2-Ingredient Apple Cake (2024)

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!

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.