This Easy Pumpkin "Dump Cake" Is Perfect For Any Hectic Holiday

If you have a busy fall or holiday season, you know that there often isn't time to make dessert entirely from scratch. At the same time, though store-bought baked goods can be tasty (if you've had Costco's famous pumpkin pie, you know what I'm talking about), nothing truly compares to a fresh-out-of-the-oven homemade dessert.

This pumpkin "dump cake" — which has gone viral time and time again on TikTok — is the best of both worlds. Since the main ingredient is boxed cake mix, it's easy and convenient to make, but thanks to a few extra ingredients, it ends up tasting like you whipped it up from scratch.

To make it, start by ignoring the instructions on the back of the cake mix box. Instead, simply whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin spice directly in your baking dish. Then all you have to do is literally dump the cake mix on top, drizzle on some melted butter, and it's all ready for the oven — that's right, without mixing. That's exactly what makes this a "dump cake."

When it comes out, you'll be left with a dessert that has the same warm fall flavors of a pumpkin pie, but with a texture reminiscent of a cobbler. You can serve your dump cake right away, but it tastes just as good when it's cold. If you do the latter, you can also top it with whipped cream, caramel sauce, and nuts, as shown here. No matter what, it's sure to be a crowd pleaser despite how simple it is to make.

Check out the full recipe for pumpkin dump cake below.