Pumpkin Dump Cake
This Pumpkin Dump Cake is a simple fall cake gets dumped into a pan with a buttery crust. This dessert is for pumpkin fans and is an easy fall dessert. It’s like a classic pumpkin pie all dressed up with a sweet pumpkin filling and crunchy pecans. The perfect Thanksgiving dessert.
EASY DUMP CAKE RECIPE
I made this pumpkin dump cake for a food company I worked for back in 2009. I remember I had it on the counter and my sister who was visiting Florida could not stop eating it. She just left her fork in the pan because she couldn’t leave it alone.
“I don’t know what this is but I can’t stop eating it,” she said.
“Dump cake. You’re eating dump cake,” I said impressed that she could smash a whole dessert and flattered that she thought it was so good. I didn’t tell her that there are many variations of this, just as tasty.
WHAT IS A DUMP CAKE?
Such a weird name for a dessert but traditionally a dump cake has some kind of base (fruit or other) topped with a cake mix. Melted butter is poured on the top layer and then it’s baked until bubbly. Dump cake recipes are the easiest dessert with the best results.
The taste is unbelievable. Bake in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish!
INGREDIENTS
- PUMPKIN PUREE – canned pumpkin is what you want, not pumpkin pie mix.
- EVAPORATED MILK
- EGGS
- BROWN SUGAR
- PUMPKIN PIE SPICE – See the recipe below for an at home substitution.
- BOX OF YELLOW CAKE MIX – You can use spice cake mix as well.
- PECANS – If you’re not a fan of pecans you can leave them out.
- BUTTER
DO I SERVE THIS HOT OR COLD?
Usually this is served warm with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream. It can be eaten cold or room temperature which makes it a great recipe.
OTHER PUMPKIN RECIPES:
- Pumpkin Bread
- Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake
- Pumpkin Fudge
- Easy Pumpkin Cake
- Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
- Melt in Your Mouth Pumpkin Cookies
- Pumpkin Earthquake Cake
- Pumpkin Pancakes
Pumpkin Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 1 can, 15 oz pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1 can, 12 oz evaporated milk
- 3 whole eggs
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, see note for substitute
- 1 15.25 ounce box yellow cake mix (a spice cake mix can be substituted)
- 1 cup chopped pecans, optional
- 3/4 cup butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13 baking dish.
- In a large bowl, mix pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar, and pumpkin spice until well blended. Spread pumpkin mixture in prepared baking dish. Mixture will be very wet.Sprinkle dry cake mix evenly on top of the pumpkin layer.. If adding pecans, sprinkle them over the cake mix. Pour melted butter over the top of the cake mix. Bake 50 minutes or until top is golden brown.Let the cake cool completely. Top with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
I made this and I don’t know what I did wrong. The cake mix I sprinkled on top and poured butter on top of that but it didn’t cook. I had dry cake mix popping through. Please someone tell me what I did wrong for next time. Thanks.
This makes such a big pan-Can you freeze this?
Yes!
Could you use a gluten free cake mix?
I haven’t tried it sorry!
Do you use salted or unsalted butter?
I always use unsalted but it is really sweet so you could use salted.
How do you think this would work if I made it in muffin tins? I’m trying to find an easy pumpkin recipe that I can take to work and these days everything must be either individually wrapped or single serving. Any suggestions?
Can I make this with a gluten free yellow cake mix? Will it turn out similar?
I haven’t tried it with a gluten free mix but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work?
Does this need to be refrigerated? I have one in oven now can’t wait to sink my teeth into it! Lol
I don’t refrigerate it
for the cake mix part do we just sprinkle the mix (cake mix) right out of the box? or mix the ingredients first thats mention on the cake mix box and then pour the mix on top of the batter ? the direction is unclear. thanks in advance
Just sprinkle the dry cake mix over the pumpkin mixture.
Yes. Just sprinkle the cake mix over the batter.
I can’t wait to make this for my daughter in law ! She loves pumpkin anything lol 🙂
She’ll love it!
My Grandma used to make Dump Cakes all the time! My favorite is raspberry pie filling for the base and we add crushed pineapple! So yummy. Also for the butter she cuts up the stick and puts the squares evenly over everything in the pan before baking. So good! Can’t wait to try the pumpkin version!
sounds yummy can you give us the whole recipe for the raspberry cake please
Please share your raspberry recipe with us too
I love the cherry version the best! Just a can of cherry pie filling. I’ve tried the pats of butter on top but feel like if you melt it you can cover more of the cake mix.
I also LOVE the cherry version, especially when made with a chocolate cake mix. It’s like a super easy Black Forest cake.