This simple and delicious 4-ingredient apple dump cake with pie filling is the perfect dessert for any occasion. With just four ingredients and minimal prep, you’ll have a warm, comforting treat ready in no time. Perfect for serving with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Table of Contents
An Easy Fall Dessert for All Skill Levels
Hi friends,
If you’re looking for an easy dessert to impress your family and friends, this Apple Dump Cake with Pie Filling is just the recipe you need! It’s one of those desserts that feels like a warm hug in every bite.
The best part? It only requires a handful of ingredients and minimal effort. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a kitchen novice, you’ll love how simple and satisfying this dessert is. Plus, it’s perfect for any time of year, especially during the fall when apple flavors are in full swing.
What I Love About This Recipe:
- Minimal Ingredients: To create this delicious dessert, you only need three main ingredients—apple pie filling, cake mix, and butter. The pecans are optional but add a delightful crunch.
- No-Fuss Preparation: This recipe is as easy as it gets. Just layer, bake, and enjoy!
- Versatile: It’s perfect for potlucks, family dinners, or a cozy night in. For an extra treat, serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Per Serving Cost: $1.16
Recipe Cost: $9.34
Below are the four ingredients you need to make this dump cake, as well as some substitution recommendations.
- Apple pie filling (2 large cans): Sweet, spiced base. Swap with homemade filling, fresh apples with sugar and cinnamon, or another fruit filling like peach or cherry.
- White cake mix (1 box): Creates the crumbly topping. Try yellow cake mix for richness, spice cake for fall flavor, or gluten-free mix.
- Salted butter (12 tbsp): Melts into the mix for a golden crust. Use unsalted butter with a pinch of salt, margarine, or even melted coconut oil.
- Pecans (¼ cup): Add nutty crunch. Sub with walnuts, almonds, or use oats or graham crumbs for a nut-free option.
NOTE: The recipe prices are calculated by using grocery store websites. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have. Prices updated September 2025.
Recommended Cook’s Tools
- 9×13 baking dish
- serving spoon
- Spatula
- butter knife
How To Make Apple Dump Cake
Layer apple pie filling, cake mix, butter, and pecans in a 9×13 pan, then bake at 350°F for 35–40 minutes until golden and bubbly.
Let me show you how:
- Layer the Ingredients: Pour the apple pie filling into a 9×13-inch baking dish and smooth it into an even layer.
- Add the Cake Mix: Evenly sprinkle the white cake mix over the pie filling, covering it completely.
- Top with Butter & Pecans: Evenly distribute the butter pieces over the cake mix, ensuring they cover the entire top.
- Sprinkle the chopped pecans over the top for added texture and flavor.
- Bake: Place the pan in a preheated 350°F oven and bake for 35-40 minutes until the top is golden brown and the sides are bubbling.
Watch How To Make It
I aim to cater to different learning styles. If you prefer learning by watching, watch a video of this 4-ingredient apple dump cake below.
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Dump Cake Using Apple Pie Filling
Equipment
- 9×13-inch pan
Ingredients
- 2 (21-ounce) cans of apple pie filling
- 16.26 ounce box white cake mix
- 12 Tablespoons salted butter cut into 12 pieces
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
FOR SERVING:
- vanilla ice cream
Instructions
- Move the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Pour the pie filling into a 9×13-inch baking dish and smooth into an even layer.
- Sprinkle the cake mix evenly over the pie filling.
- Space out the butter pieces evenly over the cake mix.
- Sprinkle the chopped pecans over the top. Bake until golden brown and the sides are bubbling, about 35-40 minutes.
- Let the cake cool for 10 minutes, and then serve with vanilla ice cream (optional).
Notes
Nutrition
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4-Ingredient Apple Dump Cake FAQs
Can I use fresh apples instead of pie filling?
Yes, you can! You’ll need about 6-8 cups of peeled and sliced apples. Mix them with sugar and a bit of cinnamon before layering them in the pan.
