This easy apple cake mix recipe with cinnamon crumble turns a box of yellow cake mix, fresh apples, and a handful of pantry staples into a warm, bakery-style dessert. The cake bakes in a 9-by-13-inch dish at 350°F (175°C) for 40–50 minutes, making 12–16 servings that are ideal for family dinners, potlucks, and relaxed weekend baking.
Every bite combines a buttery, tender cake-mix base with soft apples coated in brown sugar and cinnamon, then finishes with a golden crumble made from flour, brown sugar, cold butter, and optional oats or pecans. Serve it slightly warm after a 15–20 minute cooling period, or add vanilla ice cream for a comforting apple dessert.
Jump to RecipeWhy You’ll Love This Recipe
This apple cake is designed for easy baking, but it tastes as though you spent the afternoon making a traditional fruit cake from scratch. The boxed cake mix creates a rich, buttery base with very little mixing, while fresh apples bring bright flavor and a tender, juicy texture.
The cinnamon crumble is the part that makes this dessert especially irresistible. Brown sugar gives it a mellow caramel note, cold butter creates crisp pockets, and optional oats or pecans add a pleasant contrast to the soft apples.
- Simple preparation: The base comes together in one bowl.
- Generous yield: One 9-by-13-inch pan serves 12–16 people.
- Flexible flavor: Choose tart, sweet, or mixed apple varieties.
- Comforting finish: Serve it warm, plain, or with ice cream.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the apple cake, gather one box of yellow cake mix, one large egg, and 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter. These ingredients form a thick, crumbly dough that presses into the bottom of the baking dish rather than pouring like a standard cake batter.
You will also need three medium apples, about three cups once peeled, cored, and thinly sliced. Lemon juice helps keep the slices fresh, while 1 tablespoon flour, 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon coat the apples and help create a flavorful layer as they bake.
The crumble uses 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter cut into small pieces. Add 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats or chopped pecans if you want extra texture, although either choice is optional.
Choosing and Preparing the Apples
Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, and Pink Lady apples are dependable choices for this recipe. A mixture of tart and sweet apples gives the cake a fuller flavor, with enough acidity to balance the buttery cake and brown sugar topping.
Peel and core the apples, then slice them about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Uniform slices matter because they soften at the same rate, whereas very thick pieces may remain firm when the cake base and crumble are already finished.
Toss the slices with lemon juice as soon as they are cut. Add the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon directly to the bowl, then stir gently until each slice is lightly coated without breaking the fruit.
How to Make It Step-by-Step
Step 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C), then grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish or line it with parchment. Greasing the corners and sides helps the cake release cleanly, while parchment makes lifting and slicing even easier.
Step 2: Prepare the apples by tossing the thin slices with 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Set the bowl aside while you make the base so the apples can absorb the warm cinnamon flavor.
Step 3: In a separate bowl, stir the dry yellow cake mix, one large egg, and 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter together. Stop mixing as soon as a thick, crumbly dough forms, since overmixing can make the base dense instead of tender.
Step 4: Press the cake-mix dough evenly into the prepared pan. Use your fingertips or the flat bottom of a measuring cup to create an even layer, reaching into the corners without compressing it more than necessary.
Step 5: Arrange the seasoned apple slices over the base in an even layer. Overlap them slightly if needed, but keep the fruit spread across the entire surface so every serving contains soft cinnamon apples.
Step 6: Make the crumble by mixing 1/2 cup flour, 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats or chopped pecans if using. Cut in the four tablespoons of cold butter with a fork or your fingertips until loose, coarse crumbs form.
Step 7: Sprinkle the crumble evenly over the apples without pressing it into a solid layer. Bake for 40–50 minutes, watching for tender apples, a golden topping, and a cake base that looks set.
Step 8: Remove the pan from the oven and let the cake cool for at least 15–20 minutes before slicing. This short rest allows the apple juices to settle and gives the base enough time to firm up for neat portions.
Pro Tips for the Best Crumble
Keep the crumble loose and uneven rather than packing it into a paste. Cold butter is important because it melts in the oven gradually, leaving behind crisp, buttery crumbs instead of a flat, greasy topping.
If the crumble becomes deeply golden before the apples are tender, loosely cover the pan with foil for the remaining baking time. The foil shields the topping while the fruit continues to soften underneath.
For a stronger spice profile, substitute a spice cake mix for the yellow cake mix. You can also replace the cinnamon with apple pie spice by using about 1 1/2 teaspoons in the apples and 1 teaspoon in the crumble.
Serving Suggestions
Allow the cake to cool just long enough to slice, then serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The cold, creamy ice cream melts into the cinnamon crumble and pairs beautifully with the tender apples.
For a lighter presentation, serve each square at room temperature with a spoonful of softly whipped cream. A small dusting of cinnamon or a few toasted pecans on the plate adds a simple finishing touch without changing the recipe.
This cake is also delicious with coffee at breakfast or brunch. Cut smaller squares for a dessert table, or serve generous portions as a family-style after-dinner treat.
Storage and Reheating
Cover leftover cake and store it in the refrigerator. Chilling helps preserve the apple layer, and the cake can be enjoyed cold, at room temperature, or gently warmed.
To reheat, warm individual portions until just heated through, taking care not to overheat the crumble. The topping is best when it remains crisp around the edges and the apples are pleasantly soft.
For make-ahead convenience, bake the cake earlier in the day and let it cool before covering it. Slice shortly before serving so the crumble remains attractive and the layers stay easy to see.
Easy Apple Cake Mix with Cinnamon Crumble
Ingredients
Method
- Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper.
- Toss the thinly sliced apples with lemon juice, 1 tablespoon flour, 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
- Stir the dry yellow cake mix, egg, and melted butter together until a thick, crumbly dough forms. Press the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- Arrange the seasoned apple slices in an even layer over the cake-mix base, distributing them from edge to edge.
- Mix 1/2 cup flour, 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and the optional oats or chopped pecans for the crumble. Cut in the cold butter with a fork or your fingertips until coarse crumbs form.
- Sprinkle the crumble evenly over the apples without packing it down. Bake for 40–50 minutes, until the apples are tender, the topping is golden, and the cake base is set.
- Cool the cake for at least 15–20 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Final Thoughts
This easy apple cake mix recipe with cinnamon crumble is a reliable way to bring homemade flavor to the table without complicated techniques. The yellow cake-mix base keeps preparation quick, while fresh apples and a buttery brown-sugar topping make every square taste warm, fragrant, and satisfying.
Remember to slice the apples thinly and evenly, keep the crumble loose, and allow the finished cake to cool for at least 15–20 minutes before cutting. With a 40–50 minute bake time and enough servings for a crowd, it is a practical dessert for holidays, potlucks, or an ordinary evening that calls for something special.
Choose your favorite apple combination, add oats or pecans for texture, and serve the cake warm with vanilla ice cream. Once you try this simple method, it is likely to become a regular part of your fall and winter baking.
