• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Best Dessert Recipes
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Bars
    • Brownies
    • Cake
    • Dessert Dips
    • Candy
    • Cookies
    • Cake
    • Cupcakes
    • Frozen
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Shop!
  • Get the Emails
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Bars
    • Brownies
    • Cake
    • Dessert Dips
    • Candy
    • Cookies
    • Cake
    • Cupcakes
    • Frozen
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Shop!
  • Get the Emails
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Bars
    • Brownies
    • Cake
    • Dessert Dips
    • Candy
    • Cookies
    • Cake
    • Cupcakes
    • Frozen
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Shop!
  • Get the Emails
×

Apple Dump Cake

August 24, 2022 by tayler 5 Comments

Sharing is caring!

26 shares
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Yummly
Jump to Recipe

Incredibly tasty, quick and easy to make, this Apple Dump Cake only takes minutes to prepare. Made using pantry staples, this cake is ideal as a last-minute dessert. 

scoop of apple dump cake with text overlay for facebook

There’s nothing I love more than quick and easy desserts. This apple dump cake is my go-to recipe whenever I have unexpected guests or when craving something sweet. Despite taking only minutes to make, this apple cake is decadent, sticky, and delicious.  

All you need to make this cake is cake mix, apple pie filling and melted butter. If you’re feeling fancy, you can also add pecans, walnuts, spices and raisins. As the name suggests, everything gets dumped in a baking tray, pop it in the oven and get the most scrumptious apple cake. 

I like to serve this cake warm, freshly out of the oven, topped with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. 

baked apple dump cake in a pan

Why You’ll Love This Apple Dump Cake

What's In This Article

Toggle
  • Why You’ll Love This Apple Dump Cake
  • Apple Dump Cake Ingredients
  • How to Make Apple Dump Cake 
  • Variations
  • Tips & Tricks 
  • Storage and Freezing
  • More Easy Cake Recipes
  • Apple Dump Cake
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Nutrition
  • Ideal last-minute dessert: This apple dump cake recipe is perfect whenever you have unexpected guests or need a quick cake. No need to run to the shop either, as most ingredients are pantry staples! 
  • You probably already have all the ingredients: This recipe only calls for apple pie filling, cake mix and melted butter, which we all have in our pantries. Feel free to make it more extra by adding pecans, apple pie spice, raisins or other toppings. 
  • Super easy: No special equipment or tools are needed for this recipe, as you also don’t need to be a skilled baker. Anyone can make this amazing apple cake. 
  • Only 5-minute preparation: Saying that this recipe takes 5 minutes is definitely on overestimate. You only need about a minute to dump the apple pie filling in a baking dish, top with cake mix, then pour melted butter on top. Yep, it’s THAT easy. 
  • Mess-free: No bowls are needed, so there’s little washing up to do. All you need is a 9×13 inch baking dish and a spatula. 
  • Crunchy, sticky and delicious: This cake has the most amazing texture, with sticky apples at the bottom and crunchy cake on top. 
  • The best comfort cake: Eating this dessert feels like a warm hug, so I recommend having it whenever you need something unapologetically sweet and cosy. 
scoop of apple dump cake on a plate

Apple Dump Cake Ingredients

Apart from its amazing flavour and texture, this cake is great because it only uses 3 main ingredients. And you probably already have them in your pantry- that’s the beauty of dump cakes.

  • Apple pie filling – store-bought pie filling is the best choice for this recipe. You will need about 2 cans. 
  • Cake mix – I like to use yellow cake mix, but you can also go for French vanilla. However, anything you have in your pantry will do the trick! 
  • Melted butter – Regular baking butter works best for this recipe, and it needs to be fully melted before using. 
  • Optional: apple pie spice – I highly recommend using spices to make the apple flavour pop even more. If you don’t have apple pie spice, you can use a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. 
  • Optional: pecans or walnuts – Again, highly recommended you use pecans or walnuts. They add a wonderful crunch and a deep nutty flavour to the apple dump cake. 
caramel and ice cream on apple dump cake

How to Make Apple Dump Cake 

  1. Dump two cans of apple pie filling into a baking dish. 
  2. Evenly cover with one box of cake mix. 
  3. Optional: sprinkle with chopped pecans or walnuts and apple pie spices. 
  4. Pour melted butter on top and tilt the dish around to distribute butter evenly. Bake and serve warm! 
collage of how to make apple dump cake

Variations

The base recipe for this apple dump cake is very simple and only needs two ingredients. However, if you want to make it even more amazing, here are some toppings and extra ingredients you can use: 

  • Replace apple pie filling with any other type of filling. I recommend pumpkin or cherry. 
  • Top with pecans, walnuts, or other types of nuts
  • Sprinkle with raisins or dried fruit
  • Use apple pie spice or other spices like ground cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, or ginger 
  • Replace the yellow cake mix with French Vanilla or chocolate cake mix
  • Serve with maple syrup, honey, caramel sauce
  • Add a generous ice cream scoop on freshly out of the oven apple cake. I recommend vanilla ice cream for the most amazing flavour combination. 
close up of caramel and ice cream on apple dump cake

Tips & Tricks 

  • Don’t tap down the dry ingredients: sprinkle the cake mix over the pie filling without tapping or pressing it down. Pressing down the flour mix can make the apple dump cake too dense. 
  • Sprinkle apple pie spice between layers: I like to add spices in between each layer for the most amazing flavour throughout the cake. 
  • Fully melted butter: the butter needs to be fully melted before pouring it over the cake mix. This makes it easier to spread around evenly. 
  • Tilt the dish: after pouring the butter as evenly as possible, tilt the baking dish around to spread the butter. Do not use a spatula to spread it around, as this will make it stick to the cake mix and clump up in one spot. Keep tilting the dish until the butter is in an even layer. It’s okay if you have small spots that are uncovered by butter. 
  • Bake until golden-brown: baking time can vary depending on your oven and how well the butter is spread across the top. Once the top looks golden-brown in colour, your cake is ready, so keep an eye on it. 

