Description
This Caramel Apple Dump Cake is a quick and delicious dessert combining the warmth of spiced apple pie filling with the buttery sweetness of yellow cake mix and rich caramel sauce. It’s an easy-to-make recipe perfect for fall gatherings, offering a comforting blend of textures with a crunchy pecan topping and luscious caramel drizzle.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit Filling
- 2 cans (21 ounces each) apple pie filling
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ jar (6 ounces) caramel sauce, divided
Cake Topping
- 1 box (15.25 ounces) yellow cake mix
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, sliced into thin pats
- ½ cup chopped pecans (optional)
- Remaining 6 ounces caramel sauce for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to ensure the cake doesn’t stick and bakes evenly.
- Layer the Filling: Spread the apple pie filling evenly over the bottom of the prepared dish. Sprinkle the ground cinnamon and nutmeg over the apples to infuse warm spices.
- Add Caramel Sauce: Drizzle half of the caramel sauce (about 6 ounces) evenly over the spiced apple filling to add rich sweetness that will meld into the fruit during baking.
- Apply Cake Mix: Evenly sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix over the apple and caramel layer, creating a crumbly topping that will bake into a golden crust.
- Butter and Nuts: Arrange the sliced pats of unsalted butter evenly over the cake mix, covering as many areas as possible; this helps create a moist, tender cake. Sprinkle chopped pecans on top if using for added crunch and flavor.
- Bake: Place the dish in the oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly beneath.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cake to cool slightly before drizzling the remaining caramel sauce on top. Serve warm for a comforting dessert experience.
Notes
- Serve the dump cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for extra indulgence.
- You can substitute fresh sliced apples tossed with sugar and lemon juice in place of canned apple pie filling; just increase the baking time slightly to ensure the apples cook through.
- Optional chopped pecans add texture but can be omitted for nut allergies.
- Make sure to evenly distribute butter slices to achieve a moist crust.
