Easy Pumpkin Dump Cake: Your Go-To Simple Fall Dessert Recipe

Are you ready for the quintessential fall dessert that promises an explosion of flavors and textures without any fuss? This **Easy Pumpkin Dump Cake** is exactly that – a dream come true for anyone craving the comforting tastes of autumn. With just a few staple ingredients, you can whip up this incredibly delicious cake in no time, making it the perfect treat for busy weeknights, holiday gatherings, or simply a cozy evening at home.

Why This Easy Pumpkin Dump Cake Will Be Your New Fall Favorite

This Pumpkin Dump Cake recipe isn’t just full of rich, warm fall flavors; it’s also incredibly simple to prepare, earning its spot as one of the easiest desserts you’ll ever bake. Seriously, if you’re looking for a dessert that delivers maximum flavor with minimum effort, you’ve found it. The magic lies in its straightforward “dump and bake” method, eliminating the need for complicated mixing or multiple bowls.

At its heart, this cake features a wonderfully creamy and spiced pumpkin base layer. This velvety foundation is then generously topped with a dry cake mix, creating a delightful crumbly, golden crust as it bakes. Add a generous sprinkle of chopped pecans for a satisfying crunch, and drizzle with melted butter to bring it all together, ensuring every bite is rich and moist. Simply bake, and you’re done! It’s absolutely amazing served warm with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream, creating a delightful contrast of temperatures and textures that will tantalize your taste buds.

My family absolutely adores this delicious fall dessert, and I’m confident yours will too. Its comforting aroma fills the kitchen as it bakes, making it an inviting treat for any occasion. Don’t forget to explore my other **yummy dessert recipes** for more easy and delightful treats!

What Exactly is a Dump Cake? The Simplicity Explained

How Do You Make This Incredible Pumpkin Dump Cake? A Step-by-Step Guide

Making this pumpkin dump cake is truly as easy as pie, perhaps even easier! Let me walk you through a quick rundown of the essential steps. The full, detailed recipe with exact measurements is provided below, but this overview will give you a clear picture of just how simple it is to achieve dessert perfection.

Step 1: Preheat Your Oven & Prep Your Pan for Success

First things first, get your oven ready. Preheat your oven to 350º F (approximately 175º C). While the oven heats up, take a 9×13 inch baking dish and lightly spray it with cooking spray. This crucial step ensures your delicious cake doesn’t stick, making serving and cleanup a breeze. A well-prepped pan means every single bite of that amazing cake will slide out effortlessly.

Step 2: Create the Creamy Pumpkin Mixture Base

In a mixing bowl, combine the star of our show: pure pumpkin puree (make sure it’s *not* pumpkin pie filling, which already contains spices and sugar), evaporated milk for a luxurious creaminess, three large eggs to bind it all, granulated sugar for sweetness, a pinch of salt to balance the flavors, and ground cinnamon, which infuses the mixture with that iconic fall spice. Whisk these ingredients together until they are well combined and smooth. The mixture will have a beautiful orange hue and a wonderfully aromatic scent. Once mixed, pour this delightful pumpkin yumminess evenly into your prepared 9×13 inch baking dish. This forms the moist, flavorful base of your dump cake.

Step 3: Layer on the Cake Mix, Pecans, and Buttery Goodness

Now for the “dump” part! Evenly sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix directly over the pumpkin mixture in the pan. Don’t stir it in! The dry cake mix will create a fantastic crust as it bakes. Next, scatter the chopped pecans generously over the cake mix layer. The pecans add a wonderful nutty flavor and a satisfying crunch that elevates the dessert. Finally, pour the melted unsalted butter evenly over the entire surface. The butter is key; it will soak into the dry cake mix and pecans, helping them bake into a golden, crispy, and incredibly flavorful topping.

Step 4: Bake to Golden Perfection

Carefully place your assembled cake into the preheated oven. Let it bake for approximately 50 minutes. During this time, the pumpkin base will set, and the cake mix topping will transform into a glorious, golden-brown crust, infused with butter and nuts. You’ll know it’s ready when the top is beautifully golden and the pumpkin layer appears set when gently jiggled.

Step 5: Cool, Top, and EAT!

Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool slightly before serving. While delicious warm, letting it cool a bit allows the flavors to meld and the cake to set further. Top individual servings with a generous dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream. The creamy, cool topping perfectly complements the warm, spiced cake. Then, all that’s left to do is DEVOUR!

It’s truly as simple as that. This dessert is not only delicious but incredibly forgiving. If you’re ever in a pinch and need something quick yet impressive for dessert, a potluck, or a family gathering, this Easy Pumpkin Dump Cake recipe is an absolute lifesaver. It delivers on flavor, ease, and that comforting fall feeling every single time.

Pro Tips for Your Best Pumpkin Dump Cake

• Choose Pure Pumpkin: Always use 100% pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. Pie filling already contains spices and sweeteners, which would alter the flavor profile of this recipe.
• Don’t Stir the Topping: The cardinal rule of dump cakes! Once you sprinkle the dry cake mix and pecans, do not stir them into the pumpkin mixture. The layers are meant to bake separately to create that distinct crumbly top.
• Even Butter Distribution: Ensure the melted butter is poured as evenly as possible over the dry cake mix and pecans. This helps create a uniformly golden and crispy crust.
• Customize Your Cake Mix: While yellow cake mix is classic, feel free to experiment with a spice cake mix for an extra punch of fall flavor, or even a white cake mix for a slightly milder crumb.
• Nut Variations: Not a fan of pecans? Walnuts would be an excellent substitute, or you can omit nuts entirely if allergies are a concern.
• Serving Temperature: This cake is phenomenal served warm, straight from the oven (after a short cooling period), especially with cold toppings like ice cream or whipped cream.

Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions

This pumpkin dump cake is fantastic as leftovers, often tasting even better the next day as the flavors continue to meld. To store, cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. You can gently reheat individual slices in the microwave or oven for a warm treat, or enjoy it chilled straight from the fridge.

This dessert is also a great make-ahead option. You can assemble the cake a day in advance, cover it, and store it in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to bake, simply pop it into the preheated oven and add a few extra minutes to the baking time if needed to ensure it’s cooked through and golden brown. This makes it perfect for holiday entertaining, allowing you to prepare most of the dish ahead of time and simply bake it fresh when guests arrive.

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