Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Spread apple pie filling in the dish. Stir in cinnamon, salt, and 3 tablespoons caramel.
Sprinkle dry cake mix evenly over the apples. Tap the pan to level.
Drizzle melted butter over the dry mix, covering as much of the surface as possible.
Scatter pecans on top. Drizzle the remaining caramel over everything.
Bake 38–42 minutes, until the top is golden and the edges are bubbly.
Cool 10 minutes. Serve warm, optionally with vanilla ice cream.
Notes
Variation: Swap yellow cake mix for spice cake mix, or add 1/4 cup rolled oats with the pecans for extra texture. Finish with a pinch of flaky salt for a sweet-salty pop. Storage: Cover and refrigerate up to 4 days; rewarm portions in a 325°F oven or microwave until gooey.This recipe is an original creation inspired by classic Easy Caramel Apple Dump Cake flavors. All ingredient ratios and instructions are independently developed.