Apple Pie Dump Cake is made with apple pie filling, spice cake mix and a stick of butter. This easy recipe is the perfect dessert for fall. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce, and your entire family will thank you!
Jump to:
So what's a dump cake? A dump cake uses canned fruit for the filling and cake mix for the topping. Sounds odd, but this combination works!
Apple pie filling dump cake is delicious fall dessert that's basically a mix of baked cinnamon apples under a crumb topping.
This easy apple dessert is a cross between an apple crisp and apple cobbler and much easier to make than homemade apple pie.
My family loves my homemade apple crisp and baked chocolate caramel apples. Homemade desserts are best, but this easy recipe is perfect when you have the urge to bake but don't have fresh apples or the time to make a completely homemade dessert. We all have days like that!
Apple Pie Filling Dump Cake Ingredients
You only need 3 simple ingredients to make this easy apple dump cake recipe. You can find them in your local grocery stores or online if you don't already have these pantry staples at home.
- Apple pie filling -- you'll need 2 cans
- Spice cake mix -- Use yellow cake mix if you can't find spice cake, plus apple pie spice for added flavor
- Butter -- unsalted butter or salted butter cut into thin slices
It's totally optional, but I usually throw in some ground cinnamon for extra flavor. I add cinnamon to all my apple desserts because I just love the stuff!
If you're not a fan of cinnamon, leave it out. It really depends upon the can of apple pie filling you have and how much spice it has.
How to Make Apple Dump Cake with Pie Filling
The first step is to preheat the oven and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. You can use butter or non-stick cooking spray here.
Next, spoon the cans of apple pie filling into the baking dish. Spread the apples out so that they cover the bottom of the casserole dish.
If you're adding cinnamon, sprinkle some over the canned apple pie filling.
Then, sprinkle the dry cake mix on top of the pie filling. Use a knife or spoon to spread the cake mix evenly over the pie filling.
You want the cake mix to be as even as possible. I usually press the cake mix down lightly into the filling.
This helps to ensure you don't have clumps of cake mix after baking.
Finally, place the pats of butter in rows on top of the cake mix. As the butter melts, it turns the dry cake mix into a crispy crust. You can use melted butter if you prefer -- I think it's easier to slice the butter up.
I used 1 ½ sticks of butter for this apple dump cake. You can use 2 sticks if you feel you need more butter to cover the top.
It's perfectly fine if your pats of butter aren't exactly even. Mine usually aren't perfect!
Cooking Time
This delicious dessert takes 45 to 50 minutes to bake. It's done when the apple filling is bubbling and the crust is golden brown.
If you're using spice cake mix, the topping will be darker than if you're using yellow or white cake mix.
The exact baking time depends on your oven. When, the apple cake is ready, remove it from the oven, and allow it to cool down a little before serving.
Variations
There are so many ways to change up this delicious apple dump cake recipe. Use butter pecan cake mix and chopped pecans instead of spiced cake.
Make it a caramel apple dump cake recipe by adding caramel bits or drizzling caramel syrup over the apples before you add the cake mix. You can also spoon some brown sugar over the apples if you don't have caramel syrup.
Dump cake recipes are very versatile! Vary the fruit filling and cake mix flavors to make pumpkin dump cake, cherry dump cake, peach dump cake, strawberry dump cake, lemon dump cake or blueberry dump cake.
How to Store a Dump Cake
Store leftover apple dump cake in an airtight container.
Does apple dump cake need to be refrigerated? You can leave it on your counter at room temperature if you plan on finishing it within a day or 2.
At my house, this delicious dessert is gone in a day! For longer storage, keep it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Eat it cold or reheat in a warm oven to keep the topping crisp.
Helpful Tips
Use 2 cans of pie filling for a 9x13 baking dish. 1 can isn't enough. If you only have 1 can, use half of the dry cake mix and bake in a smaller dish.
If you are using yellow cake mix, you may want to add cinnamon and apple pie spice to the filling for extra flavor.
Do not mix the ingredients together. Keep the layers separate.
Use enough butter to cover the cake mix layer. This is about a stick and a half of butter for a large baking dish and 1 stick for a smaller dish.
More Apple Desserts
If you love apple dessert recipes, try my crescent roll apple dumplings, apple crisp, caramel apple nachos, slow cooker apple cobbler, skillet apple pie and check out even amore easy dessert recipes.
