Some fall desserts require pie dough, mixers and a kitchen full of bowls.
This one does not.
Pumpkin Dump Cake has become a favorite for exactly that reason: you layer a few simple ingredients in a baking dish, put it in the oven and let the heat do the rest.
No complicated technique.
No perfect frosting.
No rolling pin.
And almost no cleanup.
It is the kind of recipe people save because it feels impossible for something this easy to taste this rich.
Allrecipes recently highlighted pumpkin dump cake as a go-to fall dessert, noting its popularity and connection to current social-media cooking trends.
Ingredients
You need:
- 1 can pumpkin puree, about 15 oz
- 1 can evaporated milk, about 12 oz
- 3 large eggs
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 box yellow or spice cake mix
- 1 cup melted butter
- ½ cup chopped pecans, optional
- whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for serving
How to make it
1. Make the pumpkin base
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar and spices.
Mix until smooth.
Pour the mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Add the cake mix
Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the pumpkin layer.
Do not stir it in.
That is the whole point of a dump cake.
The layers stay separate and bake together.
3. Add the butter
Slowly pour melted butter over the cake mix.
Try to cover as much of the dry surface as possible.
If using pecans, scatter them over the top.
4. Bake
Bake for about 50 to 60 minutes.
The top should be golden and slightly crisp.
The pumpkin layer underneath should be set but still soft and creamy.
Let the cake cool for at least 20 minutes before serving.
Why people love this dessert
The texture is what makes it work.
The bottom is almost like pumpkin pie.
The top turns buttery, crumbly and slightly crisp.
Every spoonful has both.
And unlike a traditional pie, there is no crust to make from scratch.
That makes it ideal for Thanksgiving, potlucks, family dinners or any time you want a fall dessert without spending half the day baking.
Make it even better
Serve it warm with:
- vanilla ice cream;
- whipped cream;
- caramel sauce;
- toasted pecans;
- a pinch of cinnamon.
For a richer version, use spice cake mix instead of yellow cake mix.
For a little crunch, add chopped walnuts or pecans before baking.
The one mistake to avoid
Do not mix the cake mix into the pumpkin layer.
It may feel strange to leave dry mix sitting on top.
But that is exactly what gives dump cake its signature texture.
The butter melts through the dry mix as it bakes, creating the crisp topping.
If you stir everything together, you lose that contrast.
Why it is perfect for September
Pumpkin desserts start taking over social feeds as soon as fall begins.
But many people do not want to make a full pumpkin pie every time they want something seasonal.
This recipe gives you the same warm spice flavor with much less work.
Pour.
Sprinkle.
Bake.
That is basically the whole recipe.
