🥧 Easy Made Pecan Dump Cake – The Easiest Southern-Style Dessert

When you’re craving something sweet, warm, and comforting but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen, pecan dump cake is the answer. With just a few pantry staples and a box of cake mix, you can whip up a dessert that tastes like it came straight from grandma’s kitchen. It’s buttery, nutty, and irresistibly gooey — the perfect blend of cobbler and cake.

This recipe is the ultimate “set it and forget it” kind of treat. You literally dump the ingredients into a baking dish, pop it in the oven, and let the magic happen. No fuss, no stress, just pure dessert bliss.

💖 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Just 5 minutes of prep – no mixing required
• Gooey pecan filling topped with buttery golden cake
• Perfect for holidays, potlucks, or last-minute desserts
• Customizable with caramel, coconut, or chocolate chips
• Delicious warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream

🥘 Ingredients

• 2 cups chopped pecans
• 1 box yellow cake mix (15.25 oz)
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 ½ cups milk
• 1 tsp cinnamon (optional, for warmth)
• Pinch of salt

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Preheat Oven – Set oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Layer Pecans – Spread chopped pecans evenly in the bottom of the dish.
3. Add Brown Sugar – Sprinkle brown sugar over the pecans.
4. Pour Milk – Slowly pour milk evenly over the top.
5. Add Cake Mix – Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over everything. Do not stir.
6. Top with Butter – Drizzle melted butter evenly across the cake mix.
7. Bake – Bake for 40–45 minutes, until the top is golden and bubbling.
8. Cool & Serve – Let cool slightly before serving warm. Pair with ice cream or whipped cream for extra indulgence.

💡 Tips for Success

• Don’t stir! The “dump” method is what creates the gooey layers.
• Try butter pecan cake mix for even more flavor.
• Add a drizzle of caramel sauce before baking for a pecan pie–like twist.
• Store leftovers covered at room temp for 2 days or in the fridge for 5 days.

🍰 Pecan Dump Cake Recipe Card

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 44 minutes mins

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 380

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 box yellow cake mix 15.25 oz
• 2 cups chopped pecans
• 1 ½ sticks ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 can 12 oz evaporated milk
• 1 can 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp cinnamon optional

Method

 

Preheat Oven:

1. Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

Layer Pecans:

1. Spread chopped pecans evenly across the bottom of the dish.

Mix Milks:

1. In a bowl, whisk together evaporated milk, condensed milk, and vanilla extract. Pour evenly over pecans.

Add Cake Mix:

1. Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix evenly over the top — do not stir.

Add Butter:

1. Pour melted butter evenly over the cake mix, covering as much as possible.

Bake:

1. Place in oven and bake 45–50 minutes, until golden brown and bubbly.

Cool & Serve:

1. Let cool slightly. Serve warm, plain or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Notes

For extra crunch, toast the pecans lightly before baking.

Add ½ cup shredded coconut for a richer flavor.

If you like spice, mix cinnamon or nutmeg into the cake mix before baking.

Store leftovers covered at room temp for 2 days or refrigerate up to 5.

❓ FAQ

🍂 A Dessert That Feels Like Home

This Pecan Dump Cake is the kind of dessert that brings people together. It’s quick, easy, and bursting with nutty, buttery goodness. Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Sunday dinner, or just a weeknight craving, this cake will always hit the spot.