Skip to Content

Easy 2-Ingredient Apple Cake

This delicious 2-ingredient apple cake couldn’t be any easier, and it’s such a deliciously comforting treat! All you have to do is combine a couple of ingredients and pop it into the oven. In a matter of minutes, you’ll have a delicious dessert!

Slice of apple cake beside a red apple

I’ve also heard this called apple dump cake because you basically just dump the ingredients into a bowl, mix, bake, and serve. Although you make this with a cake mix, it has a difference consistency from traditional cake. It’s similar to a dense bread pudding.

You might have wondered a couple of things about this cake, besides the fact that it’s made with cake mix and canned apple pie filling. First of all, you make this apple cake without oil or eggs. Secondly, you can top it with whatever you like. There’s more on that below.

Quick and Easy Cake Mix Apple Cake Recipe

I don’t count the frosting or added spices as part of the 2 ingredients because you don’t have to add them. But even if you do, that’s only 4 ingredients.

Ingredients

The only things you need to make this cake are cake mix and apple pie filling. I used gluten-free yellow cake mix. You can use regular cake mix, but if you have sensitivities to gluten or wheat, you’ll want to follow a gluten free apple cake recipe.

Here is what you need:

  • 1 yellow cake mix (regular or gluten free)
  • 2 cans apple pie filling (21 ounce cans)
Yellow cake mix and apple pie filling

That’s all you have to have. However, if you want more flavor and texture, add a dash of cinnamon to the mix and frost it after it cools. I like cream cheese frosting.

Container of ground cinnamon

If you want to print this recipe, you’ll find a printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

How to Make a 2-Ingredient Apple Cake

Combine a yellow cake mix with a couple of cans of apple pie filling. Mix it well to make sure all of the cake mix is moist. You don’t want any dry particles of cake mix showing up.

Cake mix combined with apple pie filling

Pour the mixture into a greased pan and smooth it out as much as possible across the top. Now all you have to do is bake it until it’s done.

Cake mix in pan

The consistency is different from a traditional cake. It’s more moist, which I think is a good thing. Someone told me this is an apple cake pie.

Baked apple cake

If you decide to frost the cake, use either canned frosting or this insanely delicious cream cheese frosting from the Back to My Southern Roots blog. I’ve found that all of the recipes from Back to My Southern Roots wonderful. It’s my friend Julie’s blog, and she is as much of a foodie as I am.

Or you might want to check out this Frosting 101 page from Cooking with Carlee. She has a variety of frosting ideas that all look amazing!

Tips for Making the Best Apple Cake

This is a super easy dessert, but you can give yourself an advantage by following these easy tips:

  • Don’t forget to prep the pan or baking dish before you begin. Otherwise, the cake will probably stick to the bottom.
  • Mix the ingredients well. If you don’t, you’ll wind up with some powdery bites that aren’t appetizing.
  • This is a form of dump cake, so don’t expect to have the consistency of a traditional cake. It will be quite moist.
  • This cake is wonderful as-is with a cup of coffee. Add frosting for special occasions.
  • Don’t rush the cooling time before putting frosting on top. Allow it to get close to room temperature.
  • Be adventurous and try different toppings. You can drizzle caramel sauce over the top instead of frosting.
  • Or you can top it with ice cream and drizzle the caramel sauce over that. Then sprinkle with crushed nuts.
Apple cake with an apple and dish towel

What to Do with Leftover Apple Cake

Chances are, you won’t have much apple cake left since it’s so good. But if you do, cover it with either plastic wrap or aluminum foil. It’s fine to leave it out on the counter for a couple of days. However, if you want to keep it longer, put it in the fridge. You can also put it in an airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.

More 2 or 3 Ingredient Treats

There are other 2-ingredient cakes we enjoy. My favorite is this 2-ingredient peach cake that delivers a ton of flavor.

My husband prefers this 2-ingredient cherry chocolate cake. It’s so moist and decadent you might feel a tad guilty for enjoying it so much.

Another 2-ingredient cake we both like is this lemon cake that is a bit different from my other flavors. It has a slightly different consistency, so sometimes I cut rectangles and call them lemon bars.

