Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake

The rich aroma of melting chocolate mingling with buttery caramel will fill your kitchen when you make this decadent Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake. This irresistible dessert combines the convenience of a dump cake with the indulgent flavors of chocolate and caramel swirled together in perfect harmony. What makes this Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake special is how incredibly simple it is to create something so luxuriously delicious with minimal effort. You’ll learn how to layer simple ingredients that transform magically in the oven into a gooey, moist cake that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake is the ultimate crowd-pleaser that requires almost no baking skills. The beauty lies in its contrasting textures—a moist chocolate cake layer on the bottom, a gooey caramel center that melts into every bite, and a slightly crisp top that gives way to the tender cake beneath. The warm, rich caramel seeps through the chocolate cake mix, creating pockets of sweet, buttery goodness throughout.

You’ll appreciate how this dessert comes together in just minutes of prep time, making it perfect for last-minute gatherings or when you need a comforting sweet treat without the fuss. The ingredients are pantry staples you likely already have on hand, and there’s no mixing, beating, or complicated techniques required. Simply dump, layer, and bake—then watch as your kitchen fills with an irresistible aroma that draws everyone to the table before you even announce dessert is ready.

Ingredients

For this indulgent Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake, you’ll need:

• 1 box (15.25 oz) chocolate cake mix (any variety works, but devil’s food offers the richest flavor)
• 1 jar (12.25 oz) caramel sauce or caramel ice cream topping (approximately 1½ cups)
• 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
• ¾ cup (1½ sticks/170g) unsalted butter, cold and cut into thin slices
• 1 cup (175g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ½ cup (60g) chopped pecans or walnuts (optional for added texture)
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt (optional, to enhance the caramel flavor)
• Vanilla ice cream for serving (optional)

The chocolate cake mix serves as the foundation for this easy dessert, while the caramel sauce creates that irresistible gooey center. High-quality caramel will yield the best flavor profile in your chocolate caramel cake.

Pro Tips

Butter Technique Matters: Rather than melting the butter beforehand, slice it cold and distribute it evenly across the top of your cake mixture. This creates pockets of buttery goodness as it melts slowly into the cake. Make sure every inch of the dry cake mix is covered with butter slices to prevent any dry spots in your Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake.

Perfect Caramel Integration: For the most even distribution of caramel flavor, warm your caramel sauce slightly (about 20 seconds in the microwave) before pouring it over the condensed milk layer. This helps it spread more easily without creating concentrated pockets of caramel that might become too chewy when baked.

Foil Tent Strategy: If you notice the top of your cake browning too quickly while baking, loosely cover it with aluminum foil for the remaining bake time. This protective tent allows the center to continue cooking while preventing the top from becoming overdone. Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes to restore any crispness to the top layer of your chocolate caramel dessert.

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare Your Baking Dish
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Take a 9×13-inch baking dish and spray it lightly with non-stick cooking spray or butter it gently. This ensures your Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake won’t stick and will be easy to serve later.

Step 2: Create the Foundation
Pour the can of sweetened condensed milk evenly across the bottom of your prepared baking dish. This creamy layer will help create moisture throughout your cake and complement the caramel flavor beautifully.

Step 3: Add the Caramel Layer
Drizzle the caramel sauce over the condensed milk, creating an even layer. If you’re using the optional sea salt, sprinkle it over the caramel now to enhance the flavor depth. The caramel will be the star flavor component that makes this Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake so irresistible.

Step 4: Add the Cake Mix
Sprinkle the dry chocolate cake mix evenly over the caramel layer. Use your fingers to gently spread it if needed, ensuring it covers all the caramel underneath. Don’t press it down – just let it sit as a dry layer on top.

Step 5: Top with Butter and Additions
Arrange your thin slices of cold butter across the entire surface of the cake mix, slightly overlapping to ensure complete coverage as they melt. Scatter chocolate chips and optional chopped nuts evenly over the butter. These will create little pockets of extra chocolate goodness throughout your baked chocolate caramel cake.

Step 6: Bake to Perfection
Place your baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the edges are bubbling and the top has formed a slightly crisp crust while still looking a bit gooey in the center.

Step 7: Rest and Serve
Allow your Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake to rest for at least 15 minutes before serving. This crucial resting period lets the cake set slightly while still maintaining that warm, gooey texture. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra-special treat that balances the rich chocolate and caramel flavors.

Variations

Chocolate Caramel Turtle Dump Cake: Enhance the classic turtle candy flavor profile by increasing the chopped pecans to 1 cup and adding ½ cup of toffee bits to the top layer before baking. The toffee creates an extra caramelized crunch that complements the soft cake texture of this chocolate caramel dessert perfectly.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Cake: Incorporate ½ cup of peanut butter chips along with the chocolate chips, and drizzle 3 tablespoons of melted peanut butter over the caramel layer before adding the cake mix. The peanut butter adds a nutty dimension that pairs wonderfully with the caramel and chocolate, creating a richer variation of the Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake.

Spiced Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake: For a warming twist, add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg, and a pinch of cayenne pepper to the dry cake mix before sprinkling it over the caramel layer. These spices add depth to the chocolate and create a sophisticated flavor profile that’s perfect for holiday gatherings when serving your chocolate caramel cake.

Storage and Serving

Your Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake will keep well at room temperature, covered tightly with plastic wrap, for up to 2 days. For longer storage, refrigerate it for up to 5 days. The cake will firm up considerably when chilled, so for the best texture when serving from the refrigerator, warm individual portions in the microwave for 20-30 seconds to restore that gooey goodness.

For an elevated dessert experience, serve warm slices with contrasting temperatures and textures. A scoop of vanilla ice cream creates a wonderful hot-and-cold sensation, while a drizzle of extra caramel sauce and a light dusting of powdered sugar makes for a beautiful presentation. For a coffee-house style dessert, pair a slice of Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of chocolate shavings alongside an espresso or cappuccino.

FAQs

Can I use a different flavor of cake mix?
Yes! While chocolate complements the caramel best in this Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake, you can experiment with yellow cake or spice cake mix for different flavor profiles.

Why is my dump cake too dry in some spots?
This typically happens when the butter slices don’t cover the entire surface of the cake mix. Make sure your butter slices overlap slightly and cover every inch of the dry cake mix to ensure it all gets moistened during baking.

Can I make this Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake ahead of time?
Absolutely! Prepare it up to a day in advance, then reheat before serving. Individual portions reheat well in the microwave for 20-30 seconds.

Is there a dairy-free version I can make?
Yes, you can substitute the butter with coconut oil, use dairy-free chocolate chips, and look for dairy-free caramel sauce and condensed coconut milk alternatives.

Why did my caramel sink to the bottom?
This is actually intended! The magic of a chocolate caramel cake in the dump cake style is how the layers reorganize during baking, creating distinct textures throughout.

Conclusion

This Chocolate Caramel Dump Cake is comfort food at its finest — a harmonious blend of rich chocolate and buttery caramel that creates an effortless yet impressive dessert. It’s the kind of dish that brings everyone to the table with eager anticipation and leaves them feeling warmly satisfied. Whether you’re serving it at a casual family dinner or bringing it to a potluck, this foolproof recipe delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort, proving that sometimes the simplest desserts are the most extraordinary.

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