Easy Caramel Apple Dump Cake
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This Caramel Apple Dump Cake combines sweet apple pie filling, gooey caramel, and a buttery yellow cake topping into a warm, comforting dessert. It’s incredibly simple to make with just four ingredients and comes together right in one pan.
Easy Caramel Apple Cobbler
Dump cakes, like this apple and caramel cake, my Lemon Dump Cake, and my Carrot Pineapple Dump Cake, are one of my favorite kinds of desserts. They’re so easy to make, use just a handful of ingredients, and come together right in the baking dish, which means fewer dishes to clean up afterward!
This Caramel Apple Dump Cake has definitely become a favorite, especially when the weather starts to cool down. The warm apple filling and caramel in this version make it extra cozy and it totally smells like fall as it bakes. Sometimes I even scatter a handful of pecans over the top before baking for extra texture!
Ingredients
- Apple pie filling – Pre-sweetened and spiced, so it’s ready to use with no extra prep.
- Caramel bits – Melt into the apples for a gooey caramel layer.
- Yellow cake mix – Forms the soft, golden topping.
- Salted butter – Adds richness and helps the top brown.
Making the Caramel Apple Dessert
- Prep – Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Add the filling – Spread the apple pie filling evenly in the bottom of the baking dish.
- Top with caramel – Sprinkle the caramel bits evenly over the apple pie filling.
- Add the cake mix – Pour the dry cake mix over the top, spreading it into an even layer without stirring.
- Add the butter – Arrange the butter slices evenly across the top of the cake mix to cover as much as possible.
- Bake – Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the top is golden and the edges are bubbling.
- Cool and serve – Let it cool slightly before serving. It’s great warm, especially with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Variations and Substitutions
- Use different pie filling – Swap apple pie filling with peach, cherry, or blueberry for a different flavor.
- Use homemade apple filling – You can use 5 cups of homemade apple pie filling if you prefer to make it from scratch. Just be sure it’s already cooked, sweetened, and spiced.
- Add chopped nuts – Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts over the caramel layer for extra crunch.
- Use spice cake mix – Swap the yellow cake mix for spice cake mix to add even more fall flavor. I love Duncan Hines Spice Cake Mix above all the others.
Tips for Success
- Even layers – Distribute each ingredient evenly to make sure every bite has a good balance of flavor.
- Do not mix! – Don’t stir the layers. The distinct layering is what gives this dump cake its signature texture.
- Use dry cake mix – Add the cake mix straight from the box without preparing it. This keeps the texture right and makes the recipe easier.
- Even butter distribution – Space the butter slices evenly over the top to prevent dry spots and help the topping bake up golden and rich.
- Rest before serving – Let the cake sit for about 10 minutes after baking so it sets up and slices more easily.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream – A scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream adds the perfect finishing touch.
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Love Apple Desserts? Try These
Check out these simple apple dessert recipes to keep the cozy flavors going.
Did you love this apple dump cake recipe? Please leave a star rating and share your thoughts in the comments below.
Caramel Apple Dump Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 (20 ounce) cans of apple pie filling
- 1 (11 ounce) bag of caramel bits
- 1 (15.25 ounce) box of yellow cake mix
- ¾ cup salted butter cut into thin slices
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Lightly spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Spread an even layer of the apple pie filling in the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Sprinkle the caramel bits over the pie filling.
- Sprinkle the dry cake mix over the top and spread it into an even layer with the back of a spoon.
- Place the butter pats evenly over the dry cake mix, ensuring no large patches of cake mix are showing.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
- Allow the cake to rest for 10 minutes before serving with ice cream or whipped cream.
Notes
- Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave until warmed through.
- You can freeze baked dump cake for up to 2 months. Let it cool completely, then wrap tightly or store in an airtight container. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- If you can’t find caramel bits, you can use 1 ½ cups of caramel squares instead. Cut the caramels into smaller pieces before sprinkling them over the apple filling.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Nutrition information is estimated based on automated calculations and should be considered as an approximation. These estimates are provided as a courtesy. Please use your own brand’s nutritional values to verify accuracy.
I didn’t think it would be this easy. I’m definitely trying this out for my niece’s birthday this weekend. Thanks a lot.
This looks so good! And so easy too! I can’t wait to try making it!
Warm Gooey Apple Heaven! Can’t believe how easy it is… My new go-to
So easy to make and perfect for fall too!!
This apple dump cake looks super delish! I really love apple cakes and it is very enticing. Will try this pretty soon. Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe.
I’m adding these ingredients to my grocery list for the week. This looks SO good!
YUM – I can’t wait to try this. I love apple pie flavors, but don’t actually like pie so this looks like a win-win just in time for apple season!
So easy! I might have to try this with Gluten Free cake mix! Yum!
YUMMY – I wanna eat this now! Hahaha
Wow! This was the easiest recipe ever! Huge hit too. Thank you so much!
Turns out delicious every time!