If you’re looking for a quick, easy, and family-friendly dessert, this Apple Caramel Dump Cake is the perfect choice. Inspired by comfortable, customizable dishes, it combines sweet caramel, tender apples, and a golden cake topping in one simple recipe. Ideal for busy weeknights or special occasions, this balanced, fuss-free dessert brings warmth and nostalgia to your table. Everyone will love how effortless yet indulgent this classic dump cake is.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
If you’re searching for a dessert that’s both simple and irresistible, this Apple Caramel Dump Cake is your perfect solution. Bursting with sweet caramel and tender apples, this Apple Caramel Dump Cake delivers a comforting, gooey treat that everyone will love. What makes it so special is its effortless preparation — you literally “dump” the ingredients into a pan, bake, and enjoy.
This recipe is ideal for busy weeknights, last-minute gatherings, or cozy family dinners. The combination of juicy apples, rich caramel, and a golden, fluffy topping creates a dessert that feels indulgent without requiring hours in the kitchen. It’s versatile too: you can use fresh apples, canned pie filling, or even add a sprinkle of cinnamon or nuts to suit your taste.
Perfectly balanced between sweet and buttery, this Apple Caramel Dump Cake is a nostalgic, crowd-pleasing treat that brings warmth and smiles to the table. Once you try it, you’ll see why it’s a go-to dessert for both everyday meals and special occasions.
Ingredients for This Recipe
The magic of this Apple Caramel Dump Cake starts with its simple, high-quality ingredients. Fresh, peeled, and sliced apples provide natural sweetness and a tender texture that perfectly complements the rich caramel sauce. The caramel adds gooey indulgence, infusing each bite with deep, buttery flavor that makes this Apple Caramel Dump Cake irresistible. A classic yellow cake mix creates the golden, fluffy topping, while melted butter ensures every layer bakes up moist and flavorful.
This recipe is highly customizable: you can choose sugar-free caramel for a lighter version, or add a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness. The combination of apples, caramel, and cake mix is simple, yet it delivers a nostalgic, crowd-pleasing dessert in under an hour. Whether you’re making it for a family dinner, a potluck, or a cozy night in, these ingredients come together effortlessly to create a dessert everyone will rave about.
🛒 Ingredients:
- 4 cups peeled and sliced apples
- ½ cup caramel sauce (sugar-free if desired)
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- Optional: ½ teaspoon salt
How to Make This Recipe
Making the perfect Apple Caramel Dump Cake is easier than you might think. The key ingredients—fresh apples, caramel sauce, yellow cake mix, and melted butter—work together to create a dessert that’s gooey, sweet, and golden on top. The apples provide natural sweetness and texture, while the caramel infuses every bite with rich, buttery flavor. The yellow cake mix forms a fluffy, golden topping, and the melted butter ensures the cake bakes evenly and stays moist. Optional salt balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor of your Apple Caramel Dump Cake.
🛠️ Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Spread 4 cups of peeled and sliced apples evenly in the pan.
- Drizzle ½ cup caramel sauce over the apples.
- Sprinkle 1 box of yellow cake mix evenly on top.
- Pour ½ cup melted unsalted butter over the cake mix.
- Optional: Sprinkle ½ teaspoon salt for extra flavor.
- Bake for 45–50 minutes until the top is golden and caramel is bubbly.
- Let cool slightly before serving.
Expert Cooking Tips
Creating the perfect Apple Caramel Dump Cake is all about knowing how to handle its key ingredients. Fresh apples provide natural sweetness and the best texture, so choose firm, tart varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp. Caramel sauce adds gooey richness—drizzle it evenly to make every bite indulgent. The yellow cake mix forms a light, golden topping, and melted butter ensures a moist, cohesive cake. Optional salt enhances flavors and balances the sweetness of the apples and caramel, creating a perfectly layered dessert.
Here are some tips from the pros:
- Use evenly sliced apples to ensure consistent baking.
- Drizzle the caramel slowly for maximum coverage.
- Avoid overmixing; the beauty of this Apple Caramel Dump Cake is its rustic, layered texture.
- Let the cake cool slightly before serving to allow the caramel to set.
🛒 Ingredients Recap:
- 4 cups peeled and sliced apples
- ½ cup caramel sauce (sugar-free if desired)
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- Optional: ½ teaspoon salt
What is an Apple Dump Cake?
An apple dump cake is a simple, layered dessert where apples, cake mix, butter, and sometimes caramel are “dumped” into a pan and baked. It’s a quick and fuss-free way to enjoy a sweet, comforting dessert like our Apple Caramel Dump Cake.
Why do they call it a dump cake?
It’s called a dump cake because the ingredients are simply dumped into a baking pan rather than mixed extensively, making it an easy, low-effort dessert.
What are the ingredients in caramel apple dump cake?
The key ingredients include fresh apples, caramel sauce, yellow cake mix, and melted butter. Optional salt can enhance the flavor of this Apple Caramel Dump Cake.
What is the biggest mistake to avoid when making a dump cake?
The most common mistake is uneven layering or underbaking. Make sure the apples are evenly sliced and the cake is baked until golden and bubbly for a perfect Apple Caramel Dump Cake every time.
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The Apple Caramel Dump Cake is the ultimate easy-to-make dessert that brings comfort, sweetness, and nostalgia to any table. With simple ingredients like fresh apples, caramel sauce, and yellow cake mix, it’s perfect for busy weeknights, family gatherings, or special occasions. Its gooey, golden layers and rich caramel flavor make it a crowd-pleaser every time. Try this Apple Caramel Dump Cake today, and enjoy a fuss-free dessert that’s both indulgent and unforgettable.
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Apple Caramel Dump Cake
Description
Sweet apples with a drizzle of caramel sauce create a decadent yet easy dessert with a crisp, buttery topping.
Ingredients
🛒 Ingredients:
4 cups peeled and sliced apples
½ cup caramel sauce (sugar-free if desired)
1 box yellow cake mix
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
Optional: ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
📝 Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch dish.
Toss apples with caramel sauce and spread in dish.
Sprinkle cake mix over apples.
Drizzle melted butter over cake mix.
Bake 35–40 minutes until golden and caramel bubbling.