Layer a CrockPot apple dump cake with pie filling, cake mix, and cinnamon. Easy slow cooker recipe, festive for fall and the holiday season!

Not that long ago, I shared a caramel apple dump cake recipe with you. Perfect for fall and the holiday season, this slow cooker apple dump cake is very similar but instead of the oven, it's time to get out your CrockPot.

Essentially a CrockPot apple cobbler with cake mix, this dump cake is one of those recipes you can literally dump in, set to cook, and walk away. Now that's a dessert to love, especially during the busy holiday season.

I also love that you only need 5 ingredients to make this yummy dessert.

Now some people use a spice cake mix; I've also thought of butter pecan. For this particular CrockPot apple crisp with cake mix, I decided just to keep it simple with a yellow cake mix.

This dessert is easy to make gluten-free too, and I'll explain how below.

Are you ready for a festive fall dessert your family will absolutely love? Let's get slow cooking.

WHERE CAN I FIND THE ACTUAL RECIPE CARD?

If you’d rather skip all of my slow cooking tips, important info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the CrockPot apple dump cake recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

WHAT IS A DUMP CAKE?

Believe it or not, I wondered the same thing. To tell you the truth, it's in the name.

Dump cake is just that; you dump ingredients into a pan and load it into the oven, or, as in this case, the ingredients get dumped right into the slow cooker.

People understandably confuse dump cakes with cobblers, but the two desserts differ in that cobbler is far more work. Dump cakes require no mixing, no stirring, and no work at all really.

Cobblers also use a more savory crust, such as pie crust or biscuits, while as dump cake almost always uses a rich cake mix.

Of course, both desserts have in common the fact that they truly are delicious!

INGREDIENTS YOU'LL NEED:

• Apple pie filling
• Yellow cake mix – Or spice cake, or butter pecan… You choose the flavor you want.
• Ground cinnamon
• Chopped pecans
• Salted butter

Remember, all of the ingredient amounts you’ll need are in the printable recipe card below.

KITCHEN TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT YOU'LL NEED:

Slow Cooker – I just use my 7-quart slow cooker.

Spatula or Wooden Spoon

Paring Knife – to slice up the butter.

HOW TO MAKE CROCKPOT APPLE DUMP CAKE

Making apple dump cake in the CrockPot involves 4 basic steps. But first be sure to give your slow cooker a light coat of cooking spray to prevent sticking and burning.

1. Dump the pie filling and evenly spread it in the bottom of your CrockPot.

1. Next sprinkle the dry cake mix, and spread it evenly all over the top of the pie filling.

3. Sprinkle cinnamon over the dry cake mix.

4. Sprinkle chopped pecans over the cinnamon and dry cake mix.

5. Slice cold butter all over the top of the cake.

Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours, or on low for 5-6 hours. You'll know it's fully cooked when the butter has melted and transformed the dry cake mix into a golden crust, and the mixture is bubbly.

Scoop it out and serve it with your favorite toppings. We have a few ideas as you keep reading.

CAN I MAKE DUMP CAKE IN THE OVEN?

Yes, dump cake can be cooked however you like it, in the oven or in the slow cooker. In fact, the procedure for layering is exactly the same.

If you choose to make it in the oven, be sure to bake at 350°F for 1 hour, or until the cake turns a golden brown and the pie filling is bubbly all around the edges.

HOW TO STORE CROCK POT APPLE DUMP CAKE

Although dump cake is best served hot out of the CrockPot, I recommend refrigerating any leftovers if you use canned pie filling.

Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for no more than a few days; or you can freeze it in the same manner for up to 3 months.

HOW TO SERVE SLOW COOKER APPLE DUMP CAKE

As I've stated before, this CrockPot apple dump cake is best served hot out of the slow cooker. This makes for an incredibly rich and creamy dessert that's truly hard to resist.

Some toppings that I enjoy with this cake might include…

• Vanilla ice cream – Or butter pecan… or butter brickle… or cinnamon ice cream. Yum!
• Caramel syrup
• Butterscotch ice cream topping
• Shake a dusting of powdered sugar on top.
• Drizzle a little maple syrup on top.

Be creative; it's really hard to go wrong when it comes to dump cake toppings.

CAN I USE FRESH APPLES OR HOMEMADE APPLE PIE FILLING?

Yes, feel free to change it up and use a homemade pie filling. These delicious baked cinnamon apples make a wonderful pie filling, and they're even gluten-free.

Baked cinnamon apples are easy to make, and they generally taste better than a canned pie filling. In fact, they're delicious just eaten on their own!

In my opinion, the fresher the apples are, the better your pie filling will taste. My favorite varieties include Honeycrisp, Jonathan, Jonagold, and Granny Smith.

VARIATIONS OF CROCK POT APPLE DUMP CAKE

Here are a couple dump cake variations you might like:

• Easy Peach Dump Cake
• Gluten-Free Cherry Dump Cake

WHAT CAN I USE INSTEAD OF BUTTER?

Here are a few substitutes you could use in place of butter:

• Applesauce—this is the most common substitute that I have found for butter. Use half the amount of applesauce as you would butter, or, for even better results, use 1/4 of the amount of applesauce as you would butter plus 1/4 of the amount of buttermilk as you would butter.
• Vegetable Oil—this makes a very close substitute. Use 3/4 the amount of vegetable oil as you would butter.
• Coconut Oil—it will differ somewhat in flavor, but its oil-based properties are very similar to butter. Many people substitute it 1:1 in place of butter.

HOW TO MAKE THIS A GLUTEN-FREE DUMP CAKE

It is very easy to make a gluten-free dump cake. Simply use a gluten-free cake mix, which can be found at most grocery stores and health food stores.

As with any recipe, be sure to check all of your ingredients to ensure that they are gluten-free, including your pie filling.

MORE FAVORITE APPLE DESSERTS:

• Old-Fashioned Gluten-Free Apple Crisp
• Cinnamon Apple French Toast Casserole
• Dutch Apple Crumb Pie
• Grandma's Easy Apple Crumble

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