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This pumpkin dump cake recipe is so easy to make and perfect for Fall. It takes less than 20 minutes to prepare, but tastes as if you put in hours of work! This easy pumpkin dessert is great because it only requires the basic ingredients that everyone has on hand.
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Having no idea what to expect in terms of combing a pie and a cake, this completely blew me away! The saltiness of the butter and pecans added just the right balance to the pumpkin pie filling. I made 2: each in and 8 x 8, one for us and one for my daughter and her family. The one hour was spot on. After we ate ours, I drove her over to their home, and brought a spoon so she could try right away! She swooned in the drive! Thus is a 10! Thanks for sharing!
Easy Pumpkin Dump Cake Recipe
Dump Cake is one of the best and easiest desserts to prepare. This recipe is not only super good but can be made in no time for you and others to devour. The best part is that you can mix it up with different types of toppings. So, if you’re looking for a quick Fall dessert idea for Thanksgiving or any time of year, look no further!
If pumpkin is a flavor your love, then be sure to make other desserts to go along with this one like this Pumpkin Cake Roll or this Chocolate Pumpkin Cake.
What Is A Dump Cake?
A dump cake is exactly as it sounds. You basically take all of your ingredients and dump them into a baking dish before you cake it. Typically to make the process even easier, the cakes are made with a cake mix. Making an easy dump cake recipe is always my “go-to” when I am in a hurry and always loved by everyone.
Ingredients Needed:
- Pumpkin– You will need pumpkin puree, not the pumpkin pie filling. The difference between pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie mix is pretty straightforward. On one hand, pumpkin puree is a is the blended up skins of the pumpkin with normally a bit of salt. On the other hand, the Pumpkin pie mix is the pumpkin with additional spices like clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, and sugar for extra flavoring.
- Milk– You will need evaporated milk to help with the consistency.
- Sugar– granulated sugar.
- Eggs– Use these at room temperature.
- Spice– You will need pumpkin pie spice for additional flavoring.
- Cake Mix– You will need Spice Cake Mix for this recipe.
- Nuts- you will need chopped pecans
- Butter– Use unsalted butter to control the amount of salt in the recipe.
How to Make Pumpkin Dump Cake
- To start, set the oven to 350 degrees and use baking spray to grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- First, add the pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, sugar, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice into a large bowl and combine.
- Secondly, add the batter into the prepared pan and use a spatula to spread evenly.
- Thirdly, sprinkle the cake mix on top of the batter until fully covered.
- Next, top the cake mix with chopped pecans.
- Place the layers of ingredients into the oven to bake for 1 hour.
- Furthermore, take out of the pan when the time is up. As the cake cools, it will begin to set. (it may still be jiggly when you first take it out of the oven) If the recipe is too jiggly, you will need to bake for another 10 minutes.
- To finish, allow the pan to reach room temperature. Put it into the fridge once it has cooled before slicing.
- Finally, enjoy with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce!
Tips & Variations
- Cake Mix: Switch out the spice cake mix to yellow cake mix, white cake mix or any other dry cake mix that you prefer.
- Nuts: We prefer to use chopped pecans, but chopped walnuts would be delicious as well.
- Other Topping ideas: Toffee bits, chocolate sauce, chocolate chips, cream cheese frosting or whipped cream (or cinnamon whipped cream).
- Storing: We like to serve this warm, but if you happen to have leftovers, be sure to keep it fully covered and stored in the fridge. It should last for up to 3 days. Reheat a slice by microwaving for about 40 seconds, or until desired temp.
- Freezing: To freeze a whole baked cake, wrap the entire pan with plastic wrap and again with foil for best results. For cake slices, divide it into individual freezer containers or wrap as instructed above. Thaw overnight in the fridge and serve chilled or reheat slices in the microwave.
More Dump Cake Recipes:
- Caramel Apple Dump Cake
- Pineapple Cherry Dump Cake
- Easy Peach Dump Cake
- Chocolate Dump Cake
- Lemon Dump Cake
Add as Google Trusted SourceEasy Pumpkin Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 30 ounces pumpkin puree not pumpkin pie filling
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1 box spice cake mix
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking pan and set it aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, sugar, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice. Pour the mixture into the baking pan and spread evenly.
- Lightly spread the cake mix evenly over the top of the pumpkin mixture, covering it completely. Evenly sprinkle the chopped pecans on top of the cake mix.
- Melt the butter and pour over the top of the cake mix, making sure to cover as much of it as possible.
- Set in the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour.
- Remove the pan after 1 hour. It may still be a little jiggly, but it will continue to set as it cools. (If it is very jiggly, continue to bake for an additional 10 minutes).
- Let the pan come to room temperature. Once it has cooled, it is best to place the pan in the refrigerator and chill before slicing and serving.
- Serve chilled with ice cream and caramel sauce or your choice of topping.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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2–16 ounce cans of the purée correct? What is in pumpkin pie spice please. Thank you
Hi Mary. You may be able to find a 20 or 30 ounce pumpkin puree, but the two 16 ounces would work. I would just leave a little in the can. Pumpkin pie spice is a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ground ginger and ground cloves. You can make your own, or they sell it already mixed.
This is not actually a dump cake. If it were every cake you make would be a dump cake. But it looks delicious!!!!! I think through time we’ve lost the True definition of what a “dump cake” actually is. I’ll definitely be making this and giving it a try!!! Simple enough i can do it with ny six year old daughter. Thank-you!!!
This was delicious! So easy and plenty for a crowd. Friends requested the recipe. I didn’t measure the pecans so we had plenty of crunchy deliciousness.
Thank you Lita!
Could I use a sugar free cake mix and add spices to it? And use a sugar alternative?
Hi Julie. Yes, a sugar free cake mix along with 1 1/2 additional teaspoons pumpkin pie spice and a sugar substitute would work well for this cake.
I’m wondering if it’s really 30 ounces of pumpkin? Should it just be one can? I did 30 oz per the recipe and it was to pumpkiny.
Ive never made a dump cake with melted butter. It is usually just sliced and layed on top of the cake mix. Is ther a reason for the butter to be melted?
Hi Nikki. You can slice it and lay it on top as well but the melted butter will give it a more uniform consistency. If you slice the butter, slice into as many pieces as you can and place evenly over the mix.
Probably odd question but so I mix the cake mix up as directed on box and then spread onto first mixture or just sprinkle dry mix on top?
Hi Nic. You will just use the mix on top. That’s the beauty of a dump cake, you just “dump” it in. Let us know how you like it!
Any way to cut back on the butter or use something else a long with the butter? Seems like a lot
Hi Annette. You could probably cut back to half a cup and still be fine.
Is it ok to use regular milk?
Hi Patricia. Yes, regular milk will work as well.
Having no idea what to expect in terms of combing a pie and a cake, this completely blew me away! The saltiness of the butter and pecans added just the right balance to the pumpkin pie filling. I made 2: each in and 8 x 8, one for us and one for my daughter and her family. The one hour was spot on. After we ate ours, I drove her over to their home, and brought a spoon so she could try right away! She swooned in the drive! Thus is a 10! Thanks for sharing!
This is great to hear Mary Beth. Thank you!
And we are calling it Pumpkin Pike (pie/cake). Sounds a little more appetizing than Dump Cake!