When autumn arrives and the fresh crisp air settles in, nothing fills your home with comforting warmth quite like the irresistible smell of sweet apples and cinnamon baking in the oven. But on busy weeknights or packed holiday weekends, who has the time to roll out homemade pie crusts? Enter this incredible Apple Cinnamon Dump Cake.
This classic, low-effort dessert combines juicy tender apples, warm fall spices, rich melted butter, and a golden yellow cake mix to create pure comfort food bliss. You simply layer the ingredients directly into your baking dish—no mixing bowls required! Whether you are preparing a quick sweet treat for a family Sunday dinner or hosting a cozy Thanksgiving gathering, this easy apple cinnamon dump cake delivers all the warm, comforting flavors of traditional apple pie with less than five minutes of prep work.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe :
- Ultra Easy 4-Ingredient Prep: Just dump, slice butter, and bake—no extra bowls, whisking, or mess.
- Tastes Like Classic Apple Pie: Loaded with juicy spiced apples and a crispy, buttery crust that rivals traditional baked pies.
- Budget & Family Friendly: Made with simple, inexpensive pantry staples that feed a crowd easily.
- Perfect Fall Comfort Food: Serves warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate cozy autumn treat.
- Crowd-Pleasing Favorite: A guaranteed hit at potlucks, weeknight family dinners, and holiday gatherings alike.
Ingrédients :
- 2 cans (21 oz each) apple pie filling (or homemade spiced apple filling)
- 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix or spice cake mix
- 3/4 cup (1.5 sticks) unsalted butter, sliced into thin squares
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon (plus extra for sprinkling on top)
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg (optional, for extra warm spice)
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional, for crunchy topping)
- Vanilla ice cream or caramel sauce, for serving
Instructions étape par étape :
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or a small dab of butter.
- Layer the Apple Filling: Spread both cans of apple pie filling evenly along the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon (and optional nutmeg) evenly over the top of the apples to boost the autumn spice flavor.
- Add the Cake Mix: Open the box of yellow cake mix and sprinkle the dry mix evenly over the apple layer, completely covering the fruit. Use the back of a spoon to level the dry cake mix gently. Do not stir or mix the layers together.
- Layer the Butter: Arrange the thin slices of butter in a single layer over the dry cake mix, covering as much surface area as possible. (The melting butter is what hydrates the dry cake mix into a golden, crispy crust as it bakes). If adding chopped pecans or walnuts, sprinkle them evenly across the top now.
- Bake to Golden Perfection: Bake in the preheated oven at 350°F for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the top of your Apple Cinnamon Dump Cake is golden brown, crisp, and the apple filling is bubbling around the edges.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the apple cinnamon dump cake from the oven and let it cool for 10 to 15 minutes to allow the filling to set. Scoop generous portions into bowls while warm and top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce!
Conseils du nutritionniste / Variantes :
- Cake Mix Swaps: Swap the classic yellow cake mix for a box of spice cake mix or white cake mix to give your Apple Cinnamon Dump Cake a deeper, spiced autumn aroma.
- Fresh Apple Alternative: If you prefer using fresh apples, toss 6 cups of peeled, sliced Granny Smith apples with 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp cornstarch, and 1 tbsp cinnamon before layering them at the bottom.
- Make It Crunchy: Add a crunchy crumble topping by mixing 1/2 cup rolled oats and 1/2 cup chopped pecans with the dry cake mix before adding the butter slices.
- Storage & Reheating: Store leftover Apple Cinnamon Dump Cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave for 25 to 30 seconds, or heat the entire dish covered in a 350°F oven for 15 minutes until warm and bubbly.
Fiche résumé :
- Temps de préparation : 5 mins
- Temps de cuisson : 45 mins
- Temps total : 50 mins
- Portions : 8 to 10 servings
