Caramel Apple Dump Cake is a rich and gooey dessert that you won’t believe is this easy to make! Apple pie filling, yellow cake mix and chopped pecans combine into a buttery rich dessert that tastes like it came from the kitchen of a top chef.

Just like with lemon blueberry dump cake and mixed berry dump cake, prep work is practically nonexistent if you buy ready-made ingredients. It’s the perfect dessert for lazy bakers!

Caramel apple dump cake on a white plate with whipped cream on top

Caramel Apple Dump Cake

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What’s A Dump Cake?

Dump cakes are very much like traditional fruit cobblers and often served warm with a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream on top. But unlike cobblers, you don’t need to mix up a batter.

As the name implies, a dump cake comes together by literally dumping a few ingredients into an oblong cake pan and mixing and layering them right in the pan. The whole thing is ready for the oven in about three minutes!

My yummy recipe for dump cake with apple pie filling and caramel uses these ingredients:

  • Yellow cake mix
  • Canned apple pie filling
  • Caramel ice cream topping
  • Salted butter
  • Chopped pecans (optional)
  • Cinnamon or apple pie spice (optional)

The beauty of a dump cake is that you can easily substitute other fruit fillings based on what you like, or just to experience several luscious varieties. Whatever fruit filling you use, your dump cake will always be a crowd-pleaser!

Caramel apple dump cake layer in a casserole dish

Here’s How I Make It

With only 4 main ingredients this caramel apple dump cake is quick and easy to make. The moistness of the apple pie filling binds perfectly with the dry cake mix to create a moist cake-crumble texture that is oh so delicious!

  1. Mix together apple pie filling and caramel right in the cake pan and spread evenly.
  2. Dump the dry cake mix evenly over pie filling.
  3. Pour melted butter over the top.
  4. Top with chopped pecans.
  5. Bake for about 45 minutes.

Serve warm topped with ice cream or whipped cream.

Layers of caramel apple dump cake in a clear casserole dish

Can I Use Fresh Apples?

For a more homemade taste you can definitely use fresh apples! This way you can adjust some of the sugars as well. Fresh apples have a tartness that can provide a welcome counterbalance to the sugariness of the caramel and cake mix.

If using fresh apples, you will need to cook them in advance.

  1. Peel, core and slice 8 medium apples.
  2. Place in a covered pan, with an inch of water. Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 2/3 cup sugar, or to taste.
  3. Cook until softened but not mushy, stirring occasionally.

To cook off most of the water, remove the cover toward the end.

To thicken the sauce, mix some corn starch in with the juices.

  1. Mix 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch with two tablespoons water.
  2. After about 5 minutes or when apples are slightly soft add the cornstarch mixture and continue cooking until thickened.

Caramel apple dump cake in a clear casserole dish with apples on the side

Can I Make This in Advance?

Most baked goods taste best served fresh. But yes, you can make caramel apple dump cake in advance.

  • In the refrigerator, it will last up to a week if stored in a tightly covered container.
  • In the freezer, it will last up to four months. Just slice into squares in the pan, then freeze. When hardened, transfer the squares into plastic freezer containers.

This caramel apple dump cake, served warm with whipped cream or ice cream, is simple to make, deliciously sweet, and immensely satisfying — exactly what we want our dessert to be!

Delicious Apple Desserts

Caramel Apple Snickers Pie – simple but of so delicious!

Caramel Apple Pie Bites with only 4 ingredients! – sweet, tart, easy dessert.

Crock Pot Apple Cobbler Recipe – just 3 simple ingredients

Caramel Apple Poke Cake – covered in a sweet & sticky caramel sauce

Caramel Apple Trifle – layers of sweet spiced apples and pound cake!

