This caramel apple dump cake is one of the easiest fall desserts we can make when we want something warm, buttery, sweet, and comforting without spending hours in the kitchen. With just 5 simple ingredients, we can create a golden, gooey apple dessert with tender cinnamon-spiced apples, rich caramel sauce, and a buttery cake topping.
The best part is that this recipe uses convenient canned apple pie filling and boxed yellow cake mix, making it especially useful for busy weeknights, holiday gatherings, potlucks, Thanksgiving dinners, or last-minute desserts.
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Why We Love This Caramel Apple Dump Cake
A traditional apple pie can require considerable preparation, but this easy caramel apple dump cake recipe keeps everything wonderfully simple.
We love this dessert because:
- It requires only 5 ingredients.
- There is no homemade pie crust to prepare.
- We do not need a stand mixer or hand mixer.
- The ingredients are layered directly into the baking dish.
- The apples stay soft and juicy while the topping becomes golden and buttery.
- Caramel sauce adds a rich, buttery sweetness that pairs beautifully with apples.
- Cinnamon gives the dessert its classic warm fall flavor.
- It is delicious served warm with vanilla ice cream.
- The recipe is easy to prepare ahead of time for entertaining.
Unlike a conventional cake, we are not trying to create a perfectly smooth batter. The charm of a dump cake comes from its rustic layers and contrasting textures. The fruit filling becomes bubbling and syrupy underneath while the cake mix and butter create a golden, tender topping.
For more Apple recipes try our Apple Pie Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting, Apple Crumb Cake Recipe, or Apple Pie Thumbprint Cookies.
5-Ingredient Caramel Apple Dump Cake
These five ingredients are all we need to make the dessert. Since the apple pie filling already contains sweetened apples and spices, there is no need to prepare a separate apple filling.
- 🍎 2 cans (21 oz each) apple pie filling
- 🤎 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 🍯 ¾ cup caramel sauce, plus extra for drizzling
- 🎂 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
- 🧈 ¾ cup melted butter
For the best texture, we recommend using a standard 15.25-ounce box of yellow cake mix and good-quality butter. A regular caramel sauce works perfectly, although a thick homemade-style caramel sauce can provide an especially rich finish.
How to Make Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Prepare the Baking Dish
We begin by preheating the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or a thin coating of butter. Greasing the dish makes serving easier and helps prevent the caramelized fruit from sticking around the edges.
A 9×13-inch dish gives the ingredients enough room to form relatively even layers while allowing the top to brown properly.
Add the Apple Pie Filling
We spread both cans of apple pie filling evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Using a spatula, we gently spread the apples from corner to corner so that the filling forms a consistent base. There is no need to drain the cans because the juices and syrup help create the gooey apple layer as the dessert bakes.
Add the Cinnamon & Caramel Sauce
We sprinkle 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon evenly over the apple pie filling.
Next, we drizzle ¾ cup caramel sauce over the apples and cinnamon.
We try to distribute the caramel as evenly as possible. Some areas will naturally have more caramel than others, which is perfectly fine. As the dessert heats, the caramel melts into the apple filling and creates pockets of rich caramel flavor throughout the dish.
Add the Dry Cake Mix
- We sprinkle the entire box of yellow cake mix evenly over the top.
- This step is important: we do not prepare the cake mix according to the directions on the box.
- The cake mix should remain completely dry. We spread it into an even layer over the apples and caramel, making sure there are no large piles of cake mix concentrated in one area.
- We also avoid stirring the layers together. The separate layers are what allow the fruit underneath and buttery cake topping to develop their characteristic textures.
Pour Over the Melted Butter
- We melt ¾ cup butter and pour it evenly across the surface of the dry cake mix.
- The goal is to cover as much of the cake mix as possible with melted butter. We can pour it slowly in a zigzag pattern rather than dumping it into one spot.
- The butter combines with the dry cake mix during baking, helping create the golden, crumbly topping that makes a dump cake so appealing.
Bake Until Golden and Bubbling
- We place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 45-50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the apple filling is visibly bubbling around the edges.
- Because ovens vary, we begin checking toward the end of the baking time. If the top is deeply golden and the filling is bubbling, the dessert is ready.
- If some dry-looking cake mix remains on top after the initial baking time, we can give it a few additional minutes in the oven. The surface should look golden and baked rather than powdery.
