Name: Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake Recipes Easy and Delicious
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 1 box chocolate cake mix; 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk; 1 jar (12 oz) caramel sauce; 1/2 cup melted butter; 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips; 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional); 1 can (21 oz) chocolate pudding or pie filling

Jump to Recipe

When I first heard the words ‘dump cake,’ I laughed. I mean, who came up with that name? But once I baked my first Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake, I stopped laughing and started sneaking forkfuls straight from the pan. This recipe is my go-to when I want something that feels homemade but doesn’t require me to measure flour or cream butter. It’s all about tossing a few magical ingredients together and letting the oven do the heavy lifting. The combination of chocolate cake mix, buttery caramel, and gooey filling creates a dessert that’s rich but not fussy. It reminds me of the times I’d come home from school, hoping Mom had baked something sweet. Except now, I’m the one pulling it out of the oven, and I get to eat the warmest piece first. Fair is fair, right? If you’ve ever loved Caramel Apple Dump Cake or dreamed about trying a caramel crunch cake recipe, this one will hit the spot. It’s as indulgent as a caramel pound cake recipe, as comforting as the best chocolate dump cake, and honestly easier to make than most lemon dump cake recipes. Whether you’re baking for family or just yourself (because hey, self-love includes chocolate), this recipe is pure joy.

1) Key Takeaways
2) Easy Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake Recipe
3) Ingredients for Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake
4) How to Make Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake
5) Tips for Making Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake
6) Making Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake Ahead of Time
7) Storing Leftover Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake
8) Try these Dessert Recipes next!
9) Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake Recipe
10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake uses pantry staples like cake mix and caramel sauce.
This dessert is rich, gooey, and simple to prepare with minimal effort.
You can serve it warm with ice cream for the best experience.
The recipe works well for family gatherings, potlucks, or quiet evenings at home.

2) Easy Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake Recipe

I’ve always loved desserts that feel indulgent without making me stand in the kitchen for hours. This Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake is a perfect example. It belongs to the family of dump cake recipes, which makes me laugh every time I say it, but it’s the truth—everything gets dumped together and somehow magic happens in the oven.

When I bake it, I picture the joy of pulling a bubbling, sweet-smelling cake out of the oven and watching caramel swirl through chocolate. It’s not fussy, it doesn’t need layers of frosting, and it doesn’t demand fancy skills. What it gives back is a cake that feels both rustic and luxurious. It’s a treat you can serve to guests or just enjoy on the couch with a fork.

From the first bite, you get deep chocolate flavor, buttery caramel, and the gooey comfort of a dessert that feels homemade without the hassle. If caramel apple dump cake is comfort food, then this one is comfort wrapped in velvet. I love how it holds a spot among the best caramel dessert recipes I’ve ever tried.

3) Ingredients for Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake

Chocolate Cake Mix: This is the base of the cake, the shortcut that makes the recipe work. You open the box, pour it over the filling, and let it bake into a soft but structured top layer.

Evaporated Milk: This adds creaminess and helps bind everything together. It mixes with the dry cake mix to form that rich texture without needing eggs or oil.

Caramel Sauce: The real star. I drizzle a whole jar of it over the filling, and as it bakes, the caramel bubbles into every corner, making the cake taste like a caramel crunch cake recipe you’d swear took hours to perfect.

Melted Butter: Butter is flavor, and here it helps the cake mix bake into something golden and slightly crisp on top. Every spoonful carries a buttery richness that makes this dessert sing.

Chocolate Chips: They melt into the cake, leaving behind little pools of gooey chocolate. Every bite feels like hitting the jackpot of a chocolate dump cake.

Pecans: Optional but worth it. They bring a nutty bite that cuts through the sweetness and makes each forkful interesting.

Chocolate Pudding Filling: A whole can of pudding adds depth and moisture. It creates that fudgy texture you expect in caramel pound cake recipes, except it’s easier here.

4) How to Make Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. I always say the oven should be ready before you even think about unwrapping the caramel jar. The smell of heat building makes me excited for what’s coming.

Step 2. Grease a 9×13-inch pan. You don’t want cake sticking to the sides. I like to swipe butter across the pan with a paper towel because it feels old-fashioned and cozy.

Step 3. Spread the pudding filling on the bottom of the dish. This base creates the gooey layer. It’s messy, but trust me, mess equals flavor here.

Step 4. Drizzle caramel sauce over the pudding. Watch it sink in like golden ribbons. This step is why I can never stop sneaking spoonfuls before it’s even baked.

Step 5. Sprinkle the cake mix evenly. Don’t stir, just let it sit there like a dry blanket. It will drink in butter and milk as it bakes.

Step 6. Pour evaporated milk and melted butter over the cake mix. It looks strange at first, but once baked, it’s magic. The cake mix pulls everything together.

Step 7. Add chocolate chips and pecans on top. They’ll bake into little surprises in every slice.

Step 8. Bake for about 45 minutes. The top should look set and slightly crisp, while the inside stays gooey and rich.

Step 9. Serve warm with ice cream if you want to take it from good to unforgettable. I always do.

5) Tips for Making Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake

Let’s be honest—this cake is forgiving. But a few tricks make it even better. Use good caramel sauce. The cheap stuff works, but a thick, buttery caramel takes the flavor over the edge. I’ve tried both, and the difference is clear.

Don’t stir the layers. Dump cakes are built on trust. You trust the oven to transform separate layers into a cohesive dessert. If you stir, you lose that gooey middle and the magic is gone.

If you love lemon dump cake recipes, you’ll notice this dessert uses the same easy method. That’s the beauty of dump cake recipes—they bend to your mood and your pantry. Swap flavors, change fillings, or add nuts. The rules are loose, but the joy is steady.

6) Making Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake Ahead of Time

I’ve made this cake the night before a family dinner more times than I can count. It reheats well, which means you can relax when guests arrive instead of hovering near the oven. I love that I can pull it out, warm it for a few minutes, and serve something that feels freshly baked.

When you prepare it ahead, store it covered in the fridge. Don’t add the ice cream until serving, of course. Reheat slices in the microwave for about 20 seconds. The chocolate softens again, the caramel loosens, and it’s just as indulgent as when it first came out of the oven.

It works for potlucks too. I’ve carried it in the baking dish with foil on top, and people always ask for the recipe. I usually send them straight to Simply Cooked Recipes at www.simplycookedrecipes.com.

7) Storing Leftover Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake

If you have leftovers, and that’s a big if, store them in the fridge. Cover the dish with foil or transfer slices to a container. They’ll keep for about four days, though they rarely last that long in my house. The kids treat the fridge like a treasure chest when this cake is inside.

Reheat slices in the microwave before serving. The caramel softens again, the chocolate melts a little, and it feels like you’ve just baked it. I sometimes eat it cold too, straight from the container, when I’m craving a quick bite late at night.

If you want to freeze it, you can. Wrap portions tightly, freeze for up to two months, and thaw before warming. It’s not quite as perfect as fresh, but it’s still better than skipping dessert.

8) Try these Dessert Recipes next!

9) Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake Recipe