Bake Gooey Apple Dump Cake Using Just 3 Ingredients!
Looking for a delicious way to use up fresh apples?
Cut them up and try baking this super easy apple dump cake that uses just three main ingredients! Dump cakes are some of the easiest dessert recipes around because essentially you’re just using a box of cake mix and a melted stick of butter to dump over fruit!
There really are so many fruit versions you could try, and this apple version is a perfect fall dessert to make for the family!
Once baked, the butter caramelizes over the cake mix and fruit to create a gooey warm cake-like dessert that is magical, especially when topped with some vanilla ice cream! The cinnamon apples are perfectly soft, while the yellow cake is sweet and browns nicely at the top. It’s SO good. 😋
Tips for making the BEST apple dump cake:
- I used red gala apples, and it turned out delish. I am sure you could use other similar varieties instead. If you wanted to use canned apple pie filling, that’d be wonderful and easy too.
- It’s an optional step to peel the apples. We have made it both ways and decided that we love the texture better peeled. I have an inexpensive stainless steel kitchen peeler like this one that works great for apples.
- The moisture from the apples should soak in with the cake mix but if you’re noticing the cake mix isn’t completely cooking, just sprinkle a little water over those areas and put back in the oven.
- I think this dessert tastes best when served warm with vanilla ice cream. The reheated leftovers are delicious as well.
- Make sure to check out our peach dump cake and pumpkin dump cake recipe variations, too!
3-Ingredient Apple Dump Cake
yield: 10 SERVINGS
prep time: 10 MINUTES
cook time: 50 MINUTES
total time: 60 MINUTES
Warm gooey mash-up of apple pie and yellow cake that is outstanding served with ice cream. Such an easy dessert idea!
Ingredients
- 15.25 oz. box of yellow cake mix
- 6 cups of fresh apples, peeled & sliced (about 6 apples)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
Directions
1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or spray a 9×13 cake pan.
2
Slice apples and place them evenly in the pan. Sprinkle cinnamon over the apples. Place pan in the microwave for 3 minutes to soften apples before baking.
3
Sprinkle the cake mix over the apples. Melt butter and drizzle over the top of the cake mix.
4
Bake for about 45-50 minutes until the apples are tender and the cake gets nice and brown on top.
5
Serve warm with some vanilla ice cream if desired. Enjoy!
Additional Notes
Recipe Adapted from Come Together Kids.
I love this yummy mash-up of apple pie and yellow cake!
Apple dump cake is a simple dessert that my family loves, and it’s so easy that now my older kids can even make it by themselves. Better yet, it makes the house smell amazing and so comforting. We love clever cake mix hacks like this!
Check out what my teammate, Jenna, had to say after making this apple dump cake:
“I cannot say I’ve made a lot of dump cakes in my life, but this has me convinced I need to try more! I didn’t even have to go to the store to make it, I had all 3 ingredients right here. It’s perfect for fall, and all of the kids gave it two thumbs up, too.
The suggestion of ice cream is perfect. I love that all the apples need are some cinnamon – and the cake mix sweetens the whole thing. I LOVE the helpful process of microwaving the apples to soften them so you don’t have to bake any longer than the cake needs. This is a wonderful hack and I will definitely make it again!”
Still have some apples left? Make Instant Pot applesauce!
Oh, Lina!! You’re making it so hard for me to be on an elimination diet! I tried to look away, but you sucked me in. This is good made with peaches also.
Thank you Collin! I was about to go on Pinterest to find an apple recipe. Glad I checked Hip2Save first, this looks delicious!
I have never made anything like this before, does anybody have any suggestions on what type of apples work best? Thank you!
These were pink lady apples and we enjoyed!
Great. Thank you Lina:)
I have made this numerous times (its my go-to) and honestly, I like it better with canned apples (or peaches). I think its a texture thing for me, but the fresh apples don’t seem to soften enough.
Maybe, you can microwave fresh apple before putting in the oven to soften.
Golden delicious, gala, jonagold
Do you have to mix the cake mix with ingredients first? or just dump dry mix over top apples?
You literally just dump it in over the apples. 🙂
I love this! So easy… Has anyone seen the “dump cake” cookbook that you can order from TV? I guess there is even a “dump” dinners cookbook, too. I’m not sure about having that many “dump” recipes. Thanks, Lina!
I saw it at Walgreens! Ha ha
You can buy “dump cake recipe books” on Amazon. Check there.
