This Apple Dump Cake Recipe is one of the quickest and easiest desserts you can bake.
Made with apple pie filling, cake mix and melted butter, it bakes into a warm and comforting treat with hardly any prep time.
It’s perfect for busy days, last-minute guests, or whenever you need a simple sweet ending to a meal.
Check out my Apple Dessert Recipes collection for even more easy ideas.
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Recipe at a Glance
Prep: 5 min | Cook/Bake: 40–45 min | Difficulty: Easy
What it is: A quick apple dump cake made with canned apple pie filling, yellow cake mix, cinnamon, and melted butter that bakes into a warm, gooey dessert with a golden topping.
Why you’ll love it: This Easy Dessert is fast to assemble, perfect for last-minute guests, and always a crowd-pleaser when served warm with ice cream.
How to make it: Layer the apple pie filling in a baking dish, sprinkle the dry cake mix over the top, drizzle with melted butter, and bake until bubbly and golden.
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Table of Contents
- Recipe at a Glance
- Apple Dump Cake from Scratch
- Recommended Kitchen Tools
- My Kitchen Tools Essentials
- Ingredients You'll Need
- Substitutions and Variations
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- Insider Tips from My Kitchen to Yours
- Storage and Reheating Tips
- Looking for more Apple Desserts?
- LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
- 📖 Recipe Card
- Recipe FAQ's
- 💬 Comments
Apple Dump Cake from Scratch
Apple dump cake from scratch is easy to make with fresh apples, sugar, cinnamon, and a little thickener in place of canned pie filling.
Prepare the apple mixture on the stovetop, spread it in a baking dish, sprinkle the dry cake mix on top, and pour melted butter over everything. Bake until the topping is golden and the apples are tender.
Using a homemade filling gives the dessert a fresher flavor and more control over the sweetness. Try my Homemade Apple Pie Filling as a substitute for the canned filling.
Recommended Kitchen Tools
For a full list of kitchen tools used in this recipe, be sure to check the recipe card below. You can also browse my Favorite Kitchen Tools by clicking the photo below.
Check out my list...
My Kitchen Tools Essentials
Tools that will make your time easier and faster in the kitchen!
Ingredients You'll Need
Here's a quick overview of the ingredients for this recipe. Find the exact amounts and click the Instacart button to easily add them to your cart – all in the printable recipe card below!
Substitutions and Variations
- Pie Filling: Swap the apple pie filling with peach, cherry, or blueberry for a different flavor.
- Too Sweet? Stir in a small can of crushed pineapple to balance the sweetness.
- No Pecans? Use walnuts or leave the nuts out entirely.
- Spice Cake Substitute: If you don’t have yellow cake mix, use a spice cake mix for a warm, cozy flavor with extra cinnamon and spice.
Step-by-Step Instructions
This section includes step-by-step photos and instructions to guide you through the recipe. For the complete printable version, scroll down to the recipe card below.
Step 1: Layer the two cans of apple pie filling in the bottom of a 9X11 baking dish that's been sprayed with non-stick baking spray. Then stir in the cinnamon.
Step 2: Open the bag of yellow cake mix and sprinkle on top of the apples. Then add the brown sugar and chopped pecans.
Step 3: The final step is to top the ingredients with the melted butter which helps make the crumble topping even more delicious.
Step 4: Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 45 minutes or until the top is nicely browned and the cake is bubbling.
Step 5: Serve warm from the oven, but let it cool slightly so a scoop of vanilla ice cream or fresh made whipped cream. won’t melt too quickly.
Insider Tips from My Kitchen to Yours
✔️ DO drizzle the melted butter as evenly as possible and check halfway through baking to break up any dry clumps so the topping browns evenly.
❌ DO NOT stir the layers together; dump cakes bake best when the ingredients stay in separate layers.
Storage and Reheating Tips
Refrigerator: Any leftovers should be covered and stored in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Freezer: You can also freeze any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Thawing: Allow the dessert to thaw in the refrigerator the night before you want to serve it.
Reheating: You can easily reheat in a preheated 350° F oven until warmed through. Or simply use your microwave for a few seconds at a time until it is warmed through.
Looking for more Apple Desserts?
Looking for more Easy Desserts and Dump Cake Recipes? Try my Cinnamon Toast Crunch Dump Cake or my Air Fryer Peach Dump Cake...yum!
