Description

Craving a dessert that screams fall but takes almost no effort to whip up? What if you could toss a few ingredients into a dish and end up with a warm, gooey cake that tastes like caramel apples and cinnamon rolls had a delicious baby? Say hello to Caramel Apple Cinnamon Roll Dump Cake! This indulgent treat combines canned cinnamon rolls, apple pie filling, caramel sauce, and spice cake mix for a cozy, crowd-pleasing dessert. Ready in about an hour, it’s perfect for potlucks, holidays, or cozy nights in.

Ingredients

Cooking Spray: Prevents sticking, ensuring easy serving and cleanup.
Deluxe Cinnamon Rolls (2 cans, 17.5 oz each, quartered, icing reserved): Add soft, cinnamon-spiced dough and a sweet icing drizzle for that classic cinnamon roll flavor.
Apple Pie Filling (2 cans, 21 oz each): Provides juicy, spiced apples as the fruity base.
Caramel Sauce (½ cup, plus extra for drizzle): Adds rich, buttery sweetness that pairs perfectly with apples.
Spice Cake Mix (1 box, 15.25 oz): Brings warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, creating a cakey topping without extra work.
Salted Butter (¾ cup, sliced): Melts into the cake mix, creating a golden, crispy top.

Substitutions and Variations

Cinnamon Rolls: Use refrigerated biscuit dough or homemade cinnamon roll dough if preferred, but adjust baking time as needed.
Apple Pie Filling: Swap with peach, cherry, or blueberry pie filling for a different fruit flavor. Homemade apple pie filling works too.
Caramel Sauce: Use salted caramel sauce for a trendy twist or butterscotch sauce for a deeper flavor.
Cake Mix: Yellow or white cake mix can replace spice cake mix, but add 1 tsp cinnamon for warmth.
Butter: Unsalted butter works, but add a pinch of salt to the cake mix. Vegan butter can be used for a dairy-free version.
Add-Ins: Sprinkle ½ cup chopped pecans, walnuts, or toffee bits over the cake mix for extra crunch.

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Instructions

Prepare the Baking Dish:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Tip: Use a glass or metal dish for even baking, and ensure the spray covers the sides for easy removal.
Layer the Apple Pie Filling:
- Open 2 cans (21 oz each) of apple pie filling and spread them evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Tip: Break up any large apple chunks with a spoon for a more even layer.
Add the Cinnamon Rolls:
- Open 2 cans (17.5 oz each) of deluxe cinnamon rolls and reserve the icing packets for later.
- Cut each roll into quarters (using a knife or kitchen scissors) and scatter the pieces evenly over the apple pie filling.
- Tip: Spread the pieces out to avoid clumping, but don’t worry about perfection—they’ll bake together.
Drizzle the Caramel Sauce:
- Pour ½ cup caramel sauce evenly over the cinnamon roll pieces, letting it seep into the gaps.
- Tip: Warm the caramel sauce slightly if it’s too thick to drizzle easily.
Add the Cake Mix and Butter:
- Sprinkle 1 box (15.25 oz) of spice cake mix evenly over the top, covering the cinnamon rolls and caramel.
- Slice ¾ cup salted butter into thin pats and place them evenly over the cake mix, ensuring most areas have butter to melt into.
- Tip: Space the butter slices closely to help the cake mix bake into a golden crust.
Bake the Dump Cake:
- Bake for 45 minutes, until the top is deep golden brown and bubbly, and the cinnamon rolls are cooked through.
- Check that the center is set; if it looks too soft, bake for an additional 5 minutes.
- Place the dish on a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes.
- Tip: Cover loosely with foil if the top browns too quickly.
Add the Finishing Touches:
- Warm the reserved cinnamon roll icing packets in the microwave for 5–10 seconds or in a bowl of warm water.
- Drizzle the icing over the warm dump cake, followed by an extra drizzle of caramel sauce for added decadence.
- Tip: Use a spoon or piping bag for a neat icing drizzle.
Serve:
- Scoop the warm dump cake into bowls or onto plates, ensuring each serving has apples, cinnamon rolls, and cakey topping.
- Serve as is or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for extra indulgence.
- Tip: Serve immediately for the gooiest texture, but it’s still delicious at room temperature