Caramel apple dump cake on a white plate with whipped cream on top
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Caramel Apple Dump Cake Recipe with 4 ingredients

Caramel Apple Dump Cake is a rich and gooey dessert that you won't believe is this easy to make!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 8 servings
Author Holly

Ingredients  

  • 2 cans apple pie filling
  • ½ cup caramel sauce
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon optional
  • 1 box yellow cake mix
  • 2 sticks butter 1 cup, melted
  • ½ cup pecans chopped, optional
  • whipped cream or ice cream optional for garnish

Instructions 

  • In a greased 9x13 dish, mix apple pie filling and caramel sauce.
  • You may add in the ½ teaspoon cinnamon if desired.
  • Spread evenly in pan.
  • Pour dry cake mix directly on top of the pie filing and spread evenly.
  • Top with melted butter and pecans (optional).
  • Bake at 350°F for 45-50 minutes or until top is golden brown and apple filling is bubbly around the edges.
  • Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

Video

4.61 from 88 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Nutrition Information

Calories: 624kcal | Carbohydrates: 101g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 791mg | Potassium: 116mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 48g | Vitamin A: 754IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 157mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dessert
Cuisine American

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Comments

  1. My cake didn’t cook evenly. There were places the cake mix didn’t cook at all. I spread it out evenly. Any ideas?

    1. I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure Beverly. Often if you have places where the cake mix didn’t cook at all it’s because the butter didn’t spread to that area. Did you use the full cup of butter and make sure it was spread over the entire cake?

  2. I made this for my Hubby – he loved it! – especially with vanilla ice cream on top.
    So then he asked me to make it again for his elderly mother last weekend. We brought her a whole cake and the Cool Whip to put on top. 
    Now he wants me to make it with cherry pie filling instead of apple. Should I add the caramel sauce or omit it? And if I omit it, should I put something else in its place!

  3. 5 stars
    I made it with yellow cake mix was delicous but next time im using spice cake im sure it will add extra yummy flavor !!

  4. Another variation is to use crushed pineapple & canned pitted tart cherries in water mixed together. The flavors blend wonderfully. Hubby’s co-workers beg for it throughout the year.

    1. I haven’t tried it so can’t say for sure, but if you try replacing apple pie filling with peach pie filling, please let us know how it works out for you!

      1. That is the first dump cake I made was with peaches! Was wonderful. I didn’t use Carmel in it though.

    2. I make with peaches all the time! I don’t put pecans on it. I do add the cinnamon though. I use 2 cans peach filling or I use 1 can peach pie filling and 1 can Sliced peaches-drained syrup & rinsed. Always turns out great.

      1. Pop it into the oven for about 15 minutes, or until warm. It’ll microwave well on serving plates. Enjoy Mel!

  5. I was printing the Caramel Apple Dump Cake Recipe and it calls for 2 sticks of butter, One melted and added to top of dry mix. What do we do with the other stick of butter?

  6. I was wondering if you cut this recipe in half and use a 8×8 pan would you bake it for 30 to 35 minutes.

    1. I have only tried this as written. If you try cutting it in half, please let us know how it works out for you!

    1. I have only tried this as written. If you use the 8×8 pan, please let us know how it works out for you!

  7. Anne, most dump cakes call for only one stick of butter. The one time I made one with two sticks it was too much. I think you would be good with just one stick.

  8. I’ve been making this dump cake for a couple of years now and it is so easy to switch it up…be sure to add more cinnamon to the apple filling and I put the caramel on the top after baking….people love it. When I switch to cherry filling I also drizzle chocolate after drizzling the caramel. Make it your own, so easy.

  9. So Where is the actual recipe ?? It’s not showing on this page. I see a picture and it tells the ingredients but no instructions.

  10. The only ingredients i see are cake mix and apples that is only two so you say there is four i only see two.

  11. I’ll making this right now and report back with my results I love dump cakes I make a lot I have homage recipes but I am going to let someone’s else recipe fly with. My family and see if they like it I don’t know well. See I’m not going to tell them that it is not my recipe and see how it is

  12. My daughter in law made this for Thanksgiving dinner. It was so good. I made one today to take to my father in laws for a early Christmas dinner. It will be a go to recipe for special occasions. Not something you want to have around the house all the time, it’s just too good!!

  13. Absolutely delicious out of the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! Even better the next day…
    Wouldn’t change anything and will make this again!!

