This apple dump cake is a delicious, simple anytime dessert that everyone loves! Tender fruit and a rich, buttery crumb topping – queue the applause!
Four things that make this apple dump cake recipe fantastic: It’s easy to put together, quick to make, it’s absolutely delicious, and it only requires three ingredients. Yes — it’s pretty much the ideal dessert.
Apple Dump Cake is one of my main go-tos for dessert pronto because, well, I’ve always got the time, even when the world is pulling me in a million directions.
During the summer months, I love to make cherry pineapple dump cake, lemon dump cake, cherry dump cake, and peach dump cake. During the holiday season, my go-to dump cake is pumpkin dump cake! They’re all so quick and easy to put together and they’re always a huge hit at my family’s table.
I’m sure your family will love all of these versions as well. Get on the dump cakes bandwagon, my friends! You’ll never go back.
Let’s make this dump cake!!
What Is A Dump Cake?
Dump cake certainly doesn’t sound appetizing, but trust me, it is amazingly delicious and the concept is delightfully simple. Dump cake is a combination of cake mix, butter, and whatever filling you want to use. This can be fruit, chocolate, caramel, and or other ingredients that satisfy the flavor you’re hankering for.
The name “dump cake” comes from the method used to make the cake. In other words, you dump all of the ingredients into a single pan together. It winds up looking a bit like a cobbler once it’s baked and served, but it has that cake flavor and texture instead.
Apple Dump Cake Ingredients
- Apple Pie Filling
- Yellow Cake Mix
- Butter: Slicing the butter is the key to ensuring the perfect topping texture, and you really don’t want to cut any corners (literally) in evenly arranging the slices across the cake mix. Starting with a really cold stick of butter will help with the slicing.
- Some recipes suggest melting the butter first, but, while that takes a teeny bit of the prep time off my recipe, the results just aren’t as good. Pouring or drizzling isn’t the most precise technique in the first place, but I also find the butter separates a bit during the melting process, and you may find soggy little pockets that impact the texture of this cakey cobbler in a negative way.
Storing + Freezing + Make-Ahead
- Do you refrigerate Apple dump cake? According to food handling directions, this will store for about 2-3 days in the fridge. It’s best within two days.
- Can You Freeze This? Freezing apple dump cake isn’t hard. Just follow a few simple instructions, and it’ll turn out beautifully.
- Let the dump cake cool completely after baking. Any warmth creates condensation which will cause freezer burn.
- If possible, transfer the dump cake into a disposable aluminum container with a lid. Generally, a dump cake will hold up in the freezer for up to two months if it’s completely sealed and airtight. After this, the flavor and moisture will start to leach out.
- Make-Ahead Tips: Much like a cobbler, dump cake is going to be best fresh from the oven. But, since we all live in reality and have ten million things calling for our attention, it’s sometimes best to bake ahead.
- With dump cakes, you can bake and then freeze them for a later date, or you can bake them and let them chill in the fridge overnight. If you prefer it hot, turn the oven to the warming setting, and serve it up warm.
Variations
- Add pineapples: To make an Apple Pineapple Dump Cake, you just need to sprinkle a 20 oz can of drained, crushed pineapple over your apples before finishing the recipe.
- Add caramel: If you want to try a Caramel Apple Dump Cake (much less messy than those things on sticks), drizzle ¼ – ½ c. of your favorite caramel topping over the apples or about 1/3 cup of chopped caramels (the ones you use to MAKE those things on sticks).
- Add Spices: If you really want to kick up the whole “spice” thing a bit, you can still use a yellow cake mix but make it an apple spice dump cake by mixing 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of nutmeg, 1 teaspoon of allspice, and 1 tablespoon of sugar together in a bowl and sprinkling it over the pie filling.
- I also like to add 1 cup of chopped pecans on top of the cake mix if I’m making this version. Or simply use a spice cake mix to make apple dump cake with spice cake mix!
- Crockpot: If you’re oven’s too busy working on supper, you can bake this in your slow cooker.
- To make an apple dump cake crockpot version, put everything in the pot (following the same instructions as the recipe), and cook on low for about 4 hours or on high for 2-3.
