How to make an ooey gooey caramel apple dump cake with pie filling and pecans. Easy dessert recipe with just 5 simple ingredients. Perfect for the holidays!
Fall is in the air, and so are my cravings for such things as caramel apple dip and this lovely caramel apple pecan dump cake.
If you've never made a dump cake, you're in for a real treat. I've enjoyed making cherry dump cake and peach dump cake, and now I'm giving this super easy dessert a simple fall flavor.
True to its name, you really do just dump the ingredients for apple caramel dump cake in a baking dish and bake it. And there are only 5 ingredients.
I'll also give you tips below for how to make this a gluten-free apple dump cake. Simply swap out a couple of ingredients, and your gluten-free family and friends can enjoy this recipe too.
If you'd rather make a CrockPot version, CrockPot apple dump cake is just the recipe. I actually love making it this way so the smells of fall waft through my house all afternoon.
Are you ready for a li'l taste of fall? I know I am! Onward to the recipe.
WHERE CAN I FIND THE ACTUAL RECIPE CARD?
If you’d rather skip all of my baking tips, important info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the apple dump cake recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.
CARAMEL APPLE DUMP CAKE INGREDIENTS YOU'LL NEED:
- Caramel apple pie filling – Or you can use regular apple pie filling and a teaspoon or so of caramel extract.
- Yellow cake mix
- Cinnamon
- Chopped pecans
- Salted butter
Remember, all of the ingredient amounts you’ll need are in the printable recipe card below.
KITCHEN TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT YOU'LL NEED:
Spatula – for spreading out ingredients in the pan.
Paring Knife – to slice up the butter.
WHAT IS A DUMP CAKE?
Don't worry, I actually wondered the same thing.
Dump cakes are essentially just that. You simply dump or layer ingredients into a baking dish and load it into the oven.
Dump cakes are often confused with cobblers, but in reality they're so much simpler. When making this caramel apple dump cake, there's no mixing, no stirring, and no work at all really.
Cobblers also typically use a more savory crust, such as pie crust or biscuits. Dump cakes almost always use cake mix!
CAN I USE FRESH APPLES FOR THIS RECIPE?
Yes, fresh apples are absolutely fine. You can make your own apple pie filling with fresh apples before layering it into your dump cake… Although this is beginning to sound more like a cobbler.
If you want to use fresh apples, these baked cinnamon apples would make a great pie filling.
HOW TO MAKE CARAMEL APPLE DUMP CAKE
Making dump cake with pie filling involves 4 basic steps. But first be sure to pre-heat your oven to 350° F, and give your baking dish a light coat of cooking spray.
- Dump the pie filling and evenly spread it in the bottom of your baking dish.
- Next sprinkle the dry cake mix, and spread it evenly all over the top of the apples.
- Sprinkle cinnamon and chopped pecans over the dry cake mix.
- Slice the butter cold, and place the slices all over the top of the cake.
Now just bake the cake at 350° F for about 1 hour, or until the cake turns a golden brown and the apple pie filling is bubbly all around the edges.
CAN I MAKE APPLE CARAMEL DUMP CAKE IN THE SLOW COOKER?
Yes, dump cake can be made in the slow cooker following the same instructions for layering; but it will take longer to cook. Expect the cake to fully cook within 3 or 4 hours on low, or just a couple hours on high.
Just be sure to spray the inside of your Crock Pot with cooking spray beforehand, so your cake doesn't stick to the pan.
CAN I MAKE THIS A GLUTEN-FREE APPLE DUMP CAKE?
Yes, you can easily make this recipe with gluten-free cake mix, which can usually be found at any grocery store, natural food store, or on Amazon.
Be sure to check all of your ingredients, including the ingredients in your apple pie filling, to ensure that they are truly gluten-free.
ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO MAKE THIS RECIPE
There are a few things you can do to change this recipe up.
- You can use an alternative flavor of cake mix, such as French vanilla, butter pecan, or even a spice cake.
- Instead of pecans, try walnuts, black walnuts, or almonds.
- Use a different pie filling, like regular apple pie filling, cherry pie filling, peach, blackberry, and more. The options are limitless!
DOES APPLE DUMP CAKE NEED TO BE REFRIGERATED?
Although caramel apple dump cake is best served warm from the oven, I would recommend refrigerating any remaining leftovers. And the reason I recommend that is because of the canned fruit pie filling.
CAN YOU FREEZE DUMP CAKE?
Yes, you can freeze this dessert. It should last in the freezer for around 3 months.
Just be sure to store it in an airtight container to prevent freezer burn.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH APPLE PECAN DUMP CAKE
- This cake is delicious topped with whipped cream, a sprinkling of powdered sugar, apple butter, or maple syrup; you can even drizzle caramel syrup over the cake once it's out of the oven.
- Drizzle the top of your baked and cooled dump cake with a simple powdered sugar icing.
- If you really want to up your game, serve this cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, cinnamon ice cream, or salted caramel ice cream. Butter pecan is great too!
Get creative and enjoy every single bite!
MORE APPLE RECIPES YOU'LL ENJOY:
- Best Gluten-Free Apple Crisp
- Dutch Apple Crumb Pie
- Dutch Baby Apple Puffed Pancake
- Easy Apple Crumble without Oats
- Apple French Toast Casserole
GET THE PRINTABLE RECIPE
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Easy Caramel Apple Dump Cake Recipe
Equipment
- Village Candle Warm Apple Pie 26 oz Glass Jar Scented Candle, Large
- Krokori Rectangular Bakeware Set Ceramic Baking Pan – 13 x 9 Inches
- Maison d' Hermine Colmar 100% Cotton 1 Piece Kitchen Apron with an Adjustable Neck & Visible Center Pocket with Long Ties
- The Apple Cookbook, 3rd Edition: 125 Freshly Picked Recipes
- Heat-Resistant Baking Spoon & Spatulas – Dishwasher Safe
- Barnyard Designs Tasty Apples 5 Cents Retro Vintage Tin Bar Sign 11″ x 11″
Ingredients
- 42 ounces caramel apple pie filling*
- 15.25 ounces yellow cake mix
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 16 tablespoons salted butter
Instructions
- First pre-heat your oven to 350° F, and give your baking dish a light coat of cooking spray.
- Dump the pie filling and evenly spread it in the bottom of your baking dish.
- Next sprinkle the dry cake mix, and spread it evenly all over the top of the apples.
- Sprinkle cinnamon and chopped pecans over the dry cake mix.
- Slice the butter cold, and place the slices all over the top of the cake.
- Bake at 350° F for about 1 hour, or until the cake turns a golden brown and the apple pie filling is bubbly all around the edges.
