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Apple Dump Cake

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Made with just a handful of pantry staples, this Apple Dump Cake may just become your new easy go-to dessert recipe! 

Two shallow bowls filled with apple dump cake topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce

Do you ever have those days when you’re craving a sweet, cozy dessert, but you pretty much have zero desire to make anything?

Ha! Me too!

This Easy Apple Dump Cake is going to become one of your new favorites. If you have just a handful of ingredients and 5 minutes to prep it, you’ll be enjoying this sweet fall inspired treat in no time.

If you’re feeling just a little extra, add a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and a drizzle of salted caramel sauce for some caramel apple vibes.

Spoon about to scoop a slice of apple dump cake out of the pan

EASY APPLE DUMP CAKE

A few months ago, I shared a recipe for Easy Peach Cobbler. Aside from my Pumpkin Crunch Cake recipe, I hadn’t played around with making dump cakes much before that.

Maybe it’s because I hate the name dump cake. I don’t know why I had a mental block toward these recipes because it turns out that they’re pretty awesome.

Ingredients for apple dump cake arranged on a gray counter

For one, they take just a handful of ingredients. Most of which I keep on hand.

For two, they take maaaaybe 5 minutes to prep before they go in the oven. 

For three, they’re pretty easy to tweak for whatever flavors you want or season you’re in. 

Like this apple version – apples and pecans scream fall to me, and this is an even easier fall dessert than my Caramel Apple Poke Cake. Because sometimes you just need an easy, no-brainer fall dessert, ok??

Spatula spreading apple pie filling into a white cake pan

DUMP CAKE INGREDIENTS

Most dump cake recipes use just a handful of basic ingredients:

  • Canned fruit in syrup or pie filling
  • Cake mix
  • Butter
hand pouring melted butter from a bowl on top of cake mix for apple dump cake

Depending on what flavor you want your cake to be, you can switch up the fruit or pie filling or the cake mix or add extra ingredients.

For this apple version, I used apple pie filling and added apple pie spice and pecans.

Overhead view of baked apple dump cake in a white cake pan

I always have a couple boxes of cake mix on hand, but you could make this with a homemade cake mix if you prefer! If you have some homemade apple pie filling on hand you could use it, but I think the canned stuff is just as good in this recipe.

After all, the point of this kind of dessert is to dump it all together and have a cake that’s ready to bake in just a few minutes.

Close up of plated apple dump cake topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce

HOW TO MAKE APPLE DUMP CAKE

You’ve probably picked up by now how this process is going to go, but let’s review how to make this Apple Dump Cake:

  1. Pour the apple pie filling into a 13×9-inch cake pan and stir in half of the apple pie spice.
  2. Sprinkle the cake mix on top, followed by the rest of the apple pie spice and the chopped pecans.
  3. Pour melted butter on top.
  4. Bake!

THAT’S IT. That’s the recipe.

It’s so easy anyone could make this cake. If you have a kid who is just getting started in the kitchen, cake mix recipes like this one and my Ridiculously Simple Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are great for them to make completely on their own. (With you helping them with the oven, of course!)

But really, it doesn’t matter if your kid is making this or if you’re making it yourself, this is an easy recipe you’re for sure going to want to make again!

Hand pouring caramel sauce over plated apple dump cake topped with ice cream
Slice of apple dump cake on a plate topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce

Apple Dump Cake

Yield: 8-10 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

Made with just a handful of pantry staples, this Apple Dump Cake may just become your new easy go-to dessert recipe! 

Ingredients

  • 2 (21-ounce) cans apple pie filling
  • 1 teaspoon apple pie spice, divided use
  • 1 (15.25-ounce) French vanilla or yellow cake mix
  • ½ cup chopped pecans, optional
  • ¾ cup salted butter, melted

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Spread apple pie filling evenly in bottom of prepared pan. Sprinkle apple pie filling with ½ teaspoon apple pie spice and mix to combine.
  3. Evenly distribute the dry cake mix over the apple pie filling. Sprinkle the remaining ½ teaspoon apple pie spice over the dry cake mix. If you are using pecans, sprinkle them evenly over the dry cake mix as well.
  4. Pour melted butter over top, tilting pan to cover as much of the top with butter as possible.
  5. Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until light golden brown, mostly dry on top and bubbly around edges.
  6. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.

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Nutrition Information
Yield 10
Amount Per Serving Calories 377Total Fat 20gSaturated Fat 10gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 8gCholesterol 37mgSodium 501mgCarbohydrates 49gFiber 1gSugar 27gProtein 3g

Did you make this recipe?

Tag me on social! I want to see what you made! @jamiemba

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Kristina Corra

Thursday 1st of June 2023

Didn't have Apple pie spice but I added a little bit of Nutmeg and cinnamon then topped it with zero sugar yellow cake mix and uses a whole stick of butter melted and didn't add walnuts my kiddos don't like them. But this is quick and easy to make. Will be making it again.

Jamie

Friday 2nd of June 2023

So glad you enjoyed, Kristina! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your feedback. Happy baking! Jamie

Cynthia Hanson

Saturday 12th of November 2022

Do you cover to bake?

Jamie

Wednesday 16th of November 2022

Hi there - No, no need to cover. Happy baking! Jamie

Sarah G

Saturday 10th of September 2022

FIVE STARS. Oh my goodness. So easy and so delicious! I double my spices for all my apple desserts and it definitely did not let me down for this one. SO tasty!

Jamie

Tuesday 13th of September 2022

So glad you enjoyed this cake, Sarah! Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your feedback. Happy baking! Jamie

John

Monday 25th of July 2022

This is delicious!I sprinkled a 1/2c of dark brown sugar on the top before adding the butter.I substituted walnuts for pecans.

Jamie

Monday 25th of July 2022

I love those tweaks! Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your feedback, John! Happy baking – Jamie

Jo Ann

Thursday 14th of April 2022

I’m going to try this cake this weekend! Can I add your crumb recipe on top before putting this in the oven?

Jamie

Monday 18th of April 2022

Hello! I haven't attempted this recipe with this addition, so I am not sure of the result, but imagine it would be fine. If you happen to give it a try, I'd love to know how it turned out. Thanks so much for stopping by. -Jamie

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