Easy Pumpkin Dump Cake: Best 4-Ingredient Dessert
This incredibly easy pumpkin dump cake requires only 4 ingredients and no mixing bowls. With a crunchy, buttery cake topping and a silky pumpkin custard layer underneath, it’s the perfect foolproof fall dessert that feeds a crowd.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
- 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (optional)
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Position the rack in the center of the oven.
- Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
- In the baking dish itself, combine the pumpkin puree and evaporated milk. Stir until smooth and fully combined. Spread evenly across the bottom.
- If using pumpkin pie spice, stir it into the pumpkin mixture now.
- Sprinkle the entire box of yellow cake mix evenly over the pumpkin mixture, covering every inch in a uniform blanket.
- Pour the melted butter evenly over the cake mix in a zigzag pattern. Use the back of a spoon to gently nudge any dry patches into the butter until all cake mix is moistened.
- If using nuts, sprinkle them over the top and press gently into the butter mixture.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes, until the top is deep golden brown and crunchy, and the edges are bubbling. The center should be set but still slightly jiggly underneath the crust.
- Let cool for at least 15 minutes before serving to allow the pumpkin layer to set.
Notes
Butter distribution is crucial—drizzle evenly to avoid dry patches. Don’t stir the cake mix into the pumpkin layer. Bake on the middle rack to prevent burning. Check for doneness at 40 minutes as oven temperatures vary. For best results, let cool 15-20 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 22
- Sodium: 320
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 11
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 4
Keywords: pumpkin dump cake, easy pumpkin dessert, 4-ingredient dessert, fall dessert, pumpkin cake, dump cake recipe