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I make this apple dump cake with fresh apples when I want all the warm, gooey comfort of apple pie and none of the work that comes with it. Chunks of tender cinnamon apples sit under a golden, buttery cake layer that goes a little crisp on top and stays soft and almost cobbler-like underneath. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel and you have one of the easiest fall desserts there is.
This is one of those classic fall desserts that makes my whole house smell incredible while it bakes. The cinnamon and apples and spice cake mix fill the kitchen with that cozy, can-we-eat-it-yet smell, and it pulls everyone in before the timer even goes off. I love that it tastes like I spent the afternoon baking when it really took me about ten minutes to throw together.
Here is what sets my version apart from most dump cakes out there. I use real, fresh Granny Smith apples instead of canned pie filling. That one choice is the whole difference. You get actual chunks of apple with real texture and a tartness that keeps the cake from tasting like sugar on sugar.
If you love an easy dump-and-bake dessert, I also have a pumpkin dump cake with spice cake mix and a peach dump cake that disappear just as fast at my house.
dump & bake
The Fall Dessert My Family Asks For Before the Leaves Even Turn
This is the first thing I want to bake the second the air starts to cool off. It is easy enough to make on a regular weeknight but feels special enough for company, and it has been on repeat in my kitchen every fall for years. The smell alone is worth making it.
The Ingredients That Matter
- Fresh Granny Smith apples: Use them tart and chop them coarsely, not thin. Larger pieces hold their texture as they bake and give you a real bite of apple instead of a soft, formless layer. This is the heart of the recipe, so do not swap in a soft, sweet apple here.
- Spice cake mix: This is a deliberate pick, not just any boxed mix. The warm spices in spice cake mix layer right on top of the cinnamon and nutmeg in the apples, so you get a deeply spiced cake without measuring out a single extra thing. Yellow cake mix works in a pinch, but you lose that built-in warmth.
- Melted butter: Melt it, do not slice it cold. Melted butter pours into every dry spot of cake mix and is the single best thing you can do to avoid a powdery top. More on that next.
How to Make Apple Dump Cake with Fresh Apples
Step 1: Prep the Pan and Oven Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. The spray matters here so the apples and cake do not stick to the bottom.
Step 2: Mix the Apples In a large bowl, toss the chopped apples with the white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until the apples are evenly coated.
Step 3: Add the Apples to the Dish Pour the apple mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer.
Step 4: Dump the Cake Mix Sprinkle the dry spice cake mix evenly over the top of the apples. Cover them as completely as you can. Do not stir it in.
Step 5: Pour the Butter Pour the melted butter evenly over the cake mix, then tilt the pan side to side so the butter reaches as much of the dry mix as possible. Again, do not stir.
Step 6: Bake Bake for 50 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the apples are bubbling underneath.
How to Store Apple Dump Cake
Cover any leftovers and keep them in the refrigerator. Warm apples and dairy should not sit out overnight, so refrigerate it once it has cooled. To serve again, reheat individual portions in the microwave for a few seconds or enjoy it cold.
More Easy Dump Cake and Apple Recipes
Apple Dump Cake with Fresh Apples
Ingredients
- 6 granny smith apples coarsely chopped (about 5 cups)
- ¼ cup white sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¾ tsp nutmeg
- pinch salt
- 1 package spice cake mix
- ¾ cup butter melted
- caramel sauce optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray
- In a large bowl mix apples, sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.6 granny smith apples, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, 3/4 tsp nutmeg, pinch salt
- Pour apple mixture into the baking dish.
- Sprinkle dry cake mix over the top of the apples.1 package spice cake mix
- Pour melted butter evenly over the cake mix. Do not stir.3/4 cup butter
- Bake 50 minutes, until golden brown.
- Optional – Drizzle with caramel sauce and top with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream.caramel sauce
Jenn’s Notes
Nutrition Info
This apple dump cake will definitely be at the top of your recipe book in no time!
DELICIOUS!!!
I used fresh apples from when we went apple picking last weekend – Granny Smith and Red Snap Dragon (only grown at this particular orchard.) I diced up the apples and folding in the other ingredients and let it sit covered for about a half hour before transferring to the glass baking dish. I did add a little more butter than suggested to make sure to cover all of the spice care on top. *I used a larger dish so it was necessary *
This recipe was not only super simple but it was so moist. anyone who said it was just okay or dry did something wrong. no need for apple pie filling if done right. I am sure letting the apple mixture sit out at room temperature for a little bit helped as well.
I will be making this again on Thanksgiving, thank you!!
Hi Nicole – thank you so much for the feedback! So glad you enjoyed it!
This question is for Nicole. I was just curious how much extra butter you used. Can’t wait to try this!
it’s OK. I cooked for 40 min and done. it was a little dry and it definitely needs a glaze. doesn’t taste like a donut. it’s a very dense cake.
I wonder if I could use a can of apple pie filling instead of fresh apples? Thats all I have atm
Hi Dana – Check out this version, it uses apple pie filling! https://princesspinkygirl.com/caramel-apple-dump-cake-recipe/