Pumpkin Dump Cake

When you need a quick and easy fall dessert, make this delicious Pumpkin Dump Cake. The pumpkin puree filling combines deliciously spiced fall flavors and other simple pantry ingredients. Then, it is topped with chopped pecans and a boxed cake mix. It bakes into a creamy pumpkin layer with a crunchy nut topping beneath a buttery crumb cake layer. It’s perfect for the holidays and beyond.

You’ll love this super simple recipe. Add autumn flavors, butter, milk, and eggs to a can of pumpkin puree. Dump the mixture in a baking dish. Garnish with chopped nuts. Sprinkle on a dry cake mix and drizzle with melted butter. Slide it into the oven. Inhale the delicious aromas of autumn. It bakes to spiced pumpkin perfection.

Ingredients Needed

Pumpkin Puree—use your favorite brand. Don’t use pumpkin pie filling; it will be too sweet when mixed with other ingredients.
Evaporated Milk is used in the filling to help it become creamy and thick.
Pumpkin Pie Spice – seasoning to add those classic fall flavors to the filling.
Sugar – use white granulated to sweeten the filling.
Eggs – to help bind the filling and add structure as it bakes.
Yellow Cake Mix – use your favorite brand
Chopped Pecans – you can also substitute walnuts.
Butter– melted should be drizzled over the cake mix to help it form a crust as it bakes.
Cool Whip – or vanilla ice cream, to top each cake when serving.

How To Make Pumpkin Dump Cake

Note: This is a summary of the steps. The directions are on the recipe card below.

Combine pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, sugar, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice in a large mixing bowl. Pour the mixture into a prepared 9×13-inch baking pan.
Place chopped pecans over the pumpkin mixture.
Pour the box of yellow cake mix over the top and drizzle it with melted butter.
Bake for 55-60 minutes. Allow the cake to cool slightly before serving. Add a dollop of Cool Whip or a scoop of ice cream.

What Are Dump Cakes?

While the name certainly isn’t glamorous, dump cakes are delicious! A dump cake involves a filling. This filling is usually fruit, a pureed mixture, or chocolate. The filling is sprinkled on top of a boxed cake mix before baking. Dump cakes are known for quickly mixing and assembling with simple ingredients. It’s a 1-2-3 method: mix it, dump it, bake it. There’s no complicated process involved, and there’s minimal prep work. 

Variations

• Cake Mix: If you like that flavor combination, swap the yellow cake mix for spice, vanilla, or chocolate.
• Nuts: Swap the chopped pecans for chopped walnuts or leave them out altogether.
• Toppings: Add chocolate chips as a topping. I would add them near the end of baking or once you take the cake out of the oven. The heat from the cake will melt them a bit.

How Can I Tell If The Pumpkin Dump Cake Is Done?

Pumpkin Dump Cake is not like a traditional cake. It doesn’t bake into a consistent crumb-like texture. This pumpkin dump cake will have a soft lower layer. The cake mix layer bakes into more of a crust. Once the top turns golden and brown around the edges, it’s done with slight bubbling. Let it sit and cool a bit before serving.

How To Serve Pumpkin Dump Cake

I love this pumpkin dump cake when it is warm. This way, any topping I add has a chance to melt slightly. I love serving it with a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. It’s also tasty with a warm salted caramel topping or hot fudge drizzled over the top.

Storage

Cover leftovers tightly with tin foil. Store them on the counter top or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To serve warm, microwave individual portions until the desired temperature is achieved.

More Easy Pumpkin Recipes

Crock Pot Maple Pumpkin Honey Bun Cake
Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Chocolate Chunk Pumpkin Bread
Pumpkin Cheesecake Jello Pudding Poke Cake
Copycat Cheesecake Factory Pumpkin Cheesecake
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars