This Dump Cake Is an Impressive and Delicious Addition to Your Thanksgiving and Holiday Dessert Menu

If you’re searching for easy dessert recipes this fall, this caramel apple dump cake is one of the best apple desserts you’ll make. It uses just a few simple pantry staples: canned apple pie filling, boxed yellow cake mix, caramel bits, and butter.

Dump cakes are the ultimate no-fuss dessert—no mixing bowls, no complicated steps. You simply layer the ingredients in a baking dish and bake. Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream for a crowd-pleasing holiday finale.

I make this every Thanksgiving and Christmas instead of a traditional apple pie because my family loves it. It’s budget-friendly, effortless, and delivers a wonderful combination of tender apple filling, sweet caramel, and a crisp, buttery topping.

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray. Spread both cans of apple pie filling evenly across the bottom of the dish.

Sprinkle about half of the caramel bits over the apple filling so you get pockets of gooey caramel as it bakes.

Dump the dry cake mix evenly over the apples and caramel, covering the filling completely.

Melt the butter and pour it over the cake mix, trying to cover as much of the dry mix as possible. The butter creates the crisp, golden topping.

Bake uncovered on the center rack for 30–40 minutes, or until the topping is deep golden brown and bubbly around the edges. Ovens vary, so check near the 30-minute mark.

Let the cake rest about 5 minutes before serving. It’s excellent warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Leftovers refrigerate well for up to 5 days and reheat nicely in the microwave; the topping often crisps up even more as it cools.

Caramel Apple Cobbler Dump Cake

This simple apple dump cake is perfect for fall and the holidays. With boxed cake mix and canned apple pie filling, it’s quick to assemble and ideal for feeding a crowd. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream for an impressive, comforting dessert.

Course: Dessert

Keyword: 4 ingredients, apple, cake mix, cobbler, dessert, dump cake, fall, holidays, pie filling, thanksgiving

Servings: 10

Ingredients

• 2 (21 ounce) cans apple pie filling
• 1/2 (11 ounce) bag caramel bits (found in the baking section)
• 1 (15 ounce) box yellow cake mix
• 1 cup melted butter (2 sticks)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
• Spread both cans of apple pie filling evenly in the prepared dish.
• Sprinkle about half the caramel bits over the apples.
• Evenly distribute the dry cake mix over the filling.
• Pour melted butter evenly over the cake mix, covering as much as possible.
• Bake on the center rack for 30–40 minutes, until the topping is golden brown.
• Allow to cool 5 minutes, then serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Notes

• For extra crunch, stir in a handful of chopped pecans with the caramel bits. If you like spice, sprinkle cinnamon or nutmeg over the cake mix before pouring the butter.
• Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and reheat in the microwave. The topping often becomes crisper as it cools, which many people prefer.

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Easy Homemade Candied PecansOven-baked cinnamon sugar pecans make a fantastic snack for holiday parties.

Don’t forget to pin and save this yummy apple dump cake for later! 🙂

Behind the Scenes

Here’s a peek at my simple photo setup. With good natural light and a modern phone camera, you can capture attractive food photos without fancy equipment. I used vinyl faux-wood and a subway tile backdrop taped into place to create a cozy scene for these shots.