Introduction
When Ella Chef smells apples and cinnamon baking, she knows fall has truly arrived. Her Apple Dump Cake was born out of a lazy Sunday afternoon — a recipe so simple, yet irresistibly comforting. With canned apple pie filling, a box of cake mix, and a drizzle of melted butter, she created a dessert that filled her kitchen with sweet, spiced aromas. The crunchy topping and soft apple base reminded her of warm apple pie but with half the effort. For Ella, this recipe embodies home, love, and simplicity — a heartwarming dessert made for cozy evenings and shared laughter.
Apple Dump Cake
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Spread apple pie filling evenly in the prepared dish. Sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg over the top.
- Evenly sprinkle the dry cake mix over the apples — do not stir.
- Drizzle melted butter evenly across the surface, ensuring most of the mix is moistened. Add chopped nuts if desired.
- Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbly around the edges.
- Let cool slightly before serving. Enjoy warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Nutrition
Notes
How to Make the Recipe
Creating this Apple Dump Cake is as simple as it gets — no mixing bowls required! Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and greasing a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread two cans of apple pie filling evenly across the bottom of the dish. For extra warmth and spice, sprinkle ground cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg over the apples.
Next, open a box of yellow cake mix and evenly sprinkle the dry mix over the apple layer. Don’t stir it in — the magic of this recipe is in its simplicity. The dry mix will combine with the butter as it bakes, forming a golden, crumbly topping that’s buttery and crisp.
Melt your butter and drizzle it slowly over the top of the cake mix, making sure to cover as much of the surface as possible. You can add chopped walnuts or pecans if you’d like some extra crunch. Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until the top turns a beautiful golden brown and you see bubbling around the edges.
Allow the cake to cool for about 10 minutes before serving. It’s best enjoyed warm, paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. The combination of gooey apples, buttery crumble, and warm spice is pure comfort in every bite — a perfect shortcut dessert that feels homemade.
This dump cake delivers all the satisfaction of apple pie without the hassle of making crust — ideal for potlucks, family dinners, or lazy fall weekends.
Conclusion
The Apple Dump Cake by Ella Chef proves that simplicity and flavor can go hand in hand. With minimal effort, you get a warm, gooey apple filling beneath a golden, buttery topping — a dessert that feels like home. Each bite offers a cozy blend of cinnamon spice and sweetness, perfect for chilly evenings or holiday gatherings. For Ella, this recipe captures the essence of rustic baking — comforting, unfussy, and irresistibly delicious. It’s a treat that turns ordinary ingredients into something extraordinary — and that’s what real comfort food is all about.