If you’re looking for an easy dessert, this crockpot apple cobbler is as easy as “set it and forget it”. You’ll use the slow cooker for this delicious treat, and using a cake mix as the base makes it convenient and simple.
Why this recipe works
Did you know that you can make apple cobbler with cake mix (sometimes called apple dump cake)? It’s the perfect shortcut, saving you the time of measuring out all the dry ingredients yourself.
Within minutes you’ll have all the cobbler ingredients layered and ready go. When you return home not only is dessert ready but your house will permeate that sweet, warm aroma of baked apples and cinnamon! It’s the perfect easy dessert!
Ingredients you will need
You can use a yellow cake mix instead of white, if you prefer.
How to Make Crockpot Apple Cobbler
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. Please scroll down to simply print out the recipe!
It’s as simple as layering the ingredients, setting your slow cooker, and walking away!
- Empty both cans of apple pie filling into the Crockpot. If you like, sprinkle apples with cinnamon sugar.
- Mix cinnamon into the dry cake mix, then sprinkle the dry cake mix mixture on top of the apples.
- Spoon the melted butter onto the cake mix layer. Do not mix the butter with the cake mix. The moisture generated by the slow cooker will bake the cake.
- Cover and cook on high setting for 4 hours (or on low for 6 hours).
- Spoon cobbler into dishes and serve topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Expert Tips & FAQs
Can I use other pie fillings instead of apple?
Yes, you can use your favorite pie filling instead of apple! Use any of fruit pie fillings, home-canned or from the grocery store. Simply substitute the same amount of peach, blackberry, cherry (try our crockpot chocolate cherry cobbler!), or any other pie filling you like. Our readers have commented saying that peach pie filling is a perfect substitute for apple!
Can I use other cake mix flavors?
Yes, you can change out the cake mix flavor in this recipe. Many have raved about yellow cake instead of white cake mix, while others have used spice cake mix and even caramel apple cake mix. If you use a cake mix that already has spices, you can leave out the cinnamon sugar in this recipe.
Try other variations like chocolate cake mix with cherry pie filling or French vanilla cake mix with strawberry pie filling. We also think lemon cake mix with blueberry pie filling would be amazing! Be sure to leave a comment with your favorite variation!
Can I use fresh apples instead of canned pie filling?
Using fresh apples in this crockpot apple cobbler instead of pie filling is totally fine. You can make your own apple pie filling using our filling recipe from this apple pie.
Can I make this gluten-free?
We are not gluten-free experts, however, we have heard from a couple of readers that they were able to substitute the regular cake mix with gluten-free cake mix. Please let us know how it works for you!
Can I double this recipe?
Yes, you can double this recipe, just make sure that you are using a 6-quart slow cooker or larger.
Can I double the cake mix for more crust?
We have not tried doubling only the cake mix. My only concern would be that you would have pockets of the dry mix because of the height of the mix in the crock.
Can I use my Instant Pot?
Yes, you can make this apple cobbler on low for 4 hours in your Instant Pot.
Can I use salted butter?
Yes, you can use either salted or unsalted butter for this recipe.
What can I use instead of butter?
If you would like to keep the calories down, you can use margarine or any other butter substitutes like I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, Earth Balance, etc.
Can I add nuts?
Yes, you can add nuts to this apple cobbler depending on the texture you prefer. If you like the nuts soft, I would add them to the crockpot with all the other ingredients, just sprinkle them on top. If you prefer the nuts toasty, about ten minutes before serving, toast the nuts in a skillet on the stovetop. Add the toasted nuts on top when serving.
I’ve made this when friends come over, we’ve had it for Sunday supper dessert, and I’ve even made this recipe for a party! Everyone loves it, especially topped with vanilla ice cream with a little caramel sauce drizzled on top.
This apple dump cake is great for family gatherings, a holiday, or just as an easy dessert after dinner on a chilly weeknight. Slow cookers aren’t just for dinner!
More Dessert Recipes
- Quick Apple Cranberry Cobbler
- Rhubarb Crisp
- Apple Cranberry Crisp
- Blueberry Cobbler
- 3-ingredient French Vanilla Peach Cobbler
- Crockpot Chocolate Cherry Cobbler
- Baked Apple Crisp
- Crockpot Cinnamon Apples
- Pumpkin Cobbler in a Jar
- Slow Cooker Blackberry Cobbler
- White Peach Cobbler
- Crockpot Cinnamon Apples
- Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake
- Apple Nachos
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CrockPot Apple Cobbler
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 40 ounces apple pie filling 2 20-oz cans, 1 can if using a crock smaller than 4.5 quart
- 16 ounce box white cake mix or yellow cake mix
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- Cinnamon sugar optional
- Vanilla ice cream optional
Things You’ll Need
Before You Begin
- Use any of fruit pie fillings, home-canned or from the grocery store. Simply substitute the same amount of peach, blackberry, cherry (try our crockpot chocolate cherry cobbler!), or any other pie filling you like.
