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Cozy fall flavors don’t get any easier than this Caramel Apple Dump Cake! It’s got all the comfort of warm apple pie with a buttery, golden cake topping and ribbons of gooey caramel—made with simple pantry staples and just a few minutes of hands-on time.
What makes this one so special is the texture party in every bite: soft, cinnamon-spiced apples, pockets of melty caramel, and that crisp-edged, buttery cake layer on top. It tastes like you fussed all afternoon, but your oven and a box of cake mix do almost all the work.
If you love easy, cozy desserts like this cake, be sure to try my Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake, Apple Dump Cake, and Pumpkin Dump Cake next. And if you’d like even more family-favorite desserts, browse my full Cake Recipes collection.
It’s the kind of dessert that fills the kitchen with warmth and the table with smiles—just the way Grandma liked it.
✨ Before You Start
✨ Check your baking dish size. Most dump cakes bake best in a 9 x 13-inch dish. If you switch to a smaller dish, the topping will be thicker and may need extra time in the oven.
✨ Prep your apple layer. If you’re using canned apple pie filling, give it a quick stir with extra cinnamon and a pinch of salt to brighten the flavor. If your recipe uses fresh apples, be sure they’re sliced evenly so they cook at the same rate.
✨ Don’t stir the layers. Dump cakes are all about layering: apples on the bottom, dry cake mix on top, then butter. Resist the urge to mix it all together—those layers are what create that cobbler-meets-cake texture.
✨ Butter coverage matters. Make sure the top is evenly moistened with melted butter (or thin slices of butter), so you don’t end up with dry patches of cake mix. A few tiny dry spots are okay; big ones are not.
✨ Plan for standing time. This dessert is best if it can rest 15–20 minutes after baking. The juices thicken, the topping crisps, and you’ll get cleaner, prettier scoops.
CARAMEL APPLE DUMP CAKE INGREDIENTS
- Apple pie filling: Use your favorite brand. Or make your own, if you are ambitious!
- Cinnamon: A warm spice, perfect for apples
- Nutmeg: This warm and nutty spice is the perfect complement to cinnamon
- Yellow cake mix: Yellow cake mix is a white cake mix made with egg yolks and has a vanilla flavor. It is richer than white cake and perfect for this recipe.
- Caramel baking bits: I use the little round bits, which melt nicely. Using the larger square caramel candies ended up hard and sticky. I do not recommend them.
- Pecans: My all-time favorite nut. Feel free to use your favorite.
- Butter: Unsalted
- Caramel sauce: This sauce finishes off the dessert and sends you off to caramel apple heaven! Homemade is always more delicious. If you want to make it at home, check out my caramel sauce recipe. If you want to keep it easy-peasy, use your favorite commercial brand.
HOW TO MAKE CARAMEL APPLE DUMP CAKE
How to Make Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Here’s a quick look at how to assemble this easy Caramel Apple Dump Cake (full instructions in the recipe card below).
Start by heating your oven and greasing your baking dish. Spread the apple pie filling (or prepared fresh apples) evenly in the bottom of the dish, then drizzle or dollop the caramel over the apples so it’s fairly evenly distributed. Sprinkle the dry cake mix over the top, covering the apples completely. Pour the melted butter over the cake mix as evenly as possible (or dot with thin slices of butter), making sure most of the surface is moistened. If your recipe includes nuts, sprinkle them over the top. Bake until the top is golden brown, the edges are bubbling, and the center is cooked through. Let the dump cake rest for a bit before scooping and serving warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
***See the full instructions below.
How To Tell When It’s Done
This is the trickiest part of baking a dump cake. Of course, the top needs to be golden and the filling needs to be bubbly. Both those things can occur, and the dump cake may not be done! The trick is the bottom of the topping needs to be cooked through.
I like to pull up a small piece of the center of the top crust and check to make sure it’s done and doesn’t still looking like wet batter.
