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Apple Dump Cake

Apple dump cake with a deeply golden, crispy butter crumble top and bubbling apple filling beneath. Minimal prep: layer pie filling, dry cake mix, sliced butter, and bake until the edges caramelize.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Apple pie filling
  • 2 can (21 oz) apple pie filling Use canned apple pie filling.
Spices
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp nutmeg
Cake topping
  • 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow or spice cake mix Dry cake mix only; do not stir after dumping.
  • 1 cup unsalted butter Slice thin so it melts evenly across the dry mix.
  • 0.5 cup pecans or walnuts Optional—scatter over the top for crunch.
Serving
  • vanilla ice cream For serving; warm cake + melting ice cream.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep and layer
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13 baking dish.
  2. Spread the apple pie filling across the bottom of the dish, then stir in the cinnamon and nutmeg until evenly distributed.
  3. Dump the dry cake mix evenly over the apple filling; do not stir.
  4. Arrange the thinly sliced unsalted butter in a single layer over the entire surface of the dry cake mix, covering every inch so no dry spots show.
  5. Scatter the chopped pecans or walnuts over the top if using, leaving them to sit on the surface.
Bake and serve
  1. Bake for 40-45 minutes at 350°F until the top is deeply golden and crispy and the apple filling is bubbling around the edges, with a visual browned crumble layer.
  2. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream so the ice cream melts over the crispy topping.

Notes

For best texture, keep the butter slices thin so they melt into the dry cake mix and form crisp butterscotch edges. Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container for up to 3 days; reheat in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes to re-crisp the top. Freezing is not recommended because the topping can soften after thawing. Dietary swap: use a reduced-sugar apple pie filling and sugar-free vanilla ice cream if desired.