- You can change out the cake mix flavor in this recipe. Many have raved about yellow cake instead of white cake mix, while others have used spice cake mix and even caramel apple cake mix. If you use a cake mix that already has spices, you can leave out the cinnamon sugar in this recipe.
- Using fresh apples in this crockpot apple cobbler instead of pie filling is totally fine. You can make your own apple pie filling using our filling recipe from this apple pie.
- You can double this recipe, just make sure that you are using a 6-quart slow cooker or larger.
- You can use either salted or unsalted butter for this recipe.
- If you would like to keep the calories down, you can use margarine or any other butter substitutes like I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, Earth Balance, etc.
Instructions
- Empty both cans of apple pie filling into the crock. If you like, sprinkle apples with cinnamon sugar.
- Mix cinnamon into the dry cake mix, then sprinkle dry cake mix mixture on top of the apples.
- Spoon the melted butter onto the cake mix layer. Do not mix the butter with the cake mix. The moisture generated from the slow cooker will bake the cake.
- Cover and cook on high setting for 4 hours (or on low for 6 hours).
- Spoon cobbler into dishes and serve topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Nutrition
This post originally appeared here on Oct 13, 2015 and has since been updated with new photos and expert tips.
Amanda Davis
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Melissa says
Do you have to cook longer if you double the recipe?
Mel says
Will this work with a 4.5 quart crock pot?
Nellie says
Miss Amanda! I made this recipe for my family and let me tell you, it was a hit! Now, I can’t boil water, my spouse is a chef. I’m often intimidated to try to cook. Baby… let tell you, I felt brave and it paid off! Your recipe is easy and I felt so proud of myself! Bless you!
Vivian Singletary says
Love this receipe!!! It was so easy. I used apples that I had on hand that the family was not going to eat. I peeled those and cut them up and added 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, cinnamon and 1/2 cup orange juice. I let this cook in the crockpot on high for about 90 minutes then added the cake, melted butter and a bit more cinnamon. My family loved it and they are already craving more.
Rachel White says
can you use caneed sliced peaches in this instead of the apple?
Amanda Formaro says
Peach pie filling would be better. The filling is thick, whereas canned peaches are in a juice.
Deidra says
Definitely will be making again! 👍
Charlotte Trahan says
Can this be made in the oven? I don’t have a crockpot & daughter is currently using my instapot.
Amanda Formaro says
Yes. Use a 13×9 pan, spread the apples on the bottom, sprinkle cake mix on top. Melt the butter and drizzle on top. Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes.
Heather says
Can this be cooked day before and then set to “warm” setting on crock to bring back to a good serving temperature?
Amanda Formaro says
Yes that should be fine. If it seems too thick,, you can loosen it with a small amount of water, but it may not be necessary.
Kelly says
After 45-50 minutes at 350 the cake mix was still powder in several spots. I had to cook it for 1 hr and 30 minutes at that temperature for the cake mix to cook properly and there were still a couple of spots where the cake mix was just powder.
Marylee gorcheck says
I’m going to try the apple cobbler with fresh apples
Lisa says
This is so easy and delicious! I topped this with Turkey Hill Trio’politan vanilla ice cream, walnuts and caramel sauce. It’s amazing! Last time I made it with canned apples, but we just went apple picking, so I’m going to try it with homemade filling next, and maybe pecans. It’s to die for, seriously.
Dan says
Followed recipe exactly. Result was apple soup. Not sure what went wrong.
Amanda Formaro says
Did you prepare the cake mix by adding the ingredients on the back of the box by chance? You don’t need those ingredients, only the dry mix in the box.
Cheryl says
Can you use the instant pot for this recipe?
Amanda Formaro says
Here’s some helpful info on that! https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/how-to-convert-slow-cooker-recipes-for-instant-pot/
Kathi says
I have made a recipe similar to this but with fresh apples – also have used fresh peaches on occassion. I only cooked it for 3 – 4 hours and I used Bisquick, eggs and milk instead of white cake mix as my base. Thanks you for posting – especially the carmel sauce – I would not have thought to use that.
