Caramel Apple Dump Cake

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Our Caramel Apple Dump Cake is the ultimate fall dessert! Made with just four simple ingredients, this recipe is a breeze to whip up. Simply combine apple pie filling, gooey caramel sauce, cake mix, and butter in a baking dish, and let the oven work its magic. In under 30 minutes, you’ll have a warm, delicious treat that’s perfect for any occasion. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of fresh whipped cream for an extra touch of indulgence.

eating caramel apple dump cake using a spoon.

My husband absolutely loves apple pie, but let’s be honest—sometimes making one can be quite a hassle. Between making the crust, slicing the apples, and ensuring everything bakes just right, it can feel like a marathon in the kitchen. That’s why I’m thrilled to share this Caramel Apple Dump Cake recipe with you.

This cake is a total game-changer. It’s like if an apple pie, apple cobbler, and apple crisp had a delicious apple dessert baby!

It’s as simple as “dump, bake, and serve,” making it the perfect dessert for busy days or last-minute gatherings. With just a few ingredients and pretty much zero effort, you can whip up a delicious treat that tastes like a classic apple pie but without all the fuss. Seriously, if you can open a can and dump it, you can make this cake!

Imagine the sweet, gooey goodness of caramel combined with the comforting flavors of apples and cinnamon. This no-stress dessert will satisfy your sweet tooth and impress your family and friends. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, this dump cake is sure to become a new favorite in your home and it will make your house smell amazing in the process.

Ingredient Notes

Canned apple pie filling – You can use homemade apple pie filling made from fresh apples, sugar, and cinnamon (but I like to keep it easy).
Allspice – If you don’t have Allspice, you can mix cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, though the flavor will slightly change.
Cinnamon
Werther’s Original Chewy Caramels – Any type of soft caramel candy will work.
Super moist butter yellow cake mix: I would recommend using a yellow cake mix, white cake mix, vanilla cake mix, or a spice cake mix. If you use a spice cake mix with spices already added to it, I suggest reducing or eliminating the cinnamon in the recipe so the flavor isn’t too overpowering. I used the Betty Crocker brand.
Salted butter – Unsalted butter can be used with a pinch of salt added as an alternative.
Vanilla ice cream for serving

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Caramel Apple Pie Dump Cake

Dump Cake Ingredients: Dump cans of apple pie filling into the baking dish, sprinkle the spices on top of the apples, and stir and smooth with a spatula. Cover the apple mixture with caramels, top with dry cake mix, and add slices of butter on top of the cake.
Bake: Bake uncovered at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes. Rotate the pan halfway through cooking.
Pro Tip: The cake is done when the sides of the cake are bubbling and it is golden brown on top.
Serve: Top your cake off with ice cream or my homemade whipped cream recipe! (it takes less than 10 minutes to make and it is delicious!) Serve warm and enjoy!

Dump cans of apple pie filling into the baking dish, sprinkle the spices on top of the apples. Cover the apple mixture with caramels, top with dry cake mix, and add slices of butter on top of the cake.

Tips & Variations

Fight the urge to mix! I know this seems silly, but it’s harder than you might think. This cake will turn out the best by just dumping all of your ingredients together. You really do not need to (nor should you) mix it up!
You can use any kind of pie filling in a dump cake! Some possible fruit flavors include peach, cherry, apple, pineapple, strawberry, or any of your other favorites.
Whether you’re cooking this in an oven pan or in the crock pot, it’s super important that you remember to spray the pan or use a liner in your crockpot. Trust me when I say you do not want pie filling to be stuck like glue to your favorite pan or crock pot bowl!
You can serve this dump cake warm, at room temperature, or even cold. I personally like it warm.
Top your dump cakes with a drizzle of caramel sauce, a scoop of vanilla ice cream (butter pecan or maple walnut would also taste delicious), whipped cream, or chopped pecans or walnuts for extra crunch.
For a softer cake topping, pour melted butter over the cake mix rather than slices of butter.

scooping a huge chunk of caramel apple dump cake from casserole dish.

Storage Tips

To Store: Leftover apple dump cake should be covered tightly with plastic wrap or placed in an airtight container and stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a dump cake?

Just as the name suggests, a dump cake is a recipe where you literally just dump the ingredients into a baking dish and bake.

Can I make my dump cake in the Crockpot?

Yes, you absolutely can make this cake in a slow cooker. Be sure to use a liner in the crock pot and then follow the same simple instructions. Cook your dump cake covered on high for about 2 hours.

Can I make My Dump Cake in Advance?

While I personally prefer mine hot and bubbly out of the oven, you can make this in advance. Just follow the storage directions and reheat single servings in the microwave or the entire cake in a 350-degree oven.

caramel apple dump cake served without ice cream.

Other Easy Dump Cake Recipes

If you tried this Caramel Apple Dump Cake Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!!!

4.87 from 23 votes

Caramel Apple Dump Cake

Author — Jennifer Fishkind

Serves —

Caramel Apple Dump Cake is an easy to convert a classic pie into a conveniently prepared, dump and bake cake. So simple and can be made in minutes!

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 45

Total Time 55

Video

Ingredients

▢ 2 20-ounce cans apple pie filling
▢ ¼ teaspoon allspice
▢ ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
▢ ½ 10.8 ounce bag Werther’s Original Chewy Caramels cut in half (or similar sized caramels)
▢ 1 box super moist butter yellow cake mix
▢ ¾ cup salted butter 1 ½ sticks, cut into 15 squares
▢ Vanilla ice cream for serving (optional)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
Dump both cans of apple pie filling into the baking dish. Sprinkle allspice and cinnamon over apples. Stir to mix. Smooth with a spatula.
2 20-ounce cans apple pie filling, ¼ teaspoon allspice, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Cut ½ of the bag of caramels in half. Sprinkle them over the top of the apples.
½ 10.8 ounce bag Werther’s Original Chewy Caramels
Top with DRY cake mix. Smooth with a spatula.
1 box super moist butter yellow cake mix
Evenly add cold butter pieces to the top of the cake
¾ cup salted butter
Place in the oven and let bake uncovered for 45 minutes. Rotate pan half way through cooking.
The cake is done when the sides of the cake are bubbling and it is golden brown on top.

Jenn’s Notes

Tip 1: Fight the urge to mix! I know this seems silly, but it’s harder than you might think. This cake will honestly turn out the best by just dumping all of your ingredients together. You really do not need to (nor should you) mix it up!

Tip 2: Whether you’re cooking this in a pan in the oven or in the crock pot, it’s super important that you remember to spray the pan or use a liner in your crockpot. Trust me when I say, you do not want to deal with pie filling being stuck like glue to your favorite pan or crock pot bowl!

How to Store Leftovers:

Leftover apple dump cake should be covered tightly with plastic wrap or placed in an airtight container and stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.