Embrace the cozy flavors of autumn with this incredibly simple yet utterly delicious easy apple cake. Crafted for convenience without sacrificing taste, this recipe leverages everyday pantry staples like boxed yellow cake mix and canned apple pie filling. The result is a moist, warmly spiced cake, crowned with a delicate vanilla glaze and a decadent caramel drizzle – a truly irresistible fall dessert that tastes like it took hours to prepare, but comes together in minutes.

This shortcut apple cake is the perfect solution for busy holidays, impromptu gatherings, or simply when you crave a homemade treat without the fuss of baking from scratch. The minimal prep time means you’ll spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the delicious aroma filling your home. Each bite offers a delightful combination of soft, tender cake studded with sweet, spiced apple chunks, all harmonized by the glossy, sweet toppings. It’s a dessert that consistently earns rave reviews, convincing everyone you’ve been baking all afternoon.

The cake batter is wonderfully straightforward, requiring just one bowl and a few common ingredients like cinnamon and eggs. Its simplicity makes it an ideal recipe for beginner bakers or anyone looking for a foolproof dessert. Serve a warm slice with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, a dollop of fluffy whipped cream, or simply as is with a cup of coffee. It’s a versatile crowd-pleaser that effortlessly elevates any occasion. If you appreciate the magic of easy baking mix desserts, be sure to explore my sweetened condensed milk brownies and my comforting apple cinnamon roll bake for more effortless culinary delights.

Unlock Easy Baking with These Smart Shortcuts

This apple cake recipe is designed to be as effortless as possible, leveraging a few key shortcuts that save significant time and effort without compromising on flavor or texture. These simple hacks make homemade apple cake accessible to everyone, regardless of their baking experience.

• Boxed Cake Mix Base: Starting with a quality boxed yellow cake mix is a game-changer. It eliminates the need to measure out multiple dry ingredients, ensuring consistent results every time and drastically cutting down on preparation time. This foundation provides a tender, reliable cake texture that pairs perfectly with the apple filling.
• No Peeling Apples Required: Forget the tedious task of peeling, coring, and chopping fresh apples. Canned apple pie filling is the secret ingredient here, delivering pre-cooked, perfectly spiced apple chunks right into your batter. This shortcut not only saves labor but also guarantees a moist, flavorful cake with delightful pockets of soft apples throughout.
• Quick One-Bowl Assembly: This entire cake batter comes together in a single mixing bowl, making cleanup a breeze. With minimal dirty dishes and a straightforward mixing process, you can go from craving apple cake to having it in the oven in mere minutes. It’s the ultimate hassle-free baking experience.

Essential Ingredients for Your Easy Apple Cake

Crafting this delightful apple cake requires just a handful of straightforward ingredients, most of which you likely already have in your pantry. Each component plays a vital role in creating the perfect balance of sweetness, spice, and moisture. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need:

• Yellow Cake Mix: A standard 15.25-ounce box of classic yellow cake mix forms the foundation of this easy apple cake. Its rich, vanilla-forward flavor provides the ideal backdrop for the spiced apples, while its pre-portioned nature ensures a perfect crumb every time.
• Apple Pie Filling: Two 21-ounce cans of store-bought apple pie filling are the star here. This brilliant shortcut not only infuses the cake with incredible apple flavor and chunky texture but also contributes significant moisture, ensuring a soft and tender cake. The pre-spiced apples within the filling enhance the overall autumnal taste.
• Eggs: Large eggs are crucial for binding the cake batter ingredients together, providing structure, and helping the cake rise beautifully as it bakes. They also add richness to the final product.
• Ground Cinnamon: This warm, aromatic spice is a natural complement to apples. Adding a touch of extra ground cinnamon boosts the inherent apple pie flavor, deepening its warmth and making the cake even more fragrant and inviting.
• Powdered Sugar: Also known as confectioners’ sugar, this finely milled sugar is essential for creating the smooth, pourable glaze that delicately sweetens the top of the cooled cake. Its fine texture dissolves easily, preventing graininess.
• Milk: A small amount of milk (any type will do) is used to thin the powdered sugar, allowing it to transform into a smooth, drizzle-ready glaze that coats the cake evenly without being too thick.
• Vanilla Extract: Just a hint of pure vanilla extract in the glaze elevates its sweetness, adding a subtle depth of flavor that complements both the apples and the caramel drizzle.
• Caramel Sauce: A good quality store-bought caramel sauce is the final touch, adding an irresistible layer of sweet, buttery flavor to the cooled cake. Drizzled generously over the glaze, it creates a stunning visual appeal and a truly decadent taste experience.

