Apple Dump Cake with Fresh Apples

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If you need an easy fall dessert recipe, look no further than this delicious apple dump cake. Made with fresh apples, this dump cake recipe is so simple and yet loaded with flavor! Serve it warm with your favorite vanilla ice cream for a delicious fall dessert!

My apple tree is currently loaded with Cortland apples and so I’m currently on the hunt for apple recipes to use up some of my fall harvest. I will of course be making some applesauce and apple butter but there are so many other great ways to use fresh apples.  Right now I have apples coming out of my ears so I really appreciate any and all easy apple recipes, especially recipes like this quick apple dump cake recipe.

Apple Dump Cake with Fresh Apples Ingredients

To make this apple dump cake with cake mix, you’ll need the following simple ingredients:

• fresh apples: I used Cortland but you can use your favorite baking apple such as Granny Smith, McIntosh, Jonagold, Fuji, Braeburn, Pink Lady, etc.
• brown sugar: to add some depth of flavor
• cinnamon: a must for apple cakes
• chopped pecans: optional but adds a lot of flavor and a nice crunch. Walnuts can also be used
• yellow cake mix: Can also use a butter recipe yellow cake mix, white cake mix or spice cake mix
• butter: salted or unsalted, whichever you prefer

How to Make a Dump Cake

Not sure how to make a dump cake? They are actually ridiculously easy as their name implies. All you really need is some fruit, a cake mix and some butter to make a dump cake. But I really like to add extra flavor so I tossed my apples with brown sugar and cinnamon to really bring out those fall flavors we all know and love.
Because this dessert is a bit sweet, I like to add fresh pecans for more texture and a break from the sweetness. It adds so much flavor to this apple dump cake! But if you don’t like nuts or just don’t have them on hand, you can definitely leave them out.

Don’t Mix It

The key to any recipe for dump cake is to sprinkle a cake mix over your fruit and add butter. This recipe uses melted butter and since there is no mixing of the batter, you’ll want to make sure you drizzle your butter slowly over the top to get as much of the cake mix covered as possible. Otherwise you can end up with little powered spots of cake mix on the top of your cake.

A dump cake might not be the prettiest dessert when it comes out of the oven, but it sure tastes great!

Apple Dump Cake Substitution:

Extra short on time? Skip the fresh apples, brown sugar and cinnamon and instead add a can of apple pie filling to the bottom of your cake! You can also substitute that with any pie filling you like as well.

This apple dump cake is meant to be served warm out of the oven and tastes amazing with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream. You can either cut it into pieces like I did if your cake can hold up, or you can simply scoop it out with a spoon.

Dump Cake Recipe Tip:

Your dump cake will taste best shortly after being baked. Just out of the oven the top will have a flaky, more firm texture. As it sits the apples with break that down and within just a few hours of being covered, the top will become very soft and moist.  We had it both ways and while I prefer it fresh out of the oven, my kids liked it a bit more after it became more soft and cake-like later in the day. Both were great but something to keep in mind. I would try to polish this cake off within 24 hours avoid mushiness.

Does dump cake need to be refrigerated?

Yes, this apple dump cake should be refrigerated if it’s not going to be consumed within a few hours of baking. To store this cake in the refrigerator, first allow it to cool to room temperature after baking and cover it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or transfer it to an airtight container. A properly refrigerated apple dump cake can typically be kept for up to 3-4 days, but keep in mind with the fresh apples, it may be less.
 

4.54 from 28 votes

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Apple Dump Cake

This apple dump cake with fresh apples is so easy to make! Just a few added ingredients to a yellow cake mix including cinnamon, brown sugar and chopped pecans give it the perfect fall flavor. Serve with your favorite vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream for an easy fall dessert!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword apple cake, apple dessert, caramelized pecans, dump cake, dump cake recipe, easy desserts, fall dessert, fresh apples, Thanksgiving, yellow cake mix

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Servings 12 to 15 servings

Calories 376 kcal

Author Emilie at FindingZest.com

Ingredients

• 5 cups chopped apples peeled
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans
• 1 box yellow cake mix I used Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ yellow cake mix
• 1 cup butter melted (two sticks)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. Stir together chopped apples, brown sugar and cinnamon. Spread over bottom of pan.
3. Top with layer of pecans, then sprinkle dry cake mix over apples.
4. Slowly drizzle melted butter over top to cover as much as possible.
5. Bake 42 to 46 minutes or until golden brown.
6. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Recipe Notes

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

Nutrition Facts

Apple Dump Cake

Amount per Serving

Calories

376

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

22

g

34

%

Saturated Fat

 

11

g

69

%

Trans Fat

 

1

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

2

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

7

g

Cholesterol

 

41

mg

14

%

Sodium

 

436

mg

19

%

Potassium

 

112

mg

3

%

Carbohydrates

 

46

g

15

%

Fiber

 

3

g

13

%

Sugar

 

26

g

29

%

Protein

 

3

g

6

%

Vitamin A

 

505

IU

10

%

Vitamin C

 

2

mg

2

%

Calcium

 

107

mg

11

%

Iron

 

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Hope you love this apple dump cake recipe as much as we do! Makes a great addition to any Sunday dinner or even a super simple Thanksgiving dessert!

Easy Apple Recipes

On the hunt for more easy apple recipes for fall? Try these fried apples, instant pot apple cinnamon oatmeal, apple streusel muffins, pull apart apple bread or these campfire baked apples!