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This Pumpkin Dump Cake is a great recipe for fall with some of the best flavors: pumpkin and apple all in one! This recipe starts with a cake mix and doesn’t even need a bowl for mixing!

dump cake on a grey plate with ice cream scoop on top.


Apple Pumpkin Dump Cake

Dump Cakes have become such fun recipes to make. A dump cake is when you pour your mixture in the bottom of a pan and then ‘dump’ cake mix all over the top! I used yellow cake mix in this recipe and it goes so nicely with all the other flavors. This recipe is a combination of a pumpkin pie and pumpkin apple cobbler all in one!

A lot of pumpkin pie recipes call for evaporated milk, but I used sweetened condensed milk instead, like I do with my seriously easy pumpkin pie. They cans look very similar, but sweetened condensed milk is sweeter and thicker. That is why this recipe doesn’t call for any sugar, because all the ingredients bring enough sweetness on their own. If you want a recipe that screams fall, this ones for you!

ingredients in pumpkin dump cake laid out on marble counter.

Ingredients Needed

  • Pumpkin puree: One step to getting the fall flavor – be sure to use pumpkin puree, not pie mix.
  • Sweetened condensed milk: This is where all the liquid and sweetness comes from – be sure to buy the correct can. Nonfat works too.
  • Pumpkin pie spice: Will make your kitchen smell amazing – use store bought or make my DIY Pumpkin Spice!
  • Apple pie filling: I love the combination of apples and pumpkin. Use a can or make my homemade apple pie filling.
  • Yellow cake mix: This will form the crumble part on top, any brand works.
  • Unsalted butter: It’s best if it’s really cold or even frozen.

How to make Pumpkin Dump Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9×13” pan with cooking spray.
  • Whisk pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl. Pour into the bottom of the prepared 9×13” pan.
  • Spread apple pie filling over the top of the pumpkin.
  • Sprinkle entire cake mix evenly over the top of the pumpkin and apples. Sprinkle with pecans.
  • Slice butter into thin strips and place in an even grid all over the cake.
  • Bake for 44-50 minutes until the center is set and it is golden brown around the edges.
dump cake in a clear rectangle pan.

Expert Tips

  • When using butter on top of the dump cake, I find it best to cut it in thin slices. It’s easiest to cut when frozen. You can also grate it if you prefer.
  • Make sure you are using pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie mix.
  • If you want to use spice cake mix for more flavor, you can, that would be fantastic.

FAQs

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

One big mistake people make is mixing their dump cake. Therefore don’t mix the cake mix and butter with the bottom mixture because it will not bake properly. 

Does the dump cake have to be refrigerated? 

If you don’t want your dump cake to go bad, you should keep it refrigerated. 

How do I make sure the butter spreads all over my dump cake?

Make sure you put enough butter in an even grid over the cake therefore it spread evenly when baking.

dump cake on a grey plate with ice cream scoop on top.

Pumpkin Dump Cake

5 from 10 votes
This easy dump cake recipe has pumpkin and apple and uses a spice cake mix!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Yield 16 servings
Serving Size 1 serving

Ingredients
 

  • 1 15 ounce can (425g) pumpkin puree
  • 1 14 ounce can (396g) sweetened condensed milk
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 20 ounce can apple pie filling
  • 1 approx 15 ounce box yellow cake mix
  • 1 cup (113g) pecans , coarsely chopped
  • 12 tablespoons unsalted butter (see note)
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Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9×13” pan with cooking spray.
  • Whisk pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl. Pour into the bottom of the prepared 9×13” pan.
  • Spread apple pie filling over the top of the pumpkin.
  • Sprinkle entire cake mix evenly over the top of the pumpkin and apples. Sprinkle with pecans.
  • Slice butter into thin strips and place in an even grid all over the cake.
  • Bake for 44-50 minutes until the center is set and it is golden brown around the edges.

Recipe Notes

  • Be sure to use pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie mix.
  • You can use regular or fat-free sweetened condensed milk but be sure NOT to use evaporated milk.
  • If you can find it, use a spice cake mix for even more flavor!
  • You can omit the apple pie filling if you don’t want to add it.
  • For the butter, I find it easiest to slice thin when it’s been frozen. Or freeze it and then grate it and sprinkle it evenly over the top.
  • Check the oven after about 20 minutes and if you notice any spots where the butter is not covering do a little mix with a wooden spoon (otherwise the powder will stay dry). This is why it’s important to evenly spread your butter!
  • Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to a month.
  • Serving suggestions: plain, with whipped cream, or ice cream.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 133kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 15mg | Potassium: 44mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.4g | Vitamin A: 327IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Other Pumpkin Recipes

Last Updated on August 20, 2023



Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

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66 Comments

  1. Wow…apples + pumpkin + spice = pretty much my favorite three things in a baked item. I definitely can’t wait to try this out.

  2. Love, love, love this. I think I need to make it – I’m already in full blown addiction with you. I even have a scarf my best friend gave me that I named, my “pumpkin latte scarf.” Bring on fall and all the great recipes! And I love your voice on your blog- so fun and friendly!

  3. Hello Dorothy! The pumpkin dump it cake sounds so yummy.How can you wrong with anything pumpkiny & cinnamony (?)..you know what I mean. More important, to me anyway, it the fact that you mentioned 9/11. Yes, it was a day most of us will never forget,but sadly, I believe some people have. Former New Yorker ( Long Island), that is truly a day I will not forget. Many lives were taken..,even those that came to the aid unknowns. I am referring to the Police,Firefighters and others who so generously gave their all. I knew someone from Elementary school through High School that lost his life that horrible day. So, what I’m getting at is Thanks from the bottom of my Heart for thinking and mentioning 9/11. ~ Holly

    1. You’re welcome Holly! I struggled because I’LL never forget and, even though life goes on…it really is still there. And we need to remember it! Thanks so much for your comment!

  4. Dump cakes are a staple of Boy Scouts and anyone who enjoys cooking in a cast iron dutch oven, either in the back yard or in the backwoods. We’ve got an event scheduled for this weekend and I was contemplating what kind of yummy thing I was going to come up with to top our evening off. Looks like I found it!

  5. Yum- this looks gooood. I’m totally with you about rubbery apples (and the magic of dump cakes!). Thanks for sharing my pumpkin cheesecake rolls 🙂

  6. I’ve heard of dump cakes before, but I never actually stopped to figure out what they were. Hearing your description — like a crumble but with cake — makes me think that I need to try this myself!! I’m honestly amazed at your dedication to bake with pumpkin despite this heat (100° on Monday???), and I can’t wait to see what other fall goodies you have coming! 🙂

  7. Oh my!! I have never made pumpkin dump cake before but I love dump cakes and I looove pumpkin so this will definitely have to happen ASAP. Love your blog, Dorothy. 🙂