This Caramel Apple Dump Cake is a quick and easy shortcut dessert that tastes good enough to serve for company. Just six simple ingredients including apple pie filling, cinnamon, nutmeg, cake mix, and butter are dumped in a pan, baked and the results are amazing!
Caramel Apple Dump Cake
This Caramel Apple Dump Cake reminds me of fall when apples are harvested, but we like to make it all year long. It’s perfect for a summer picnic, family meal, potluck, and more. With just six ingredients and 10 minutes of prep time, you can enjoy this simple apple dessert anytime you want. This Dump Cake is a favorite and the caramel takes it to a whole other level of amazing.
What is a Dump Cake?
A ‘dump cake’ is a cake using ingredients that are literally dumped in a baking dish together. There is no mixing required, and no extra dirty dishes or mixing bowls have to be cleaned. Usually, fruit or canned fruit is used as the base. Top with a boxed cake mix and a wet ingredient like melted butter. Don’t miss these other great dump cake recipes: Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake | Easy Peach Dump Cake | Instant Pot Pina Colada Dump Cake
Ingredients You Will Need:
(the exact measurements and full recipe instructions are below in the easy to print recipe card):
- Apple pie filling – any apple pie filling brand will work or make our delicious homemade apple pie filling.
- Ground cinnamon – the extra cinnamon really makes the apple pie filling taste good!
- Ground nutmeg – some nutmeg adds a little hint of spice to the apples.
- Kraft caramels – unwrap the caramels and cut each in half
- Yellow cake mix – do not prepare the cake mix; leave it dry.
- Butter – cut the butter into ¼ inch thick pats. It’s best to use salted butter. Do not use margarine.
How to Make Caramel Apple Dump Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 13×9 glass dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, mix together apple pie filling, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Pour the apple mixture into the prepared pan and smooth out evenly.
- Arrange the caramels over top of the apple filling.
- Evenly sprinkle the dry cake mix over the caramels.
- Place the pats of butter evenly over the top of the whole dessert.
- Bake the dump cake at 350F for 45 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned and the edges are bubbling. Cool slightly before serving.
What to Serve with Caramel Apple Dump Cake
- Vanilla ice cream
- Warm caramel sauce
- Ground cinnamon or cinnamon sugar
- Whipped cream
How to Store the Leftovers
Keep the leftover cake covered tightly with plastic wrap or transfer it to an airtight food storage container. Keep the cake at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Tips and Tricks
- Additional spices can be added to the apple pie filling layer. A sprinkling of cinnamon, a pinch of nutmeg, or allspice, are all wonderful spices to stir in to ramp up the the flavor.
- Yellowcake mix is what we use in this recipe, however, white cake mix and spice cake mix are also great flavor options!
More Apple Cake Recipes You Will Love
- Cinnamon Apple Cake
- Apple Butter Cake
- Apple Cider Donut Cake
- Upside Down Apple Cake
- Layered Apple Spice Cake
Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cans (20 ounce) apple pie filling
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 1/2 cups Kraft caramels unwrapped and each cut in half
- 1 box dry yellow cake mix
- 1 cup butter cut into ¼ inch thick pats
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 13×9 casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, mix together apple pie filling, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour the apple mixture into the prepared pan and smooth out evenly.
- Arrange the caramels over top of the apple filling. Evenly sprinkle the dry cake mix over the caramels.
- Place the pats of butter evenly over the top of the whole dessert.
- Bake the dump cake at 350F for 45 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned and the edges are bubbling.
- Cool slightly before serving.
Last Step:
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115 comments on “Caramel Apple Dump Cake”
I made the peach version with a vanilla cake mix and it turned out great. Only issue I had was after cutting butter I couldn’t get them apart to put on the cake 😀 so I will put back in frig to stiffen before handling to put on the cake. It was easy like she said so I’m not intimidated or afraid it would be like an episode of “Nailed It!”
I’ve made peach dump cake for some time now and you’ve got to slice and apply the pats of butter individually. It’s obviously the most tedious part, but definitely worth it!
I made this and it was great! The only thing I did different was add some cinnamon sugar on top before baking. Great with ice cream and it couldn’t be any easier!
This is probably a great recipe, however, it’s so hard to see in between ALL OF THE ADDS! Sorry, I know this is how you make revenue but it’s very difficult to read.
Dumpdidleyicious!!!
I split the recipe in half then added pecans to the top. Perfection. It was so good we forgot to add a scoop of vanilla ice cream. LOL!
Definitely making this one again.
This is amazing! Everyone loved it and it is so easy to make! I will be adding tgis to my go to recipe box 🙂
I made this last night. Amazing! I used Aldi white cake, caramel dip and 3 cans of their fried apples with cinnamon. I also added nutmeg, allspice and a sprinkle of ginger. Kind of dangerous because I couldn’t stop eating it! I’m glad I found this recipe!
i made this yesterday. it was good. but next time i will use a different cake mix flavor. like butter pecan.
I am thinking I’ll use chopped salted peanuts on top.
I made this cake today. Halved the recipe since its only me and hubby. Used a yellow cake Jiffy mix and for the caramel, I used a jar caramel. It was very good. Will make it again.
How much caramel sauce did you use or would you use for a full recipe
This is in my oven as we speak. I had to cut it down to half the amount because there’s only one of me. And, I found Hershey’s salted caramel chips and used those. I could have eaten the canned apples and the caramel chips uncooked! YUM Can’t wait for this to finish baking!
I haven’t made it yet, but I am going to just as the recipe directs and may try with the spice cake as well.
I am making using the caramel bits. Will see hiw this turns out. As to caramel hardening after cake cools, I think you would just warm your serving up in microwave for a few seconds.
Don’t the caramels regarded when cake cools off?
Please advise what brand of carmels work best. Tried this recipe and loved it except the carmels I used seemed hard and some did not soften during baking. Definitely will bake again and share source . Thanks for any help you can provide!
I used an ice cream caramel sauce rather than caramels. I also add approx. 1 Tbsp of lemon juice, it pairs well with the apples and the extra sweetness of the caramels.
I made this using a spice cake mix and approx 1/4 jar Smuckers caramel sauce and it was delicious!
Thanks for the tip about the caramel sauce, that sounds like the way to go.
Wonderful thoughts on making it even easier and tastier!!
Look forward to making this for a carry in this weekend. Thank you!
Me too.
Could you use the vita caramels?
I have not made this yet — but would probably use a spice cake mix for more flavor. But probably good no matter what! I definitely like the idea of adding caramels to the mix!
I made this cake today it’s very good I would make it again
Thanks for the information after you made it
Hi, thanks for the recipe. It has a great taste. One note-I did have to make 24 hours ahead of serving, and my caramels did not completely melt out-they firmed back up on cooling completely. They wound up being chewy lumps throughout the cake. Next time I will make a caramel sauce and pour over the apples if I have to make ahead. Overall keeper!