Nothing says comfort quite like a warm apple cobbler with cake mix fresh out of the oven. This easy fall dessert comes together with crisp, orchard-picked apples, a sprinkle of cozy spices, and a buttery yellow cake mix that creates a soft, golden topping. It’s just the right blend of tender apples and moist cake—ideal for savoring on a crisp evening with the family.
This apple cobbler recipe using cake mix is a time-saving gem for busy bakers. Instead of fussing with homemade dough or pie crust, all you need is a box of yellow cake mix to create a perfectly golden topping with just the right texture. The result? The result is a dessert that exudes a sense of having spent hours in the kitchen. If you’re new to baking or seeking a reliable fall recipe, this apple cobbler with yellow cake mix is an excellent choice as it provides a warm, spiced apple flavor with minimal effort.
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Why We Love This Apple Cobbler Recipe Using Cake Mix
- It’s just so easy!
With this apple cobbler with yellow cake mix, everything bakes right in the same pot. It’s a breeze to manage the mess and keep dishes to a minimum. - All ingredients are inexpensive and easy to find anywhere.
And we’re not picky! There are several substitutes and ways to make do with whatever you have in the kitchen
Cake mix recipes are fun to make, too! - It’s a fun family activity.
There’s really no way to mess up cake mix cobbler, so let the kids get involved!
Desserts Made Easy
Using boxed mixes to make desserts is a fantastic shortcut for those who love to bake but don’t have as much time as they’d like.
And the desserts you can make with boxed mix are so tasty that your family and friends won’t be able to tell the difference! Our sweet, sticky summer peach cobbler with cake mix is one of our favorite yellow cake mix recipes.
If you’re a fan of chocolate desserts, you can use a box mix to make red velvet cake mix cookies!
Speaking of seasonal sweets, you just can’t go through fall without having at least one apple dessert! From simple 2 ingredient apple cinnamon rolls to the classic apple crisp, you have dozens of delectable options to choose from.
Cobblers, in general, are the simplest way to enjoy seasonal desserts. Along with sweet peaches, tart Bisquick cobbler cherry is another summer favorite in our household! Then, there’s strawberry blueberry cobbler in the spring.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Apples: See the FAQs below for tips on choosing the best baking apples for your apple cobbler!
- Brown sugar: Both light and dark brown sugar will have the desired effect. Try not to use plain white sugar, as a lot of the depth comes from the molasses in the brown sugar — but it’ll work in a pinch.
- Apple pie spice: If cake mix apple cobbler is all you plan on using this for, try mixing nutmeg and allspice instead. It’s one less wasted spice in the back of the cabinet!
- Boxed mix: Your preferred brand will work perfectly to make moist, crumbly apple cobbler with cake mix. Feel free to use white cake mix instead!
Recipe Variations
- Use a different cake mix: Swap the yellow mix with a spice cake mix for even more warm, cozy fall flavor. The spices in the mix pair beautifully with the apple filling.
- Switch up your apples: Try tart Granny Smith apples for a tangy twist or go with sweeter varieties like Fuji. You can also use a can of apple pie filling instead of fresh apples if you’re short on time—just skip the spices and sugar in the recipe since it’s already seasoned.
- Make it a dump cake: For an even easier version, turn this into an apple dump cake recipe by layering the fruit, dry cake mix, and melted butter directly into the pan without stirring. Bake as directed for a super simple treat!
- Add a delicious topping: Top your cobbler with caramel sauce, chopped almonds, or a sprinkle of cobbler topping mix. Or mix things up entirely and use cherry pie filling in place of apples for a whole new fruity spin.
Equipment Used in this Recipe
- Small Dutch oven – or 3-quart casserole dish, or 9×13-inch baking dish
- Apple corer
- Peeler
- Chef’s knife
- Cutting board
- Medium mixing bowl
- Large mixing spoon
How to Make Apple Cobbler with Yellow Cake Mix
- Prep the baking dish
Start by greasing a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray or butter and set it aside. - Mix the apple filling
In a medium bowl, combine the peeled and sliced apples with brown sugar, cinnamon, apple pie spice (or your spice blend), and salt. Stir everything together until the apples are evenly coated in the mixture.
- Layer the apples
Pour the spiced apple mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish, spreading it out into an even layer.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
Be consistent with the size of your slices.
There’s nothing worse than biting into a hard, undercooked fruit filling!
Prevent this by slicing the fruit into uniformly sized slices. They’ll all cook at the same rate, and you won’t have to worry about any unpleasant textures.
- Make the cobbler topping
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the yellow cake mix, milk (or non-dairy alternative), and melted butter. Mix until just combined. The batter will be thick. - Assemble the cobbler
Spoon the batter over the apple layer and use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread it gently into an even layer that covers the apples.
- Bake the dessert
Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for 40–45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and cooked through. - Cool and serve
Let the apple cobbler recipe using cake mix cool for a few minutes before serving. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce if you like!
Serving Suggestions
For a delightful twist when serving apple cobbler made with cake mix, try adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of freshly whipped cream on top right before serving. The cold, creamy texture beautifully complements the warm, spiced apples and the buttery cake topping, creating a perfect balance of flavors and temperatures.