Rest and Finish with Caramel
- Once baked, we remove the caramel apple dump cake from the oven and let it rest for 10-15 minutes.
- This short resting period allows the bubbling fruit filling to settle slightly and makes the dessert easier to serve.
- Before serving, we drizzle additional caramel sauce over the top for an extra layer of sweetness.
- For the ultimate presentation, we serve each portion warm with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. The ice cream begins melting into the warm caramel apples and buttery cake, creating an especially indulgent dessert.
How to Serve Caramel Apple Dump Cake
There are several delicious ways to serve this easy dessert.
The classic option is a warm scoop of caramel apple dump cake topped with vanilla ice cream. We can then add another drizzle of caramel sauce over the ice cream.
For an extra special dessert, we can also add:
- A dollop of whipped cream
- Chopped pecans or walnuts
- A sprinkle of cinnamon
- Extra caramel sauce
- A small pinch of flaky sea salt
- A scoop of cinnamon ice cream
The combination of caramel, apples, cinnamon, and vanilla makes this especially appropriate for autumn gatherings and holiday meals.
Can We Make This Recipe Ahead of Time?
Yes. We can bake the dump cake ahead of serving and gently reheat individual portions when needed.
For the best texture, we recommend storing leftovers covered in the refrigerator and reheating them until warm. The topping may soften somewhat after refrigeration, but the caramel apple flavor remains delicious.
If we are preparing the dessert for a gathering, we can bake it earlier in the day and serve it warm later. A short reheating period can bring back the comforting warmth that makes this dessert so appealing.
How to Store Leftover Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Once cooled, leftovers should be covered and refrigerated. Because the dessert contains a fruit filling and butter-rich topping, refrigeration is the safest choice for longer storage.
To serve, we can reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm a larger portion in the oven until heated through.
Additional caramel sauce can be drizzled over each serving after reheating to restore some of the dessert’s fresh-from-the-oven appeal.
Easy Variations
Although this 5-ingredient caramel apple dump cake is delicious exactly as written, we can customize it without making the recipe complicated.
Add Chopped Pecans
A handful of chopped pecans sprinkled over the cake mix adds crunch and a delicious nutty flavor that pairs naturally with caramel and apples.
Use Spice Cake Mix
For a stronger fall flavor, we can replace the yellow cake mix with a spice cake mix. The additional spices complement the apple and caramel combination beautifully.
Add a Touch of Sea Salt
A small amount of flaky sea salt sprinkled over the finished dessert creates a delicious sweet-and-salty contrast with the caramel.
Try Different Apples
Because canned apple pie filling is used here, the recipe is exceptionally convenient. For a homemade variation, we could prepare an apple filling using firm baking apples such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a combination of sweet and tart varieties.
Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Equipment
- 9×13-inch baking dish
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Small microwave-safe bowl or saucepan for melting butter
- Spatula
- Spoon or measuring cup for drizzling caramel sauce
Ingredients
- 2 cans each apple pie filling 21 oz each
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¾ cup caramel sauce plus extra for drizzling
- 1 box yellow cake mix 15.25 oz
- ¾ cup unsalted butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Spread the apple pie filling evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle the ground cinnamon evenly over the apple pie filling.
- Drizzle ¾ cup caramel sauce over the apples.
- Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix evenly over the caramel layer. Do not stir or mix the layers.
- Slowly pour the melted butter evenly over the entire surface of the cake mix.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling around the edges.
- Remove from the oven and let the dump cake rest for 10-15 minutes.
- Drizzle with additional caramel sauce and serve warm.
Notes
- Calories: 390 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 59 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Sugar: 37 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
This easy caramel apple dump cake recipe delivers everything we want from a comforting fall dessert without complicated preparation. With two cans of apple pie filling, cinnamon, caramel sauce, yellow cake mix, and butter, we can create a bubbling apple dessert with a golden, buttery topping in remarkably little time.
The simplicity is what makes it so useful. We can prepare it for a casual family dessert, a fall dinner, Thanksgiving, a potluck, or whenever we need something sweet without spending hours baking.
For the best experience, we serve it warm from the oven with vanilla ice cream and an extra drizzle of caramel sauce. The combination of tender cinnamon apples, rich caramel, buttery cake, and melting ice cream makes this five-ingredient dessert especially hard to resist.
