Apple Dump Cake from Scratch- fresh apples, no cake mix!

What is a Dump Cake?

Dump cakes are similar to fruit cobbler, but they are typically made by dumping fruit or pie filling into a baking dish, topping it with dry cake mix and butter, and then baking it.

This creates a super quick and easy dessert!  And as a result, dump cakes have become quite popular.

• It’s cheaper.  Store-bought cake mix and pie filling cost more than making your own cake mix topping and buying fresh apples.
• It’s healthier.  Both cake mix and bought pie filling typically have lots of sugar in them, not to mention food additives and preservatives.  Making your dump cake from scratch allows you to control the amount of sugar that goes into the dessert and avoid odd ingredients.
• It’s convenient.  You probably don’t always have a cake mix on hand.  But you most likely will have the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt it takes to make your own homemade cake mix topping!
• It tastes better.  I think this from scratch dump cake tastes better too, so that’s also a win!

Yes, it takes just a tad longer, but I promise you, it’s still very easy!

Apple Dump Cake Recipe Ingredients

• Apples
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Sugar
• Vanilla Extract
• Flour
• Baking Powder
• Salt
• Butter

How to Make Apple Dump Cake from Scratch

STEP ONE:  Combine cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar and vanilla; add to apples and mix well.  Spread into a greased 9×13 baking dish.

STEP TWO:  Using the same bowl, make the dump cake topping by combining the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Pour over top of the apple mixture and spread it out evenly.

STEP THREE:  Pour melted butter all over the top of the cake.

STEP FOUR:  Bake at 350º for 45 to 50 minutes until bubbly and lightly browned.

ENJOY!  You can eat the apple dump cake warm or cold.  It’s delicious as is, but is extra amazing topped with milk, ice cream, or Cool Whip (this homemade version is easy and so good!).

Expert Tips and Suggestions:

• Best Apples: Almost any apple will work in this recipe, but less tart baking apples will give you the best flavor and texture.  Honey Crisp, Gala and Cortland are some of my favorites.
• Spread the Topping: Make sure you spread the topping evenly over the apple mixture before pouring the melted butter onto the cake.  Also, try to get the butter over as much of the surface of the cake as possible.  This will help the topping get nice and crunchy.
• Add Pecans: Some people like to add ½ to ¾ cup of chopped pecan to the top the last 10 minutes of baking.
• Subbing Apple Pie Filling: For convenience, instead of the apple mixture you can use 2 cans of apple pie filling.  This won’t be as healthy, but it is handy if you are in a pinch and want a speedier dessert.
• Caramel Apple Dump Cake: When ready to serve, drizzle caramel syrup over the top for a fun variation.
• Ice Cream: If you serve this with ice cream, vanilla is our favorite.  But butter pecan or a caramel flavored ice cream pair nicely too.
• How to Store: If you have leftovers, you can keep them at room temperature for 1 to 2 days.  After that, you’ll need to refrigerate the Apple Dump Cake.  You can easily reheat any leftovers if you prefer to eat it warm.
• Freezing: This recipe won’t freeze well because the topping will get soggy. But I have had success freezing the apple mixture. Simply combine the ingredients, put them into a gallon freezer bag and lay flat to freeze. When you are ready to use, dump the apple mixture out into your baking dish (no need to thaw!), spread it out as evenly as you can (should be easy to break pieces apart) and then add your topping and bake as usual.
• Gluten-Free: This recipe is easy to make gluten-free. Just replace the flour with gluten-free flour and it should work out well. It is slightly less crunchy but still delicious.