You Don’t Even Have to Stir Ree Drummond’s Apple Dump Cake
Dump cakes are one of those desserts that sound a little strange until you make one—and then suddenly you understand the appeal.
- 3/4 c. (1 1/2 sticks) salted butter, cut into slices, plus more for the baking dish
- 2 (21-oz.) cans apple pie filling
- 1 tsp. apple pie spice
- 1 (15.25-oz.) box yellow cake mix
- Jarred caramel sauce, for serving (optional)
- Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, for serving (optional)
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
- Dump the apple pie filling into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the apple pie spice. Sprinkle the cake mix over the top of the fruit. Distribute the butter slices evenly over the cake mix.
- Bake until the top is brown and bubbly, 50 minutes to 1 hour.
- Serve drizzled with caramel sauce and topped with ice cream, if you like.
1 hr 10 mins
Dump cakes are one of those desserts that sound a little strange until you make one—and then suddenly you understand the appeal.
The whole idea is wonderfully simple: Spoon canned fruit filling into a buttered baking dish, scatter dry boxed cake mix over the top, add plenty of cold butter, and pop the whole thing in the oven. No mixing bowls, no mixer, and no stirring required!
As it bakes, the fruit gets warm and bubbly while the cake mix and butter turn into a golden, crumbly topping. The result falls somewhere between a cobbler and a crisp, and the best way to serve it is the same way I like most warm fruit desserts: scooped straight into a bowl with a big helping of vanilla ice cream. This apple dump cake is especially good because you get all that warm, spiced apple flavor with almost no effort.
A drizzle of caramel sauce makes it even better. Keep this one in your back pocket for a last-minute Thanksgiving dessert or any time you need something easy, warm, and crowd-pleasing.
How do you store apple dump cake? Cover and store the dump cake in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Depending on how much cake you want to reheat, you can warm it in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for about 20 minutes or in a microwave for about 30 seconds. What cake mix is best for apple dump cake? Yellow cake mix works especially well because its buttery vanilla flavor pairs nicely with the apples.
White or spice cake mix can also be used for a slightly different flavor. Can you make apple dump cake ahead of time?
Yes. You can bake apple dump cake earlier in the day and serve it at room temperature or reheat it before serving.
For the best texture, it’s especially delicious while still warm.
Ingredients
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) salted butter, cut into slices, plus more for the baking dish
