Description
This 3-Ingredient Apple Dump Cake is the ultimate easy dessert for busy weeknights, holiday gatherings, and cozy fall evenings. Made with just apple pie filling, yellow cake mix, and butter, this classic dump cake creates a warm, gooey apple base topped with a buttery, golden crust that tastes like a cross between apple cobbler and crisp. With almost no prep work and no mixing required, it’s one of the simplest desserts you’ll ever make.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 (21-ounce) can apple pie filling
- 1 box (15.25–18.25-ounce) yellow cake mix, dry
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
(or ¾–1 cup cold butter, thinly sliced)
Optional Add-Ins:
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Optional Toppings:
- Vanilla ice cream
- Whipped cream
- Caramel sauce
- Extra cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Add the Apple Filling
- Spread the apple pie filling evenly across the bottom of the baking dish.
- Add the Cake Mix
- Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix evenly over the apple filling.
- Do not stir.
- Add Butter
- Drizzle melted butter evenly over the cake mix.
- Alternatively, place thin slices of cold butter across the surface, covering as much of the cake mix as possible.
- Bake
- Bake for 35–45 minutes until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling around the edges.
- Cool and Serve
- Allow the cake to cool for 5–10 minutes before serving.
- Serve warm with ice cream, whipped cream, or caramel sauce if desired.
Notes
Pro Tips:
- Using thin slices of cold butter often creates a crispier, more evenly browned topping.
- Cover the cake mix completely with butter to avoid dry patches.
- Sprinkle cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice over the cake mix for extra fall flavor.
- Let the cake rest for a few minutes after baking so the filling can thicken slightly.
Easy Variations:
- Apple Cinnamon Dump Cake: Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon nutmeg.
- Caramel Apple Version: Drizzle caramel sauce over the apple filling before adding the cake mix.
- Apple Pecan Dump Cake: Sprinkle chopped pecans over the cake mix before baking.
- Fresh Apple Dump Cake: Use homemade apple pie filling made with fresh apples.
- Mixed Fruit Version: Substitute apple pie filling with peach, cherry, or blueberry pie filling.
- Gluten-Free: Use a gluten-free yellow cake mix.
Storage:
- Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days.
- Freeze for up to 2 months in an airtight container.
- Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 30–45 seconds.
Serving Suggestions:
Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce. Pair with coffee, hot cider, or chai tea for the ultimate cozy dessert experience.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 35–45 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 10–12 servings
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 25–30g
- Fat: 12g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
Keywords: 3-Ingredient Apple Dump Cake