Now, let’s get to the fun part—making the cake!

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish, ensuring every corner is coated.
2. Spread the apple pie filling evenly across the bottom of the prepared dish. If you’re using fresh apples, slice them thinly and sprinkle with a bit of sugar and cinnamon.
3. Drizzle half of the salted caramel sauce over the apple filling. This will melt into the apples, creating gooey pockets of caramel goodness.
4. Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the apple filling. Don’t stir it in; just let it rest on top.
5. Pour the melted butter evenly over the cake mix, ensuring all areas are covered. This will help the cake mix form a beautiful crust.
6. Sprinkle the cinnamon and salt over the top, followed by the chopped pecans if using.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Your kitchen will smell amazing!
8. Once done, remove from the oven and let it cool for about 10 minutes. Drizzle with the remaining salted caramel sauce before serving.

I remember the first time I made this for a potluck; it was gone before I could even sit down. The subtle crunch from the pecans and the gooey caramel made it an instant hit.