Apple desserts and the fall season seem to go hand in hand. This apple cobbler made with cake mix is the perfect fall dessert. This dump cake recipe includes a homemade apple filling, and is equal parts easy & delicious!
September is here! For many people, this marks the unofficial end of summer and start of the fall season.
In addition to the weather, ⅔ of my kiddos are back in school at least part-time making my house quieter (and a little cleaner). *insert happy mom dance*
I'm one of the those people who isn't quite ready to fill my house with pumpkins, but am starting to embrace the cooler temperatures and fall flavors.
What says fall more than a warm dish of apple cobbler?
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Store-bought shortcut - the topping for this cobbler is made using dry cake mix combined with melted butter for an easy, yet irresistible topping that pairs perfectly with the baked apples.
- Quintessential fall flavors - nothing says fall quite like an apple dessert. Pair the apples with spices like cinnamon & nutmeg and this cobbler becomes the ultimate fall dessert
- Perfect for entertaining- make the cobbler ahead of time and either reheat the whole pan or individual servings
Ingredient Notes
This cobbler is made with a homemade apple filling, much like you'd use for an apple pie or crisp. Here's what you'll need to make it:
- Sliced apples - see F.A.Q. below for info on the best baking apples!
- White sugar & brown sugar - for the perfect mix of sweetness
- Cinnamon & nutmeg - as any apple dessert recipe should have!
- Lemon juice - prevents the apples from turning brown
- Cornstarch - thickens the filling
The topping for the cobbler only requires 2 ingredients:
- Yellow cake mix - just the dry mix, don't pay any attention to the instructions on the box
- Melted butter - I prefer salted for this recipe
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prep the pan - Grease the bottom and sides of an 8x8 baking dish with softened butter.
- Prep the apples - Peel, core and slice apples into ¼ inch slices.
- Make the filling - In a mixing bowl, combine apple slices with the other filling ingredients. Toss until apples are evenly coated. Place the apples in greased baking dish.
- Make the topping - In a small bowl, combine dry cake mix and melted butter. The mixture will be fairly crumbly and thick. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the apples and gently press down.
- Bake! - Bake in a 350 degree oven for 40-45 minutes until the topping is golden brown. Before placing in the oven, I like to place a baking sheet under the baking dish to catch any juice that can bubble over the edge while baking. I hate cleaning my oven.
Serving Tips
I think this goes for most apple desserts, but this apple cobbler is best served warm. If you are able to time it right to serve it as soon as it comes out of the oven, that's perfect! If not, don't worry! You can easily reheat it to enjoy it later.
Reheating whole pan - 350 degrees for 15 minutes
Reheating individual servings - place a scoop on a microwave safe plate and microwave in 30-second intervals until warmed through
Top each serving of cobbler with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream (or both!). You can also drizzle with some caramel sauce for an extra treat!
FAQ
There are a handful of apples that are considered best to hold up to baking, but beyond that it's mostly just personal preference. For the most part, you want an apple that is a little more tart & crisp to hold up to baking and to pair well with the other filling ingredients. Here's some that work best for pies, crisps and cobblers:
- Honeycrisp - developed by the University of Minnesota and generally one of my favorites!
- Granny Smith
- Braeburn
- Golden Delicious
- Fuji
- Gala
It's fun to play around with using different varieties and even combining 2 different kinds of apples. You really can't go wrong using any of these on the list.
All apple desserts may be delicious, but not all are created equal. While both include a sweet, spiced apple filling, there are some distinct differences in the toppings of a cobbler & crisp. This applies no matter what fruit is used.
Cobblers - topped with a biscuit or cake-like topping
Crisps - topped with a streusel topping often made with butter, flour, sugar and oats. The oats crisp up when baked, hence the name. Crumbles are a dessert similar to crisps, but usually do not include oats.
One thing they all have in common: I want them all.
Covered with plastic wrap, cobbler will last about 2-3 days at room temperature. If kept in the refrigerator, it will last a couple extra, about 4-5 days.
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Cake Mix Apple Cobbler
Ingredients
- 4 apples (I use honeycrisp) about 1.5 pounds
- 2 tbsp. white sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
- 2 tbsp. cornstarch
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- ½ cup salted butter melted, 1 stick
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom and sides of a 8x8 baking dish with softened butter.
- Prepare apples by peeling, coring and slicing them into ¼ inch slices.4 apples (I use honeycrisp)
- Place apples in a mixing bowl and add both sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice & cornstarch. Toss well. Pour into greased baking dish.2 tbsp. white sugar, ¼ cup brown sugar, ½ tsp. ground cinnamon, ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg, 1 tbsp. lemon juice, 2 tbsp. cornstarch
- In a separate bowl combine cake mix and melted butter, the mixture will be crumbly. Evenly sprinkle topping over the apple mixture.1 box yellow cake mix, ½ cup salted butter
- Place baking dish on a sheet pan to catch any leaks and bake 40-45 minutes until the top is golden brown.
- Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream!
Katherine Hunter
Could I use canned pie filling?
Ashley
I have not tested it with canned pie filling, although I think it would work in a pinch. Just keep in mind the apples in the canned pie filling are already cooked, while in the recipe you are cooking them from raw so it might turn out mushier.