Caramel Apple Dump Cake

This gooey caramel apple dump cake is delicious, moist and brimming with fall flavors. The draw of a dump cake is its minimal ingredients and the few kitchen tools you need to make it. Ours is made with apple pie filling, cake mix, butter and, of course, caramel sauce, and it only dirties one bowl and baking pan! You can add in a few warming spices, such as nutmeg and cinnamon, for extra fall flavor, but this caramel apple dump cake recipe works well without them.

Ingredients for Caramel Apple Dump Cake

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• Apple pie filling: Grab two 20-ounce cans of apple pie filling from the grocery store. If you’ve made your own apple pie filling, feel free to use that instead.
• Yellow cake mix: Go ahead and get one of the best yellow cake mix boxes from the store. Better quality ingredients can only improve your apple caramel dump cake.
• Caramel: Easy is the name of the game when it comes to dump cake recipes. That’s why we opt for a premade caramel ice cream topping for this apple caramel dump cake.
• Butter: As with the cake mix, opt for one of the best butter brands at the store. You’re using a whole cup—that’s a lot!—so the butter needs to taste its best.
• Whipped cream: While optional, a dollop of whipped cream on each serving adds a lovely creaminess. Buy it premade in a can or make homemade whipped cream from scratch.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the filling

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the apple pie filling into a greased 13×9-inch baking dish, making sure it reaches all sides and corners evenly. Drizzle the caramel all over.

Step 2: Add the topping

Evenly sprinkle the top with the cake mix. Drizzle the melted butter all over to saturate the cake mix.

Step 3: Bake the cake

Bake the apple caramel dump cake until the topping is golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool the cake on a wire rack at room temperature. If desired, serve warm with whipped cream.

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Recipe Variations

• Use a different cake mix: When making a dump cake, any type of cake mix can be used instead of the usual yellow cake mix. For this caramel apple dump cake recipe, a spice cake mix or white cake mix would be phenomenal.
• Play with baking spices: Don’t be shy about adding fall spices to this dump cake. Sweet cinnamon, cozy nutmeg and even a tiny bit of zippy ginger would lean in to the autumnal flavor.
• Make your own caramel sauce: Want to really make this cake stand out? Make salted caramel sauce from scratch. It is easy and tastes much fresher than the stuff from the grocery store.
• Toss in nuts: If you’re anything like me, you love texture in your desserts. Sprinkle some chopped almonds, pecans or hazelnuts on top of the cake halfway through baking.

How to Store Caramel Apple Dump Cake

To extend the life of your cake leftovers, refrigeration is definitely recommended. Simply store the remaining apple caramel dump cake in an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Can you make caramel apple dump cake ahead of time?

Yes, part of the caramel apple dump cake recipe can be prepared the night before. Simply place the filling and caramel in a 13×9-inch baking dish. Cover with storage wrap and refrigerate for up to one day. When ready to bake, sprinkle the cake mix and butter on top, then bake for 45 to 50 minutes.

Caramel Apple Dump Cake Tips

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How do you know when the caramel apple dump cake is done baking?

You’ll know the cake is done when the topping is golden and the apple filling is bubbling through the cracks of the topping. A bubbly filling lets you know that the filling has thickened and is no longer runny.

Can you make this dump cake in a slow cooker?

You absolutely can make this apple caramel dump cake in a slow cooker! Assemble the cake in the Crockpot insert just as you would in the baking dish, and cook it on high for two hours.