What is the biggest mistake to avoid when making a dump cake?

The most common mistake is stirring the cake mix into the caramel layer. A dump cake works because the dry mix bakes into a golden, crumbly topping. Mixing it creates a dense, soggy dessert. Another mistake is uneven butter distribution—make sure the top is covered so no dry spots remain.

Why do they call it dump cake?

The name comes from the simple method: you “dump” the ingredients into a baking dish without mixing. It’s one of the easiest desserts to make, perfect for busy home cooks who still want a warm, homemade treat.

What is a dump cake made of?

A classic dump cake uses a cake mix, butter, and fruit or a sweet filling. For this recipe, we use caramel (or sweetened condensed milk), yellow cake mix, and butter. Optional add-ins like pecans, apples, or chocolate chips make it customizable.

What toppings go well with salted caramel?

This Salted Caramel Dump Cake is delicious on its own, but toppings make it shine. Try vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, an extra drizzle of caramel sauce, or even a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for added contrast.

Salted Caramel Dump Cake – The Best Easy Dessert Recipe (2025)

Description

This dump cake combines buttery yellow cake mix, gooey caramel sauce, and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for a dessert that’s sweet, salty, and utterly irresistible. It’s like a caramel cobbler with a golden crust—easy enough for weeknights but decadent enough for holidays.

Ingredients

Scale

🛒 Ingredients:

2 cans (14 oz each) sweetened condensed milk (or 1 ½ cups caramel sauce)
1 box yellow or butter pecan cake mix (15 oz)
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted or sliced
½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon coarse sea salt (plus more for garnish)

Instructions

📝 Instructions:

Preheat Oven: Preheat to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Caramel Base: Pour sweetened condensed milk into a saucepan and simmer gently for 20–25 minutes, stirring often, until thickened and golden (or use premade caramel sauce for speed). Spread caramel evenly in the bottom of the baking dish.
Add Cake Mix: Sprinkle dry cake mix evenly over the caramel layer. Do not stir.
Top with Butter & Nuts: Drizzle melted butter (or dot with butter slices) evenly over the cake mix. Sprinkle with pecans and a pinch of sea salt.
Bake: Bake uncovered for 40–45 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and bubbly.
Finish & Serve: Cool slightly, then drizzle with extra caramel sauce and sprinkle with flaky sea salt before serving. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Notes

Shortcut Caramel: Use 1 ½ cups jarred caramel sauce to skip the stovetop step.
Sweet-Salty Boost: Add pretzel pieces on top before baking for crunch and extra saltiness.
Flavor Twist: Try chocolate cake mix instead of yellow for a salted caramel brownie-style dump cake.
Storage: Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days. Reheat before serving.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baked
Cuisine: American