Another wonderful treat is this 3-ingredient chocolate cake. It’s flourless so you can serve it to anyone wanting to avoid gluten. And it’s also easy to make.

2-ingredient apple cake

More Delicious Dessert Recipes

Don’t forget to add other options to the dessert table. Your family and guests will love this luscious lemon meringue pie.

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like this Oreo pudding pie. It’s a no-bake recipe that you can make in advance, freeing up your time to do other things.

No Bake Caramel Crunch Bars are fun to make and eat! If you have kids or grandkids, they’ll love helping with the process.

If you like brownies, and you like peanut butter … well, you’ll love these wonderfully tasty peanut butter cup brownies!

Fans of a blend of tart and sweet will love this delicious lemon lush pie. It has just the right amount of tangy flavor to make your taste buds very happy.

Quick and Easy 2-Ingredient Apple Cake

This delicious apple cake is such a delicious sweet treat! The ingredients are shelf stable, so you can keep them on hand for a snacking or dessert emergency.

Yield: 12 slices

2-Ingredient Apple Cake Recipe

Apple cake with an apple and tea towel

When you need an easy-to-make dessert, this 2-ingredient apple cake is perfect.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 yellow cake mix (regular or gluten-free)
  • 2 cans of apple pie filling (21 ounce cans)
  • 1 teaspoon of cinnamon (optional)
  • Cream cheese frosting (optional)

Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray the inside of a 9”x13” baking pan or casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
    2. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix and both cans of apple pie filling. Stir until mixed. If you want to add cinnamon, sprinkle the cinnamon over the mixture and stir again.
    3. Turn the mixture out into the baking pan. Spread it out until it is evenly distributed.
    4. Bake for 35 minutes. Serve warm. This cake is delicious alone, topped with ice cream, or with whipped cream.

Notes

If you want to frost this cake, allow it to cool before you spread cream cheese frosting over the top.

Nutrition Information

Yield

12

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 206Total Fat 2gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 0mgSodium 339mgCarbohydrates 46gFiber 1gSugar 27gProtein 2g

The nutrition information is a product of online calculators. I try to provide true and accurate information, but these numbers are estimates.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Please feel free to share!

Janie

Wednesday 13th of December 2023

This Apple Cake was Fantastic! Didn’t care to make the one with all the butter. I did butter the pan and halved the recipe using 1 1/2 cup cake mix and 1 can of filling. Mixed in about a teaspoon of cinnamon and sprinkled with coarse sugar before baking. Great with whipped cream. Hubby loved it!

southernhomeexpress

Thursday 14th of December 2023

Hi Janie. I'm so glad you enjoyed it! It's also fun to see some of the tweaks you made to the recipe. This is something that I think makes the recipe even better!

Kathleen Wallace

Wednesday 26th of April 2023

I always added 3 eggs to the mix. Nice and rich.

Cathy McLean

Saturday 8th of April 2023

How long do you bake this? I assume 350 degree oven. Going to try and maybe add nuts

southernhomeexpress

Saturday 8th of April 2023

Hi Cathy. 350Ëš F for 35 minutes. The complete directions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Gail

Thursday 10th of November 2022

I made this but only added 1 tin of pie apples which was plenty, you don’t say what size your tins of pie apples come in mine was 400gm, I also used a packet of carrot cake because that’s what I had it turned out very nice and would definitely make again with my variations, thanks for the recipe

Tiffany

Friday 3rd of March 2023

@southernhomeexpress, If I only have one can of apple filling should I follow the Cake directions & just add apple filling?

southernhomeexpress

Thursday 10th of November 2022

Hi Gail. I use two 21-ounce cans of pie filling. I'm so glad you liked it! I would love it with carrot cake mix, but since I have to be gluten-free, I'm somewhat limited. But it sounds delicious!

Nancy Wiley

Saturday 29th of October 2022

Mine is incredibly wet in the center … I baked an extra 10 minutes in 5 minute intervals.

southernhomeexpress

Saturday 29th of October 2022

Hi Nancy. That was smart to do. Since every oven cooks differently, it's always a good idea to test it for doneness and finish cooking in short intervals. My last oven cooked hot, but my current one is pretty accurate.

Skip to Recipe