This looks fantastic! I am going to have to try it. On a side note, I have the same milk glass bowls. I am fairly certain everything tastes better when served in vintage milk glass 🙂
Totally agreed. 🙂
Hi Lina – not sure if this has been asked before – but your pictures are always so beautiful – what type of camera and / or photo editing software do you use?
I use a Nikon d5100. This photo was with a 55mm lens. I use picmonkey.com free editing online even though I have photoshop because I’m so slow at it! Lol Thanks so much!
Is picmonkey really free? I tried to sign up yesterday but couldn’t find the signup link. Only an upgrade link (not free).
There are basic functions that are free. It will have a crown next to it if it’s a royalty or ‘monthly membership fee”.
I love picmonkey! I used it to edit my wedding photos, since our family-friend-photographer no longer does editing. They turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself! Now quite professional, but perfectly fine for me!
This looks delicious! Do you think it would work with peaches, too? THANKS!
Yes! I want to try that too!
Yes this is wonderful with peaches! I’ve made it for years using a large can of peaches with juice. I’m sure it would be good with fresh peaches as well.
I’ve made it for years with 2 cans of peaches (or 1 larger can) cut 1 in pieces and a can of crushed pineapple. Cake and butter the same (though I usually only use 1/2 stick cut up over top) 350 for 1 hr
Dump cake is a family favorite for us. I’ve always made dump cake with canned blueberry pie filling and a can of diced pineapple (plus the cake mix and butter). Love it and it’s so easy! I’ll have to try the fresh apples next time 🙂
I use cherry pie filling and diced pineapples, it is delicious and so easy!
Love this cake! Have made it many many times in a dutch oven by the campfire!! (if in a hurry, canned apples work too!)
made it last night with cherry pie filling and chocolate cake mix……delish!
I like dump cakes. I like to use the coupon from the inside of a Duncan Hines cake mix that will give you a free cake mix with the purchase of Wilderness fruit fillings.
I make this same cake with the filling instead of sliced apples.
Some suggestions; this is definitely better when warm. Also, do your best to make the cake mix powder flat after you pout it over the filling. That way you can lightly tilt the melted butter back and forth to cover as much of the cake mix powder as possible. Only the powder that is covered by the butter will crisp and you don’t want to miss out on any of the crispy!!
Oh I like that tip! Thanks Jenn!
I do the same thing. I’ve used canned peaches(or apples). And I use pie filling to coat the bottom of my pan. I agree it tastes better hot.
If anybody is on a low fat diet, you can pour one can of cream soda over the cake mix instead of the butter. I’ve haven’t done it over apples but it is so yummy over peaches so it probably would work well over apples too. Love the recipes on here!
Thanks for the great tip!! 🙂
I add some caramel sundae topping over the apple pie filling before putting the top on. Once that is heated up it is yummy. Can also then drizzle it on top to make it pretty and good w the ice cream.
Great idea with the caramel…will have to try that. Thanks
Yum!
WOW Lina! You are AWESOME! Thanks for these super easy recipes! So easy for us working moms’ to throw together!
A variation to this recipe is to use apple pie filling.
Yummy served with ice cream 🙂
Has anyone tried dairy free butter alternatives yet?
Someone above mentioned using a can of cream soda instead of butter.
I bet it would work well with butter flavored palm shortening. I use it in place of all butter/margerine and everything turns out great! https://www.vitacost.com/spectrum-organic-all-vegetable-butter-flavor-shortening
Earth Balance makes a dairy free/soy free butter now. I use it for all my cooking and baking and everything comes out great with it!!
I have sprayed dry parts with Pam before.
This is absolutely delicious with peaches too!
Can’t wait to try this. Making it for my hubby’s birthday!
I cut my butter into the cake mix using my food processor and then sprinkle over the top. Not a problem with dry cake mix in lumps as when I melted the butter. Just FYI.
This sounds delish! Can’t wait to try it. Do you know of other Dump recipes for both Dinners and Deserts??? Would love to try more. Lina, you rock! Thanks for your awesome recipes.
Oh thanks Linda! I will be making our favorite pumpkin version this fall. That one is awesome too. 🙂
Will you be sharing the pumpkin one, too?? I hope!!! 🙂
Use the cinammon spice cake mix! 🙂
Thank you, ladies, for the recipe! I just baked it, then made hot tea and enjoying it right now with my wife and mother in law 🙂 good stuff!!
the picture shows the skin on the apples, do I leave it on?