- Everyone’s slow cooker is different, though, so I’d suggest starting to check it after about 1 and ½ hours. It just needs to feel set and have a nice golden brown crust with sugary, bubbly bits around the edges.
- Gluten-Free: If you need the option, you can make a gluten free apple dump cake easily by substituting the regular yellow cake mix for a gluten-free mix. You follow exactly the same process when making it.
- Pioneer Woman’s version: The Pioneer woman apple dump cake with pecans sprinkled on top makes a nice addition.
Serving Recommendations
Vanilla or vanilla bean ice cream is what you typically serve with apple dump cake, of course. Cinnamon-flavored ice cream is wonderful too (if you can find it) or make your own by mixing up a carton of vanilla ice cream with 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon per one cup of ice cream.
If you’re thinking beverages, try serving this cake with milk, black tea — a nice Irish Breakfast pairs perfectly with this one — or a dessert coffee like a Guatemalan roast from Antigua with vanilla or maple syrups blended in.
What Is The Difference Between A Cobbler And A Dump Cake?
They are both very similar. Dump cake is a combination of cake mix, butter, and whatever filling you want to use. A cobbler has the same type of filling but has a biscuit or cake like topping made from scratch.
More Apple Dessert Recipes
- Sour Cream Apple Pie (My favorite apple pie ever!!)
- Apple Pie
- Apple Cobbler
- Apple Coffee Cake
- Apple Bread
- Apple Crisp
Apple Dump Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 (20-ounce) cans apple pie filling
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 Sticks) butter cut into 24 thin slices
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Spray a 9 X 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Pour both cans of apple pie filling (2 (20-ounce) cans) into the prepared baking dish.
- Evenly spread cake mix (1 box) over the top of the filling and press down firmly. Arrange butter slices (24 slices) evenly over the cake mix.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until the top is deep golden brown and bubbly. Let set a few minutes and serve.
Fans Also Made:
Notes
- Butter: Slicing the butter is the key to ensuring the perfect topping texture, and you really don’t want to cut any corners (literally) in evenly arranging the slices across the cake mix. Starting with a really cold stick of butter will help with the slicing.
- Some recipes suggest melting the butter first, but, while that takes a teeny bit of the prep time off my recipe, the results just aren’t as good. Pouring or drizzling isn’t the most precise technique in the first place, but I also find the butter separates a bit during the melting process, and you may find soggy little pockets that impact the texture of this cakey cobbler in a negative way.
Easy to make and very delicious
Thank you, Patty! 🙂
I am certainly going to make this cake sounds delicious. Could you please send me the recipes for the pineapple, chocolate and strawberry dump cakes. I looked and cannot find them. They sound so delicious and would love to make them. Thank you so very much for providing such excellent recipes and the great pictures for us.
Thank you for all of your help.
Hi, Catherine. Here are the other dump cakes:
Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake
Peach Dump Cake
Thank you so much, I hope you love them all! 🙂
Very good
Thank you, Marcell!
chocolate cake mix pairs well with cherry or raspberry pie filling too. I have trouble with the butter mixing with the cake mix by your method so I melt the butter and mix it into the cake mix until it is crumbly (I usually only use 1/2 c. butter) and then dump & spread the crumbly mixture over the fruit. Works for me and I get a consistent product. Also a great way to use home canned pie fillings and have more choices of flavors than what is commercially available.
Hi Geni! Those sound like delicious combos! It’s so funny, I can’t get the melted butter to cover! I wish I could because I think my way takes more time, but its the only way for me to have the butter spread out well! LOL <3
I love this because it is so easy. I added cinnamon on top of the apple filling , and added crushed walnuts on top of the dry cake mix. I’ve taken it to many potlucks & everyone always loves it.
Hi Mary. Me too! Love your additions <3
How long should I cook it if I cut the recipe in half
Hey Molli, I’m not exactly sure because I’ve always made the full recipe. I’d check the dump cake about 10 minutes earlier than called for in the recipe just to be sure.
Do you have available a recipe I can make from scratch?
Hi Deborah. I’m sorry I don’t at this time. <3
I make this regularly. Lucky Leaf Brand is the best!Love the name of your blog!
Thanks so much for sharing! I love this dump cake too. So EASY and delicious <3