Prepare to delight your taste buds with this incredibly easy and wonderfully delicious pumpkin dump cake recipe. Layers of rich, homemade-style pumpkin pie filling are topped with a golden yellow cake mix and a generous sprinkling of perfectly spiced pecans. As it bakes, the butter melts down, creating an irresistible crunchy, candied pecan topping that will have everyone asking for seconds. It’s truly a simpler way to achieve all the comforting flavors of a classic pumpkin pie, but with the delightful, slightly crisp texture of a cobbler.

Get ready to discover a dessert that combines the best of a classic pumpkin pie with the effortless charm of a cobbler. This pumpkin dump cake is an instant crowd-pleaser and a perfect choice for any occasion, from busy weeknights to festive holiday gatherings like Thanksgiving, or simply when a craving for a comforting, easy pumpkin dessert strikes. Its straightforward “dump and bake” method makes it incredibly approachable, even for novice bakers, while delivering a taste that rivals more complex recipes.

If you’re looking for more equally delicious and easy pumpkin recipes, be sure to explore my pumpkin bread pudding with maple bourbon sauce, my easy and foolproof pumpkin pie, or these delightful chewy chocolate chip pumpkin cookies with browned butter icing. For those ready to elevate their baking game, try my comforting pumpkin spice crumb coffee cake or a decadent pumpkin cheesecake. And if you’re feeling adventurous, these savory pumpkin herb dinner rolls are a fantastic option. With all my expert tips and tricks, you’ll find these recipes a breeze to prepare.

Table of Contents

• Why You Will Love This Pumpkin Dump Cake
• Professional Tips for Making Pumpkin Dump Cake
• Essential Ingredients & Smart Substitutions
• Exciting Variations to Try
• What Exactly is a Dump Cake?
• How to Make This Perfect Pumpkin Dump Cake Recipe
• Chef Lindsey’s Expert Recipe Tip
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Pumpkin Dump Cake Recipe Card
• Before You Go

Professional Tips for Making Pumpkin Dump Cake

While dump cakes are known for their simplicity, a few expert tips can ensure your pumpkin dump cake turns out perfectly every time, with distinct layers and a wonderfully uniform texture:

• Resist the Urge to Mix the Cake Mix into the Filling. This is perhaps the most crucial rule of dump cake baking, and it goes against traditional baking instincts! To achieve the distinct, desired layers – a moist cake-like topping over a smooth pumpkin base – you absolutely do not want to mix the dry cake mix into the pumpkin filling. The magic happens as the butter melts and hydrates the dry mix as it bakes.
• Always Spray Your Baking Dish Thoroughly. Even though dump cakes are easy, sticking can be a real issue. Be sure to generously spray your 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray before adding the pumpkin mixture. This simple step ensures that your delicious pumpkin layer releases easily from the pan for clean servings.
• A Cake Tester Won’t Work for Doneness. Unlike a traditional cake, a cake tester or toothpick won’t come out clean when this dump cake is perfectly done due to its custardy filling and cobbler-like topping. Instead, rely on visual cues and a gentle touch. Look for a beautiful golden-brown color across the top and sides. When lightly pressed in the center, the top should offer some gentle resistance, feeling like a light sponge cake, rather than being overly jiggly.
• Even Butter Coverage is Key. Once you’ve added the cake mix and pecans, ensure your thinly sliced butter covers as much of the dry mix as possible. The butter is what hydrates the cake mix, transforming it into that delicious, crispy-chewy topping. While some gaps are inevitable, try to minimize large unbuttered patches for a uniformly delicious crust.

Essential Ingredients & Smart Substitutions

Making a spectacular pumpkin dump cake starts with quality ingredients, but don’t worry, there’s flexibility too! Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need and how you can adapt it:

• Pumpkin Puree: For consistent results, I typically reach for Libby’s Pumpkin Puree. However, any brand of pure pumpkin puree will work beautifully. Just be sure to grab pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie mix or filling, which contains added spices and sugar that would alter the final taste profile significantly.
• Evaporated Milk: This is crucial for the creamy texture of the pumpkin layer. Please ensure you use evaporated milk, not sweetened condensed milk. Sweetened condensed milk is far thicker and much sweeter, which would result in a cloyingly sweet and overly dense pumpkin base.
• Dark Brown Sugar: Dark brown sugar adds not only sweetness but also a delightful, rich molasses flavor. This depth of flavor complements the earthy notes of pumpkin beautifully, enhancing the overall warmth of the dessert. Light brown sugar can be used as a substitute, but the molasses notes will be less pronounced.
• Eggs: The whole eggs play a vital role in emulsifying the pumpkin puree, sugar, and evaporated milk. They act as a binder, ensuring the mixture remains smooth and cohesive, preventing it from separating and creating a consistent, custardy base during the baking process.
• Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix: My homemade pumpkin spice recipe is expertly balanced with ground cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice for the perfect blend of fall flavors. If you prefer convenience, a good quality store-bought premade pumpkin pie spice mix is a perfectly acceptable alternative.
• Yellow Cake Mix: I personally love using Duncan Hines Yellow Cake Mix for its consistent quality and flavor. However, feel free to use your favorite dry yellow cake mix brand. White cake mix or spice cake mix are also excellent choices for variations (see below!).
• Pecans: The pecans are essential for providing that wonderful, crunchy texture on top, reminiscent of a praline. If you’re not a fan of pecans or have an allergy, you can substitute them with another chopped nut of your choosing, such as walnuts or almonds. Use any leftover pecans for a decadent batch of pecan sticky buns next!
• Cinnamon & Granulated Sugar: This simple mixture of cinnamon and granulated sugar is sprinkled over the pecans and cake mix. It bakes into a delightful, slightly spiced, and crunchy topping that elevates the overall flavor and texture, almost like a streusel.
• Unsalted Butter: Unsalted butter is the magic ingredient that ties the entire dump cake together. As it melts over the dry cake mix and pecans, it creates a rich, moist cake-like layer and helps to caramelize the pecans and sugar, forming that irresistible crispy topping.