For precise measurements, always refer to the recipe card below.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the entire box of yellow cake mix, two cans of apple pie filling, three large eggs, and two teaspoons of ground cinnamon. You can use a hand mixer for efficiency or a sturdy silicone spatula for a gentle, hand-mixed approach. Stir these ingredients until they are thoroughly combined and no dry flour lumps remain. Be careful not to overmix; just combine until smooth.

Once your batter is perfectly mixed, pour it evenly into the prepared 9×13-inch baking dish. Use your spatula to spread the batter right to the edges, ensuring even baking. Bake for 32–37 minutes. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The top of the cake will turn a beautiful golden brown, and you’ll notice the edges beginning to pull away slightly from the sides of the baking dish, indicating it’s fully baked.

After baking, it’s crucial to allow the cake to cool completely in the baking dish. This step requires patience but is absolutely essential for the best results. If you attempt to glaze or drizzle caramel on a warm cake, the heat will cause the glaze to melt and soak into the cake, rather than setting beautifully on the surface. A completely cooled cake ensures a distinct, attractive glaze layer.

While the cake cools, prepare your simple glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until the mixture is completely smooth and free of lumps. Once the cake has cooled entirely, generously drizzle this delicious vanilla glaze over the top. The smooth, sweet glaze will set beautifully, adding a touch of elegance and extra sweetness to your dessert.

To complete your masterpiece, take your store-bought caramel sauce and drizzle it artfully over the glazed cake. You can create a zigzag pattern or a more free-form design – let your creativity flow! Once decorated, your incredible easy apple cake is ready to be sliced and enjoyed. Prepare for compliments!

The Story Behind This Beloved Apple Cake

As a passionate home baker who loves creating delicious treats without all the fuss, I’m always on the lookout for clever shortcuts. This particular apple cake recipe came to life during Halloween this year, when I wanted a festive, comforting dessert that wouldn’t keep me tied to the kitchen. I whipped it up for friends and family, and it was an absolute hit!

There’s something uniquely satisfying about the combination of warm, spiced apples and a tender cake base, especially when topped with a sweet glaze and rich caramel. It truly embodies the spirit of autumn and cozy gatherings. Everyone was amazed at how flavorful and moist it was, assuming I had spent hours creating it from scratch – which is the ultimate compliment for any shortcut recipe!

My top tip for ensuring this cake reaches its full potential is to let the cake cool completely before you even think about drizzling the glaze or caramel. I cannot stress this enough! If the cake is still warm, even slightly, the heat will cause the powdered sugar glaze to melt and seep into the cake, instead of forming that beautiful, distinct layer on the surface. The caramel will also thin out and lose its appealing texture. Patience truly pays off here, yielding a picture-perfect and deliciously topped cake every single time.

Frequently Asked Questions About Apple Cake

Pin Recipe
Save RecipeSaved!
Email
Print

Apple Cake with Cake Mix and Pie Filling

Important Food Safety Guidelines

Ensuring food safety is paramount when baking. Following these simple guidelines will help you and your loved ones enjoy this delicious apple cake without worry.

• Always confirm that your cake is fully baked by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean, without any wet batter attached.
• Avoid consuming raw eggs or unbaked flour. Both can contain bacteria that may cause illness.
• Proper storage is key to preventing spoilage. Store any leftover apple cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep it fresh and safe for consumption.

For more comprehensive food safety information and detailed guidelines, please refer to USDA.gov.

Explore More Delightful Cake Mix Recipes

If you loved the simplicity and deliciousness of this apple cake made with cake mix, you’re in for a treat! Cake mixes are incredibly versatile and can be the secret to many quick and easy desserts. Expand your baking repertoire with these other fantastic recipes that leverage the convenience of a boxed cake mix:

These recipes prove that convenience doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor or the joy of homemade baking. Enjoy exploring these simple yet satisfying desserts!