What makes this recipe especially appealing is its simplicity. You don’t need baking skills, fancy tools, or even much time. With just a few pantry staples—apple pie filling, yellow cake mix, and melted butter—you can create a warm, golden, fragrant dessert that fills your kitchen with the aroma of fall. If you’d like to elevate the flavor even more, an optional sprinkle of cinnamon adds depth and warmth, turning the dish into a true crowd-pleaser.

Below, you’ll find everything you need to create this irresistible slow-cooker dessert, including detailed instructions, helpful tips, and suggestions for serving. Take your time, follow each step, and enjoy the simplicity of this incredible recipe.

Ingredients

The beauty of this recipe lies in its short ingredient list. With only three main components, each one plays an important role in achieving the perfect texture and flavor.

Even if you substitute or add to the recipe, the foundation stays the same: sweet apples + a dry cake mix + melted butter. Together, they create soft fruit underneath and a golden, crisp-tender topping that’s similar to a cobbler but even easier to prepare.

How to Make Slow Cooker 3-Ingredient Apple Cinnamon Dump Cake

This recipe is called a dump cake for a reason—you simply “dump” the ingredients into the slow cooker in layers, turn it on, and forget about it. There’s no mixing, no folding, no special technique involved. Still, following the steps correctly ensures the cake cooks evenly and develops the perfect texture.

Step 1: Prepare the Slow Cooker

Start by lightly coating the inside of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker with nonstick spray or a thin layer of butter. This step may seem optional, but it’s very important. Even though the cake contains butter, the sugar in the apple pie filling can stick to the sides as it cooks. A quick coat prevents sticking and makes cleanup much easier.

You can also place a piece of parchment paper inside if you prefer lifting the dessert out in one piece, but for most people, simple greasing works perfectly.

Step 2: Layer the Apple Pie Filling

Open your cans of apple pie filling and spoon them into the bottom of the slow cooker. Spread the apples evenly so they form a smooth base layer. This ensures that the cake mix will cook uniformly on top.

If you decide to use the optional ground cinnamon, sprinkle it over the apples at this stage. The warmth of the cinnamon complements the sweetness of the apples beautifully and creates a deeper, richer flavor. You can even add a pinch of nutmeg or allspice if you enjoy stronger fall spices, although it’s entirely optional.

At this point, your slow cooker already looks and smells promising—the apples will begin to gently warm from the sides even before the next steps are added.

Step 3: Add the Dry Cake Mix

Next, take your box of yellow cake mix and sprinkle it evenly over the apples. Do not stir. This is one of the key rules of dump cake recipes. Leaving the mix on top allows it to absorb the butter and steam from the apples underneath, forming a crisp, buttery crust instead of turning into a traditional batter.

Try to distribute the cake mix as evenly as possible. A thin, even layer ensures even cooking and prevents dry spots.

If you prefer a slightly richer topping, you can gently press the mix down with the back of a spoon—but don’t mix it with the apples beneath.

Step 4: Drizzle the Melted Butter

Now melt your stick of butter and slowly drizzle it over the surface of the dry cake mix. The goal is to coat as much of the top layer as you can. Butter is what helps the cake mix transform into that beautiful golden crust as it cooks.

Don’t worry if some dry patches remain—you can lightly tap the cooker to help the butter spread, or simply leave them. During cooking, moisture from the apples below will help hydrate the cake mix.

If you want an extra-crispy topping, you can add a few small slices of butter on top in addition to the melted butter. It’s not required, but it does create a richer finish.

Step 5: Cook

Cover your slow cooker and set it to cook:

• HIGH for 2 to 2½ hours, or

• LOW for 4 to 5 hours

The dessert is done when the top turns golden, with a slight crispness around the edges. You might also see bubbling around the sides or underneath the topping—this means the apple layer is hot and perfectly thickened.

Resist the urge to open the lid while cooking. Each time the lid comes off, heat escapes and cooking slows down. For the best texture, let the cake cook without interruption.

Step 6: Rest and Serve

Once cooking is complete, turn off the slow cooker and remove the lid. Allow the dump cake to rest for 10–15 minutes. This brief resting time helps the topping set and allows the apple mixture to thicken slightly.

When ready to serve, scoop the dessert into bowls while it’s still warm. The contrast between the soft apples and the crisp-tender topping is absolutely irresistible.

If you really want to elevate the dessert, add toppings such as:

• Vanilla ice cream

• Whipped cream

• A drizzle of caramel sauce

• A sprinkle of extra cinnamon

• Chopped pecans or walnuts

This dessert is at its best warm, fresh from the slow cooker, but leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated the next day.

Tips, Variations, and Serving Ideas

To help you enjoy this recipe as much as possible, here are a few extra suggestions:

• Try different pie fillings like cherry, blueberry, or peach for new flavors.

• Use a spice cake mix instead of yellow for a stronger fall flavor.

• Add nuts on top before cooking for extra texture.

• Mix in raisins or cranberries with the apples for a festive twist.

• Line the slow cooker with parchment if serving at a party.