⭐ Pro Tips
⭐ Aim for even butter coverage
If your butter doesn’t quite reach the corners, use a spoon or spatula to gently nudge melted butter into drier spots of cake mix before baking. This keeps the topping from baking up powdery or sandy in certain areas.
⭐ Don’t over-bake the apples
If you’re using fresh apples, slice them on the thinner side but not paper-thin. You want them to soften and become tender, not disappear completely. The cake is done when the apples are soft and the topping is golden, not when the apples are totally broken down.
⭐ Let it set before serving
Dump cake is very bubbly and loose when it first comes out of the oven. Giving it 15–20 minutes to rest helps the juices thicken so each scoop has a nice balance of fruit and cake, and your ice cream won’t melt instantly.
⭐ Add a little salt
A tiny pinch of salt stirred into the apples or caramel keeps this from tasting overly sweet and makes the caramel flavor pop. It’s like a subtle salted caramel moment without being a full-on salty dessert.
⭐ Dress it up for company
Serve warm scoops in shallow bowls, top with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream, and drizzle with extra caramel sauce. A few chopped toasted pecans on top make it look (and taste!) like a special-occasion dessert with almost zero extra effort.
Storing + Reheating + Freezing + Make-Ahead Tips
Storing
- Once the dump cake has cooled to room temperature, cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or transfer leftovers to an airtight container. Because of the fruit and dairy, I recommend storing it in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
Reheating
- For the best texture, reheat individual portions in the microwave in short bursts until warmed through. For larger portions, cover the dish with foil and reheat in a 350°F oven for about 15–20 minutes, just until hot and bubbly. If your dump cake is in a glass or ceramic dish, let it come to room temperature before going into a hot oven, or transfer it to an oven-safe pan.
Freezing
- You can freeze baked and cooled dump cake. Wrap the pan well in plastic wrap and foil or portion leftovers into freezer containers. Freeze for up to 2–3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat gently in the oven until warmed through.
Make-Ahead
- For a head start, you can assemble the apple and caramel layer, cover, and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight. When you’re ready to bake, sprinkle on the cake mix, add the butter, and bake. Because the filling is cold, you may need to add a few extra minutes of bake time.
What to Serve With Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Since this is a cozy, comforting dessert, I love pairing it with hearty mains and simple sides to make a full meal.
Hearty Mains
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Crockpot Pork Tenderloin – Juicy, flavorful pork cooked low and slow in a savory sauce that makes the perfect cozy main before a warm apple dessert.
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Chicken Tetrazzini – Creamy, comforting pasta casserole that feels special enough for guests but is easy enough for a family dinner.
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Johnny Marzetti Casserole – A nostalgic, meaty pasta bake that’s pure Midwest comfort and pairs beautifully with an old-fashioned dessert like dump cake.
Fresh + Crisp Sides
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House Salad – A simple, crisp green salad to balance the richness of your main and dessert.
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Harvest Salad – Full of apples, nuts, and seasonal flavors that echo the caramel apple theme on the dessert table.
Sweet Finishes (For a Dessert Buffet)
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Heaven on Earth Cake – Light, creamy, and layered with cake, pudding, and cherries for a no-fuss showstopper.
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Strawberry Jello Cake – A fun, retro-style cake that’s ultra moist and bursting with strawberry flavor.
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Cherry Yum Yum – A creamy, layered cherry dessert with a buttery crust that always disappears first.
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Butterscotch Delight – Rich, silky butterscotch layers over a tender crust for a nostalgic, spoonable treat.
✦ Frequently Asked Questions
✦ Do I have to use canned apple pie filling?
No, but it’s the easiest option and gives very consistent results. If you’d like to use fresh apples, choose a firm baking variety, slice them evenly, and toss with sugar, spices, and a little flour or cornstarch so the juices thicken as they bake. You may also need a few extra minutes of bake time with fresh fruit.
✦ Which cake mix is best for caramel apple dump cake?