Can I make this in a smaller pan?
You can halve the recipe and bake it in an 8×8-inch pan. Just adjust the baking time to around 25-30 minutes.
What other toppings can I add?
Feel free to add a drizzle of caramel sauce, a sprinkle of cinnamon, or even some oats mixed with brown sugar for a crumble-like topping.
What is a dump cake?
A dump cake is one of the simplest desserts you can make. They’re made with a base of canned pie filling, a layer of dry cake mix, and pads of butter on top. There is no stirring involved with dump cakes; true to their name, you dump the ingredients into the pan, and that’s it!
What is the difference between a dump cake and a cobbler?
A dump cake is made by layering canned fruit with dry cake mix and butter for a quick, crumbly dessert, while a cobbler uses fresh or frozen fruit topped with a homemade batter or biscuit dough for a more traditional texture.
Should I melt the butter before adding it?
No, you will slice the butter into slices and place them over the cake mix. This helps the topping become golden during the baking process.
More Apple Desserts
- Apple Crisp
- Apple Muffins with Crunchy Brown Sugar Topping
- Fried Apples
- Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
- Apple Pie Danish Biscuits
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Made this for a party. Only thing different I did was add cinnamon and some brown sugar on top. Mine took much longer than the 30-40 minutes to bake. Very good and a big hit. Thank you
Can this be cut in half snd made in an 8 by 8 or 9. Y 11 pan?
You bet!
I used vanilla cake mix and it was fantastic!
How would using spice cake mix or yellows cake mix taste?
Either would work and would taste delicious. I just prefer white cake mix because it doesn’t overpower the apples.
Normally I’d make a cake from scratch, But gotta say this recipe is super easy! Definitely great to have a quick option sometimes. Thanks!
This dessert is so wonderfully easy! Perfect dessert for Fall weekends 🙂
I love how easy this cake is to make! My daughters helped me in the kitchen last time we made it!
This was so easy to make and delicious! Thank you!
One of the best apple dump cakes that I’ve seen – yum!
I make it all the time but you need to re calculate the price. You only added price for one can of apple pie filling, it takes two cans. I have some that like apple and some that like cherry. So I buy one can of apple and one can of cherry pie filling. Put one can on each end. Works great.love dump cakes. ❤️Alice
I’ve made this many times and always a hit. Just wish I knew how to keep it warm when I take it someone’s house.
So glad it’s a hit at your house!
I love apple dump cake. My friend turned me on to it as I had never heard of it before. I have added a little bit more to it. I get the Carmel Apple Pie filling, I add ground cinnamon, and Carmel syrup with sea salt. It makes my mouth water.
Dump cakes are so easy
to bake !! My hubby’s
favorite dessert to eat
with vanilla ice cream
Yummy ! Do you know how to bake a Flan cake
or have a recipe
to share ?
So glad you and your hubby liked the cake!
Unfortunately, I do not have a flan cake recipe, sorry.
Gotta love a dump cake. Love that you made this one seasonally appropriate!
Thank you! 🙂
i have made every single dump cake but not apple! omg this is my favorite and I cant beleive I never thought of it! thanks!
Aren’t dump cakes great? So glad you found this recipe!
What a super simple dessert. Love the name. Hadn’t heard of a dump cake before! Great idea!
Isn’t the name fun?! 🙂
I have never heard of a dump cake before, what a fun name. Your apple version looks delicious and super easy to make with items straight from the pantry.
Yep, and this all makes it a great option for a dessert in a pinch!
I love apple desserts! This cake looks sooo homey and comforting ♥
Thank you! 🙂
Talk about a deliciously easy dessert recipe. I’ve made the pumpkin dump cake before, and it’s always a hit. I can’t wait to make the apple dump cake as I’m sure it will be equally popular!
Yay, I hope you love it!
This looks nice and simple. I think a few speedy recipes are great to have on standby for when a sugar craving hits.