The Easiest Apple Pie Dump Cake

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Tender apples, warm apple pie spice and a buttery cake mix topping make this Fall flavored treat a fast favorite. With just 4 ingredients from your pantry and fridge, this is the Easiest Apple Pie Dump Cake recipe!

apple dump cake on white plate with whipped cream

You know I love a classic from-scratch dessert. (Grandma's Apple Cake with Cinnamon Crackle Glaze, I'm looking at you with all of the heart eye emojis 😍.) BUT. If you are looking for a crowd pleasing dessert with minimal prep time and BIG Fall flavor, then look no further than this shortcut apple pie filling dump cake!

Ingredients

This dump cake could not get any easier and starts with a few simple ingredients from your pantry and fridge:

apple pie filling - already spiced and tender, use a 20 ounce can
yellow cake mix - you can use butter, white, or even spice cake mix if you don't have yellow
apple pie spice - substitute cinnamon or even pumpkin pie spice if you don't have apple pie spice
butter - I prefer unsalted butter for baking but if you only have salted butter it will work fine

Want more cake mix recipes? Try these Funfetti Cookie Bars, Chocolate Peppermint Cake Mix Cookies, or my favorite Birthday Cake Dip!

Step by step

Spoon the apple pie filling into the dish.
Mix together apple pie spice and yellow cake mix.
Sprinkle the cake mix in an even layer over the apple pie filling.
Pour melted butter over the cake mix, making sure to cover as much as you can.
Bake for 40 minutes and serve warm!

Tips for best results

Make sure you cover the top of the cake mix as completely as possible with the melted butter. I use the back of a spoon to push the melted butter over any dry spots. You can also add extra pats of butter to the dry areas so they melt as the dump cake bakes.
Check the topping at the 30 minute mark for doneness, you want it golden brown and cooked through. It should be crisp, not goopy.
Double this recipe for a 9 by 13 baking dish.

Variations

add in chopped walnuts
use different cake mix: spice, butter, white
add caramel morsels to the apple pie filling
add peanut butter chips to the pie filling

Serving Suggestions

serve warm with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream
drizzle with caramel sauce

FAQs

Can I make dump cake with fresh apples?

You certainly can opt for fresh apples instead of the apple pie filling if you choose. The final result won't be exactly the same but it will be delicious nonetheless. Use 3 medium finely chopped apples tossed with ¼ cup sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon in place of the apple pie filling.

Does dump cake need to be refrigerated?

You can keep leftovers at room temperature for a day or so but they will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Either way, keep in an airtight container or wrap with plastic wrap.

Can you freeze apple dump cake?

Yes! Allow to cool complete then wrap tightly in plastic wrap. It will keep up to three months in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the microwave or oven.

Can I make this recipe with other fruit fillings?

Yes, you can experiment and make dump cake with cherry, peach, strawberry, or blueberry pie fillings. (Those are the varieties my grocery store carries but if yours has others, bake away!)

Can I use other cake mixes?

I tend to opt for yellow cake mix or butter cake mix for my dump cakes but you can really get creative with the flavors. The essential recipe is the same but if you opt for something like a spice cake I would leave out the apple pie spice.

You. might also like to try my lemon lime dump cake, fruit cocktail dump cake, or classic cherry pineapple dump cake!

If you try this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you.