Apple dump cake is a super easy dessert. It’s made from simple ingredients and comes together quickly. Warm gooey apples, crispy buttery topping and a scoop of vanilla ice cream makes this dessert irresistible.

What is an apple dump cake?

Apple dump cake is exactly what it sounds like. Take all the ingredients and dump them into baking dish. So easy! Most apple dump cakes are made from canned apple filling and store bought cake mix. This easy apple dump cake is all made from scratch! Trust me when I say – it’s just as easy. Maybe a few more minutes of prep time… but just as easy, quick and so much better. I don’t always have cake mix on me, but always have flour, sugar and baking powder in the pantry. Which is exactly all the ingredients you’ll need!

Why this recipe works:

All made from scratch. Making it so much better.
Crispy and buttery topping with gooey apple filling.
Super easy and quick to make! Only 15 minutes of prep time. And one bowl needed.
You can use the fruit that’s in season!

Ingredients needed for apple pie dump cake

For the topping you’ll need

Flour
Sugar: You will need brown sugar and granulated sugar.
Baking powder
Salt
Butter: Unsalted butter, that has been frozen for 15 minutes.

For the apple pie filling

Apples: Any baking apple works here. I enjoy using granny smith or apple crisp.
Ground Cinnamon
Brown sugar
Cornstarch

How to make apple dump cake from scratch

Make the apple pie filling: Peel, core and slice the apples. Toss the apples with cinnamon, brown sugar and cornstarch. Spread apples into baking dish.
Make the topping: In the same bowl, (no need to wash) Whisk together flour, sugars, baking powder and salt. Evenly sprinkle the mixture over the apples.
Grate the butter: Grate the frozen butter directly onto the apple/flour mixture. Make sure the butter is grated evenly.
Bake: You’ll want to bake until the topping is deep golden brown and the filling is bubbling.

gooey apples, crunchy buttery topping and ice cream with spoon

Tip #1 – Butter

Freeze the butter for 15-20 minutes. This makes it easier to grate the butter over the apples.
Be sure to grate the butter evenly over the apples. This ensures that when baking the butter evenly melts over the apples and creates the crispy topping.

Tip #2 – Topping

Make sure the topping is evenly spread over the apples. I sprinkle the topping on using a spoon and then smooth out any lumps. The topping should be evenly spread out but it’s ok if you have a few little lumps of topping.

Tip #3 – Baking

You’ll start by baking the apple dump cake for 40 minutes at a lower temp, then increase the temp and continue baking until the topping is crisp. I found that this creates the crispiest and crunchiest topping. Continue baking at the higher temperature until the topping is deep golden brown and the filling is bubbling.

Other apple recipes you may like

Recipe

Apple Dump Cake

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Author: Nataliya Dudley
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Category: dessert

Ingredients

Scale

For the topping

1 cup flour
⅓ cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar, unpacked
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
6.5 tablespoons unsalted butter, frozen

For the apple filling

~ 5 cups sliced apples
1 ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 – 2 ½ tablespoon brown sugar
¾ tablespoons cornstarch

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Instructions

Place the butter in the freezer while preparing the filling and topping.
Preheat oven to 360 F.
Peel, core and slice the apples.
In a large bowl toss the apples, brown sugar, ground cinnamon and cornstarch. Add the apples to 9 inch baking dish. Set aside.
In the same bowl, whish flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Evenly sprinkle the flour mixture over the apples.
Take the butter from the freezer. Grate the butter evenly over the flour mixture. Making sure there are no large flour openings.
Bake for 40 minutes. Increase the heat to 370 F. Continue baking for 10-20 minutes or until topping is deep golden brown and filling is bubbling.

Notes

Freeze the butter for 15-20 minutes. This makes it easier to grate the butter over the apples.
Be sure to grate the butter evenly over the apples. This ensures that when baking the butter evenly melts over the apples and creates the crispy topping.
Make sure the topping is evenly spread over the apples. I sprinkle the topping on using a spoon and then smooth out any lumps. The topping should be evenly spread out but it’s ok if you have a few little lumps of topping.
You’ll start by baking the apple dump cake for 40 minutes at a lower temp, then increase the temp and continue baking until the topping is crisp. I found that this creates the crispiest and crunchiest topping. Continue baking at the higher temperature until the topping is deep golden brown and the filling is bubbling.