Cassandra says
Hi!!! New subscriber and am loving all the ideas!!! Quick question: can i put some of the cake mix in first? I’m a big fan of the crust on cobblers so I’m looking for a way to get more. i realize I’d have to spoon some butter on it and not mix and I’m sure there’s no way to have exact measurements. AND I really want to make this tomorrow.
Amanda Formaro says
ohh I haven’t tried that. I would be a little worried about it getting hard, but the moisture from the apples on top of it should make that not happen??
Audrey Bean says
Pandemic substitution: Applesauce, yellow cake mix
This is delicious. I’m all about the crock pot and sometimes we need something baked that doesn’t require 1000 dishes and a ton of time. This fits the bill.
In the last 1.5 hours, I got nervous because most of the cake mix was still dry, so I poked holes through to the bottom to give some of the moisture access to the dry bits. I did that 45 minutes later again. This worked great.
Linda says
Hello Amanda, I’ve been a fan of your site & recipes. Yes, I finally subscribed to your place a few months ago. Better late than not at all…right? lol I’m excited to be here and see all the fabulous recipes.. Thank you for all you do to share your recipes and tips.
Now about your Apple Cobbler Recipe. I checked it out, it sounds great and I decided to make it. There was only one problem. I put the 2 jars of Apple Pie Filling (home made total of 40oz.} in the crock pot. Then I sifted the cinnamon and my French Vanilla cake mix, I was ready to sprinkle it on top of the apples but when I looked into the pot it looked like something was missing. RAISINS, Yep the plain color of the pie filling needed a boost. I love Golden Raisins with Apples. I put a total of 1/2 cup sprinkled on top. I finished the recipe just the way you had it. Cooked it 4 hours on high, it looked perfect . We let it cool about 15 minutes. I dished a bowl for everyone and topped it with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream. Girl, it was heavenly, we all loved it! 💖. I’ve got my mind on trying Blackberries and Raspberries with a Lemon Cream Cheese cake mix. It’s going to be awesome. I’ll let you know how it turns out . Have a good one, be safe and healthy. God Bless You 🙌
Amanda Formaro says
Love the addition of the raisins! And so glad you made it here :) Looking forward to your lemon blueberry results!
JB says
Do you use a cover? I’m making this now, but nowhere can I find the answer.
Amanda Formaro says
On the crockpot? Yes :)
No Raisins Ever says
Nnnnooooo. Raisins contaminate everything they touch.
Sue Wilson says
Would this recipe turn out if I were to use a conventional oven using fresh apples? Would the butter and cake mix need to be mixed before adding it on top of the apples? Or, cube cold butter and using a pastry cutter incorporate it into the cake mix. Bake about 45 minutes like traditional apple crisp?
Amanda Formaro says
i Sue. I haven’t tried this apple cobbler in the oven. However, I do have a peach dump cake that you could adapt to fit your needs. That recipe is here https://amandascookin.com/3-ingredient-french-vanilla-peach-cobbler/ Now since you are using fresh apples, you will also need a liquid. You could use water, but apple juice or cider would be better. I wouldn’t use a lot, just drizzle on maybe 1/4-1/2 cup to replicate the juice from a can of peaches (as in the recipe above).
Larry says
I made this with a few changes and it was wonderful!! I use a 2 1/2 quart crockpot so I didn’t need as much stuff. I had a bag of fresh Gala apples so I used 6 for this. Sliced them and coated with a mix of brown and white sugar, cinnamon and allspice. Put that in the sprayed crockpot. Covered with half of a 16 Oz spice cake mix. Covered that with about 5 Tbsp of butter sliced up. Cooked on high for about 5 hours and took the lid off for the last 45 minutes or so.
Amanda Formaro says
I love it, thanks for providing your adaptation!
MKacz says
Thanks for this adaptation with fresh apples. We’re on vacation and just picked some apples today. Great way to start the trip.
Shawn says
Yummy, thanks so much. My husband loves it!! Wondering how to store leftovers?
Amanda Formaro says
You should be able to store in the fridge for up to a week in a covered container. So glad you enjoyed it!
Amy says
I can’t find where it says how many apples to use if you don’t have the canned filling.
Amanda Formaro says
According to this recipe https://www.spendwithpennies.com/quick-stovetop-apple-pie-filling/ 4 medium apples will make one can of filling.
Tina says
Does the topping (cake mix) get crispy or crunchy? It is it more mushy.
Wondering if sweetened biscuit topping would work too?
Amanda Formaro says
It baked up similar to a cake and the edges are chewy and slightly crispy