Growing up, I thought desserts had to be complicated to taste good. My mom would spend hours in the kitchen making pies from scratch, carefully peeling and slicing apples by hand. While those memories are precious, sometimes you just need something simple and sweet without the fuss.
That’s where this caramel apple dump cake comes in. It’s the kind of recipe that makes people think you put in way more effort than you actually did. All you need are a few pantry staples, some fresh apples, and about 5 minutes of prep time. The oven does all the heavy lifting, and your house ends up smelling like fall.
Why You’ll Love This Caramel Apple Dump Cake
- Incredibly easy preparation – True to its name, you literally just dump the ingredients in a pan – no mixing, no beating, no complicated steps required!
- Minimal cleanup – With just one baking dish and barely any measuring tools needed, you’ll spend more time enjoying your dessert than washing dishes.
- Budget-friendly ingredients – Using simple pantry staples like cake mix and canned pie filling makes this an affordable dessert that tastes like it came from a fancy bakery.
- Perfect for beginners – If you can open cans and unwrap caramels, you can make this dessert – it’s practically foolproof and turns out great every time.
What Kind of Apples Should I Use?
While this recipe calls for canned apple pie filling, it’s worth knowing what you’re getting in those cans. Most apple pie fillings use sturdy apple varieties like Northern Spy, Golden Delicious, or Granny Smith that hold their shape well during the cooking process. If you’re thinking about making your own filling instead of using canned, these same varieties would work great – just make sure to cook them until they’re tender but not mushy. For the canned version, take a quick peek at the filling before using it – you want pieces that look firm and intact, not broken down or soupy. The nice thing about using canned filling is that the apples are already peeled, sliced, and cooked to the perfect tenderness, which makes this dump cake truly dump-and-go easy.
Options for Substitutions
This easy dessert can be tweaked in several ways to work with what you have on hand:
- Apple pie filling: You can use homemade apple pie filling or fresh apples (about 6 cups) cooked with 1/2 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons flour. Canned peach or cherry pie filling works too for a different twist.
- Cake mix: While yellow cake mix is traditional, you can swap in spice cake mix, white cake mix, or even French vanilla cake mix. Just make sure to use a standard-sized box (15.25 oz).
- Chewy caramels: If you don’t have caramels, try using 1/2 cup of caramel sauce or dulce de leche. You can even skip it entirely – the cake will still be tasty!
- Allspice: Out of allspice? Use an extra 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, or try nutmeg or apple pie spice instead.
- Salted butter: Unsalted butter works fine – just add a pinch of salt. You can also use margarine, though the flavor won’t be quite as rich.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking
The biggest mistake when making dump cake is not spreading the dry cake mix evenly – any clumps or uneven areas will result in dry, powdery patches in your finished dessert, so take an extra minute to spread it in an even layer. The placement of butter pieces is crucial too – make sure they’re evenly distributed and cover as much of the cake mix as possible, since any spots without butter won’t cook properly. To prevent the caramels from sinking and sticking to the bottom, try placing them on top of the apple layer rather than mixing them in, and if you notice any dry spots during baking, don’t hesitate to add a few extra pieces of butter to those areas. For the best texture, let the cake rest for 15-20 minutes after baking – this allows the caramel to set slightly while keeping the cake warm enough to serve with ice cream.
What to Serve With Caramel Apple Dump Cake?
This warm, cozy dessert practically begs to be served with a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream on top – the contrast between hot and cold is just perfect! If you’re feeling extra indulgent, try drizzling some additional caramel sauce over everything, or add a dollop of whipped cream for good measure. Since this is such a sweet dessert, I like to serve it with a hot cup of black coffee or unsweetened tea to balance things out. For fall gatherings, you might want to put out some chopped pecans or walnuts on the side so everyone can add their own crunchy topping.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: Once your caramel apple dump cake has cooled down, cover the baking dish with plastic wrap or transfer leftovers to an airtight container. It’ll stay good in the fridge for up to 5 days. The caramel might firm up a bit, but that’s totally normal!
Freeze: If you want to save some for later, this dump cake freezes really well. Just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, or pop it in a freezer-safe container. It’ll keep for up to 3 months in the freezer. I like to freeze it in individual portions for easy desserts later!
Warm Up: When you’re ready to dig in, warm individual portions in the microwave for about 30-45 seconds. The caramel gets all gooey again, and it tastes just like fresh! For bigger portions, cover with foil and warm in a 350°F oven for about 15 minutes. Don’t forget to add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 40-50 minutes |
| Total Time | 50-65 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 2200-2400
- Protein: 20-25 g
- Fat: 100-110 g
- Carbohydrates: 320-350 g
Ingredients
- Two 20-ounce cans of apple pie filling
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- About half a 10.8-ounce bag of chewy caramels (cut in half, or equivalent caramels)
- 1 package of buttery yellow cake mix
- 12 tablespoons salted butter (cut into 15 pieces)
- Vanilla ice cream for serving (if desired)
Step 1: Prepare the Baking Dish and Apples
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
Open both cans of apple pie filling and pour them into the prepared baking dish.
Sprinkle allspice and cinnamon over the apples, then stir to mix the spices evenly.
Use a spatula to smooth the apple mixture into an even layer.
Step 2: Add Caramels to the Apples
Take half of a bag of caramels and cut them in half to create smaller pieces.
Sprinkle these caramel pieces evenly over the top of the spiced apple filling.
This will create a gooey, sweet layer once baked.
Step 3: Add the Cake Mix
Open a box of DRY cake mix and sprinkle it evenly over the caramel-topped apple mixture.
Use a spatula to smooth the cake mix across the top, ensuring it covers the apple mixture completely and evenly.
Step 4: Top with Butter and Bake
Cut cold butter into smaller pieces and distribute them evenly over the top of the dry cake mix.
This will help to form a golden, crispy crust as it bakes.
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 45 minutes.
Make sure to rotate the pan halfway through to ensure even baking.
Step 5: Check for Doneness and Serve
The cake is done when the sides are bubbling and the top is a rich golden brown.
Remove the baking dish from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving.
Enjoy this easy and delicious dessert warm, perhaps with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!