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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!

Caramel Apple Dump Cake on a plate

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 | 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.
Caramel Apple Dump Cake ingredients

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

Pouring Caramel over caramel apple dump cake with ice 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.

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!
lifting Caramel Apple Dump Cake out of a plan with a spoon

More Apple Cake Recipes You Will Love

5 from 238 votes

Caramel Apple Dump Cake

This Caramel Apple Dump Cake is a quick and easy shortcut Fall dessert using six simple ingredients. Apple pie filling, cinnamon, nutmeg, cake mix, and butter are dumped in a pan, baked and the results are amazing!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 55 minutes
Servings: 8
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Ingredients 

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.

Notes

Keep the cake at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Nutrition

Serving: 8gCalories: 437kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 3gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 653mgPotassium: 40mgFiber: 1gSugar: 28gVitamin A: 711IUVitamin C: 0.02mgCalcium: 148mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Jill

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5 from 238 votes (165 ratings without comment)

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181 Comments

  1. Michelle says:

    5 stars
    I’m going to rate this before I make it and after! This recipe sounds phenomenal and I am making it tomorrow LOL what a delicious mind the maker of this recipe has.. to be continued ☺️

  2. Sharon says:

    5 stars
    Great, easy & quick go-to dessert for any meal, whether a family get together or church dinner! Everyone raves on this dessert.
    Instead of unwrapping all those caramels, I substituted a bag of caramel bit. Turns out yummy….add scoop of vanilla ice cream for extra treat.

    1. Jill says:

      Thank you Sharon!

  3. Lonna says:

    This looks delicious. I’m making it for company this weekend. However, I bought caramel bits for baking. Do you think it will make a difference?

    1. Jill says:

      Hi Lonna. The caramel bits work great and actually make it easier.

  4. Dawn says:

    I love this apple dump cake , I add pecans and I melt the caramel with a little bit of heavy cream to make it smooth, so delicious. Thank you

  5. Melissa Reynolds says:

    Could you substitute Cherry Pie Filling for the Apple?

  6. Melissa Monarez says:

    5 stars
    This was absolutely delicious! I did substitute Carmel sauce for the individually wrapped carmels and just drizzled it on the apple layer and then served with ice cream and a little Carmel drizzle. So easy and sooo good! Thanks for the recipe.

    1. Jill says:

      Thank you Melissa!

    2. Sandy says:

      You can do it with crushed pineapple and cherry pie filling too

  7. Von says:

    Wonderful – easy- delicious. At my age – greeting company with something as easy as this receipe and coffee is a hit. Thank you

  8. Vicki says:

    5 stars
    Love this recipe! Hardest part was unwrapping the caramels. Such an easy recipe. Served warm with vanilla ice cream. Lots of compliments!

    1. Jill says:

      Thanks Vicki!

  9. Jeff Laney says:

    5 stars
    Fantastic recipe. I have taken it to several gatherings and it is always a hit. So easy to make!

  10. LUCILLE GRECO says:

    5 stars
    My family loved every bite and wanted more. I’m so happy I received this recipe.

    1. Jill says:

      That’s great Lucille. Thanks!