This easy Caramel Apple Dump Cake comes together in just 10 minutes using simple, natural ingredients—no corn syrup here! Includes a fresh apple option as well as how to make it in the oven or crockpot!
Why you will love this Caramel Apple Dump Cake
- I’m all about keeping things simple without sacrificing flavor. This recipe uses just 4 main ingredients—plus a few pantry spices—and still delivers that warm, buttery, caramel-apple goodness that feels like fall in every bite.
- Over the years, I’ve tested a lot of dump cakes, and this one checks every box: quick to prep, easy to adapt, and made with real ingredients you feel good about serving.
- I chose an all-natural apple pie filling here because I try to avoid corn syrup and mystery ingredients whenever I can. But fresh apples work too—just sauté a few thinly sliced apples with butter, cinnamon, and a touch of brown sugar until they’re soft and juicy.
- It’s buttery, soft, and filled with warm caramel-apple flavor. For a fun serving idea, try it alongside Caramel Apple Popcorn or even these cute Apple Pie Tacos. It’s a playful dessert spread that’s perfect for fall get-togethers.
- Need more easy bakes like this? Try my Pumpkin Dump Cake, Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake, or this Lemon Dump Cake. They’re all low-effort, high-reward recipes I come back to again and again.
What is a Dump Cake?
Dump cake usually consists of one or two fruits (fresh, frozen, or canned) placed in the bottom of a greased 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Dry cake mix is sprinkled over the fruit layer, and melted butter is drizzled on top or in my case, pats of butter laid on top that slowly melt into the dry cake mix.
Apple Pie Dump Cake Ingredients
- Apples: I use Duncan Hines Simply Filling for a more natural pie filling. You can also simmer chopped, fresh apples with water, butter, sugar, and cinnamon. Or try using my friend Julie’s homemade apple pie filling, make sure to cool to room temperature.
- Vanilla Cake: Trader Joe’s Vanilla Cake Mix is my go-to for this dessert because of its natural flavors. Try other cake mixes too; yellow cake mix, white cake mix, or even go with chocolate cake mix or spice cake.
- Caramels: My favorites are Werthers because they melt beautifully and are easy to find. You could certainly use another brand if you’d like. Warm a knife under hot water, wipe and cut in half.
- Butter: Always use real butter in your baking for flavor and texture!
- Spices: A combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves enhance the fruit flavor and pair nicely with the caramel! You can also use apple pie spice mix or Pumpkin pie spice mix.
- Pecans: The nuts are optional, but I love their flavor and added crunch in this recipe!
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
How to Make Apple Pie Dump Cake
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175° C) and grease a 9×13 casserole baking dish.
Mix apple pie filling and spices in a medium bowl. Pour apple filling it into the prepared casserole dish and smooth the top with the back of a spoon.
Unwrap and cut the caramels in half, then place in a single layer on top of the filling.
Then, sprinkle the cake mix evenly over everything! If you would like to add nuts, add them here.
Add pats of butter evenly over the top of the cake mix.
Bake for about 40-45 minutes, until golden brown, then cool for a few minutes before serving.
Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream with each slice. (I won’t tell if you add a little whipped cream too!)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 21 ounce cans apple pie filling I used Simply Apple by Duncan Hines, you may also make your own or see tips for lighter dump cake
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon cloves Or substitute these three spices with Pumpkin pie spice mix
- 1 ½ cups caramels like Werther's or Kraft, cut in half
- 1 box Vanilla Cake Mix try other flavors including spice cake mix, butter pecan, yellow or white.
- 1-2 sticks butter cold, cut into thin slices (see note for how to reduce butter)
- ¼-½ cup chopped pecans or substitute with your favorite nut (nuts are optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 9×13 casserole dish with non-stick spray or oil. May also be made in a 2 qt casserole dish or in the crock pot, see instructions and notes. 375 for high altitude.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the apple pie filling and spices, then pour filling into the prepared casserole dish. Smooth out the top.
- Evenly place the caramels over the top of the apple pie filling, sprinkle the dry cake mix over the apples as evenly as possible, giving the pan a couple of shakes to distribute the cake mix.If using nuts, and I highly recommend using nuts, sprinkle on top of the cake mix.
- Next, arrange the pats of butter over the top of the cake, as equally as possible. Bake the dump cake at 350 degrees (375 for high altitude) for about 40-45 minutes until the top is lightly browned and the apples are bubbling.
- Remove from oven, cooling for 10-15 minutes before serving. Delicious served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Notes
- Reduce butter by half, most of my recipes only use one stick, but this one I wanted to be extra buttery, caramel-y and rich!
- Omit the caramels, or use only half.
- Instead of pie filling, slice fresh apples thinly or chop small and toss with 2 tablespoons cake mix, the spices, then lay in pan and proceed. Bake until apples are tender and top is golden.
- Place first 4 ingredients in order listed in the regular recipe into a sprayed 4-6 quart crockpot. Give it a quick stir, add caramels.
- If desired, melt the butter (easily reduce by half) and stir together with cake mix, spoon buttered cake mix over the top of the caramel apple mixture.
- Place a clean tea towel over the top of the crock to absorb any steam, then cover and cook on HIGH for 2 hours.
- This method will not yield a golden crispy topping, but it is still delicious!
Nutrition
Variations for Caramel Apple Dump Cake
- This caramel apple dump cake is also delicious with a spice cake mix or butter pecan mix.
- Walnuts or almonds are a great substitute for the pecans. Or better yet, use a mixture!
