the melted butter method is faster.
  • Caramel bits: To complement the fruity flavor. Everyone knows how well caramel pairs up with apple. I used the Kraft brand but you can use any. Caramel bits are chocolate chip-sized. Many grocery stores only carry them from October to December for festive baking. If you can’t find them, substitute chopped caramel candies or caramel sauce instead.

Instructions Overview

This caramel apple dump cake is so straightforward to make. If you can dump ingredients in a baking dish you can make it in just a couple of minutes.

Grease a baking dish and preheat the oven first of all. Next, pour the apple pie filling into the greased dish. Spread the caramel candies on top and then spread the cake mix on top of that.

Pour over the melted butter, covering as much of the cake mix as you can. Now just bake it for half an hour or until it is golden brown. Let it cool for a few minutes, then serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Scooping vanilla ice cream onto the top of apple dump cake.

Common Questions

What’s the difference between a dump cake and a cobbler?

A dump cake uses cake mix for the topping, while a cobbler has a piecrust or biscuit-type topping. If you love one, you’re sure to love the other!

Do you have to refrigerate apple dump cake?

Leftover dump cake isn’t really a thing in this house because it disappears at warp speed! Should you refrigerate leftovers if you have some though? It is fine at room temperature for a couple of days as long as you cover the baking dish with foil or plastic wrap. Pop it in the refrigerator if you’re not going to finish it within a couple of days though. You can also freeze portions of it for months.

Why do they call it dump cake?

Dump cake is a cross between a cobbler and a cake. The name is because you just "dump" all the ingredients into a baking dish. No finesse required!

Do you stir a dump cake?

Many recipes tell you not to stir but there isn’t any good reason for this. If the melted butter doesn’t cover all the cake mix, give the topping a brief stir, else you’ll end up with dry powdery bits on top where the butter missed the mix.

An overhead shot of finished apple dump cake in a baking dish.

Chopnotch Tips

  • Add a little milk or cream to the butter if you like to ensure there are no dry spots on top of the cake. This will make it fluffy rather than crisp, but it’s your choice.
  • Sprinkle nuts over the top of it before baking for some crunch, or add extra spices to the apple pie filling layer.
  • It can be stored for 2 days at room temperature or up to a week refrigerated.
  • Warm leftovers up in the microwave.
  • For extra indulgence, serve it with vanilla ice cream on top and caramel syrup drizzled over that. Or just serve caramel ice cream instead of vanilla. Or both, and whipped cream too!
A bowl of apple dump cake with vanilla ice cream melting on it topped with caramel.

Caramel apple dump cake is a must-make fall dessert. Yellow cake mix combines with apple pie filling and caramel to yield a mouthwatering, cobbler-like dessert everyone will love.

Let us know what you think! Give this recipe a rating in the comments section below.

Recipe

How to Make

Caramel Apple Dump Cake

This is one of the easiest desserts ever. You only need 4 ingredients for it and the flavor of this warm fall dessert is incredible.
SCALE THIS RECIPE
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 10 servings

Ingredients

  • 42 ounces apple pie filling, 2 cans
  • 5 ½ ounces caramel bits, ½ bag
  • 1 box yellow cake mix
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter, melted
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Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  • Pour both cans of apple pie filling into the prepared dish.
  • Evenly spread half the bag of caramel bits over the filling.
  • Evenly spread the yellow cake mix over the caramel bits.
  • Pour the melted butter over the top of the cake mix. Try to cover as much of it as possible.
  • Bake uncovered for 30 minutes until the buttery cake mix turns golden brown. Let it cool for at least 5 minutes and then top with vanilla ice cream and serve. Enjoy!
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Notes

  • Add a little milk or cream to the butter if you like to ensure there are no dry spots on top of the cake. This will make it fluffy rather than crisp, but it’s your choice.
  • Sprinkle nuts over the top of it before baking for some crunch, or add extra spices to the apple pie filling layer.
  • It can be stored for 2 days at room temperature or up to a week refrigerated.
  • Warm leftovers up in the microwave.
  • For extra indulgence, serve it with vanilla ice cream on top and caramel syrup drizzled over that. Or just serve caramel ice cream instead of vanilla. Or both, and whipped cream too!

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 370kcal (19%), Carbohydrates: 86g (29%), Protein: 3g (6%), Fat: 3g (5%), Saturated Fat: 1g (6%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 2mg (1%), Sodium: 472mg (21%), Potassium: 111mg (3%), Fiber: 2g (8%), Sugar: 49g (54%), Vitamin A: 40IU (1%), Vitamin C: 2mg (2%), Calcium: 135mg (14%), Iron: 1mg (6%)
Print Recipe
course:
Dessert
cuisine:
American

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Comments & Ratings

  1. 5 stars
    Thank you for my favorite dessert

    Reply
    • You're welcome! Thanks so much for the feedback. Hope you loved it!

      Reply