Walnut Apple Spice Dump Cake (Easy Fall Dessert!)

Name: Walnut Apple Spice Dump Cake (Easy Fall Dessert!)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: 1 ½ sticks butter, melted; 2 cans apple pie filling 21 ounces; 1 teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice; 1 cup walnuts; 15.25-ounce box of yellow cake mix

posted by Michelle Goth on Aug 16, 2023 (updated Jan 15, 2024)

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This delicious apple dump cake tastes like fall! It’s a super easy dessert for potlucks or picnics. Just 5 simple ingredients and you’re in business!

Is there anything better than warm apple cobbler in the fall? This easy apple dessert recipe is just like apple cobbler, without any fuss.

a photo of apple dump cake with vanilla ice cream on top

Even though this easy dessert recipe calls for canned apple pie filling, nobody will know it’s not homemade! And, with just 5 ingredients, this recipe truly can’t be any easier.

You will layer the cans of apple pie filling with dry cake mix, then butter. Walnuts and cinnamon are added in the mix for extra flavor and crunch.

While I used storebought apple pie filling in this recipe, you can absolutely use this homemade canned apple pie filling recipe to make your own!

an overhead photo of separated ingredients for apple dump cake

I like to make this desert in the fall l when I need to feed a crowd! You only need 10 minutes to throw it together, then the oven does the rest of the work. It’s the perfect dessert for a fall potluck!

an overhead photo of apple pie filling, cinnamon and walnuts in a casserole dish

I was tempted to make this a 3-ingredient apple dump cake recipe, but the walnuts and warm spices just added so much great flavor! Of course, you can omit these two items if you want to just work with the apple filling, cake mix and butter.

Looking for more apple recipes? Check out the other apple recipes on my site.

a photo of butter and cake mix being mixed in a bowl

Recipe Substitutions And Additions:

Instead of walnuts, use chopped pecans or almonds. You can also omit the nuts altogether.
Try a spice cake mix, white cake mix, vanilla cake mix or experiment with other cake mix flavors
Dice 1-2 fresh apples and add to the layer of canned pie filling.
Use pumpkin pie spice instead of cinnamon

a photo of apple cobbler before it goes in the oven

a photo of baked apple dump cake in a white casserole dish

Serving Suggestions:

I recommend serving this easy apple dump cake recipe with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. A bit of caramel sauce drizzled on top is excellent!

a photo of apple cobbler on a plate with vanilla ice cream

Storing Leftovers:

Store leftover dump cake in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.

Or store leftovers covered with plastic wrap or aluminum foil at room temperature for one day.

Walnut Apple Spice Dump Cake (Easy Fall Dessert!)

Yield: Serves 12

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Additional Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

This delicious apple dump cake tastes like fall! It's a super easy dessert for potlucks or picnics. Just 5 simple ingredients and you're in business!

Ingredients

1 ½ sticks butter, melted
2 cans apple pie filling 21 ounces
1 teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
1 cup walnuts
15.25-ounce box of yellow cake mix

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350° degrees Fahrenheit.
Spray a 9x13'' baking dish with cooking spray.
Carefully add each can of apple pie filling to the dish, then smooth with a spatula to fill the dish evenly.
Sprinkle the cinnamon and walnuts over top of the pie filling.
In a small bowl, combine cake mix and melted butter. Stir with a fork to combine. It should form a crumbly mixture.
Spread the cake mix mixture over the top of the apple layer.
Bake for 45 minutes or until the top of the cake mix is golden brown.
Remove from the oven and allow it to rest for at least 10 minutes.

Notes

You can also spread the cake mix over the apples dry, then drizzle the melted butter over the top of it before baking.