Apple season makes me so happy. If you love cooking with fresh apples like I do and want to expand your apple recipe box, be sure to check out our Caramel Apple Crisp Bites, Caramel Apple Pie Cookies and our Mini Apple Pie Bites! OMG, they are so good and super easy to make!
Apple Dump Cake
When I think of a great, classic dessert that no sane person can say no to, I instantly think of apple pie. Just imagine that warm gooey apple filling, crunchy crust, and a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream (vanilla, of course). Is your mouth watering yet?
But we all know the major downfall with making an apple pie… the time and energy that it takes. Sure, if you’re in baking mode and you want to spend some therapeutic time in your kitchen, then an apple pie is great. But, if you’re on the go and need to make something quick, it’s not ideal.
What is the easiest cake to make? Trust me when I tell you that it doesn’t get easier than this apple dump cake recipe. You get the same deliciousness of an apple pie, without the time and work that it requires. This apple dump cake is so easy to put together!
The best part is that it doesn’t require many ingredients, and when you read the words ‘dump cake’ it truly means it. You just have to dump it all together and bake. Simple as that.
Want to shake it up, you can make dump cakes in so many different flavors. You will love our Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake, Pumpkin Dump Cake, Cherry Dump Cake, Blueberry Dump Cake and our Peach Dump cake!
Read on to see just how easy this apple dump cake is to whip up. It will be your new favorite classic dessert recipe.
Easy Apple Dump Cake Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to put together your apple dump cake. I usually have most of the ingredients already in the pantry at home! Just remember to buy enough apples and a package of spice cake mix!
Alternatively, if you want to use apple pie mix, you will need to buy 2 cans of that instead of making your own apple mixture.
- 6 granny smith apples, coarsely chopped (about 5 cups)
- ¼ cup white sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¾ tsp nutmeg
- One pinch of salt
- 1 package of spice cake mix
- ¾ cup of butter, melted
- Caramel drizzle (optional)
How to make Apple Dump Cake with Fresh Apples
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Next, spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. (You can skip this step if you choose to cook in a crockpot, which I’ll explain below!)
- Mix: In a large bowl, mix together the apples, white and brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. After mixing together, pour the apple mixture into the already prepared baking dish.
- Dump: After you have the apple mixture in the dish, you will sprinkle the package of dry cake mix evenly over the top of the apples.
- Butter: Pour the melted butter evenly over the cake mix. Do not stir.
- Bake for 50 minutes, until the top of the cake is golden brown.
I like to serve this immediately so that it’s nice and warm out of the oven. You can serve it as is, or add a dollop of whipped cream, drizzled with caramel sauce, a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream with a sprinkle of cinnamon!
Some prefer to serve this dessert chilled. If you choose to do so, you should let it cool fully, by letting it sit on the counter, and then put it in the fridge to chill more.
Apple Dump Cake Recipe Substitutions
Apple Dump Cake With Apple Pie Filling
If you want to make this recipe even easier, you can substitute the apple mixture for an apple pie filling.
Personally, I love the texture and taste of freshly chopped apples, but if you find yourself in a time crunch and you still want to put together a delicious apple dessert, this is a great option!
Can I Make Apple Dump Cake in the Crock Pot?
You can most definitely make this dump cake in the crockpot! If you don’t have time to wait for it to bake, then using the crock pot can add another layer of ease.
To do so, you should follow the instructions above, but when it comes to baking, simply turn the crock pot on high, and let it your dump cake cook for about 2 hours.
How to Bake Apple Dump Cake with Fresh Apples
Baking your apple dump cake will depend on your decision to bake in the oven or slow cooker. If you choose to bake your dump cake in the oven, it typically takes about 50 minutes. Make sure to keep an eye on it and when the top begins to look golden brown you can take it out.
If you choose to cook the apple dump cake in the crock pot, you will set the crock pot to high, and let it cook for 2 hours. This is a great option if you want to set it and leave it for a bit longer, not having to worry about checking on it as often.
Apple Pie Dump Cake FAQs
When you’re done serving your dump cake (assuming there are leftovers) you will want to keep it refrigerated. When you want to serve again, you can reheat, or you can serve it cold!
Some prefer it that way. I am a sucker for warm apples and cool vanilla ice cream, so I tend to go for it warm, but I know others who swear it’s better chilled.
There you have it, the easiest and most delicious apple dessert! It really doesn’t get simpler than making dump cakes. Just throw it all together and bake, and in less than an hour, you have a warm, gooey, crunchy and sweet apple pie dessert.
The biggest mistake is overmixing the ingredients, as a dump cake is meant to have layers.
It’s not recommended; apple dump cake should be refrigerated to prevent spoilage.
No, it’s usually better to slice cold butter and distribute it evenly over the top for a crisper topping.
Dump cakes are designed to form layers as they bake, and mixing would disrupt this layered texture.
More Easy Dessert Recipes
- Blueberry Coffee Cake
- Cake Mix Cookies
- Funfetti Dip
- Peanut Butter Brownies
- Chocolate Lasagna
- S’mores Hand Pies
- S’mores Dip
- Chocolate Lasagna
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.
- Pour apple mixture into the baking dish.
- Sprinkle dry cake mix over the top of the apples.
- Pour melted butter evenly over the cake mix. Do not stir.
- Bake 50 minutes, until golden brown.
- Optional – Drizzle with caramel sauce and top with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream.
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!
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/