Try this caramel apple dump cake for an easy and delicious dessert. It is a spoonable dessert with overtones of bread pudding and apple cobbler. It is filled with soft caramel candy, which enhances its gooey texture.
What is a Dump Cake?
A dump cake is a dessert similar to a cobbler and might remind you of bread pudding. However, it is easier to make because you layer the ingredients in a baking dish. Furthermore, it is so simple to assemble that it earned the name “dump cake” because the ingredients are dumped, without stirring, in a specific order and then baked.
Use Fresh Apples for Caramel Apple Dump Cake
This recipe distinguishes itself from other apple dump cake recipes by using fresh apples instead of canned apple pie filling. It takes a few minutes longer to cut the apples, but the taste of freshly cooked apples in this dump cake is delicious! Additionally, you won’t have to precook them before adding them to the baking dish, making this dessert easy to assemble.
Ingredients for Caramel Apple Dump Cake
This recipe primarily uses pantry ingredients that you might already have on hand.
Apples: Peel and cube the apples. Types of apples you can use for this recipe include Rome, Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, and Braeburn, although any cooking apple will work.
Apple Cider: Add the apple cider to provide flavor and moisture to the dump cake.
Lemon Juice: This helps prevent the apples from browning and also enhances their flavor.
Sugar: Granulated sugar adds sweetness to the dump cake.
Cinnamon: Adds a taste of autumn to the apple dump cake and complements the apple flavor.
Vanilla: Use pure vanilla extract to add another layer of flavor.
Flour: Use all-purpose flour to help thicken the juices.
Butter: Adds richness to the dump cake and helps keep the filling from overflowing while cooking.
Chopped Caramel Cubes: Adds caramel flavor to the dump cake. You can omit the caramel, and the cake will still be delicious.
Cake Mix: The cake mix acts as a crust for this dump cake. Use white or yellow cake mix.
Pecans (Optional): Add a crunchy texture and toasted flavor to the dump cake with chopped pecans. Buy pre-chopped nuts to make the process easier.
Steps for Making Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Follow these steps to assemble the caramel apple dump cake.
Servings for Caramel Apple Dump Cake
This recipe makes approximately 6-8 servings that can be scooped with a large spoon.
Baking Dish
Make this dessert in a 10-inch round or square pie dish.
Serve it Warm
Serve this dessert warm, so the caramel remains soft. If cold, the caramel can harden and might be chewy. This dessert heats well in the microwave and should be stored in the refrigerator.
Pecans are Optional
This dessert is great with or without pecans. You place them on top of the cake mix topping. They can start to brown too much and even burn, so add a sheet of aluminum foil sprayed with cooking spray to the top of the dessert to prevent further browning near the end of the baking time.
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Easy Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Equipment
- (1) 10-inch square or round deep baking dish
Ingredients
- 4 large Rome apples, peeled and cubed (about 5-6 heaping cups)
- 3 tablespoons apple cider
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 24 caramel cubes, chopped (Kraft used)
- (1) 15.25 ounces white cake mix (or yellow cake mix)
- ¾ cup chopped pecans (optional)
- 8 tablespoons butter, thinly sliced
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray the baking dish with cooking spray.
- Add the cubed apples, apple cider, lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and flour to a large mixing bowl. Stir to coat the apples. Place the apple mixture into the baking dish and spread it out evenly.
- Layer the chopped caramels over the apples.
- Add the cake mix and spread it out evenly.
- If using pecans, layer them now.
- Cut the butter into small slices and layer them on top, spreading them evenly.
- Bake for 50 minutes until lightly brown and a crust has formed on top. If the cake mixture starts to brown too much, place a sheet of aluminum foil over the top.
- Serve warm. Top with ice cream if desired.