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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Dessert Recipes

    Skillet Pumpkin Dump Cake

    Published: Nov 11, 2020 ยท Modified: Mar 5, 2021 by Ned Adams ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท 22 Comments

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    Skillet Pumpkin Dump Cake is the perfect, quick and easy fall dessert that can and should be enjoyed all year long with ice cream.

    Want more delicious camping dump cakes? Try this Caramel Apple Dump Cake or Cola Chocolate Cherry Cake. You also can't go wrong with the classic Dutch Oven Peach Dump Cake.

    Close up image of baked pumpkin dump cake in a cast iron skillet.
    Jump to:
    • Why is it called a Dump Cake?
    • How to make Skillet Pumpkin Dump Cake
    • Adaptations and substitutions for Pumpkin Dump Cake
    • Other Related Camp Recipes
    • Get the Recipe
    • Delicious Pumpkin Recipes

    Ah pumpkin.

    It's that special time of year when everything, and I mean everything seems to be made of pumpkin, taste like pumpkin, or look like pumpkin.

    Who am I fight the craze? So here you go, Skillet Pumpkin Dump Cake for your pumpkin pleasure.

    Why is it called a Dump Cake?

    A slice of pumpkin dump cake on a white plate.

    I realize the word 'dump' in the title for a dessert can be slightly unappealing. It's downright hilarious if you're a 12-year old boy (or a man-boy like myself.)

    A dump cake is a delicious hybrid of sorts between a cake and a cobbler.

    But really, it has been given its name because you literally dump the ingredients into the baking dish, pan, skillet. Sometimes there's a prepared batter like this recipe, and sometimes there isn't.

    How to make Skillet Pumpkin Dump Cake

    Ingredients to make the dessert in a cast iron skillet: pumpkin puree, brown sugar, half and half, eggs, butter, salt, pumpkin pie spice, cake mix, and candied pecans.

    This cake really comes together in no time flat.

    Coat your skillet with a tablespoon of softened butter. Toss the skillet in the oven. Set to 350F to preheat while you make the batter.

    In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, half and half, eggs, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.

    Pumpkin batter in a bowl with a whisk.

    Pro-Tip: break the yolks of the eggs first to make the batter come together easier with less whisking.

    But be gentle folks, if you're too vigorous, you'll end up wearing it. 

    Pumpkin batter added and smoothed out in the cast iron skillet.

    Remove the skillet from the oven and pour the batter in. Smooth out the batter as evenly as you can.

    Sprinkle the cake mix over the top of the batter as evenly as possible, breaking any large clumps. There will still be lots of little clumps.

    Yellow cake mix sprinkled over the top of the pumpkin batter.

    Sprinkle the pecans over the top of the mix. If you're using another topping other than pecans, that's cool. Omitting the nuts altogether? That's cool too.

    Slowly pour the melted butter over the entire cake. 

    Roughly chopped candied pecans and melted butter added atop the cake.

    Bake for an hour or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean. The batter will remain gooey, more congealed but still soft and loose. 

    Allow it to cool and serve.

    Adaptations and substitutions for Pumpkin Dump Cake

    • Use regular roasted pecans instead of candied.
    • Omit pecans and use almonds, walnuts, or even peanuts.
    • Omit the nuts altogether.
    • Use a white, chocolate, or spice cake cake mix instead of yellow.
    • In a pinch, use pumpkin pie filling but omit most of the brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice.

     Just a note about serving this, folks, it ain’t gonna be pretty. This is a dump cake.

    It can’t be sliced prettily like a normal cake, so do the best you can. It's still delicious regardless of how messy it is. 

    Serve it with ice cream, it'll make it look prettier.