Storage and Freezing

I recommend serving this decadent apple dump cake freshly out of the oven, with a generous scoop of ice cream on top. 

This cake is also great for longer-term storage. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. 

Freeze for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. Ensure the cake is fully cooled before freezing or refrigerating. To thaw, place in the fridge overnight. To serve, after thawing reheat in the oven for 15 minutes at 325F.

collage of apple dump cake for pinterest

More Easy Cake Recipes

  • Vanilla Mug Cake
  • Easy Vanilla Cupcakes
  • Honey Bun Cake Recipe
  • Pineapple Upside Down Cake
  • Easy Pumpkin Pie Recipe
Cherry Dump Cake Recipe
With only five ingredients, you can have this EASY Cherry Dump Cake recipe ready in under one hour! Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
plate of cherry dump cake
Strawberry Cupcakes
With real strawberries mixed into the batter, these EASY Lemon Strawberry Cupcakes are the ultimate summer dessert recipe!
Pina Colada Poke Cake
With a pineapple coconut filling, a fluffy whipped topping and a moist crumb, this Pina Colada Poke Cake will whisk you to the tropics!
close up shot of pina colada poke cake on a plate
caramel poured on apple dump cake with text overlay for pinterest
close up of caramel and ice cream on apple dump cake

Apple Dump Cake

Quick and easy to make, this Apple Dump Cake only takes minutes to prepare. With pantry staples, this cake is ideal as a last-minute dessert!
4 from 10 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apple dump cake
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 290kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 cans apple pie filling
  • 1 box yellow cake mix
  • ¾ cup salted butter melted
  • ½ cup pecans chopped (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons apple pie spice (optional)

Instructions

  • Pre-heat oven to 350F (180C) and grease a 9×13 inches baking dish.
  • Dump the apple pie filling directly into the tray and spread it evenly with a spatula. If using apple pie spice, sprinkle 1 teaspoon directly over the pie filling.
  • Sprinkle the cake mix over the apple pie filling evenly. Do not press it down. Top with the remaining 1 teaspoon apple pie spice (optional).
  • Pour melted butter directly over the cake mix, trying to get it as even as possible. Do not use a spatula to try to spread the butter. Instead, tilt the baking dish at an angle and in a circular motion to spread the butter across the cake mix. It’s okay to have a few uncovered spaces.
  • Sprinkle with chopped pecans or other desired toppings. Bake for 45 minutes or until golden-brown in color.
  • Serve warm with ice cream, honey or caramel sauce.
  • If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.

Nutrition

Calories: 290kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 405mg | Potassium: 43mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 358IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 99mg | Iron: 1mg

Filed Under: Cake Tagged With: 9x13 Pan

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mandy Applegate

    August 25, 2022 at 6:47 pm

    5 stars
    I loved how simple this apple dump cake was to make – it was a real hit with my family!

  2. Mirlene

    August 25, 2022 at 7:12 pm

    5 stars
    It was a great dessert for my family to enjoy! We loved the apples and the smell was amazing around the house. We had it with ice cream on top!

  3. Jessie

    August 25, 2022 at 7:57 pm

    5 stars
    I can’t even believe how easy it is to throw this cake together. It takes no time AT ALL, but it looks like you’ve spent the whole day making it! It also makes the house smell AMAZING. Love it.

  4. Jess

    August 25, 2022 at 8:40 pm

    5 stars
    Such an easy cake to make! And with only 5 ingredients it is a cinch to make!

  5. Nathan

    August 25, 2022 at 8:57 pm

    5 stars
    This looks so delicious, not to mention beyond easy to make! I’ll definitely be keeping this one in mind once fall rolls around, can’t wait to try it for myself!

4 from 10 votes (5 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Meet Jessica

Best dessert recipes is a central place for easy dessert recipes featuring semi-homemade, one step and easy dessert making hacks guaranteed for all culinary levels. Jessica is a cookbook author and Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School certified recipe developer. See her work in Parade Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Mashed, AllRecipes AllStars and The Daily Meal Food + Travel and more!

jessica eating a cheesecake

Visit Our Sister Sites

For all things savory, make sure to visit our sister sites, SavoryExperiments.com and MySauceRecipes.com.

savory experiments logo

Trending Now

straight on shot of coffee cheesecake bar

Coffee Cheesecake Bars

stack of two jumbo chocolate chip muffins

Jumbo Chocolate Chip Muffins

angled shot of sugared grapes

Frosted Grapes (Sugared Grapes)

bite taken out of a coconut lime crinkle cookie

Coconut Key Lime Cookies {Video}

Footer

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact
  • About

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Exclusive Member of Mediavine Food.

Copyright © 2022 Best Dessert Recipes

↑ back to top

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.