Cake Mix Apple Cobbler
With only 3 ingredients, this super simple apple cobbler with cake mix recipe is incredibly delicious! Juicy apples and spice cake mix topping make this a perfect fall dessert.
Serving guests this fall? You need this apple cobbler dump cake recipe! This delicious and insanely easy cake is made from only three ingredients — really. Your prep work on this is literally 5 minutes, and the result is an apple cobbler you can be proud to serve to anyone.
Box cake mix does the heavy lifting on this one. I love the versatility of this recipe — I used spice cake for my cobbler topping, but you can easily use a yellow cake or butter pecan. This will also work with sugar-free and gluten-free cake mixes (see the ingredient notes for more info). In short, this ridiculously easy recipe is versatile, simple, and able to accommodate your tastes and dietary needs.
What do I need for Cake Mix Apple Cobbler?
Cake Mix: You will need one standard package of box cake mix. I love using spice cake to add that cinnamon-y, fall feel to my cobbler, but you can really use any flavor you feel will complement your pie filling. We have friends who swear by chocolate!
- Note on sugar-free and gluten-free mixes: I have found that if you make the recipe as written with these kind of mixes, your cobbler can come out a bit dry. This is fixed by adding about one more tablespoon of Sprite than in the original recipe. Adding a tablespoon of melted butter is another way to keep your cobbler from turning out dry. Either method works!
Apple Pie Filling: Yep, the stuff from the can. You can also make your own (I love this one from Spend with Pennies!). You’ll want the 20 oz can. I love my cobbler with extra apple, so I put in two cans for a 9×13, but you can get by with one. I know budgets are tight this year, and there are those who like more topping with their cobbler, so feel free to increase or decrease the amount of filling as needed!
Sprite: I do NOT recommend using Diet or Zero Sugar versions. Also do not use Sprite that has gone flat. This recipe comes out best if you use the good old-fashioned fizzy, sugary Sprite from the bottle. The carbonation from the soda creates the leavening that lifts the cobbler topping and turns it into that cakey goodness. And sugar keeps baked goods moist and soft. Diet or Zero Sugar versions don’t have that added benefit, and your cobbler topping can come out tough.
If you really don’t want to use Sprite, you can make this with 1 1/2 cups of milk or 3/4 cup of melted butter as a substitution for the soda. Each of these variations will change the texture of the cobbler, but you will get a cobbler, and it will taste good!
How do I make Cake Mix Apple Cobbler?
Start by preheating the oven to 350°. Get out a 9×13 pan and gather the cake mix, the pie filling, and the soda.
Next, dump your apples into the pan and spread them into an even layer. Feel free to double or even triple the amount of filling you use depending on your apple preferences!
Dump the entire box cake mix over the apples. Spread the mix into an even layer covering the apples.
On top of the cake mix, pour the Sprite, then give everything a stir so that there are no dry, cake-mix-heavy spots.
Bake for 45-40 minutes. Your cobbler is done when the top is golden and firm to the touch.
Allow the cobbler to cool a bit, then break the topping up as you serve it. Feel free to add a scoop of ice cream or Cool Whip!
FAQs
Your cobbler will store at room temperature in an airtight container. The cake may become slightly mushy as the apple juice seeps in, so 3 days is about as long as you can keep it.
Yes. You can freeze the cobbler for up to three months in a freezer safe container. You can defrost it in the fridge, and then reheat it in the oven at 180° for about 10 minutes.
Sure thing! Feel free to add a splash of vanilla or butter extract, spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice, or even mix up the pie fillings to create variations.
Yes. In fact, I learned this from some friends on a camping trip (they use chocolate cake mix for theirs)! It’s a perfect dutch oven camping dessert. For full instructions on how to make this in a dutch oven, check out this post from Trek Southwest.
More Easy Apple Desserts:
Cake Mix Apple Cobbler
Ingredients
- 1 pkg cake mix
- 2 cans canned apple pie filling
- 16 oz Sprite or any other lemon-lime soda
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- In a 9×13, spread the apple pie filling out in an even layer.2 cans canned apple pie filling
- Oven the apples, dump the cake mix. Spread the mix out in an even layer covering the apples.1 pkg cake mix
- Pour the Sprite over the cake mix and apples. Stir to combine.16 oz Sprite
- Bake the cobbler at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until the top is golden brown and spongy, and the sides are bubbling.
- Cool for 15 minutes. Serve with ice cream or Cool Whip!
