Easy 4-ingredient Caramel Apple Dump Cake with spiced apples, caramel, cake mix, and butter. A quick, cozy dessert perfect for fall and holidays.
Caramel Apple Dump Cake is the ultimate easy dessert. This no-fuss recipe comes together in minutes and bakes into a warm, gooey, and golden treat that’s perfect for fall.
Whether you’re serving it for a holiday gathering, a potluck, or a cozy family night, this caramel apple dump cake is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.
Each bite of Caramel apple dump cake tastes so decadent, and the caramel just really adds to it! It is such an Easy Dump Cake Recipe.
What's in this post: Caramel Apple Dump Cake Recipe
Why We Love This
- Only 4 ingredients – Apple pie filling, caramel sauce, cake mix, and butter make this dessert incredibly easy and budget-friendly.
- Quick to prepare – Just layer, bake, and serve. No mixing bowls or complicated steps required.
- Perfect fall flavors – Spiced apples and gooey caramel pair beautifully with the buttery cake topping.
- Crowd-pleasing – Great for holidays, potlucks, or weeknight desserts where you need something fast but impressive.
- Versatile – Delicious on its own or served with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or an extra drizzle of caramel.
Ingredients
- Yellow Cake Mix – A standard yellow box cake mix creates the buttery, golden topping. You can also try spice cake mix for extra fall flavor.
- Apple Pie Filling – Canned apple pie filling makes this recipe quick and easy, but homemade apple pie filling works just as well if you want a from-scratch version.
- Caramel Sauce or Topping – Adds gooey sweetness and rich caramel flavor. Use store-bought caramel topping for convenience or homemade caramel sauce for a richer taste.
- Unsalted Butter – Melted butter is poured over the cake mix to create a crisp, golden crust. Stick with unsalted butter to control the sweetness and saltiness of the dessert.
Scroll to the recipe card and get the complete ingredient list.
Variations
- Spice Cake Mix – Swap the yellow cake mix for spice cake mix to boost the warm fall flavors.
- Add Nuts – Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts over the top before baking for extra crunch.
- Cinnamon Sugar Twist – Dust the top with a little cinnamon sugar before baking for added sweetness and spice.
- Mini Dump Cakes – Make individual portions in ramekins or mason jars for fun single-serve desserts.
- Extra Gooey – Layer additional caramel sauce between the apples and cake mix for an even richer filling.
- Apple Mix-In – Combine Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples with the pie filling for a balance of tart and sweet.
- Chocolate Caramel Apple Dump Cake – Add ½ cup chocolate chips over the apples before topping with cake mix and butter.
Step By Step Instructions
- Step 1. Prepare oven for Baking – Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Step 2. Add your Apple Pie Filling to the bottom of the baking dish. Spread evenly in the pan.
Step 3. Pour caramel evenly on top of apple mixture. This is my favorite part. That layer of caramel sauce really makes this cake even more yummy.
Step 4. Sprinkle dry cake mix on top. Then place thinly sliced pats of butter on top of cake mix evenly. You can also drizzle melted butter on top if you prefer.
Step 5. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes until golden brown.
Topping Suggestions
- Vanilla Ice Cream – This cake is delicious served warm with No Churn Vanilla Ice Cream.
- Whipped Cream – Light and fluffy, it balances the richness of the caramel and butter. Try Homemade Whipped Cream.
- Extra Caramel Drizzle – Add more gooey Homemade Caramel Sauce on top for an indulgent finish.
- Chopped Nuts – Sprinkle toasted pecans or walnuts for added crunch and nutty flavor.
- Cinnamon Sugar – A light dusting before serving enhances the warm apple spice flavor.
- Powdered Sugar – Simple and elegant for a lighter finishing touch.
Storage
Room Temperature – Let the dump cake cool completely, then cover loosely with foil or plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 1 day.
Refrigerator – Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3–4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or oven before serving.
Freezer – Wrap the cooled cake tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven before serving.
FAQs
Homemade apple pie filling is not difficult but does require a few steps. You can make pie filling from scratch by combining the fresh apples with water, cornstarch and seasonings.
Bring to apple filling to a boil. Reduce heat until desired consistency.
To make this dump cake gluten free, use a gluten free cake mix. Make the easy switch and your family will probably not tell the difference.
When we want to reheat a small serving of this caramel apple dump cake, we will place it in the microwave for about 30 seconds and then check. Continue until it is heated to your desire temperature.
If you are heating a larger portion, place in a preheated oven of 350 degrees. Let the dump cake heat for about 15 minutes.
Then top with your favorite toppings.
Tips and Tricks
- Even layering – Spread the apple pie filling evenly in the pan to ensure every bite has apples and caramel.
- Use a deep baking dish – Helps contain the gooey caramel and apple filling for easy serving.
- Let it rest – Allow the dump cake to cool for 10–15 minutes before serving so the filling thickens slightly.
- Spice it up – Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the apple filling for extra warmth and flavor.
- Optional nuts – Sprinkle toasted pecans or walnuts over the cake before baking for added texture.
- Serving warm – Best served warm with ice cream or whipped cream for a cozy, indulgent dessert.
Try More Easy Dump Cake Recipes
- Chocolate dump cake recipe
- Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake Recipe
- Crock Pot Apple Dump Cake
- Peach Dump Cake
More Apple Desserts
- Southern Fried Apples Recipe
- Apple Bundt Cake
- Baked Apples Recipe
- The Best Apple Crisp Recipe
- Easy Fried Apple Pies Recipe
- Homemade Caramel Apples
I am so excited for you to try this dessert recipe. Please come back and leave a comment and star review once you make it.
Caramel Apple Dump cake
Ingredients
- 1 yellow cake mix
- 2 cans apple pie filling 21 ounce cans
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce or topping
- 1 stick butter sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a 9 x 13 Baking Dish.
- Spoon cans of apple pie filling in bottom of dish
- Pour caramel evenly on top of pie filling.
- Sprinkle cake mix on top.
- Place thinly sliced pats of butter evenly on top of cake mix. You can also melt the butter and drizzle it on top, if desired
- Bake in 350 degree oven for 50 to 60 minutes.
- Serve with a scoop of vanilla or your favorite ice cream and top with more drizzled caramel
Recipe Video
Excellent dessert to make for the grandkids. Along with their help we had a blast. Keep it up Carrie.
I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it Tom! Thank you so much for sharing!