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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
Ohmygosh — get me out of this Sac weather already!! Monday and Tuesday were awesome with their cool cloudy weather (thank goodness I didn’t plan on photographing either of those days….), but I could’ve used a few more of those in July. I need to get a full-sized crockpot. I only have a dinky two-person one, and heavens knows that isn’t nearly big enough to make enough servings of dessert to satisfy me! Love your apple dump cake Dorothy — so festive for fall!
I know, those days threw me for a loop in photographing! 🙂
Heck yes! Dump cakes. Slow cooker. You’re speaking my language here girl! And geesh! Sacramento is cray-cray with the weather right now. LOVING the last two days! Pinned, of course 🙂
I’m so ready for fall and apple desserts. You’re getting me excited!!!
Oh man, saving that one to my recipe box! Apple dump cake IN a crockpot. Genius!
I’m sooooo ready for fall to come too! I love the fact this is pretty much a hassle-free dessert. Yum.
Made the cake today in my Hamilton Beach. The sides and bottom burned. I needed to add about a half cup of water to form tge batter. It was way too sweet. I mean curl your teeth sweet. I will try again. I’m going to leave out the sugar.
Spray the sides and bottom for easier removal. I’ll cut cooking time to see if that prevents burning. Would be great with nuts and cioconut cream on top. The cream is available in Asain stores. It is not coconut milk.
I’m sorry that happened Cara. I added some notes to the recipe about cooking temp and sugar (for those that don’t have my sweet meter!). My cooker defaults to high on a four hour setting. Possibly a lower setting or less time would be best for some cookers. Good tip about the spray! As for liquid, the cake mix doesn’t form a batter. The dry mix sprinkled over the top cooks through from the butter on the top and the juices from the apples on the bottom. Mine was cooked through, without adding any liquid. Did you use granny smith apples or another kind? I used granny smith, which are more tart, hence my added sugar.
Wow! What an easy but totally delicious recipe! I’m not ready for fall yet! Summer went way to quickly.
I am so looking forward to fall flavors like this cake – yum! I love that it’s made in a crock pot!
My favorite part of cooking in crock pot (besides the convenience) is the way the house fills up with delicious smells all day! This cake must have everyone’s mouth watering by the time its done! I am thinking about using this cake for a party dessert buffet. What a perfect way to serve a warm dessert without working in the kitchen while you have guests!
I have some late summer blueberries that would be great in place of the apples!
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