Apple Dump Cake

Apple dump cake is a quick and cozy fall dessert with tender, crumbly cake and warm apple pie filling. You only need 3 ingredients to make it – apple pie filling, cake mix, and butter!

Why this recipe works

Dump cakes reinvent the dessert game. They’re insanely easy to prepare, you only need a cake mix, pie filling, and butter to make the magic happen. This apple dump cake incorporates spiced apple pie filling with a box of yellow cake mix that creates a crumbly soft cobbler-like topping.

Dump, bake, and scoop into a bowl with a generous amount of vanilla ice cream. That’s all! With only 15 minutes of prep and 3 pantry staple ingredients, it’s definitely bound to be your new favorite apple dessert. If you want to razzle dazzle it up even more, add some vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzle, or hop over to our caramel apple dump cake for an entire cake centered around that caramel goodness.

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

CAKE MIX – You will need one package (15.25 ounces) of yellow cake mix. Optionally substitute with white cake mix, French vanilla, or even a spice cake mix. Do not prepare or bake the cake mix, you only need the dry mix to make this dish work.

APPLE FILLING – You can use canned apple pie filling, canned “fried apples”, or make your own apple pie filling. We opt for canned apple pie filling as it’s quick and convenient which falls right in line with the concept of dump cake!

BUTTER – Do not omit or skimp on the butter, it’s needed in order to bake the cake.

ADDITIONS – Most pie filling already has warm spices added, but feel free to add cinnamon, nutmeg, or apple pie spice. You can also incorporate nuts such as walnuts or pecans into the mixture if desired.

How to Make Apple Dump Cake

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Spread the apple pie filling evenly into a 9×13 baking dish.
3. Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the apple pie filling.
4. Use a sharp knife or a mandolin to slice very thin pieces of butter. Spread the pieces of butter over the top of the dry cake mix, covering as much of the cake mix as possible.
5. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the topping is browned and the apple pie filling is bubbling from under the topping.
6. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and/or caramel sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Store your cake covered with an air-tight lid or plastic wrap at room temperature for 3-4 days. It should keep longer if you store it in the refrigerator, around 5-7 days.

You can freeze this dump cake for up to 1 month. Wrap it a couple of times in plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and optionally reheat.

If you would like a caramel-centered recipe, check out our caramel apple dump cake which incorporates caramel into the actual cake. Otherwise, you can use caramel sauce as garnish.

Serving Suggestions

Serve apple dump cake warm, chilled, or at room temperature scooped into a bowl. We’re partial to serving it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and an optional drizzle of caramel sauce. Other garnish ideas include a dollop of whipped cream with a dash of apple pie spice, chopped nuts, or mini chocolate chips.

More Dump Cake Recipes

• Pumpkin Dump Cake
• Pineapple Dump Cake
• Caramel Apple Dump Cake
• Peach Cobbler Dump Cake
• Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake
• Blueberry Dump Cake

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