Recipe
Apple Pie Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cans apple pie filling
- 1 box spice cake mix
- 1½ sticks butter cut into thin slices
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Grease a 9x13 baking dish with butter or non-stick spray
- Spoon apple pie filling into the baking dish, and spread evenly with spatula. Sprinkle cinnamon over pie filling, if using
- Sprinkle dry cake mix over pie filling, and spread with a spatula or knife so that it covers the apple filling
- Place pats of butter in neat rows over cake mix, and bake uncovered for 45 to 50 minutes or until top is golden brown and filling is hot and bubbly
Notes
Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.
Nutrition
I hope you enjoy this delicious apple dessert as much as we do! It's a great recipe to serve with any family meal or bring to a potluck! Just don't forget the scoop of ice cream on top!
You can find more cake mix recipes by browsing the recipes on the blog.
For more delicious desserts and other easy recipes, be sure to sign up for the weekly newsletter!
Recipe first published in 2021 and updated in 2023.
Betty says
Hi I part of a too snack cake that I want to turn into some type of apple crumble. I also want to use real apples. I’m planning on using a food processor to break up the cake. Will it work if I add butter and if so should it be melted? Any tips would be appreciated
Dee says
I have never tried this, so I can't say for sure how it would turn out. It sounds more like an easy apple crisp. I wouldn't melt the butter, just mix it in with cake topping and bake.
Perri says
Wow I got super excited for fall and made this even though it is still really hot here! This was so delicious and easy, will definitely make it again when it actually is fall!
Carolyn says
I haven't tries.this recipe yet but plan to today. The thing is, today's outside temperature will be 106°. Do you think this will work in a crockpot? I've made similar desserts in the crockpot and they were great. Just a thought. Have a great day.
Dee says
Hi Carolyn, So sorry for the late response, but you can definitely make a dump cake in the crockpot. See my slow cooker slow cooker apple cobbler recipe for the instructions. 🙂
Grace says
Loved the change in flavor! Added more cinnamon! Love that stuff! The best dump cake yet!
Cynthia says
OMG!! AMAZING 😍 I mixed the apple pie filling with cinnamon sugar, poured into pan and topped with a little more cinnamon (what the heck 😁) proceeded with recipe as listed....my house smelled like heaven! And it tastes soooooo good!
Jennifer Higgins says
Do you use the whole box of cake mix? I tried another dump cake recipe, and the cake came out dry and powdery tasting. I followed the directions, but thought maybe I wasn't supposed to use the whole box...? Thank you!
Dee says
You use the whole box, and arrange the butter so that it covers the cake mix. This prevents dry spots when the cake bakes. Hope this helps. 🙂
Saumra Peaster says
I made this recipe this evening to serve to supper company and it was a great success! Super easy and super delicious!
I sprinkled cinnamon on top of the pie filling and used the suggestion of drizzling caramel sauce over the pie filling as well…
Perfect! I will definitely be making it again!
Sandy says
I just tried this yesterday and it turned out wonderful. I only had 1 can of fruit so I prepared some apples I had and dumped brown sugar and cinnamon in them to cook .
Added all together and turned out really good and tasty
Dee says
Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the apple cake!
Shari says
Can you use fresh apples?
Dee says
Yes, you can use fresh apples. You would need to season them to get the same flavor, though.
Sally says
How much apple pie spice would you suggest? I want to make this for a family gathering. Thank you!
Dee says
I haven't tried using apple pie spice, but I would guess a teaspoon or more if you want a stronger flavor. You can taste the filling before baking to see if the flavor is right. 🙂
Karin Johnson says
This was an incredibly easy dessert! I had all the ingredients on hand plus I added about 3/4 of a cup of pecans on top. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream:)
Dee says
So glad you liked it, Karin! Thanks!
Matt says
Wow! How easy and delicious. Going to be making this a lot!
Lori says
Oh boy, this Apple Pie Dump Cake was terrific! I can't believe it was so easy and I had everything I needed in my pantry. It tasted amaazing!
Becca says
WOW! What an incredible dessert for fall! No one could believe I used a cake mix!
Megan says
I made this Apple Pie Dump Cake for the family this weekend, and it was a huge hit in my house!
Christie says
Apple desserts are my favorite! This dump cake is so easy and everyone loved it!
Sandra says
I love how easy this is! Perfect dessert for my family!
patricia says
What a great treat! I've never met a dessert with apples I didn't like 😉 This is so easy to make, too!
Dee says
Thank you so much, Patricia! I'm glad you liked it!