Apple Dump Cake
This easy Apple Dump Cake recipe always makes me think of fall, but it is truly the perfect dessert for any time of year. Served with ice cream in the summer? That works, too!
Why You Need To Try This Delicious Apple Dump Cake Recipe!
- Dump cakes are so easy to make! – And what exactly does that mean? Just that all you need is canned apple pie filling as the, well, filling, and then you use a box of dry cake mix for the topping. Trust me, it works! I love dump cake recipes because they are so incredibly simple. A little after-dinner dessert, anyone?
- It’s absolutely scrumptious! – This easy apple dump cake recipe makes a dessert that is somewhere between an moist apple cobbler and a flaky apple pie. The tender apples are sweet, the filling is gooey and cinnamon-sweet, and the cake mix topping cooks up into a perfect buttery crispness.
- It uses simple ingredients! – This easy dessert recipe doesn’t use anything fancy. A few simple ingredients and a baking dish is all you need to make this delicious fall dessert. You don’t even need a mixing bowl.
- It’s perfect for kid cooks! – Looking for a way to get the children involved in the kitchen? My apple dessert recipe is a great one for even the youngest of chefs. Your toddlers won’t need to slice, dice, or measure a thing.
Ingredients Needed for this Apple Pie Dump Cake
This easy recipe uses fewer ingredients than even what’s listed on the back of the box of cake mix.
You have no excuse not to enjoy a perfect dessert, in and out of apple season.
- 2 21oz Cans of Apple Pie Filling – You can used canned apple filling, or use your own favorite recipe for homemade apple pie filling. It’s entirely up to you!
- 1 Teaspoon of Apple Pie Spice – Apple pie spice is a good one to have on your spice shelf. It’s very similar to pumpkin pie spice, except that it uses ginger instead of cardamom, and there’s usually more nutmeg. If you don’t have any on hand and don’t have time for a run to the store, just use cinnamon and nutmeg. Those are the most important notes.
- 1 15.25oz Box of Cake Mix – I like to use either white or yellow cake mix. This mimics the taste of a pie crust or a cobbler. I’ve seen where people use a box of spice cake mix or butter pecan cake mix instead, and I bet that also tastes delicious. Maybe double the recipe and us a combination of cake mix types? Let me know what you try!
- 3/4 Cup of Butter – Three sticks of melted, salted butter will turn the box cake mix into a perfect crispy crust. Melt it in a saucepan or in the microwave. Take care not to let it start to brown.
How to Make Apple Cobbler Dump Cake
I’ve said a few times now that this is a super easy dessert to make, and now it’s time for me to put my money where my mouth is!
Look at these steps below – you can do this:
- Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then prep your 9″x13″ pan by spraying with a non-stick cooking spray.
- Pour the apple pie filling in the bottom of the baking dish, using a rubber spatula to spread it out into an even layer.
- Sprinkle cake mix over the apple mixture – again, in an even layer – and shake the apple pie spice over the top of the cake mix.
- Pour the melted butter over the top of the dessert as evenly as possible. Go slow! You want to avoid there being many dry spots.
- Place the dish in the oven and bake for 40-50 minutes, until the crumb topping is golden brown and the apple filling is hot and bubbly.
- Enjoy with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or some whipped cream!
Storing Leftover Apple Dump Cake
Any leftover apple dump cake should be placed in an airtight container.
If you expect to finish it up in 1-2 days, then it’s just fine left out on the counter and room temperature.
However, if you have enough leftover that it might take 3-4 days to work through it, be sure to place it in the refrigerator.
This easy apple dessert tastes great eaten cold…
…but if you want to reheat it, a word to the wise – use the oven instead of the microwave. It helps keep the topping crisp and prevent it from becoming overly soggy.
Take care to never move the pan straight from the cold fridge to the hot oven, however!
Place the pan in the oven while it’s still cold, and then start heating the oven.
A Few Tricks And Tips!
Even the easiest cake recipe has a few ways to make it even more perfect.
Here are my tips for the perfect apple cake, every time.
Get our THIS LITTLE HOME OF MINE nEWSLETTER
Delivered directly to your inbox!
I’ve also added a few change-ups to tweak the flavor and texture to suit your preferences!
- Fight against the temptation to lightly mix the ingredients together. Keep the layers distinct and separate. This being a dump cake, you really are supposed to just dump it all straight into the pan!
- Add a splash of lemon juice to the melted butter. It’s a great way to complement the cinnamon apples in the filling, adding a bit of tart to balance all of the sweet.
- Try making this delicious apple dessert in the crock pot instead of a baking pan. Set your slow cooker to cook for 2 hours on high.
- Want more crunch? Sprinkle a generous handful of chopped pecans over the cake mix before baking.
- Another way to add a bit more toothsome bite to this apple crumble is to add a few fresh apples, thinly-sliced, on top of the gooey apple pie filling.
- Make it a caramel apple dump cake by drizzling caramel sauce over the apple filling before adding the cake mix.
- Now that you’ve tried a dump cake, a whole world is opened to you! Play with different pie fillings to make a peach dump cake, blueberry dump cake, even a cherry pineapple dump cake. They’re all so delicious, and are a quick and easy way to get a dessert to the table.
Apple Dump Cake
Equipment
- Glass Baking Dish
Ingredients
- 2 21 oz Cans of Apple Pie Filling
- 1 Teaspoon Apple Pie Spice
- 1 15.25 oz Box of Cake Mix
- 3/4 Cup Butter
Instructions
- Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then prep your 9″x13″ pan by spraying with a non-stick cooking spray.
- Pour the apple pie filling in the bottom of the baking dish, using a rubber spatula to spread it out into an even layer.
- Sprinkle cake mix over the apple mixture – again, in an even layer – and shake the apple pie spice over the top of the cake mix.
- Pour the melted butter over the top of the dessert as evenly as possible. Go slow! You want to avoid there being many dry spots.
- Place the dish in the oven and bake for 40-50 minutes, until the crumb topping is golden brown and the apple filling is hot and bubbly.
- Enjoy with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or some whipped cream!
More Desserts Like This
- Individual Apple Crisp Desserts
- Easy Fresh Peach Cobbler
- Peach Oatmeal Bake
- Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake
