This easy baked apple dump cake recipe is a simple dessert made with two cans of apple pie filling, one box of yellow cake mix, and one cup of butter. Spread the ingredients into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, bake at 350°F for 45–55 minutes, and let it stand for 10–15 minutes before serving.
The result is a warm, buttery apple dessert with tender cinnamon-spiced fruit and a golden cake topping that tastes like a shortcut version of apple cobbler. Serve it with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for a comforting treat that is perfect for weeknight dinners, holidays, potlucks, and last-minute guests.
Jump to RecipeWhy You’ll Love This Recipe
This apple dump cake earns its name from the easy assembly: the ingredients are layered directly in the baking dish, with no mixing bowl required. It is especially useful when you want a homemade-tasting dessert without peeling, coring, and slicing a large pile of apples.
The texture is wonderfully contrasting. The canned apple pie filling becomes hot, glossy, and tender while the cake mix and butter form a golden topping with crisp edges and soft, crumbly pieces throughout.
It also makes enough for a gathering, yielding about 12 servings from one 9-by-13-inch pan. Because the preparation takes only about 5–10 minutes, you can assemble it while dinner cooks or just before guests arrive.
If you enjoy fruit-forward desserts, our easy peach cake is another delicious choice for your baking list.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The recipe uses a short shopping list, but each ingredient has an important job. The apple pie filling provides the fruit, sweetness, seasoning, and moisture needed to soften the cake topping as it bakes.
- Apple pie filling: Use two cans that are each 20–21 ounces. Choose apple pie filling instead of plain canned apples, since plain apples will not provide the same sweetness or saucy moisture.
- Yellow cake mix: One box of about 15.25 ounces creates the buttery crumb topping. Sprinkle it straight from the box and keep it dry until the butter is added.
- Unsalted butter: One cup, or two sticks, should be cut into thin slices or small pieces. Thin pieces are easier to distribute over the whole surface.
- Ground cinnamon: One teaspoon is optional, but it adds a familiar warm spice that pairs naturally with baked apples.
- Chopped nuts: Add ½ cup of pecans or walnuts if you like a little crunch. Either choice works well with the soft apples and crisp topping.
For another apple-inspired treat with a crisp, hand-held finish, take a look at these apple pie egg rolls.
How to Make It Step-by-Step
Step 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, then set it on a foil-lined sheet pan if you want to protect the oven from any bubbling fruit filling.
Step 2: Open both cans of apple pie filling and spread them evenly over the bottom of the dish. Smooth the apples toward the corners so the fruit layer is fairly level, then sprinkle the ground cinnamon over the top if you are using it.
Step 3: Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix over the apples in an even layer. Resist the temptation to stir, because mixing the layers can create uneven pockets and prevent the cake mix from forming a proper topping.
Step 4: Cut the two sticks of unsalted butter into thin slices or small pieces. Arrange them across the entire cake-mix surface, paying special attention to dry-looking areas near the edges and corners.
Step 5: Scatter the chopped pecans or walnuts over the butter and cake mix if desired. The nuts toast as the dessert bakes and add a pleasant contrast to the tender apple filling.
Step 6: Bake the dump cake for 45–55 minutes. It is ready when the top is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling around the edges, with no large areas of loose, pale cake mix.
Step 7: Remove the dish from the oven and let it stand for 10–15 minutes. This brief rest allows the bubbling filling to settle and makes each serving easier to scoop while keeping the dessert warm.
Pro Tips for a Golden, Buttery Topping
The most important detail is butter coverage. A few large chunks may melt unevenly, leaving exposed patches of dry cake mix, so thin slices or small pieces arranged across the entire surface produce a more consistent result.
Try to spread the cake mix all the way into the corners before adding the butter. If you notice a small dry patch during baking, do not stir the dessert; the butter may still melt into it as the cake continues to bake.
A foil-lined sheet pan underneath the baking dish is a practical safeguard. Apple filling can bubble as it heats, and catching an occasional drip is much easier than cleaning the bottom of the oven.
Let the dessert rest before scooping, but do not wait too long if you want the best contrast between warm apples and a crisp topping. A 10–15 minute rest is enough to settle the filling while keeping it pleasantly hot.
For a different fruit dessert with a bright, colorful finish, you may also enjoy this strawberry cake recipe.
Serving Suggestions
Apple dump cake is at its best when served warm. Spoon it into bowls and add a scoop of vanilla ice cream so the cold, creamy ice cream melts into the cinnamon apples and buttery topping.
Whipped cream is another classic choice, especially if you prefer a lighter topping. A small dusting of cinnamon or a few extra toasted nuts can finish each serving without adding much work.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
- Add whipped cream for a soft, airy topping.
- Sprinkle individual portions with extra chopped pecans or walnuts.
- Offer small servings for a buffet dessert, since the recipe yields about 12 portions.
Although this is a dessert recipe, planning a complete meal around it is easy. If you are collecting simple dinner ideas before baking, our easy salmon pasta makes a satisfying main course.
Storage and Reheating
Cool leftover apple dump cake, cover the baking dish, and refrigerate it. The fruit filling will remain soft and flavorful, while the topping may lose some of its first-day crispness after chilling.
To reheat, warm individual portions gently until heated through. You can also warm a larger amount in the baking dish, watching closely so the edges do not become too dark.
For the best serving experience, add ice cream or whipped cream after reheating rather than before. This keeps the topping cool and creamy while the apple cake stays warm.
Easy Variations to Try
The standard yellow cake mix gives this recipe its classic buttery flavor, but a spice cake mix can be used instead for a deeper cinnamon-forward dessert. Keep the same two cans of apple pie filling and one cup of butter when making that swap.
Nuts are completely optional, so leave them out if you are serving someone with an allergy or prefer a smoother topping. Pecans provide a rich, buttery crunch, while walnuts bring a slightly more earthy flavor.
Cinnamon is also optional because canned apple pie filling is already seasoned. Still, the extra teaspoon gives the dessert a stronger bakery-style aroma and makes the apples taste especially cozy in cooler weather.
Easy Baked Apple Dump Cake
Ingredients
Method
- Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. For easy cleanup and extra insurance against bubbling filling, place the dish on a foil-lined sheet pan.
- Spread both cans of apple pie filling evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the cinnamon over the apples if using.
- Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix evenly over the apple pie filling. Do not stir the cake mix into the apples, because the dry layer needs to bake into the topping.
- Arrange the thin butter slices or small butter pieces across the entire surface of the cake mix. Add the chopped pecans or walnuts if desired.
- Bake for 45–55 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling around the edges. Let the dessert stand for 10–15 minutes before serving.
Notes
Final Thoughts
This easy baked apple dump cake is proof that a short ingredient list can produce a memorable dessert. With canned apple pie filling, dry yellow cake mix, and carefully distributed butter, you get bubbling apples and a golden topping with almost no preparation.
Remember the key details: use a 9-by-13-inch dish, bake at 350°F for 45–55 minutes, cover the cake-mix surface with butter, and rest the cake for 10–15 minutes before serving. Add cinnamon and nuts if you like, then finish each warm portion with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
It is an inviting recipe for busy nights, fall celebrations, family dinners, and casual entertaining. Once you try it, this dependable apple dessert is likely to become one of the easiest treats you reach for whenever a comforting homemade finish is called for.