- Instead of individual caramels, drizzle about ½ cup of salted caramel sauce over the top. My Salted Caramel Bourbon Vanilla Sauce would be equally as scrumptious.
- Top with different ice creams; caramel ice cream and cinnamon ice cream would be fabulous.
Pro Tips
- Serve warm or cold, either way it’s a delicious apple dessert.
- To keep your dessert fresh, after the dump cake is cooled completely, wrap in plastic wrap.
- Make ahead: Make this gooey caramel apple dump cake ahead of time, cool completely, cover and refrigerate for up 7 days or freeze up to 3 months.
Lighter Caramel Apple Dump Cake Recipe
- Reduce butter by half, most of my recipes only use one stick, but this one I wanted to be extra buttery, caramel-y and rich!
- Omit the caramels, or use only half.
- Instead of pie filling, slice 3-4 fresh apples thinly or chop small and toss with 2 tablespoons cake mix, the spices, then lay in pan and proceed. Bake until apples are tender.
Crock Pot Apple Dump Cake
- Place first 4 ingredients in order listed in the regular recipe into a sprayed 4-6 quart crockpot. Stir gently to mix, add caramels to top.
- If desired, melt the butter (easily reduce by half) and stir together with cake mix, spoon buttered cake mix evenly over the top of the caramel apple mixture.
- Place a clean tea towel over the top of the crock to absorb any steam, then cover and cook on HIGH for 2 hours.
How do you store apple dump cake?
After cooling completely, this delicious dessert can be stored on the counter, covered up to 3 days. Refrigerated up to 7 days and frozen up to 3 months.
REHEAT | If frozen, thaw overnight in refrigerator, then place desired amount or entire casserole dish in a 350 degree oven for 5-10 minutes until warmed through. You may also heat individual slices in the microwave in short 20-30 second bursts until warmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Because you literally “dump” your ingredients. Easy and delicious, a bit like a cake and cobbler combined.
It can sit on the counter for a couple of days. If you need it to last longer, feel free to keep it in the fridge.
Yes, and this is a great way to extend your holiday dessert! It will keep for up to 3 months in the freezer when wrapped tightly in a layer of plastic and foil.
Let it defrost in the refrigerator overnight, then serve cold or warm individual slices in the microwave.
Yes! This easily becomes a make-ahead dessert, make ahead and cool completely, storing on the counter (covered) or refrigerated up to 7 days. If you want it warm, see my reheating instructions above
How to Make Gluten-Free Dump Cake
Choose your favorite gluten-free cake mix and dump away! Make sure your apple pie filling is gluten-free and you are all set!
Dairy-Free Fresh Apple Dump Cake
Make sure your cake mix and apple pie filling and caramels are all vegan, replace the butter with plant-based butter or melted coconut oil and bake away.
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Samantha
This looks delicious, I’m going to make it for Thanksgiving! Curious, is the large white baker absolutely necessary? I see it listed under equipment but I don’t see it called out anywhere specifically in the recipe (unless I completely missed it)
No you just need a 9×13 inch pan. Or split it between two 9×9 or 8×8 pans would work too. Hope you love it.
Tara
Such wonderful warming flavors. I love the use of those spices and the minimal prep to make this dump cake. Yum!
Thank you and I couldn’t agree more!
Toni
This cake is seriously amazing!! I love how easy it is!
Thank you Toni!
Jess
I love this dessert all year long, not just in the fall. So yummy!
I completely agree!
Beth
I’m going to make this for dessert tomorrow night. I love dump cakes, even if they do have the most unfortunate name. LOL
So true, the most unfortunate name!
Tavo
the cake was truly easy to make and yummy! My kids loved it!
So glad to hear that!! Thank you!
Swathi
Caramel apple dump cake looks delicious perfect treat any day.
It is really the perfect treat!
Nic
This apple dump cake was suuuper easy to make, the kids loved it! I loved how caramely and yummy it was.
Thank you — I so appreciate your sweet words!
Shadi
Oh wow, this looks so delicious. My family is going to devour it!
I know they will love it!
Kathryn
This apple dump cake was so delicious and I loved all the warm flavors from the apples. The caramel and cake mix combined were perfect. Such and easy and quick dessert, we all loved it! I’ll be making this dessert again soon!
YAY!! Thanks so much!
Michaela Kenkel
First off — so easy to make – second… DROOL. It is so darn good! I don’t wanna share! LOL!!
Haha! I hear you, so so good!
Mindy
This is so delicious and easy to make! My whole family devoured it. My only complaint is that there were no leftovers! Definitely a keeper!
Haha, right, goes quickly in our house too!
susan | the wimpy vegetarian
omg, I have to make this. It looks absolutely irresistible, and would be perfect when the kids come to visit. I love all the ways I can make it – thanks so much for all the options.
it is irresistible!
Megan
Caramel and apple is such a great combination. This was really easy to make with my kids!
Love that you baked it with your kids! A great cake to make that way!
Julie
I’m a caramel apple fanatic so couldn’t wait to try this cake. It was so easy and absolutely delicious. I served it warm with vanilla ice cream and it disappeared in a jiffy!
Warm with ice cream, be still my heart!
Susannah
This is such a delicious cake! Can’t get enough of caramel + apples together.
So glad you loved it! Thank you!
Debi
This sounds so good and so easy to make. I’d serve it with vanilla ice cream.
It is all those things! Thanks so much hope you love it!
Jennifer
This gives me sweet dreams of apple picking in the fall!
Doesn’t it though!