This Caramel Apple Dump Cake is a quick and easy shortcut Fall dessert using 6 simple ingredients. Apple pie filling, cinnamon, nutmeg, cake mix, and butter are dumped in a pan, baked and the results are amazing!
Why You’ll Love This Caramel Apple Dump Cake Recipe
- Quick: Dump cakes are our favorite way to make a dessert super fast.
- Simple: With just a few simple ingredients like yellow cake mix, apple pie filling, and butter that you can keep in your pantry, you can make this wonderful apple cobbler inspired dessert any time.
- Crowd Favorite: Everyone always raves over this easy dessert recipe and will never know how easy it is to make!
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 | Pina Colada Dump Cake | Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake | Strawberry Dump Cake | Lemon Dump Cake | Pumpkin Dump Cake | Chocolate Dump Cake.
Ingredients Needed
All you need is 6-ingredients (the exact measurements and full recipe instructions are below in the easy to print recipe card).
- Apple pie filling – any canned 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.
- 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.
- 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 cake mix.
- Bake the dump cake at 350F for 45 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden brown and the edges are bubbling. Cool slightly before serving.
Topping Ideas
- Vanilla ice cream
- Warm caramel sauce
- Ground cinnamon
- Whipped cream
- Chopped Nuts: pecans or walnuts
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.
Variations
- Kick up the Spice – 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.
- Cake Mix – Yellow cake 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 (20 ounce cans) apple pie filling
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 1/2 cups Kraft caramels unwrapped and each cut in half
- 15.25 ounce 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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Notes
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175 comments on “Caramel Apple Dump Cake”
Some caramels didn’t melt. Hard chewy bites. I’d use caramel sauce next time
I found that you have to use fresh ones from the store. I have had a package around for awhile and tried to use. Did the same thing with mine. Part of the ‘fun’ of baking – learning while having fails. Haha
My caramels were fresh and they didn’t melt. We didn’t like the hard caramels. I’ll never make using them again. I’ll use the caramel sauce next time.
Love this easy dump cake I give it a 5 star.
Thanks Judy!
Can I used jarred caramel sauce?
Hi Dee. Yes, the jarred sauce will work as well.
The Caramel apple dump cake recipe was a big hit for Thanksgiving. So much so that I am making it again for the other side of the family for Christmas. Very tasty and easy to put together!
Glad to hear it Melanie! Thanks!
Absolutely amazing!!! Everyone just loved it!
So glad it was a hit. Thanks Candie!
Can. This be made in a crockpot?
Hi Lu. Yes, you can make this in the crockpot. Add the ingredients in the slow cooker, cover and cook on high for 2 hours. Check the caramels to make sure they are melted before serving.
Going to try this out for thanksgiving. Do I use a alted or unsalted butter?
Hi Jessica. Since this recipe uses no other salt, you will be fine using either depending on your preference.
I had werther originals on hand so I used them and some caramel topping, had it with vanilla ice cream! Delicious!!!
I make this every fall for gatherings and its always a favorite!
Uses 2 boxes of yellow cake mix??
and 4 cans of apple pie filling??
I just need to confirm please.
Hi Carol. I think you have the 2x clicked in the recipe card for doubling the recipe. Just one box and two cans for the recipe unless you are doubling it.
So 2 cans that are 20oz each or 20 ox total??
Hi Jaclynn. You’ll use two 20 oz cans.