Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
Spread both cans of apple pie filling evenly into the dish. Sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg over the apples, then stir lightly to blend.
Evenly sprinkle the dry cake mix across the apple filling. Do not stir—just spread it into an even layer.
If using soft caramels, melt them with 3 tablespoons of heavy cream in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth.
Drizzle caramel sauce or scatter caramel bits evenly over the cake mix. Add nuts or oats if desired.
Slice butter into thin pats and arrange them evenly across the top. The butter will melt into the cake mix as it bakes.
Bake for 45–55 minutes until the top is golden brown and the edges are bubbling.
Let the cake cool for 15–20 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
