This delicious, gooey caramel apple dump cake is flavorful, moist and made with simple ingredients: apple pie filling, cake mix, butter and, of course, caramel sauce. You can add in a few warming spices, such as nutmeg and cinnamon, for extra fall flavor, but the recipe works well without them.
Don’t miss all the dump cake recipe ideas dominating TikTok right now.
How to Make Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Andrea Mathis for Taste of Home
Ingredients
- 1 package yellow cake mix (regular size)
- 2 (20 ounce) cans apple pie filling
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce
- 1 cup melted butter
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg and 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Editor’s Tip: Don’t be afraid to add extra flavor! You can mix in spices like cinnamon and nutmeg or toasted nuts. Nuts add the perfect amount of crunch and flavor.
Directions
Step 1: Prep the pan
Start by preheating your oven to 350ºF. Then, coat a 13×9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Step 2: Layer
Andrea Mathis for Taste of Home
Spread the apple pie filling over the bottom of the baking dish, and drizzle caramel sauce over the top.
Andrea Mathis for Taste of Home
Sprinkle the cake mix evenly over the apple and caramel mixture.
Editor’s Tip: Even though this recipe requires no mixing, it’s important to spread each ingredient evenly. This helps to make sure that everything will bake evenly.
Step 3: Add the butter
Andrea Mathis for Taste of Home
Pour the melted butter evenly over the layers of apple pie filling, caramel and cake mix. Make sure that all areas are covered. The butter helps to cook the cake mix and prevents those powdery areas from seeping through.
Sprinkle with nutmeg and cinnamon, if desired.
Step 4: Bake
Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until golden brown on the top and bubbling around the edges of the baking dish or pan.
Let cool for about 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.
Hungry for more? Don’t forget to check out this chocolate dump cake.
Tips for Making Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Andrea Mathis for Taste of Home
Does caramel apple dump cake need to be refrigerated?
To extend the life of your leftovers, refrigeration is definitely recommended. Simply store the remaining dump cake in an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Can I make caramel apple dump cake the night before?
Yes, part of the recipe can be prepared the night before. Simply prepare the filling and place in a 13×9-inch baking dish. Cover and refrigerate for up to one day. When ready to bake, sprinkle the cake mix and butter on top and bake for 45 to 50 minutes.
Can I use a different kind of cake mix?
Yes! When making a dump cake, any type of cake mix can be used instead of the usual yellow cake mix. For this recipe, a spice cake mix or white cake mix would be phenomenal.
If you’re looking for more recipes, try these apple dump cake and cinnamon roll dump cake recipes.
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Andrea Mathis for Taste of Home
There's no mixing, sifting or beating required to make this caramel apple dump cake recipe. Just add a scoop of ice cream or dollop of whipped cream for a simple, crowd-pleasing treat.
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Hungry for more? Check out this delicious
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Craving a sweet and easy dessert? You can thank TikTok for this Oreo dump cake recipe.
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This comes to us courtesy of TikTok creator @
aquickspoonful. Her recipe includes cinnamon swirl cake mix, plus two intriguing ingredients we hadn’t considered trying: tubes of cinnamon roll dough and a can of frosting! Of course, we had to put her recipe to the test in our Test Kitchen.
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Peach Cobbler Dump CakeThis is one of the best peach dump cake recipes in the world. It's sweet, tender cake with a beautifully crisp cobbler topping. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side, and dessert is golden. —Keri Sparks, Little Elm, Texas
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cherry dump cake.
Apple Snickerdoodle Dump CakeWith an apple farm just down the road, I'm always looking for creative ways to use up those bushels. We love this cozy apple snickerdoodle dump cake with caramel drizzle and a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream. —Rachel Garcia, Honolulu, Hawaii
Pineapple Upside-Down Dump CakeThis dump cake recipe is wonderful topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. It works well with gluten-free and sugar-free cake mixes too. —Karin Gatewood, Dallas, Texas
JENNA URBEN FOR TASTE OF HOME
I fell in love with this simple cobbler-like dump cake recipe after making it only once! The filling is warm and gooey while the cake topping is golden and buttery. —Jenna Urben, Dallas, Texas
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Lemon Berry Dump CakeThis sweet-tart cake recipe is so much fun to make with my grandkids. They love just "dumping it all in" and watching it magically become a pretty, delicious dessert. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
Apple-Sweet Potato Pecan Dump CakeThis quick cake has lots of delicious apples, sweet potatoes, spices, pecans and caramel. My surprise of white cheddar cheese enhances the wonderful filling. —Kathy Specht, Clinton, Montana
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Fudgy Peanut Butter CakeI clipped this easy peanut butter cake recipe from a newspaper years ago. The house smells fantastic while it's slow cooking. My husband and son enjoy the cake with ice cream and nuts on top. —Bonnie Evans, Norcross, Georgia
Minister's DelightA friend gave me this recipe several years ago. She said a local minister's wife fixed it every Sunday, so she named it accordingly —Mary Ann Potter, Blue Springs, Missouri
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With just four ingredients and a few minutes of prep time, you'll have a sweet and succulent pineapple dump cake on your hands. (Or rather, in your bowl.)
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Dutch Oven Chocolate Dump CakeLooking for a quick dessert that will make people think you spent all day in the kitchen? This Dutch oven dump cake will wow your guests. Feel free to use your favorite pie filling in place of cherry. — Rashanda Cobbins, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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This simple apple dump cake is the perfect dessert for fall. You'll need a box of cake mix, apple pie filling and butter—that's it!
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Pressure-Cooker Chocolate-Apricot Dump CakeYears ago, I used to prepare a dessert similar to this in the oven. I converted the recipe to my Instant Pot and now we can enjoy it quickly. Try it with white cake mix and blueberry pie filling, too. It's best served warm with ice cream or whipped cream. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
Are you wondering how to bake a cake without an oven? Try these
slow cooker cake recipes that are a piece of cake to make.
Peach CakeI first tasted this cake about 15 years ago when a dear aunt brought it to a family reunion. I knew I had to have the recipe...and I was thrilled to discover how easy it is to make.—Donna Britsch, Tega Cay, South Carolina
Black Forest Dump CakeI make a Black Forest cake the easy way: Dump everything into a dish and let the magic happen. Give it a cherry topping by reserving two tablespoons of juice from the canned cherries and stir into whipped cream. —Meghan McDermott, Springfield, Missouri
Cherry Pudding CakeA cross between a cake and a cobbler, this dessert is a hit whenever I make it to share at a potluck. My family insists I make an extra batch to leave at home. A neighbor shared the recipe over 30 years ago. —Brenda Parker, Kalamazoo, Michigan
German Chocolate Dump CakeWe make this for Sunday lunches when the whole family gets together. The cream cheese topping is so good, it doesn't need frosting.
Strawberry Rhubarb Dump CakeIt always seems like my rhubarb goes bad in a hurry, so I was looking for a simple way to combine two of my favorite flavors in an incredibly easy dessert. I added extra spices to enhance the flavor of this strawberry-rhubarb dump cake for a sweet treat my whole family loved! —Jessica Bridge, Grand Junction, Colorado
Updated: Oct. 05, 2023