To elevate the presentation and add a bit of crunch, sprinkle a handful of chopped nuts, such as pecans or walnuts, over the whipped cream or ice cream. This simple addition will make your apple cobbler an irresistible and memorable dessert!
Recipe FAQs
It’s best to use fresh, firm varieties because they will hold their shape even after simmering and baking. These “baking apples” won’t crumble and break down into mush, so you can still get a tender bite!
Gala, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, Jazz, Cortland, and the fan-favorite Granny Smith are all good choices.
Yes, you could substitute with the same amount of water, but juice or nut milk are more flavorful options.
We don’t recommend it for apple cobbler with cake mix.
Canned fruits never soften properly, due to the preservatives, and the thick syrups they’re stored in often lead to an unpleasant, gummy texture.
The apples in canned pie filling are usually mushy, too, so they almost disintegrate by the time they’re done baking.
This apple cobbler with cake mix should be stored in the refrigerator. It’ll last for 5 days, but is most delicious eaten within the first day or two.
To reheat leftovers, simply microwave servings in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second rounds until warmed through.
More Fall Recipes To Try…
- Pumpkin Custard Pie
- Bisquick Chicken Pot Pie
- Cajun Turkey Brine (for Breast or Whole Turkey)
- Oatmeal Pumpkin Cookies
If you tried this apple cobbler with cake mix recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Apple Cobbler with Cake Mix
Equipment
- small Dutch oven - or 3-quart casserole dish, or 9×13-inch baking dish
- apple corer
- peeler
- chef's knife
- cutting board
- medium mixing bowl
- large mixing spoon
Ingredients
- 5 large baking apples cored, peeled, and cut into slices 1/4-inch thick *See Notes
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon apple pie spice or 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg and 1/8 teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 15 ounces yellow cake mix
- ¾ cup milk or non-dairy substitute, such as cashew or almond milk.
- 6 tablespoons melted butter (6 tablespoons = 3 ounces, 1/3 cup, or 3/4 stick)
Instructions
- Prepare a Dutch oven by greasing the inside with butter or non-stick cooking spray. Alternatively, use a 9×13-inch glass baking dish. Set aside.
- To a medium-sized mixing bowl, add apple slices, brown sugar, spices, and salt. Stir well to combine.
- Transfer the apple mixture to the prepared baking dish. PRO TIP: Rinse out your mixing bowl with water so you can reuse it – one less dirty dish to wash!
- To the now empty mixing bowl, add the cake mix, milk, and melted butter. Stir well to combine.
- Pour the batter mixture over the apple mixture and use an offset spatula or the back of a large spoon to spread it out in an even layer.
- Bake the cake mix apple cobbler at 350°F. for 40-45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
- Serve warm. If desired, top your dessert with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- What are the best apples for apple cobbler?
It’s best to use fresh, firm varieties because they will hold their shape even after simmering and baking. These “baking apples” won’t crumble and break down into mush, so you can still get a tender bite!
Gala, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, Jazz, Cortland, and the fan-favorite Granny Smith are all good choices. - Can I use something besides milk in a cake mix dessert? Yes, you could substitute with the same amount of water, but juice or nut milk are more flavorful options.
- Can I use apple pie filling instead of fresh apples?
We don’t recommend it for apple cobbler with cake mix.
Canned fruits never soften properly, due to the preservatives, and the thick syrups they’re stored in often lead to an unpleasant, gummy texture.
The apples in canned pie filling are usually mushy, too, so they almost disintegrate by the time they’re done baking. - How do I store and reheat this?
This apple cobbler with cake mix should be stored in the refrigerator. It’ll last for 5 days, but is most delicious eaten within the first day or two.
To reheat leftovers, simply microwave servings in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second rounds until warmed through.
- Use a different cake mix: Swap the yellow mix with a spice cake mix for even more warm, cozy fall flavor. The spices in the mix pair beautifully with the apple filling.
- Switch up your apples: Try tart Granny Smith apples for a tangy twist or go with sweeter varieties like Fuji. You can also use a can of apple pie filling instead of fresh apples if you’re short on time—just skip the spices and sugar in the recipe since it’s already seasoned.
- Make it a dump cake: For an even easier version, turn this into an apple dump cake recipe by layering the fruit, dry cake mix, and melted butter directly into the pan without stirring. Bake as directed for a super simple treat!
- Add a delicious topping: Top your cobbler with caramel sauce, chopped almonds, or a sprinkle of cobbler topping mix. Or mix things up entirely and use cherry pie filling in place of apples for a whole new fruity spin.
- Be consistent with the size of your slices.
- There’s nothing worse than biting into a hard, undercooked fruit filling!
- Prevent this by slicing the fruit into uniformly sized slices. They’ll all cook at the same rate, and you won’t have to worry about any unpleasant textures.
- This apple cobbler with cake mix should be stored in the refrigerator. It’ll last for 5 days but is most delicious eaten within the first day or two.
- Using a Dutch oven for this dessert is convenient because you can just stick the lid back on and slide it into the fridge! It’s a ready-to-go airtight container.
- To reheat leftovers, simply microwave servings in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second rounds until warmed through.
Nutrition
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Paula says
This apple cobbler was so easy to make from a cake mix. I didn’t realize you could do that, but this is my new go-to hack.