Quick and easy apple cake recipe with crumble topping/ crumb toping with cake mix. This old fashioned bakery style cake is soft and moist. Loaded with fresh apples, cinnamon and other spices.
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This dessert is s a family favorite, especially in Fall and Thanksgiving just like my Apple Pie Cake and this Old Fashioned Applesauce Cake. Due to the crumble topping, this cake is very similar to a coffee cake. Even though this is not a recipe from scratch and starts off with a cake mix, it tastes just as good (if not better) than any scratch recipe out there and takes even takes less time to prepare! Be sure to also check out more of these Easy Cake Mix Recipes (Desserts) for more inspiration.
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Key ingredients for spiced apple crumb cake/ crumble cake
- Eggs- These should be large and at room temperature.
- Milk- I prefer whole but 2% can be used just as well.
- Oil- Use a mild tasting oil like vegetable, canola or corn.
- Cake mix- Make sure it's the 15.25 oz. box and not the 13 oz. box.
- Apples- These should be fresh. Use a variety for best flavor profile.
- Brown sugar- This adds a little sweetness.
- Spices- This includes cinnamon and nutmeg. You can also add some allspice or cardamom powder.
- Lemon juice- This prevents the apples from browning.
- Flour- Plain all-purpose is best.
- Coconut- Use unsweetened. It can be desiccated or shredded.
- Butter- This should be unsalted and cut into small cubes.
- Powdered sugar- Sift it if you have time because that yields a smoother glaze.
- Extract- Vanilla is the best choice here.
How to make easy fresh apple cake recipe with cake mix?
- Prepare cake batter- By mixing together eggs, water, oil, milk, cake mix.
- Fold in fresh chopped apples- That have been coated in sugar, spices, lemon juice.
- Make crumble topping- By mixing together flour, sugar, butter, coconut.
- Sprinkle topping- On top of the cake batter.
- Bake- Until an inserted toothpick in the center comes out clean.
- Make sugar glaze- And drizzle on top of the cake.
Variations
- There are many variations of this cake from different parts of the world and each of them is made slightly differently. Based on my research there is German, Dutch, French and even Jewish recipes.
- There is also an upside down version. Use my Pear Cake (Pear Upside Down Cake Recipe). Replace pears with apples.
- There is also an dump cake version which is typically served warm with a scoop of ice cream. It's made similar to how I made this Peach Dump Cake and this Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake and even this Blueberry Dump Cake.
- There is also a bundt cake version, which has a firmer texture and it's not as airy as this version I have shared below. It uses sour cream in the batter.
- Drizzle caramel sauce on top of the cake, prior to serving instead of sugar glaze.
- This cake is packed with nutmeg and cinnamon spices. You can add some allspice too. Make sure your spices are high quality and fresh for best flavor.
Tips and techniques
- The apples used in this recipe should not be chopped too big. They should be about 1 to 1.5 inches.
- Don't use this cake batter in a bundt pan because it does not work well. You must use a rectangle pan.
- Use unsalted butter to prevent the cake from becoming too salty.
- Don't omit the crumble topping because that's what really takes this cake over the top.
- Adjust the amount of spices, based on your preference.
- Adjust the amount of apples, based on your preference. If you like a lot of apples, you can use up 6 apples in this recipe but I prefer 5.
- Yellow cake mix can be replaced with spiced cake mix too.
- You can use whatever brand of cake mix you like. Just make sure it is the 15.25 oz. box.
- You don't have to use all the sugar glaze on the cake. You can drizzle as much or as less as you like.
- Don't drizzle the glaze until the cake has cooled down completely or else it will melt and become a sticky mess.
Recipe FAQs
You can use whatever type of fresh apples you like. I prefer red apples because they are sweet and not tart like the Granny Smith apples. You can also use a variety of apples, if you like.
It is made by combining together flour, sugar, coconut, butter into a rough, chunky mixture. That is sprinkled on top of the cake, prior to baking.
Storage
- Room temperature- This can be covered and stored away from heat and moisture for 3-5 hours.
- Refrigerate- Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
- Freeze- Once the cake has cooled fully, cover tightly in saran wrap and freeze. When you are ready to enjoy it, thaw to room temperature and drizzle sugar glaze on top.
- Make ahead- This cake can easily be made 1 day in advance and stored in the fridge until you are ready to serve.
