Name: Caramel Apple Pecan Crunch
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 (15 oz) cans apple pie filling; dusting of cinnamon; 1 cup pecans, roughly chopped; 1 cup caramel sauce (recipe below); 1 (15 oz) box yellow cake mix; 2 tsp. cinnamon; 1 stick butter, melted; 1 cup brown sugar; 1/2 cup heavy cream; 6 Tbsp. butter; 1 tsp. vanilla extract

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Caramel Apple Pecan Crunch is everything you love about autumn wrapped up in a warm apple cobbler! It’s crunchy, sweet, and spiced just right for holidays and special occasions.

spoon holding up caramel apple pecan crunch out of bowl.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Ever wonder how some cobblers have crusts that never get crunchy on top? Well, that won’t happen with Caramel Apple Pecan Crunch. In fact, I decided to call it a ‘crunch’ because there’s nothing fluffy about it!

This recipe started with a craving for apples and real caramel sauce. Making caramel apples is fun, but can take a lot of steps. Adding the same ingredients to a cobbler provides similar results without all of the work!

You’ll love the homemade caramel sauce weaved throughout this dessert. It’s tempting to top it with ice cream, but it’s not necessary. Whatever you do…make this easy recipe as soon as possible. Your family will give it rave reviews!

warm caramel being poured over pecans and dry cake mix in dish.

Ingredients You’ll Need

When you’re shopping, pick up a yellow cake mix, ground cinnamon, brown sugar, heavy cream, butter, vanilla extract, apple pie filling, and pecans. Quantities are listed in the recipe card below.

How to Make The Filling

If you’re looking for a recipe that comes together in a flash, this is it! Start by emptying two cans of apple pie filling into a 9 x 13 dish. Sprinkle the apples with cinnamon and cover with half of the caramel sauce (recipe below). Next, cover the apples with half of the pecans.

Add cinnamon to a dry cake mix, then sprinkle over the apples. Drizzle melted butter and the rest of the pecans over the top. Finish by pouring the rest of the caramel sauce over the entire cobbler. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes until crunchy.

caramel, pecans and cake mix layered in dish.

caramel apple pecan crunch after baking.

How to Make Homemade Caramel Sauce

To make homemade caramel sauce, simply melt 6 Tbsp. of butter in a saucepan, stir in brown sugar, and heavy cream. Stir well over medium heat until it begins to bubble and boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Caramel sauce will thicken as it cools.

Can I Use Store Bought Caramel Sauce Instead?

If you want to make this recipe even quicker, it’s perfectly fine to use store bought caramel sauce in a jar. I prefer to make it myself because it’s absolutely delicious, but saving time is never a bad thing!

Can I Use Substitute Fresh Apples?

Absolutely! If you want to peel and slice the apples beforehand for homemade fresh flavor, go for it! If you choose this route, you’ll need to cook the apples until they’re soft before adding them to the recipe.

dish of caramel apple pecan crunch with most of it eaten.

Serving Suggestions

This is a great cobbler to serve with whipped topping or vanilla bean ice cream. It’s rich, dense and decadent. If you’re in charge of the dessert for Thanksgiving or Christmas the year, you’ll hit the bullseye with this one!

More Apple Desserts to Love

Before you know it, Caramel Apple Pecan Crunch will be gone and you’ll be craving another dessert! Try some of my other popular apple recipes…