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Caramel Apple Dump Cake Recipe

★★★★★

4.6 from 272 reviews
  • Author: Lily
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

This Caramel Apple Dump Cake is a quick and delicious dessert featuring sweet caramel and tender apple pie filling topped with a crisp, golden yellow cake crust. Ideal for busy cooks, it requires minimal preparation and bakes in one dish, resulting in a comforting treat perfect for serving warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Ingredients

Scale

Fruit Layer

  • 2 cans (21 oz each) apple pie filling
  • OR 5–6 medium fresh apples, peeled, cored, and sliced into 1/4-inch slices
  • 2–3 tablespoons brown sugar (if using fresh apples)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)

Cake Topping

  • 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)

Other Ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup caramel sauce (plus extra for drizzling)
  • Vanilla ice cream, for serving
  • Whipped cream, for serving

Instructions

  1. Preheat & prep your pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray. For easier cleanup, you may line the dish with foil, leaving an overhang for lifting the cake out later. Ensure the oven is fully preheated to help the topping crisp and the filling bubble properly.
  2. Prepare the apples (pie filling or fresh): If using canned apple pie filling, open the cans and gently stir to evenly distribute syrup and apples. For fresh apples, peel, core, and slice 5–6 medium apples into 1/4-inch slices. Toss with 2–3 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and a pinch of nutmeg until evenly coated. Taste and adjust seasoning for desired sweetness or spice level.
  3. Layer the apple base: Spoon the apple pie filling or prepared fresh apples into the greased 9×13 dish. Spread into an even, mostly flat layer using the back of a spatula or large spoon, pressing down gently so the apples settle nicely.
  4. Sprinkle the cake mix and spices: Evenly sprinkle the entire box of yellow cake mix over the apples. Don’t try to smooth it into a batter; it should remain a dry, even blanket. Then sprinkle 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and ½ teaspoon nutmeg (if using) evenly over the cake mix. Gently tap the sides of the dish to help the dry mix fill gaps for an even crust.
  5. Add the caramel and melted butter: Slightly warm the caramel sauce if thick, then drizzle it in a grid pattern across the cake mix covering the surface evenly but without pooling. Pour melted butter slowly and evenly over the top in thin streams or dots spaced to moisten the entire surface. Do not stir; the butter will soak in during baking to create a crisp, golden topping.
  6. Bake and monitor: Place the dish on the middle rack of your preheated oven. Bake for 35–45 minutes or until the top is golden and slightly crisp and you see bubbling apples around the edges. If the top browns too quickly before bubbling occurs, loosely tent the pan with foil and continue baking. For fresh apples, an additional 8–10 minutes may be needed to fully tenderize.
  7. Rest, finish, and serve: Remove the cake from the oven and let it rest for 10–15 minutes so the juices thicken slightly while remaining warm and saucy. Drizzle extra warm caramel over the top if desired. Serve warm with scoops of vanilla ice cream or dollops of whipped cream for an indulgent finish.

Notes

  • Using fresh apples gives more control over sweetness and spice compared to canned pie filling.
  • Make sure the oven is fully preheated to 350°F before baking to achieve a crisp topping and bubbly filling.
  • Don’t stir the cake mix and butter after layering; the butter melts down and crisps the topping as it bakes.
  • Letting the cake rest after baking helps thicken juices and makes serving easier and less messy.
  • You can line the baking dish with foil for easier cleanup and to lift the whole cake out for neat slicing.
  • If the top browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil to prevent burning while the filling finishes bubbling.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: caramel apple dump cake, easy apple dessert, quick apple cake, caramel apple dessert, dump cake recipe, fall dessert

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