  14. I mix one stick of butter (melted) with the cake mix and crumble it on top of the pie filling and bake about 40 minutes oat 350

  15. To all of the people asking “Do I mix the dry cake mix into a batter?” … NO! The butter absorbs into the dry cake mix and makes a terrific buttery crust!

  16. I do the same thing with canned pumpkin instead of apples. Add some cinnamon, nutmeg, a dash of cloves, and a couple of eggs. Mix well and pour into a deep 9×13. Sprinkle with a dry yellow cake mix, the melted butter. It is a great change from plain pumpkin pie!

  17. Ok…im still a little confused. Where it says dry cake mix. Do that mean take the cake mix and make a batter or just take it directly from the box and pour. Need a little clarification plz someone i really want to make this.

  18. I made this last night, using spice cake mix and Smucker’s apple cinnamon topping instead of caramel. It was fantastic! With a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, it was to die for!

  19. Been making “dump cakes” for yeeeeeeeeears & have YET to find ANYONE I’ve served them to who HASN’T raved & raved & ABSOLUTELY ❤LOOOOOOVED❤ THEM!!!! There’s 2 FAAAAAAABTASTIC cookbooks out there, “101 Things To Do With A Box Of Cake Mix” & “101 MORE Things To Do With A Box Of Cake Mix.” AMAZINGLY, this CADC recipe IS NOT one of the 202 Recipes ((as far as I remember anyway)), but there’s absolutely LOADS of different “Dump Cake” recipes in them….ALLLLLLL of them DEEEEEE-LISCIOUS!!

    Of all the different “Dump Cakes” I’ve had over the years, I honestly think THIS one is my absolute favorite…..I honestly just CANNOT BELIEVE I’ve only come across, found, made, brought to NUMEROUS gatherings & ❤LOOOOOOOVED❤ THIS particular variation over the last coupla months!!! WHERE’VE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE, CADC???? We’ve made several variations….used marge instead of butter, macadamia nuts, peanuts, pecans, walnuts, etc., and literally
    -E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E- who’s tried them have LOVED them. Our absolute fave though is served warm with natural vanilla ice cream. And even friends who can’t make TOAST have conquered this!!! BeSt Of LuCk To Y’aLL….yOu’LL lOvE iT!!!!!!

  20. Going to try this recipe and was wondering if part of the butter could perhaps be substituted with apple sauce? I will try that and report back if anyone is interested. 🙂

  21. I exchanged part of the butter (1/2 cup) with water and used a spice cake. I am going to use one stick next time and half a cup of water.
    Everybody asked me to make it again

  22. I have made it with cherry pie filling, too. Added a splash of almond flavoring in place of cinnamon. Used a jiffy cake mix in 8×8 pan. So rich, a small serving is all that is needed, especially when served warm with ice cream.

  23. Made this oh so easy apple / Caramel dump cake to go with Sunday dinner. My whole family LOVED it. One thought I had purchased it from a very good bakery shop. Best ever!!
    Please, keep up the great work.

  24. I made this in a crock pot before. Spray it first. Add ingredients as described in recipe. On LOW it takes about 4 hours or Hi about 2 hours. yum 🙂

  25. Made this today and used a spice cake mix instead of yellow cake. Very good. Think the apples need a little more cinnamon and maybe nutmeg.

  26. This was great! Cut everything in half and did it in an 8×8. Saved the other half of cake mix to try with cherries or blueberry pie filling.

  27. Sounds delicious….one I do believe I will try. Thank you for sharing recipes. Great new ideas for desserts among meal ideas.

  28. Baked with I can’t believe its not butter & pecans…added lite cool whip and it was so good!!! Just as good the next day too! None left after that as my gang finished it off! Trying it on my co-workers next!

    1. Beth the real apples will take way longer and your crescent rolls will get done waaaay before the apples, hope this helps

  29. So delicious! We loved it so much I’m taking it to work tomorrow for the office Birthdays of the month.
    Ann – Use a margarine with a high oil content, much cheaper than butter.

  30. How can this be poormans!? TWO sticks of butter!! i can only afford ipack(4stick)a month, to use 2 fot one meal is WAY to extravegant.. sounds like it might taste good though and Way to much fat and sugar for my dietary regeme.