    Other Related Camp Recipes

    • Speared chicken, carrot, and potato wedge covered in gravy on a fork.
      Dutch Oven Italian Chicken in Gravy
    • Cooked and ready to eat cinnamon holes.
      Dutch Oven Cinnamon Rolls
    • The camp oven lasagna has cooked, rested, and been garnished with fresh basil and is ready to serve.
      Dutch Oven Lasagna
    • Two blue earthenware plates of Sausage Peppers and Rice Skillet.
      Sausage Peppers and Rice Skillet

    If you tried this Skillet Pumpkin Dump Cake or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

    Get the Recipe

    Close up view of the cooked cake.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 17 votes

    Skillet Pumpkin Dump Cake

    Skillet Pumpkin Dump Cake is the perfect, quick and easy fall dessert that can and should be enjoyed all year long with ice cream.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time1 hour hr
    Total Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 448kcal
    Author: Ned Adams
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 12-inch cast iron skillet

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon butter softened
    • 29 oz pumpkin puree not pie filling
    • ¾ cup half and half
    • 3 large eggs
    • 1 cup dark brown sugar
    • 2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 box yellow cake mix (15.25 oz)
    • ½ cup candied pecans or regular; roughly chopped
    • 1 cup butter melted
    US Standard - Metric

    Instructions

    • Coat the skillet with the softened butter.
    • Place buttered skillet into the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F.
    • Whisk together the pumpkin, half and half, eggs, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.
    • Pour into the now-warmed skillet, smooth to even.
    • Sprinkle the dry cake mix over the top of the batter, breaking up the large clumps.
    • Sprinkle the pecans over the top.
    • Slowly pour the melted butter over the top of the cake.
    • Bake for an hour or until a toothpick comes out clean.
    • Let slightly cool and serve.

    Notes

    Vanilla ice cream or spiced whipped cream are a great topping. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 448kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 135mg | Sodium: 434mg | Potassium: 311mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 16917IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 98mg | Iron: 2mg

    Dutch Oven Daddy is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

    Did you try this recipe?Leave me a comment and rating below or Tag @DutchOvenDaddy on Instagram to show us your photos!

    Delicious Pumpkin Recipes

    Can't get enough pumpkin, try these recipes.

    • Dutch Oven Pumpkin Chili
    • Savory Pumpkin Hummus from The Complete Savorist
    • Pumpkin Butter from The Magical Slow Cooker
    • Dutch Oven Pumpkin Spice Cake
    • Dark Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies from The Complete Savorist

    More Irresistible Cast Iron Dessert Recipes

    • A cherry roll on a plate.
      Sweet and Buttery Cherry Rolls
    • Spoons digging into butterscotch brownies.
      Gooey Butterscotch Brownies
    • A cooked Dutch baby pancake in a skillet with bowls of fruit and powdered sugar to the side.
      Cast Iron Dutch Baby Recipe
    • Southern blackberry cobbler with pie crust in a bowl with scoops of ice cream.
      Southern Blackberry Cobbler with Pie Crust

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 17 votes

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Spencer Adams

      October 30, 2024 at 7:14 pm

      5 stars
      Skillet Pumpkin Dump Cake is a delightful autumn treat with a moist pumpkin base and a crispy, sweet topping. I totally love this!

      Reply
    2. D

      October 10, 2024 at 8:38 am

      5 stars
      Tasty!!!

      Reply
      • Ned Adams

        October 10, 2024 at 9:34 am

        Thank you!

        Reply
    3. TAYLER ROSS

      July 31, 2023 at 9:51 am

      5 stars
      I eat pumpkin all year round, and this dump cake is one of my favorite pumpkin recipes! So moist and delicious!

      Reply
    4. Tavo

      July 31, 2023 at 8:25 am

      5 stars
      Your Skillet Pumpkin Dump Cake is a masterstroke! With the pumpkin's rich, earthy flavor brilliantly complementing the cake's sweet, crumbly texture, it's a treat that effortlessly bridges the gap between comfort food and gourmet creation. You've managed to craft a recipe that's simple enough for casual home bakers, yet carries an irresistible appeal that would make any pastry chef nod in approval. Fantastic job!

      Reply
    5. Kelley

      July 31, 2023 at 7:14 am

      5 stars
      This was so delicious and so easy to make! My whole family loved it!

      Reply
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    the Dutch Oven Daddy! Iโ€™m a full-time computer nerd and part-time cook. My passion is cast iron cooking with tips, tricks, and delicious recipes. I love using my recipes to bring together family and friends. I believe everything is made better in cast iron!

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