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Christmas

Caramel Apple Dump Cake Recipe (Paleo, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Egg-free)

a caramel coated dump cake in a cast iron skillet
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a caramel coated dump cake in a cast iron skillet

OH. MY. GOSH. You guys. This caramel apple dump cake recipe is life changing. I wish you could have seen my face as I was tasting it for the first time… like basically orgasmic. Not an understatement. Trust me.

This dump cake uses my favorite paleo-friendly cake mix, ghee, and apples to create a mouthwatering combo. It’s great for fall but can be enjoyed all year ’round with in-season fruit.

*THIS IS NOT AN AIP COMPLIANT RECIPE*

What is caramel apple dump cake?

Caramel apple dump cake recipe is your new favorite dessert. It’s essentially made by dumping fruit or filling into a pan, then covering it with boxed cake mix. If you’ve been around here for a while, then you probably know most boxed cake mixes aren’t paleo and most fruit fillings are filled with inflammatory ingredients like high fructose corn syrup. Ick.

a caramel coated dump cake in a cast iron skillet

How can I make dump cake paleo?

Gurl. I gotchu. It’s not as crazy as it may seem! It’s still a 1 pan meal but we make it with whole, unprocessed fresh fruit and Simple Mills vanilla cake mix. Easy peasy lemon squeezy, right?

Here’s the paleo ingredients you need:

Apples – for the fruit filling!

Coconut oil – to sauté the apples in

Sea salt – salty, caramel-y, what’s better?

Maple syrup – a touch of unrefined sweetener

Tapioca starch – this helps thicken the fruit mixture liquid to make it taste more like “filling”

Coconut milk – I make homemade coconut milk.

Ghee– this version of butter is clarified, meaning all the milk fat has been removed and is left with a buttery flavor, without the dairy! I get my ghee on Thrive Market or at Trader Joe’s

Simple Mills cake mix – made with only six paleo ingredients: almond flour, organic coconut sugar, arrowroot powder, organic coconut flour, baking soda, and sea salt.

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What should I top my dump cake with?

While it’s good on it’s own, these toppings take this dump cake to the next level!

Sweet Apricity Caramel Sauce – (HOLY YUMMM) which is also paleo (and AIP), search caramel sauce HERE.

Coconut Vanilla Whipped Cream – (I DIY this by refrigerating canned full fat coconut milk over night, separating the white coconut, adding a splash of vanilla and maple syrup, then whipping with my kitchen aid.. super simple!)

a caramel coated dump cake in a cast iron skillet

How do I make dump cake with fresh fruit?

If you’ve never taken time to sauté fresh fruit, you’re really missing out on one of the finer things in life. It cooks the fruit perfectly and makes you feel like you’re having a special treat like apple pie, even though it’s just the apples! You can also do this with cherries, grapes, peaches, pears, pineapples. In this recipe, I also add in tapioca starch, coconut milk, and maple syrup to give it the consistency of the canned fruit that’s traditionally used in dump cake recipes.

a caramel coated dump cake in a cast iron skillet

Recipes you’ll also love:

Pumpkin Pie Pudding

Paleo Peppermint Chocolate Fudge

Upside Down Paleo Peach Cobbler

PINTEREST IMAGE FOR RECIPE

a caramel coated dump cake in a cast iron skillet

Caramel Apple Dump Cake Recipe

This delicious dump cake uses my favorite paleo-friendly cake mix, ghee, and apples to create a mouthwatering combo. It's great for fall but can be enjoyed all year 'round with in-season fruit.
4.50 from 2 votes
Course Dessert

Equipment

  • cast iron skillet
  • wooden spoon

Ingredients
  

  • 1 box Simple Mills Vanilla Cake Mix (see link above)
  • 4 Tbsp ghee
  • 4 cups honey crisp apples peeled, sliced
  • 1 tsp arrowroot starch
  • 3 tbsp coconut milk separated
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
  • Add coconut oil to a cast iron skillet on medium heat
  • Once oil has melted, add apples and sautee approximately 8 minutes until soft
  • add 2 tablespoons of coconut milk, arrowroot starch, and maple syrup, then stir until juice has slightly thickened
  • Once juice has thickened, remove apples from heat and pour the package of cake mix evenly over the top
  • Next, separate the ghee into 8-10 dollops and space them somewhat evenly on top of the cake mix
  • Let the ghee melt a bit from the warm apples, then move the pan around carefully to evenly distribute it. If there are dry patches still, add a bit more coconut milk
  • Place in the oven for 30-35 minutes
  • Remove cake from the oven and let it rest for about 15 minutes until it sets. Top with coconut whip cream and sweet apricities caramel sauce (see link above)

Notes

This recipe will work with most fruit! Eat seasonally for the environment and optimal nutrition! 
Keyword dairy-free, gluten free, Paleo

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  1. Whitney Rosh says:

    Maple syrup isn’t listed in the ingredients… how much should I use? I’m so excited to make this for Thanksgiving!!

  2. Anne says:

    5 stars
    I made this for Thanksgiving and everyone loved it! Many said it was their favorite dessert – beating out pumpkin pie, chocolate pecan pie, and pumpkin cookies. 🙂 No one even noticed it was paleo or gluten free.
    It was so easy to make and it will be something I come back to again and again for a quick and easy dessert to share.

    • Whitney Shook says:

      Yay! I’m so glad you liked it. Thanks so much for making my recipes and leaving a comment. I appreciate you!

  3. Terry says:

    4 stars
    Loved it but the directions could be more clear.

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