Pumpkin Dump Cake (Printable)
Easy autumn dessert of spiced pumpkin, buttery cake mix, and a pecan crunch—baked until golden.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Pumpkin Layer
01 - 1 can (15 oz) pure pumpkin puree
02 - 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
03 - 3 large eggs
04 - 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
05 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Cake & Topping
07 - 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
08 - 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
09 - 1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
# How to Prepare:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan to prevent sticking.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, granulated sugar, and salt until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
03 - Pour the prepared pumpkin mixture into the greased baking pan and spread in an even layer.
04 - Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix evenly over the pumpkin layer, being careful not to stir or mix.
05 - Drizzle melted butter evenly across the surface, aiming to moisten as much of the cake mix as possible.
06 - Evenly scatter chopped pecans over the top, if using.
07 - Bake in preheated oven for 45–55 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the center is set. The texture will continue to firm as it cools.
08 - Remove from oven and allow to cool at least 30 minutes before serving. Serve warm or chilled, optionally topped with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Even non-bakers can pull this off and make it look (and taste) impressive.
- The mix of creamy pumpkin, crunchy topping, and buttery cake is practically guaranteed to win over a crowd—especially the ones who hover for seconds.
02 -
- Once, I tried to mix the cake mix into the pumpkin layer—it turned into an unappealing mush, so just layer as written.
- Waiting until it's cooled for at least 30 minutes is not just for looks; the texture improves so much as it settles.
03 -
- It’s worth toasting your pecans in a dry pan before baking if you’ve got the time.
- Swapping yellow cake mix for spice cake mix unlocks an even deeper fall flavor that’s completely addictive.