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📖 Recipe Card
Apple Dump Cake
Video
Ingredients
- 2 - 21 ounces apple pie filling
- 13.25 ounce yellow cake mix
- ½ cup butter melted
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- In a 9X11 baking dish, that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, add the two cans of apple pie filling.
- Sprinkle Cinnamon over the apple pie filling.
- Next, sprinkle the cake mix on top.
- Add the brown sugar to the top.
- Then add the chopped pecans to the top.
- Finally, pour the melted butter over the entire top of the cake.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until the edges are hot and bubbly.
Nutrition
Notes
Tips
- Let the dump cake cool slightly before serving so you can add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream without it melting too quickly.
- Spread the dry cake mix evenly over the apples to prevent dry patches or thick mounds on top
- If you notice clumps forming while it bakes, break them up with a fork and drizzle a little extra melted butter over the top before returning the cake to the oven.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!
Recipe FAQ's
To view the answers, simply click on the down arrow (⬇) next to each question. If you have any other questions not answered here, please leave a comment!
Most dump cakes, including this apple version, bake at 350°F. This temperature allows the fruit filling to bubble while the cake topping turns golden without overbrowning.
To make apple dump cake with fresh apples, cook sliced apples with sugar, cinnamon, and a little thickener until softened, then spread them in the baking dish. Top with dry cake mix, drizzle with melted butter, and bake as directed.
Yes, you can bake dump cake ahead of time and reheat it before serving. Store it covered in the refrigerator, then warm it in the oven until heated through. For the best texture, add ice cream or whipped cream just before serving.
This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2018 with new photos, information and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!
Janice Stevenson says
OMG!!! This turned out SOOOOOOO good! My only twist to the recipe was I put a teaspoon of Vanilla in the peach juice. I also mixed a 1/4 cup of light brown sugar with 1/2 cup of mashed up cereal that I sprinkled for a topping with cinnamon lightly dusted over the topping.
Jenny says
This would be perfect with a hot cup of coffee. What an easy recipe to make. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday.
Paula Adams says
Mine was still mostly dry cake mix, so I stirred it all together and baked it another 5 minutes. I've had this another with eggs in it that was very good.
Lois says
I'm glad you were able to make the recipe work for you. Thanks for visiting!
Jim Smith says
This tastes wonderful. I followed your directions to the T. The only issue I have is that in my case a lot of the cake mix was still powdery and dry. Is this supposed to happen? Do you have a fix? Jim
Lois says
Next time you make the recipe, pull the cake out of the oven at about halfway through baking and using a fork, break up any lumps of cake mix that are forming during the baking. That should help next time. Thanks for the feedback Jim!
happy wheels says
This is also a very good post which I really enjoy reading
Lois says
Thank you!
HDJ says
This was a delicious recipe. The only thing is the cook time was 45 minutes not 20 or 30.
Lois says
Oh wow, that's a huge difference. I'm glad you were able to gauge the baking time accordingly to your oven. Thank you for sharing this. I'm going to make a note and check next time I bake this recipe. It's always been ready in 25 minutes for me. 🙂
Christine says
I'm at 35 minutes with barely any cooking done. I added more butter and will put it back in for 10 more minutes now that I know it could take longer.
Lois says
Recipe card has been updated to show new cooking time. Thanks!
Carol says
Lois, This cake looks so easy and quick, my kind of baking! You're one of my features tonight at SYS! Please come back and join our party again!
Lois says
Thank you for visiting and for featuring my recipe!
Edye says
LOOKS SO YUMMY!!! Thanks for sharing the recipe 🙂
Lois says
Thank you!!!
phyllis says
can you use fresh apples if so how would you do it
Lois says
I have never made this with fresh apples, so I wouldn't be able to give you instructions. Thank you for visiting!
Linda on Poinsettia Drive says
Yum. Hi, love your post. I have a new blog party and would like to invite you to come share this on the CLASSY FLAMINGOS BLOG PARTY held each Tuesday evening thru Friday. You'll get large picture exposure and shout outs on all of my social media sites. You may get PINKED and you'll get even more exposure! I hope you'll come by. poinsettiadr.com
Healing Tomato says
This is my new favorite way to eat apples. This cake looks so delicious.