Easy Salted Caramel Apple Dump Cake Recipe with Perfect Cinnamon Crunch Topping
A quick and easy dump cake combining tender spiced apples, a crunchy cinnamon topping, and a salted caramel drizzle for a cozy fall dessert.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Total Time: 60-65 minutes
- Yield: 9 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 cups peeled and sliced apples (about 5 medium apples; Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 box yellow cake mix (about 15.25 oz or 432 g)
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce (salted caramel variety preferred)
- Flaky sea salt for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and center the oven rack.
- In a large bowl, toss peeled and sliced apples with granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, nutmeg (if using), and lemon juice until evenly coated.
- Spread the apple mixture evenly in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Sprinkle the yellow cake mix evenly over the apples without stirring.
- In a small bowl, mix melted butter with chopped nuts and ground cinnamon, then pour evenly over the cake mix layer.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes until the topping is golden brown and bubbly and the apples are tender.
- Remove from oven and immediately drizzle salted caramel sauce over the warm cake, then sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
- Let the cake cool for 10-15 minutes before serving. Serve warm, optionally with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Notes
If the topping browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil after 30 minutes. Use a mix of tart and sweet apples for best flavor. For gluten-free, substitute cake mix with gluten-free version. For dairy-free, use vegan butter or coconut oil but expect a slightly different texture. Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 4 days and can be reheated gently.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/9th of the c
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 32
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Protein: 2
Keywords: dump cake, salted caramel, apple dessert, cinnamon topping, easy fall dessert, quick dessert, comfort food