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–+ servings
Jennifer Lewis

Caramel Apple Pecan Dump Cake (Warm Skillet)

A warm, bubbling autumn skillet dessert featuring tender spiced Honeycrisp apples blanketed in rich salted caramel sauce, golden buttery yellow cake crumbs, and crunchy toasted pecans. Effortless 10-minute prep baked to golden perfection.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Dessert / Warm Skillet Bake
Cuisine: American / Southern Fall Comfort
Calories: 385
Ingredients Method Nutrition

Ingredients
  

For the Spiced Caramel Apple Layer
  • 6 cups fresh Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apples peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick (about 5-6 medium apples)
  • 1/3 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1.5 tsp ground Ceylon cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg freshly grated preferred
  • 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup salted caramel sauce thick, divided (plus extra for serving)
For the Golden Cake & Pecan Streusel Crust
  • 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix or spice cake mix dry mix, unbaked
  • 1 cup chopped pecans raw or lightly toasted
  • 3/4 cup (1.5 sticks) unsalted butter melted, or sliced into very thin pats
  • 1/4 tsp flaky sea salt (Maldon) for finishing
Optional Serving Suggestions
  • 1 pint vanilla bean ice cream for serving warm

Method
 

Skillet & Oven Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 12-inch seasoned cast-iron skillet (or a 9x13-inch baking dish) lightly with butter.
Toss & Layer the Apples
  1. In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with brown sugar, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract until evenly coated. Spread the spiced apple slices evenly across the bottom of the prepared skillet.
  2. Drizzle 3/4 cup of the thick salted caramel sauce evenly across the sliced apples.
Dump & Assemble the Crust
  1. Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix evenly over the apple and caramel layer. Use a spatula to spread it smoothly to the edges without pressing it down. Scatter the chopped pecans evenly over the dry cake mix.
  2. Pour the melted butter slowly and evenly across the entire surface of the cake mix and pecans, making sure to cover as much of the dry flour pockets as possible.
Bake to Golden Perfection
  1. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 42 to 45 minutes, until the topping is deep golden-brown, the edges are vigorously bubbling with thick caramel, and the apples are fork-tender.
  2. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes so the bubbling caramel settles. Drizzle remaining salted caramel on top, sprinkle with flaky sea salt, and scoop warm into bowls with vanilla bean ice cream!

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 385kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 3gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 310mgPotassium: 195mgFiber: 3.5gSugar: 34gVitamin A: 420IUVitamin C: 4.2mgCalcium: 65mgIron: 1.2mg

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