When people think of me, they probably think of grilling ribs, brisket, or steak. But I’m a dessert man, too. And, surprisingly, it’s quick and easy to make some decadent desserts right on the grill. Today I’m cooking up Apple Dump Cake on my Traeger Timberline 1300. And it’s going to be delicious!

Apple Dump Cake | Heath Riles BBQ

I kept this recipe simple with only a few ingredients and steps. It just proves you don’t have to spend hours and use a dozen ingredients to make your family a tasty treat. This dessert is perfect for those chilly fall get-togethers when you’re craving something sweet. 

The Ingredients

5 ingredients that you can find at any grocery store is all you need for this flavorful apple dessert. 

Apple pie filling. Since apple’s in the name, you know the delicious fruit is going to be the focus of this sweet treat. 

Cinnamon. This spice is amazing on apples and adds a warm, toasty flavor (and aroma) to this recipe.

Butter. Melted butter is savory and sweet, which adds smoothness and an extra layer of tastiness to the dish.

Caramel candy. Cut these in half and they’re a great addition to a dessert. This candy gives the recipe extra sweetness and stickiness that makes it delectable.

Duncan Hines yellow cake mix. Cake mix helps tie all the ingredients together and create a good texture for the dessert. 

Spray oil. The pan needs to be coated to keep the ingredients from sticking when they cook. 

The Equipment Setup

• Traeger Timberline 1300. I preheated my pellet grill to 360°F. That’s about 10 degrees hotter than if I was cooking in my oven, because I want to make sure to get the proper brownness and cook on this cake. 

The Process for Making Apple Dump Cake

I put together a detailed demonstration of this recipe in the video and recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here’s a quick overview of how to make this dessert. 

1. Melt the butter. I melted my butter in a pan and poured it into a measuring cup. 
2. Mix the ingredients. Using a spatula, I poured the apple pie filling into a mixing bowl, sprinkled a light layer of cinnamon over it, and mixed it up.
3. Grease the pan. I greased my 9X13 pan to prevent sticking as my cake cooked. 
4. Fill the pan. I poured my cinnamon apples into the pan, using a spatula to create an even layer. 
5. Sprinkle the caramel. Using my hand, I tossed the caramel candies onto the cinnamon apples evenly. 
6. Put the “cake” in the Apple Dump Cake. I poured the cake mix directly into the pan, covering the other ingredients evenly. Using my spatula again, I spread the cake mix out and broke down any clumps I saw. 
7. Drizzled the butter. As the final touch before cooking, I drizzled butter all over the cake mixture. 
8. Grill it up. I placed the pan of ingredients directly in the middle of my grill and closed the lid. I planned to let it cook for about 45 minutes. 
9. Remove from the grill. After checking it at the 45 minute mark, I decided the dessert wasn’t quite done. It ended up cooking about an hour before I took it off the grill. 
10. Serve it. I added some ice cream with some caramel and chocolate syrup to make it a totally irresistible masterpiece. 

The Results

It was still warm when I bit into it, and let me tell you, it was out of this world good. Creamy, flavorful, sweet, and gooey from the caramel. The ice cream and toppings set it off perfectly. If you want to make something that is easy and doesn’t take a lot of time, this dessert is a must-have at your next family dinner or get together. 

Serving Suggestions for Apple Dump Cake

This recipe makes 8-10 servings. I recommend using at least 2 big spoonfuls of cake with half a cup of ice cream. 

Storing Leftovers

Let it cool and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Heat it up in the oven or microwave and it will be just as delicious as when you first cooked it. 

Equipment and Tools

Mixing bowl, measuring cup, Thermoworks silicone spatula, 9 x 13 baking dish, Thermoworks silicone pot holders, Royal Oak Charcoal Hardwood Pellets, Ghirardelli Chocolate and Caramel Syrup