4.75 from 12 votes

Caramel Apple Dump Cake

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This easy caramel apple dump cake recipe is so gooey, and is the perfect dessert with a scoop of ice cream! Soft cinnamon sugar apples are topped with a buttery cake layer and then a drizzle of gooey caramel on top, this easy recipe is sweet and delicious!

Apple caramel dump cake on a plate topped with ice cream and caramel.


 

Why We Love Caramel Apple Dump Cake

  • Gooey Warm Layered Dessert– Soft and sweet cinnamon apples with a delicious cake topping and a drizzle of caramel. This easy apple dump cake is the perfect warm cozy dessert and is full of fall flavors.
  • Quick And Easy Prep– This cake is super easy with minimal prep and simple ingredients. Just slice, mix, dump and bake for the easiest dessert.
  • Great For A Crowd– This makes a large 9 x 13 size cake. Bring this easy apple dessert to parties, potlucks and holiday gatherings.

If you like this easy dump cake, try my pumpkin dump cake! Easy and delicious, it’s a crowd-pleasing recipe with a layer that tastes like pumpkin pie. I’ve also made a gooey warm peach dump cake and a strawberry cobbler which are easy and delicious!

Ingredients For Caramel Apple Dump Cake

Ingredients for apple caramel dump cake on a counter with labels.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions below in the recipe card.

  •  granny smith apples you can also use any good baking apple
  • brown sugar packed
  • cinnamon
  • pecans chopped optional but add a great crunch
  • yellow cake mix just the dry cake mix, one box. Don’t add the extra ingredients the box cake mix calls for.
  • butter salted, if you have unsalted butter you can mix in an extra 1/4 teaspoon of salt into the cake mix before adding it to the pan
  • caramel sauce topping add a good drizzle!

Kids and adults both love making their own caramel apple slices for a fun treat, or try these yummy caramel apple cheesecake bars for a creamy, more decadent apple treat.

How To Make Caramel Apple Dump Cake

  1. Grease a 9×13 pan with spray oil. You can use a casserole dish or a baking pan. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Peel, core and slice apples into ¼ inch slices and place in a large bowl.
Peeling, slicing and coring apples on a cutting board with a bowl of chopped apples nearby from overhead.
  1. In a small bowl mix together brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle the cinnamon mixture over the apples and stir to coat to make the apple filling.
Mixing together apples and cinnamon sugar in a large bowl with pecans and cake mix in a bag on the counter nearby.
  1. Pour apples into the prepared dish so they spread out evenly as possible, then sprinkle with chopped pecans (optional).
Apple slices mixed with cinnamon, sugar and pecans in a baking dish from overhead.
  1. Dump the dry yellow cake mix evenly over apples and pecans. Spread lightly and but evenly with a spatula.
Cake mix spread in the baking dish from above.
  1. Slice butter into thin pats. Place butter on top of the cake mix, covering as much cake mix surface as possible.
Butter spread evenly into pieces over top of cake mix in a baking dish.
  1. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Cake will be light golden brown on top and bubbly around the edges. Let cool for a few minutes before serving.
Apple dump cake in baking dish after baking from overhead.
  1. Drizzle with caramel sauce and enjoy! You can add an extra drizzle of caramel on the plate if you like.
A gooey scoop of apple caramel dump cake being lifted from the pan.

Variation Ideas

  • Vanilla Ice Cream– A scoop of vanilla ice cream, butter pecan ice cream or even caramel ice cream is delicious with this cake!
  • Top With Whipped Cream – A pretty dollop of whipped cream looks beautiful swirled on top of this cake on the plate.
  • Try Walnuts– Pecans are suggested optionally in this recipe, but walnuts would also be delicious.
  • Swap The Cake Mix– We’ve used a yellow cake mix, but you can use a different cake mix such as a spice cake mix, white cake mix or a vanilla cake mix and this dessert will still be delicious.

Can I Use Other Types of Fresh Apples In This Recipe?

You can use any variety of apple that is considered good for baking in this recipe.

While some apples are better eaten fresh or made into sauce, there are many varieties of apple that are perfect for cakes, tarts and crumbles like Golden Delicious, Honey Crisp, and Pink Lady. Check out more apples great for baking here.

How Long Does This Caramel Apple Dump Cake Last?

Store in the fridge in an airtight container. This cake will taste freshest for about 4-5 days. You can also freeze this cake in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

You can reheats leftovers of this easy apple dump cake easily in the microwave or oven, but it is also delicious served cold.

Caramel apple dump cake on a plate close up from the side topped with ice cream and more caramel on a plate.
Recipe

Caramel Apple Dump Cake


Course Baking, Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 12 Servings
This caramel apple dump cake recipe starts with fresh apples and plenty of cinnamon sugar, then is topped with a soft cake layer and ends with gooey caramel. Delicious, no one will know it started with a cake mix!

Ingredients  

  • 2.5 pounds granny smith apples about 8 apples
  • ¾ cup brown sugar packed
  • 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
  • ¾ cup pecans chopped (optional)
  • 15.25 yellow cake mix dry mix only
  • 1 cup butter salted, about 8 ounces
  • 3/4 cup caramel sauce topping, about 6 ounces
  • Ice cream optional

Instructions

  • Grease a 9×13 pan with spray oil. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Peel, core and slice apples into ¼ inch slices and place in a large bowl.
  • In a small bowl mix together brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle the cinnamon mixture over the apples and stir to coat.
  • Pour apples into the prepared dish so they spread out evenly as possible, then sprinkle with chopped pecans (optional).
  • Dump the dry yellow cake mix evenly over apples and pecans. Spread lightly and but evenly with a spatula.
  • Slice butter into thin pats. Place butter all over the cake, covering as much cake mix surface as possible.
  • Bake for 45-50 minutes. Cake will be lightly browned on top and bubbly around the edges. Let cool for a few minutes before serving.
  • Drizzle with caramel sauce and enjoy! You can add an extra drizzle of caramel on the plate if you like, and it's extra delicious with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Notes

Nutritional valuation is an estimate and does not include optional pecans.

Nutrition

Calories: 403kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 441mg | Potassium: 152mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 47g | Vitamin A: 537IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 1mg
Keyword apple, apple cake, caramel

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2 Comments

  1. When does the caramel get added? I only see mention of drizzle at the end

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