I have a major sweet tooth. And this gooey Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake is ridiculously easy to make and perfect for when you need something decadent!
Just a few ingredients and one pan are pretty much all you need to get this rich dessert ready to shovel into your face.
If you need a dessert to serve at a party, or just need something to enjoy after dinner, this recipe is sure to be a favorite!
Dump Cake Recipes are some of my favorite desserts to make and this one is next level.
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Ooey Gooey Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake!
Fruit dump cakes are good. But this dump cake with caramel and chocolate is SO good.
And it’s teen approved. I made the mistake of leaving this pan out on the counter and my son and his friends came home and demolished it.
Luckily, I got to have a nice big serving.
They’ve also requested that I make this again. And I totally will. Because it’s the perfect, easy dessert to make.
Especially when you don’t want to put in much effort.
Which for me, is hardly ever. Sorry, not sorry.
What Is Dump Cake?
I’ll be honest. People are sometimes really loose with the term “dump cake.” But I am on a mission to keep dump cakes as easy as possible.
A dump cake is where you layer a few ingredients in a baking dish, top it with dry cake mix, add some moisture (in melted butter, soda or condensed milk) and bake it.
The finished product is more like a cobbler than a baked cake. And they are truly scrumptious.
Dump Cakes are really great for parties because they can be made ahead of time.
They’re also good for potlucks and parties you attend away from home because they don’t really look that nice.
Which means you won’t have to worry about it jostling in transit.
They’re not pretty. But they sure are delicious. Especially this Caramel Chocolate Dump Cake.
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Can Dump Cake Sit Out?
YES! Dump Cake can sit out. It’s not a fussy dessert which is awesome.
If you’re serving it at a party, you can make it ahead and leave it out until time to serve.
How to Serve Dump Cake
Dump cakes, especially this chocolate version, are great served warm, with a little ice cream.
Fruit dump cakes are a little bit runny when they are warm.
So for plating and presentation, these are best served a little more at room temperature.
And cold dump cakes are also super delicious!
You can serve dump cakes on their own or you can top them with something creamy (Cool Whip, whipped cream) or even a sauce (like chocolate or caramel)
How to Make Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake
You guys. This is so tasty! This Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake is pretty similar to my Halloween Dump Cake (made with candy bars!), but even easier to make!
Scroll to the bottom for the printable recipe card with all the measurements and detailed instructions.
Ingredients
Directions
Melt 1/2 cup butter and put it into the baking dish.
Sprinkle dry cake mix over the butter.
Sprinkle dry pudding mix over the cake mix.
Top with milk.
With a fork or spoon, try to spread out the milk and so that the dry mix and pudding are a little bit moistened.
Top with chocolate chips.
Top with sliced butter in areas that look like it might be a little dry.
Add caramels to the dump cake.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 50-60 minutes.
Can you Use Different Types of Caramel?
Yes! That’s what I love about dump cakes. You can pretty much do whatever you want.
The texture may change a bit but when you’re scooping it into a bowl anyway, it really doesn’t matter.
Here I used caramel candies, but you can also use caramel ice cream topping or a homemade caramel sauce.
But chances are if you are making a dump cake, you aren’t looking to make your own caramel.
Supplies to Make This Dump Cake
More Dump Cakes to Try:
More Chocolate Desserts to Try:
- Super easy Chocolate Pretzel Dipped Donuts
- Chocolate Microwave Bread Pudding for One
- Beer, Chocolate and Chile Ice Cream
Printable Recipe
Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box chocolate cake mix
- 1 box instant chocolate pudding mix
- 1 cup butter divided half melted, half sliced
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 bag 12 oz chocolate chips
- 1 bag 11 oz caramel candies, unwrapped
Instructions
- Melt 1/2 cup butter and put it into the baking dish.
- Sprinkle dry cake mix over the butter.
- Sprinkle dry pudding mix over the cake mix.
- Top with milk.
- With a fork or spoon, try to spread out the milk and so that the dry mix and pudding are a little bit moistened.
- Top with chocolate chips.
- Top with sliced butter in areas that look like it might be a little dry.
- Add caramels to the dump cake.
- Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 50-60 minutes.
Nutrition
Pin This Decadent Dump Cake for Later
This easy decadent dessert is sure to be your new favorite! Make this Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake now!
I was so excired to try this, after doing several fruit dump cakes this year.
But this came out not cakey enough, the cake and pudding part still powdery in parts. And I double checked the recipe- had layered everything the right way.
Oh well! Still tasted Ok, but not what I was expecting- any ideas what to do to make it perfect- with no powdery mix in parts?
Hi Cynthia! I know what you mean. Chocolate Dump Cakes are tricky. I try to use a fork and mix the milk with the powders but it’s still not foolproof. In an effort to try to keep them as “dump” like as possible, I think you’re right, they aren’t cakey. There’s nothing to make them rise. I’ll keep working on it because I noticed that if you do things in a different order, it gets a little gummy. In the meantime, I’ll let you in on my little trick. If a dump cake comes out of the oven and the butter didn’t get everywhere I think it should, I use a small spray bottle and mist those spots very lightly with water. It helps them to blend in with the rest of the crust! I’ll also add a note to the post so people know what to expect. Thank you for taking the time to comment!