More apple desserts
- Easy Caramel Apple Pie
- How to Make Chocolate Caramel Apples
- Mini Apple Strudel Recipe
- Homemade Apple Pie Filling
More doctored cake mix recipes
- Cake Mix Cookie Bars (20 Minutes)
- Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
- Cake Mix Chocolate M&M Cookies
- Cake Mix Brownies
- Easy Cake Mix Gingerbread Cookies
- How to Make Box Cake Better (Taste Homemade)
- Pistachio Cake Recipe
Recipe
Apple Cake Recipe (With Cake Mix)
Video
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Ingredients
- 4 Eggs Large
- 1 cup Water
- ½ cup Milk 2% or Whole
- ⅓ cup Oil
- 1 box Yellow cake mix 15.25 oz. box, Do not use the 13 oz. box
- 5 Apples Washed, Peeled, Cored, Roughly chopped into 1.5 inch pieces
- 3 tablespoon Brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon powder
- ½ teaspoon Nutmeg powder
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
Topping
- ¾ cup All-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup Coconut Desiccated or Shredded
- ½ cup Brown sugar
- ½ cup Butter Unsalted, Cold, Cut into small pieces
Sugar Glaze
- 1 cup Powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoon Milk 2% or Whole
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add eggs, water, milk, oil and mix until smooth.
- Add cake mix and mix until just combined. Don't over-mix!
- In a separate bowl, add chopped apples, brown sugar, cinnamon powder, nutmeg powder, lemon juice and mix until all the apple chunks are coated.
- Fold these coated apples gently into the cake batter. Do not over-mix.
- Spread this batter in a greased and floured rectangle cake pan (Dimensions: 9x13).
- In another bowl, prepare the topping by mixing together flour, coconut, brown sugar, butter with a fork until you have a crumbly mixture.
- Spread this crumble gently on top of the cake batter evenly. Do not mix it into the batter.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes or until an inserted toothpick in the center comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and allow it to cool completely.
- While the cake is baking and cooling, prepare the glaze by mixing together powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract until smooth.
- Pour a few spoonfuls of this glaze on top of the cake. Add as much or as little as you like. It's your preference. I don't add too much. Enjoy.
Notes
- Read all my tips above.
- Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
An automated tool is used to calculate the nutritional information. As such, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information provided for any recipe on this site.
Ginny Williams
I made this recipe using a gluten-free mix for yellow cake from Aldi. It was fantastic!! We served it for a brunch and it disappeared completely, no one knew it was GF except those I told
Abeer Rizvi
That's awesome! Thanks for sharing your results with a gluten free mix.
Linda Graveen
This apple cake is AMAZING! I used my homegrown frozen apples - a gallon bag FULL and it was delicious! The 9x13 pan was full to the top. So moist. Next time I’m going to drizzle caramel ice cream topping over for caramel apple goodness. Oh and I used butter instead of oil for even more deliciousness.
Mary
This sounds so good, right up my alley with cake mix. Can I use walnuts instead of coconut?
Abeer Rizvi
Yes you can use walnuts. Make sure they are finely chopped and toss them in flour before folding them into the batter very gently to keep them from sinking to the bottom.
Pat Cichowicz
Can this cake be made ahead and frozen?
Abeer Rizvi
Yes. Just don't add the glaze until you are ready to serve.
marianita
Thank you so very much for sharing this apple recipe.
Jan
I have seen this receipe using canned apple pie filling but can not locate it. It was using cake mix and the apple pie filling.
Would like suggestions
Abeer Rizvi
You can use this chocolate cherry dump cake recipe and replace the chocolate cake mix with spice cake mix or yellow cake mix and replace cherry pie filling with apple pie filling: https://cakewhiz.com/chocolate-cherry-dump-cake/
Liv
Delicious recipe thank you - it was good as a pudding too with custard!
Ashley
Just what I was looking for, making this tomorrow. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Abeer Rizvi
Hope you like it as much as my family!
Marion Myers
This sounds absolutely scrumptious. I LOVE LOVE LOVE how easy it is to make with the cake mix. Thanks for the tips. The cake turned out perfectly!
Abeer Rizvi
Awww... thanks! Seriously, so easy and so good!
Anon1
Tried the fork and it turned out amazing!