Pumpkin Dump Cake (Printable)

Creamy spiced pumpkin layer topped with buttery cake mix and crunchy pecans — comforting fall dessert for sharing.

# What You 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 and Topping

07 - 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
08 - 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
09 - 1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan with butter or nonstick spray.
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 homogenous.
03 - Pour the pumpkin filling evenly into the prepared baking pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula.
04 - Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix evenly over the pumpkin layer, ensuring full coverage without mixing into the pumpkin layer.
05 - Drizzle melted butter uniformly over the cake mix to moisten the surface as thoroughly as possible.
06 - Distribute chopped pecans over the top if desired for added texture.
07 - Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the top is golden and the center has set. The dessert will firm further as it cools.
08 - Cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting. Serve warm or chilled, optionally with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • No one will believe how ridiculously simple the prep is—even though it tastes lavishly homemade.
  • This cake always gets recipe requests at potlucks because it's the coziest thing you'll eat all fall.
02 -
  • I once tried stirring the cake mix into the pumpkin layer—never again; you lose the dreamy contrast between creamy and crisp.
  • Switching to spice cake mix was a happy accident that deepened the autumn flavors beyond expectation.
03 -
  • Resist over-baking—pull it out when the middle barely jiggles and the edges are crisp.
  • Let your butter cool for a couple minutes before drizzling, so it seeps in rather than sits on top.

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