This is our favorite Apple Dump Cake! It's gooey and creamy with custardy, sweet apples, and a hint of cinnamon. Plus, we're sharing an option to add caramels for an unforgettable caramel apple dump cake!
PREP: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray.
ASSEMBLE: Spread both cans of apple fruit filling in one even layer on the bottom of the pan. Drizzle lemon juice (if using) evenly over apples. Sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg (if using) on top in an even layer. Cut caramels in half (if using) and sprinkle evenly on top. Empty the cake mix on top of everything and smooth in one even layer with the back of a wooden spoon. Finally, cut the butter in thin 1/4-inch thick slices and place evenly on top of the cake, covering the entire top.
BAKE: Bake for 15 minutes. At this point, all the butter should be melted on top. Use a spoon to spoon pools over melted butter over any exposed dry cake mix. Return to the oven and bake for 40-45 more minutes or until light golden brown on top. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes to firm up.
SERVE: Spoon out the cake into bowls and top with vanilla ice cream. Enjoy hot!
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Notes
Note 1: Cake mix: Our favorite in this recipe is Betty Crocker® Super Moist Butter Pecan Cake Mix. This mix has pudding in it which results in an even tastier cake. Vanilla or yellow cake mix can be used instead (try to find the Super Moist cake mixes for a gooey dump cake!).Note 2: Butter: A lot of dump cake recipes use only 3/4 cup of butter. In testing, we preferred more butter, but this cake is certainly indulgent and very buttery tasting. If you want a firmer and less gooey cake, use 3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) of butter instead.Note 3: Caramels: For a fun twist on the regular Apple Dump Cake, add in 1 cup of chopped caramels. Our favorite caramels are Werther’s® Soft (not original) caramels. Avoid caramel bits, since they are resistant to melting.Nutrition information is for the basic recipe; Apple Caramel Dump Cake will have a different profile.