This easy apple dump cake is a warm dessert cake with comforting flavors of fall that uses canned apple pie filling and cake mix for a recipe that’s a breeze to make.
This recipe is perfect for fall evenings or get-togethers where you need to bring an easy dessert and you just don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen.
This apple pie filling dump cake resembles an apple crisp. The topping though isn’t made from oatmeal, it’s actually made from the cake mix being sprinkled over the top, then butter soaking into it.
Table of Contents:
If you’ve never heard of dump cakes, they’re actually just like they sound. You just dump convenient and simple ingredients right into a pan, bake it, then dig in.
These types of cakes are super easy and you get this amazing gooey crust on top from the dry cake mix.
Main Ingredient Notes:
(The printable list of all ingredients are in the recipe card below.)
Apple Pie Filling: Cans of apple pie filling are the secret ingredient and it’s what makes this cake super easy. You don’t have to peel and chop apples and that saves SO much time.
Yellow Cake Mix: This will form the crust on top and it turns out being gooey and tender and just goes perfectly with the warm apple pie filling.
Cinnamon and Nutmeg: These spices bring warmth and depth to the dish, elevating the apple flavor and giving it more of that apple pie flavor. It’s really the secret to that autumn-like taste.
Brown Sugar and Butter: These two ingredients work together to create a delectable, sort of caramelized topping. The brown sugar adds a rich sweetness and the butter actually melts and cooks the cake mix and makes it gooey and delicious.
(Make sure to check out the FAQ section below in this post for ingredient and substitution questions.)
How to make this cake:
(The printable instructions are in the recipe card below.)
Step 1:
Make sure to preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. and spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick baking spray.
Step 2:
Add the two cans of apple pie filling to the baking dish and cut up the large apple slices with a knife.
Step 3:
Next, sprinkle the apple pie filling with the cinnamon and nutmeg.
Step 4:
Now, sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the apple pie filling. Just add it on dry.
Step 5:
Next, sprinkle the brown sugar over everything.
Step 6:
Now, add the butter slices evenly over top of everything. It’s important to make sure to cover as much of the dry mixture as you can with the butter, or there will be some dry areas.
It’s okay if you need to add more slices of butter.
Step 7:
Now, just bake it in the preheated oven for approximately 40-45 minutes. The cake will be bubbly when done.
Step 8:
Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool for about 20 minutes. You can serve this warm either plain, with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce.
(Remember that the instructions will also be in the recipe card below.)
Easy Apple Dump Cake with Canned Apple Pie Filling (+ Cake Mix)
Ingredients
- 2 (21 ounce) cans apple pie filling (use the pie filling, not just canned apples)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 (15.25 ounce) box yellow cake mix, dry
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 3/4 cup cold unsalted butter, (1 1/2 sticks) thinly sliced (may need a few more slices)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick baking spray.
- Add the two cans of apple pie filling to the dish. Cut up the large apple slices with a knife.
- Sprinkle the cinnamon and nutmeg evenly over the apple pie filling and mix it in well.
- Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the apple pie filling. (You don't need to add the ingredients on the back of the cake mix box, just use it dry.)
- Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the dry cake mix.
- Add the butter slices evenly over top of everything. Make sure to cover as much of the dry mixture as you can with the butter, or there will be some dry areas. If you need to add additional slices of butter, you can do so.
- Bake in the preheated oven at 350 degrees F for approximately 40-45 minutes. The cake will be bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and allow it to cool for about 20 minutes.
- Serve warm either plain, with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce.
- See the notes section for best ways to store this, serve it and for more questions.
Notes
Nutrition
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Video:
Tips & FAQs:
Use any brand you like. I’ve even tried this with Walmart brand apple pie filling and it turned out great.
Plain canned apples don’t have any of the added ingredients in them like sugar and thickening agents as the apple pie filling does. The final results might not turn out quite as thick and may not taste the same.
Oh yes. Feel free to experiment. Peach pie filling would be amazing. I’ve even tried it with lemon pie filling and lemon cake mix.
Yellow cake mix will give you a classic flavored topping, but feel free to experiment. Any cake mix would work as long as the flavor goes with apples. I think a spice cake mix would be a great addition.
No, just add the cake mix dry. If you need extra help, make sure to check out the video in this post.
No, you don’t, but it does add a lot of flavor and really gives it that homemade taste.
Unsalted butter is best for this recipe because the cake mix already has quite a bit of salt in it and adding salted butter might add too much.
Make sure the butter is cold when you slice it and add it to the dry cake mix. It’s just easier to slice and handle that way.
Slicing the butter thinly ensures that it evenly distributes over all of the dry cake mix. If it’s not evenly added and doesn’t cover the mix, there can be dry spots remaining after it’s finished baking.
Maybe, although it may end up changing the texture a bit.
This cake should be stored covered well, in the refrigerator and can last up to 6 days.
No, not really. This cake is more like a cobbler or crisp. It does not rise up and solidify like a regular cake does.
This cake is best served warm. Add a portion to a plate and heat in the microwave for about 15-20 seconds and enjoy. If you prefer, it can also be eaten at room temperature or cold.
You can serve this cake either plain, with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce.
Supplies used for this recipe:
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Made this and it came out perfect. EASY TO make. used more butter then what the recipe called for. would recommend to family and friends. Try it you’ll like it.
Thanks for the great review! So glad you loved it!
This was easy to make and tasted good. Didn’t have nutmeg so just used extra cinnamon. when I make it again, I’m planning to use more Apple Pie filling, more brown sugar, and the nutmeg.
Oh yay! Glad you liked it!