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Easy Apple Cake Mix Recipe with Cinnamon Crumble

Easy Apple Cake Mix with Cinnamon Crumble

Fresh cinnamon-sugar apples are layered over a buttery yellow cake-mix base and covered with a crisp brown-sugar crumble. This simple 9-by-13-inch dessert makes 12–16 servings.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Apple Cake
  • 1 box, about 15.25 ounces Yellow cake mix
  • 1 egg Large egg
  • 1/2 cup Unsalted butter, melted
  • 3 apples, about 3 cups Medium apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon All-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup Packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
Cinnamon Crumble
  • 1/2 cup All-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup Packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
  • 4 tablespoons Unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces
  • 1/2 cup, optional Old-fashioned oats or chopped pecans

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper.
  2. Toss the thinly sliced apples with lemon juice, 1 tablespoon flour, 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
  3. 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.
  4. Arrange the seasoned apple slices in an even layer over the cake-mix base, distributing them from edge to edge.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Cool the cake for at least 15–20 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

Use Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Pink Lady apples, or combine tart and sweet varieties. A spice cake mix can replace the yellow cake mix. If using a 20-ounce can of apple pie filling, omit the lemon juice, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon from the fresh-apple mixture. If the topping browns before the apples are tender, loosely cover the dish with foil for the remaining baking time.