Easy Gooey Caramel Apple Dump Cake Recipe with Pecans Perfect for Fall
A simple and irresistible dump cake featuring tender apples, gooey caramel sauce, crunchy pecans, and a golden cake crust, perfect for cozy fall evenings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Total Time: 55-60 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 cups apples, peeled and sliced (Granny Smith preferred, but Honeycrisp or Fuji work too)
- 1 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade, Ghirardelli recommended)
- 1 box (about 15.25 oz / 432 g) yellow or spice cake mix
- 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
- 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Peel, core, and slice about 6 cups of apples into thin, even slices (around 1/4-inch thick). Toss them in a large bowl with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (if using).
- Spread the spiced apples evenly in your 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Pour 1 cup of caramel sauce evenly over the apples. If caramel is thick, warm slightly to spread easier.
- Sprinkle one box (about 15.25 oz / 432 g) of yellow or spice cake mix evenly over the caramel layer. Do not stir.
- Scatter 1 cup of chopped toasted pecans evenly over the dry cake mix.
- Slowly drizzle 1/2 cup (113 g) of melted unsalted butter over the entire dish.
- Place the dish on the middle rack and bake for 40-45 minutes until caramel bubbles around edges and top is golden and slightly crisp.
- Let the dump cake rest for at least 10 minutes before serving to allow caramel to thicken.
Notes
If pecans brown too fast, cover loosely with foil halfway through baking. For gluten-free, use gluten-free cake mix and almond flour. For dairy-free, substitute butter with coconut oil and use dairy-free caramel sauce. Serve warm or at room temperature with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Leftovers keep refrigerated up to 3 days or frozen up to 2 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 slice (1/8 t
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 30
- Sodium: 220
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 4
Keywords: caramel apple dump cake, easy fall dessert, pecan dessert, quick apple cake, gooey caramel cake, autumn dessert, dump cake recipe