I reach for this warm apple dessert when time runs short and the craving hits. We open the pantry and smile. A box of cake mix waits. Two cans of apple pie filling sit close. Cold butter rests in the fridge. The fix comes together fast and the kitchen smells like fall. I learned this trick from a neighbor who baked with heart and with no fuss. She said let the apples carry the show and let the butter do the rest. I agree. The top turns golden and crisp. The spoon breaks through and steam lifts. Each bite lands soft and sweet. You can call it Apple Dump Cake or a cake mix apple cake recipe. It belongs with easy apple cake recipe ideas and with apple cake recipes that work on busy nights. I treat it like a one bowl apple cake recipe even though the bowl stays clean. This fits right into Dump Cake Recipes and into any plan where dessert needs to be simple and good.

Table of Contents
- 1) Key Takeaways
- 2) Easy Apple Dump Cake Recipe
- 3) Ingredients for Apple Dump Cake
- 4) How to Make Apple Dump Cake
- 5) Tips for Making Apple Dump Cake
- 6) Making Apple Dump Cake Ahead of Time
- 7) Storing Leftover Apple Dump Cake
- 8) Try these Dessert next!
- 9) Apple Dump Cake
- 10) Nutrition
1) Key Takeaways
We bake this cozy pan when time runs short. The mix sits ready. The apples taste bright. The top turns golden and crisp. We scoop big warm spoonfuls. Ice cream melts fast and sweet. The whole thing feels like a small win on a busy night.
I am Lila from Lila Cooks and I love pantry desserts that do not ask for much. This one leans on the box and a can and it still tastes like care. We keep it simple and we keep it good. If you enjoy Dump Cake Recipes you will smile here.
The method stays friendly. No mixer. No bowls to scrub. We layer. We bake. We serve. The smell fills the kitchen and calls people to the table. It works for a weekday and it works for a chill weekend too.

2) Easy Apple Dump Cake Recipe
I lean on Dump Cake Recipes when life gets loud. Dump Cake Recipes calm the brain and still taste like a hug. In this pan apples sit low and a sweet crumb sits high. I pull the pan and the edges bubble. I wait a minute and then I dig in.
The base uses apple pie filling cake mix recipe wisdom that home bakers pass down. I grew up on cake mix apple cake recipe treats at every block party. The texture sits between cobbler and crisp which is why an Apple Dump Cake wins fans fast. My family asks for it by name.
If you crave apple cake recipes that do not ask for fuss, this easy apple cake recipe fits you. I treat it like a one bowl apple cake recipe even though the bowl stays clean. It is fast, it is cozy, and it always disappears. Twice.

3) Ingredients for Apple Dump Cake
Apple pie filling I use two standard cans. The fruit brings sweetness and soft bite. The syrup thickens as it bakes and gives the base a jam like feel that scoops well.
Yellow cake mix One box sits on the shelf and waits for its moment. The mix turns into a crunchy, tender top that tastes like shortbread and crumb had a happy child.
Unsalted butter Cold slices melt as they sit on the mix. The fat moves down and bonds the dry mix into a crisp lid. The flavor adds rich notes that feel like fall.
Ground cinnamon A light shake warms the apples. The smell says pie and the taste says cozy. It never hurts here.
Vanilla ice cream for serving The warm and cold contrast hits the spot. It softens on contact and makes a creamy sauce that kids and grown ups cheer.

4) How to Make Apple Dump Cake
Step one Heat the oven to three hundred fifty F and set a rack in the center. Grease a nine by thirteen pan so nothing sticks and the corners crisp well.
Step two Spoon the apples into the pan. Spread them into an even bed so every bite gets fruit. Sprinkle a light pinch of cinnamon over the top.
Step three Shake the dry cake mix over the apples. Level the surface with clean hands. Do not stir. You want a layer that will turn into a crumbly lid.
Step four Lay thin butter slices across the surface with small gaps. The butter will melt and move through the mix. That is the move that makes the magic.
Step five Bake until the top looks golden and the edges bubble. Start checking at forty minutes. The center should look set and the kitchen should smell like fresh pie.
Step six Rest the pan for ten minutes. Scoop into bowls. Add ice cream if you like. Share with people you love. Smile and go back for a little more.
5) Tips for Making Apple Dump Cake
Cold butter slices work better than melted butter. They melt slow and feed the mix from the top down. The result turns crisp and stays that way. That is the charm of quick dump cake desserts which sit inside the big family of Dump Cake Recipes.
Spread the apples edge to edge so scoops hold together. If your filling seems very sweet, add a squeeze of lemon juice for balance. A small pinch of salt in the mix can lift flavor too.
For a nuttier top, add chopped pecans during the last fifteen minutes so they toast without burning. For caramel fans, drizzle sauce on warm servings. These are simple dump cake ideas that keep guests happy.
6) Making Apple Dump Cake Ahead of Time
I bake the pan in the morning when guests come for dinner. The house smells great all day. Before serving, I slide the pan back into a warm oven for ten minutes so the top wakes up and the apples loosen again. This habit keeps the texture right and keeps the mood easy.
You can prep the pan and chill it raw for six hours. Cover the pan and keep the butter slices on top. Bake straight from the fridge and add a few extra minutes. That path helps on tight schedules and still tastes fresh.
For bigger groups, bake two pans. One pan can be gluten free with a compatible mix. Guests love options. This approach fits best dump cake recipe game plans and still stays relaxed.
7) Storing Leftover Apple Dump Cake
Cool leftovers to room temp. Cover the pan or move portions to a tight lidded box. Store in the fridge for three days. The top softens a little on day two, which some people like. I re crisp it with a short warm up in the oven.
Reheat single bowls in the microwave for gentle warmth. Add a small splash of cream if the apples look thick. A fresh scoop of ice cream restores the hot cold joy that makes this dessert sing.
For the freezer, wrap portions well and keep for one month. Thaw in the fridge and warm in the oven so the crumb gets life again. This keeps Dump Cake Recipes handy even on the toughest weeks.
8) Try these Dessert next!
9) Apple Dump Cake

Dump Cake Recipes Apple Dump Cake With 3 Ingredients
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 2 cans apple pie filling about 21 ounces each
- 1 box yellow cake mix about 15 ounces
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter chilled and cut into thin slices
Instructions
For the Cake
- Heat oven to 350 F and set a rack in the center position
- Grease a 9 by 13 inch baking dish
- Spoon the apple pie filling into the dish and spread in an even layer
- Sprinkle the dry cake mix over the apples and level the surface
- Lay the butter slices over the cake mix so most of the top is covered
- Bake until the top looks golden and the edges bubble about 40 to 50 minutes
- Cool for 10 minutes then serve warm with vanilla ice cream if you like
10) Nutrition
One twelfth of the pan carries about three hundred thirty calories. Sugar lands near twenty nine grams. Sodium sits around two hundred forty milligrams. Fat reaches fourteen grams with eight grams saturated. Carbs reach forty nine grams. Fiber holds near two grams. Protein stays around two grams. Cholesterol reaches about thirty five milligrams.
This estimate shifts with your brand of mix and your choice of butter. If you swap in light butter or a spice cake mix, the numbers change. Use this as a friendly map, not a court order.
For ingredient details and more cozy ideas, visit Lila Cooks at https://www.lilacooks.com. I keep a full list of Dump Cake Recipes there for busy nights and chill weekends alike.


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