If using a lg. can of peaches with the juice and adding a can of crushed pineapple, the pineapple would need to be drained, right? Otherwise, so much liquid.
I make this all the time with two reg. cNs of peaches in their own juice. Always a fav with guests. Served with French vanilla dryers of course.
This was absolutely fabulous!!! Made it last night with Jonathan apples from a local orchard. YUMMY!!!! THANKS SOOOOO MUCH for sharing this!!! 🙂
I just put it in the oven using the Harris Teeter Diet Cream Soda (12 oz) instead of butter. Will let you know how it turns out. FYI- I peeled my apples
I also used Pillsbury sugar free yellow cake mix- trying to make it as sugar free/figure friendly as possible
My cake turned out wonderful! Hubby loved it- sugar free pillsbury yellow cake mix, peeled apples, cinnamon and 12 oz of diet creme soda.
Oh my. Had this after dinner tonight. Perfect way to celebrate the coming of Fall!
This cake was delicious and so easy to make :-). I brought it to a ladies brunch this morning and it was fantastic! Thank u for the recipe! As another commenter said, it would be wonderful to have the recipe for the pumpkin version, too!
Sorry do you peel the apples?
I didn’t but you can! Just preference on that.
Maybe I’m in the minority but it was really gross once it got cold. It was okay warm if you got an edge but otherwise was not good the next day
Try sprinkling walnuts on apples….nice flavor!
I’ve ALWAYS said that I’m SO not a baker (ironically my in-laws are amazing bakers). I’m a LAZY cook (the less ingredients the better for my attention span). This afternoon, I made this with my girls using 5 apples, cinnamon, brown sugar, yellow cake mix, butter and water too. Just had it for dessert. My girls and I LOVE it! Can’t wait for my husband to come home to try it out too (he’s into sweets). Thanks for this recipe which I will use from now on creatively. (we have a toaster so we re-toast dessert leftover like this)
Want more idea
How much yellow cake mix do you add? I’ve seen various box sizes in the store… Can you tell I’m not a baker! Lol
I used a 16.5 oz. box of yellow cake mix. Hope this helps.
I took 6 cups of sliced apples, added 1 cup sugar, 2 Tblsp. flour and 1 teas. cinnamon. I covered with saran wrap and nuked for 5 minutes. Came out like apple pie filling, and the dump cake turned out perfect. It was delicious, and no undercooked apples! Thanks for the recipe, Lina! I have tons of apples and am always happy for a new recipe.
That’s great! Thanks for sharing!
What if you cover with foil for about the first 30 mins? would that cook the apples better and release more of their moisture into the cake mix?
I made this yesterday and it turned out perfect! I topped it off with some chopped pecans. Thanks for the great and easy recipe, I’ll use it during the holidays.
So you just add the cake mix? I do not need to add the eggs and water or oil as directed on the cake mix box? I assume the answer is no but want to confirm. Thanks!
Instead of the box directions follow these. It works great!
I use spice cake and sugar free canned apple pie filling. Super easy and tasty 9×13 pan 2 cans of pie filling 1/4 -1/2 box of spice cake sprinkled over top of apples. And 1/4 stick of butter sliced thinly over cake mix Bake.
Ah-mazing recipe. It’s so easy and delicious. Every year, as the leaves change color, my neighbors start asking me when the dump cake is coming. I make bigger and bigger batches every year. Thank you for a wonderful neighborhood tradition when we moved to a new town.
Isn’t that four ingredients?
Cinnamon is optional and not considered a main ingredient. Hope that helps!
We like to do this with half fresh sliced apples and half applesauce. We prefer the texture of the finished dessert when the fruit is wetter.
Oh that’s a great idea!
You need to try it with a box of spice cake mix. Perfection.
Can we use white cake instead bc I don’t like yellow cake
Yep or a spiced cake mix sounds like is yummy!
Yum! I have a lot of apples! This will be perfect..now if only I could find a recipe for all the pears I have! 🤔
Me too. When my apples get kind of soft/mealy, I cut them up and either put them in an apple crisp or apple cake and serve with a scoop of ice cream. Will need to try this dump cake as well. Yum. Perfect since it’s finally getting cooler outside.
Thanks for posting! I just stuck one in the oven to eat tonight after dinner. I had a white cake mix in the pantry instead of yellow but I think it will still work.