Skillet Pumpkin Dump Cake is the perfect, quick and easy fall dessert that can and should be enjoyed all year long with ice cream.
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This post has been updated from its original November 19, 2017 publishing with new content, photographs, and updated recipe card.
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?
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Skillet Pumpkin Dump Cake
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
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
Nutrition
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.
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
- Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate from The Magical Slow Cooker
TAYLER ROSS
I eat pumpkin all year round, and this dump cake is one of my favorite pumpkin recipes! So moist and delicious!
Tavo
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!
Kelley
This was so delicious and so easy to make! My whole family loved it!