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Learn how to make apple dump cake in your crockpot for the easiest dessert ever! A crockpot cake is a low-fuss and easy-clean-up recipe that you will want to make all fall when apples are in season.
You only need a handful of ingredients to make this cake – so get apple season going with one of my favorite fall desserts.
BEST Apple Dump Cake
Have you ever heard of a dump cake? It’s a super easy dessert where you “dump” all of your ingredients into a pan and bake it. Or, in the case of this apple dump cake I’m sharing, you dump everything in your crockpot. It’s one of the easiest desserts ever.
There are a thousand ways to make a dump cake – they’re usually made with fruit and cake mix – and for fall there’s nothing better than this crockpot apple cake recipe. I love apple recipes and it’s just as delicious as an apple crisp or apple crumble but easier to make.
Six Ingredients in Dump Cake
- Apples: I like Granny Smith apples best, the tart with the sweet. They are also sturdy enough they don’t get mushy in the crockpot.
- Granulated Sugar: To sweeten the apples
- Cinnamon: Can’t have apple desserts without cinnamon!
- Yellow Cake Mix: This is the magic of a dump cake – dumping in the cake mix!
- Oats: Quick oats or old-fashioned oats make this more of a crumble
- Sliced Butter: The butter melts as the cake cooks creating that crumbly top.
How to Make Apple Dump Cake
- Apples: Once you’ve peeled, cored, and diced your apples just pile them in the slow cooker. Sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar over the top.
- Dump: Pour the cake mix and oats into the slow cooker so they are cover the apples.
- Butter: Place the sliced butter in an even layer over the top of the cake mix and oats.
- Cook: Secure the lid and cook the cake for four hours on high. That’s it. Easiest crockpot apple cake ever.
Tip From Dorothy
Expert Tips
- First rule of crockpots is that all crockpots are different! Depending on your model this cake may take more or less time.
- The first time you make this, I recommend checking on the cake after 1 ½ hours of cooking time just in case your slow cooker runs hot.
- You can tell when the cake is done when all the butter is melted and the cake mix doesn’t look like powder. The top of the cake should be golden brown.
- To keep the moisture in balance, sometimes I place a paper towel between the lid and the insert which will absorb a lot of the condensation early in the cooking time. After two hours I remove it so the liquid that is created inside the crockpot will dissolve the cake mix.
Crockpot Apple Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 5-7 Granny Smith Apples
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon divided
- 1 approx 15 ounce box yellow cake mix
- ½ cup (43g) quick cooking oats
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter , sliced thin
Instructions
- Peel, core, and slice your apples. I used 7 because mine were small. If you’re using large, you can use less. Apples should be thin and bite sized.
- Spray crockpot with cooking spray.
- Place apples in the bottom of your crockpot. Sprinkle with sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.
- Place the cake mix in a large bowl. Add the oats and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Stir, then sprinkle over the top of the apples. Drop slices of the butter over the top of the cake mix.
- Cover the crockpot with a paper towel then place the lid on. Cook on high for 4 hours. I recommend checking the cake after an hour and a half and then again each 30 minutes to make sure it's cooking evenly and doesn't burn. All crockpots cook differently so this is important. If it's too hot on one side, roate the liner.
- Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Recipe Nutrition
Other Apple + Crockpot Favorites
Make Apple Dump Cake in the crockpot! This slow cooker dessert recipe uses cake mix and makes an easy apple crisp with just a few ingredients. This is the best recipe for apple dump cake you’ll ever make!
Last Updated on September 21, 2023
I am totally with you on fall desserts! I love that this is made in the crockpot not only because it looks super easy, but also because you get to smell it all day long!!
Exactly my thought too!
I just looking for apple recipe, finally find your recipe, I’ll try soon. 🙂
Thanks so much for linking to my pumpkin dump cake recipe! This apple one looks fabulous! Anything cooked in the crockpot is a winner with me 🙂
You’re welcome Karen! And I totally agree!
I love this Dorothy! I have actually never tried crockpot desserts – something that I’ve always wanted to and just never done! I’m definitely going to give this a try – my husband loves anything that tastes like an apple pie – that’s his favorite dessert! Pinned 🙂
I’m kind of in love with them!! I can’t wait to make more.
What an easy cake to make! I’m up for apple desserts anytime of the year, so you’re not too early for me:) It looks so delicious!
Thanks Heather!
Love the idea to make this dump cake in the crockpot! It sounds delicious! I’m looking forward to fall for all the cozy flavors too. Pinning and can’t wait to try making this 🙂
Thanks so much for the pin Kelly!
Sounds great! I had to laugh at your description of the weather there. I grew up in Bakersfield (I don’t admit that much…lol). Now I’m in Tucson, which is pretty much the same, except we get a summer rainy season that breaks things up AND no tule fog, which I don’t miss at all. I love your recipes and your fun attitude–new subscriber here!
Thanks for subscribing! Welcome!! 🙂
I got so wound up complaining that I forgot to comment that I love apple desserts any time of the year but especially in the fall. Haven’t tried the crockpot method yet so will. I actually have 3 crockpots and have been talking about cooking outdoors for the rest of this really hot weather. So I will likely try this soon.
Oh I bet it’s worse in Fresno! We lived in Phoenix for 5 years and by August I wanted to die every year. Dessert in crockpot is new to me – but I’m so doing it more!
Sacramento may be bad but Fresno is worse. See, there is always something to be grateful for.
It doesn’t help as far as shopping for school clothes either, that it’s boiling hot and you can only find sweaters and long pants in the stores AND that they’ve moved up the start of school to mid August. I guess there is always something to complain about.
This looks great. I might even try it with sugar-free cake mix for Daddy!!!
That should work perfect!
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