Yellow, butter, or spice cake mix all work beautifully. Yellow and butter cake mixes keep the flavors classic and buttery, while spice cake adds more cinnamon and warm spices to the top layer. Just avoid mixes with strong flavors (like lemon) that will compete with the apples and caramel.
✦ Can I add nuts or oats to the topping?
Absolutely. Chopped pecans or walnuts add amazing crunch and a toasty flavor that pairs perfectly with caramel and apples. You can also sprinkle a handful of oats over the cake mix before adding the butter if you’d like a slightly more “crumble-style” topping.
✦ Can I serve this cold?
You can, but it really shines when it’s warm or gently reheated—the caramel gets gooey again, the apples soften slightly, and the topping is more fragrant. If it’s been chilled, just warm individual servings in the microwave before topping with ice cream.
Still have questions? Drop them in the comments — I love helping you bake + cook with confidence! 💗
More Dump Cake Recipes
If you love easy, cozy desserts like this Caramel Apple Dump Cake, be sure to check out my full Dump Cake Collection for even more simple, crowd-pleasing recipes you’ll want to make again and again.
- Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake – Rich chocolate cake with sweet cherry filling for a decadent, crowd-pleasing dessert.
- Lemon Dump Cake – Bright, citrusy, and perfectly balanced with a soft, buttery topping.
- Peach Cobbler Dump Cake – Warm, juicy peaches with a golden cake topping that tastes just like a classic cobbler.
- Blueberry Dump Cake – Sweet, jammy blueberries baked under a soft, buttery cake layer.
- Strawberry Dump Cake – Fresh, fruity flavor with a soft cake topping that’s perfect for spring and summer.
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Thanks for stopping by my kitchen today — happy cooking, friends! 💗 Kathleen
Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 2 (21-ounce) cans apple pie filling
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 1/2 cups Caramel baking bits
- 3/4 cup pecans, chopped
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into cut into 24 thin slices
- 3 ounces (1/4 of most jars) caramel sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF (177ºC). Butter a 9x13 baking dish or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- Pour both cans of apple pie filling (2 cans) into the prepared baking dish.
- Spread the caramel bits (1 1/2 cups) in a layer over the apple pie filling.
- Pour dry cake (1 box), cinnamon (1 teaspoon), and nutmeg (1/4 teaspoon) into a medium mixing bowl and whisk until evenly combined.
- Evenly spread the cake and spice mixture over the top of the filling and press down gently.
- Arrange butter slices (24 slices) evenly over the cake mix. Sprinkle pecans (3/4 cup) over top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 58-65 minutes, or until the edges are deeply golden brown and the fruit is bubbly. (If the topping browns before the topping is cooked through, tent top with foil and continue to bake). Remove from oven and let set for a few minutes.
- Drizzle the top of the dump cake with caramel sauce (3 ounces).
- Serve warm. Top the cake with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you like.
Fans Also Made:
Notes
- Don’t Stir: Do not stir the ingredients, just assemble and bake.
- Butter Slices: If you don’t end up getting 24 slices of butter, don’t worry. Just cover the top with slices of butter spread as evenly as possible. This is supposed to be fun, not math class! The cake will turn out just fine. If you pull the dump cake out of the oven and have large dry spots, just slice some more butter and place it on the dry spot then pop it back in the oven to melt.
- Slices: By placing the cold butter on top of the mix, the cake cooks perfectly every time! This is my favorite way to get an evenly baked crunchy cake top. I make a lot of dump cakes and find that the butter slices work much better than melted butter.
Nutrition
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It was very well received at church today! I doubled the fruit, pretending that made it healthy.
It was very well received at church today! I doubled the fruit, pretending that made it helthy.
I’m so happy to hear that this was a hit at church! Doubling the fruit sounds delicious! Thank you so much for leaving a comment and the 5 star rating!!
This 👏 is 👏 the 👏 best 👏 dump cake! 👏 I can’t emphasize this enough. LOL. We loooooved it!
Thank you so much, Shayne! I’m glad you love this dump cake! 🙂