Refer to the full recipe card below for precise measurements and quantities.

Exciting Variations to Try

One of the best things about dump cakes is how easily they can be customized. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your pumpkin dump cake!

• Experiment with Different Cake Mix Flavors. While yellow cake mix is classic, try a white cake mix for a lighter flavor profile, a spice cake mix to double down on the warming spices, or even a chocolate cake mix for a truly unique pumpkin and chocolate combination.
• Add Some Delightful Mix-ins. Enhance the texture and flavor by sprinkling in various mix-ins. White, milk, or dark chocolate chips can be added on top of the cake mix before the butter. For a different twist, try cinnamon chips or butterscotch chips. These can be sprinkled on top or even stirred directly into the pumpkin pie filling for bursts of flavor throughout.
• Transform it into Sweet Potato Dump Cake. For a delicious alternative, simply swap out the pumpkin puree for an equal amount of cooked sweet potato puree. You can even use canned sweet potatoes (drained and mashed) for extra convenience. Adjust pumpkin spice to your preference.
• Use Pre-made Pumpkin Pie Filling for Extra Ease! (Shh! This can be our little secret!) If you’re really short on time or want to simplify further, you can absolutely use a 30 oz can of Libby’s pumpkin pie filling instead of pure pumpkin puree and the individual spices. Just follow the mixing instructions on the can for the filling, then proceed with the rest of the recipe as written below. You can always taste the filling before adding the eggs and adjust the pumpkin pie spice to taste if desired. If you happen to have homemade pumpkin butter on hand, it makes for a wonderful, richer substitute for the pumpkin puree as well!
• Nut-Free Version: If you or your guests have nut allergies, simply omit the pecans entirely. The cinnamon-sugar topping will still provide a delicious crunch. You can also add toasted oats or crushed graham crackers for a different topping texture.

What Exactly is a Dump Cake?

A dump cake is a quintessential American dessert that shares many similarities with a fruit cobbler. Its name perfectly describes its incredibly simple preparation: you “dump” all the ingredients directly into a single baking pan (typically a 9×13 inch pan) without any prior mixing of the dry components. Instead, the magic happens in the oven as liquids melt and seep through the dry ingredients, creating distinct, delicious layers. Dump cakes commonly feature fruit or pie fillings as their base and are believed to have originated in the 1950s, gaining popularity with the widespread availability of convenient boxed cake mixes.

How to Make This Perfect Pumpkin Dump Cake Recipe

Follow these straightforward instructions to create a flawless pumpkin dump cake every single time. More detailed measurements can be found in the recipe card below.

Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Dish. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) using the conventional setting (no fan). Generously spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray to ensure easy removal.

Step 2: Whisk the Pumpkin Filling. In a large mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, dark brown sugar, eggs, and pumpkin spice mix. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is completely smooth and well combined, ensuring no lumps remain.

Step 3: Create the Pumpkin Base. Pour the smoothly whisked pumpkin mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Gently shake the dish from side to side to help the mixture settle into a single, uniform layer.

Step 4: Add the Dry Cake Mix. Carefully open the box of yellow cake mix. Evenly sprinkle the dry cake mix over the entire surface of the pumpkin pie filling. Try to get as even a layer as possible.

Step 5: Sprinkle Pecans and Cinnamon Sugar. In a small bowl, combine the chopped pecans, ground cinnamon, and granulated sugar. Sprinkle this spiced pecan mixture evenly over the layer of dry cake mix. Gently pat down with your hand to even out any larger mounds of cake mix or pecans, creating a relatively flat surface.

Step 6: Layer with Butter Slices. Arrange the thinly sliced unsalted butter in a single layer over the top of the cake mix and pecans. It’s okay if there are small gaps between the butter slices, but try to achieve as much coverage as possible to ensure that every patch of dry cake mix receives buttery goodness for that perfect golden, crunchy crust.

Step 7: Bake to Golden Perfection. Place the baking dish into your preheated oven. Bake for approximately 40-45 minutes (if using a metal pan; glass pans may require a few extra minutes). The dump cake is done when the sides and top achieve a beautiful golden brown color, and the center, when lightly pressed, feels firm with a slight spring, similar to a light sponge cake.

Step 8: Cool and Serve. Once baked, remove the pumpkin dump cake from the oven and allow it to cool slightly on a wire rack before serving. This short cooling period helps the layers set. It’s utterly delicious served warm, allowing the aromas to fill your kitchen, or at room temperature. Enjoy every cozy bite!

Frequently Asked Questions About Pumpkin Dump Cake

If you tried this fantastic pumpkin dump cake recipe and loved it, please leave a 🌟 star rating and share your experience in the comments below. Your feedback truly makes my day!

Before You Go

I hope you thoroughly enjoyed this professional chef-tested pumpkin dump cake recipe. It’s truly a testament to how simple ingredients and minimal effort can yield a dessert that’s rich in flavor and wonderfully satisfying. For more delicious, chef-developed recipes that are perfect for any occasion, be sure to explore my other cake recipes. You might particularly love my favorite peach loaf cake, another easy-to-make delight!