This super easy crock pot apple cobbler with only a few ingredients is a great fall treat. Just follow these simple step by step photo instructions.
Fall is almost here and apple season along with it. Apples will be plentiful. So let’s do something special but easy. I’m getting lazier all the time.
This is a cut down version of the common recipes out there. They all use a full box of cake mix. But I don’t want that 8 servings.
Some of these recipes are very simple. A can of processed pie filling, top with a box of cake mix and melt and drizzle one stick of butter then cook on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
The things I wanted and what makes this recipe special:
- Use fresh apples.
- Four large servings is enough.
- Topping of some sugar and cinnamon. And a few nuts on top would be great.
- Ultra simple. A recipe so easy that you don’t even think about the work. Just the great results.
My Rating
I’m going with a lower 5 just because it is the type of food I love. You might be more of a high 4.
Pro Tips :Recipe Notes for Smaller Crock Pot Apple Cobbler
Let’s talk about the cake mix first. My wife loved it but after gobbling hers down, she said “I was surprised you used a cake mix.”
Her point is that I like to use straight individual ingredients and not mixes. I do have a few exceptions on the blog, but they are few. But to use individual ingredients, I would need to add 6-8 more ingredients
That would make this not worth the work. My new “cooking for two” Cook’s Illustrated cookbook is an example. I looked at two recipes in detail, and both had 15 ingredients for 2-4 servings. Not in my life.
The next thing about the cake mix was the size. I could have used a smaller “Jiffy” type mix. I think I’m a snob. I picked one of my favorite brands for a full-size cake mix. I like extra moist mix like the one pictured.
While the box was 15.2 oz. I divided the fluffy mix by weight and came out with 1 1/2 cup (by volume) being 1/2 of the mix. I suspect most brands will be about the same so for your convenience, I’m stating 1 1/2 cups.
Cobblers, crumbles, and crisps – What is the difference?
Cobblers are easy; they have a biscuit or cake top. Crumbles and crisps are frequently used interchangeably. But some feel that the differentiating factor is crisps have oats in the topping and crumble do not. This seems to be not widely accepted.
Let’s Talk Apples
A lot seems to be made of what apple to use for this or that. I believe it is more a matter of individual taste. I suggest Cortland, Granny Smith, Ida Red, or Honey Crisp. But probably the apples you have is fine other than Red Delicious or Macintosh. Here is a handy-dandy chart that is very well done.
If you are buying apples just for this recipe, then some good choices are Cortland, Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, and Ida Red. I happened to have honey crisps, so that is what is in the pictures.
A medium peeled apple will be about 1 cup. Here I need about 3 cups so three medium apples.
Toppings
Most recipes had no topping. Some used some sugar or sugar and cinnamon and a few nuts. It is up to you.
I suggest increasing the sugar/cinnamon mixture for the apples and then reserving some for the topping. I also added some pecans that I thought the recipe cryed out for.
Doubling this recipe: Yep, that is fine. Double everything but the cooking time will change some. I found with a smaller (3.5 qt.) crock pot and my cut down recipe, I was fully done at 2 hours.
But the bigger recipes use a standard crock pot (6-7 qt.) All suggested 2 1/2 to 3 hours. I find that with crock pot recipes where you depend on some browning, time is somewhat variable. Also, every crock pot is different.
Check this recipe if you want an example Slow Cooker Apple Cobbler.
Other Apple Recipes:
The nuts are optional and use the apples of your choice.
Mix 1/3 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Reserve a heaping tablespoon for topping later. If not using a sugar topping then mix 1/4 cup sugar with 3/8 teaspoon cinnamon.
Peel and chop 3 medium apples of your choice. Measure out half of a standard size yellow cake mix. It should be about 1 1/2 cups. I suggest Cortland, Granny Smith, Ida Red, or Honey Crisp.
Give a smaller crock pot a good spray of PAM. I use a 3 1/2 qt crock pot.
Add apple to the crock pot and spread over bottom. Sprinkle with the sugar/cinnamon mixture. Cover with the cake mix. Smooth top.
Melt 4 tablespoons butter in the microwave for about 20 seconds.
If using nuts, sprinkle 1/3 cup over the top. I used pecans. Sprinkle with the melted butter. Finish with topping with the reserved sugar/cinnamon mixture.
Cook on high for about 2 hours until the sides are bubbling and center is browning.
Great straight up but also with ice cream.
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Smaller Crock Pot Apple Cobbler
Ingredients
- 1/2 box yellow cake mix - about 1 1/2 cups
- 3 medium apples - I suggest Cortland, Granny Smith, Ida Red, or Honey Crisp.
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons butter - 1/2 stick
- 1/3 cup nuts - optional
Instructions
- Measure out half of a standard size yellow cake mix. It should be about 1 1/2 cups.
- Mix 1/3 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Reserve a heaping tablespoon for topping later. If not using a sugar topping then mix 1/4 cup sugar with 3/8 teaspoon cinnamon.
- Peel and chop 3 medium apples of your choice. I suggest Cortland, Granny Smith, Ida Red, or Honey Crisp.
- Give a smaller crock pot a good spray of PAM. I use a 3 1/2 qt crock pot.
- Add apple to the crock pot and spread over bottom. Sprinkle with the sugar/cinnamon mixture. Cover with the cake mix. Smooth top.
- If using nuts, sprinkle 1/3 cup over the top. I used pecans.
- Melt 4 tablespoons butter in the microwave for about 20 seconds the sprinkle over the top.
- Finish with topping with the reserved sugar/cinnamon mixture.
- Cook on high for about 2 hours until the sides are bubbling and center is browning.
Recipe Notes
Check Out Other Great Recipes
Nutrition is generally for one serving. Number of servings is stated above and is my estimate of normal serving size for this recipe.
All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.
Originally Published September 9, 2018
Leslie
Is there a way I could make this without using cake mix? Thank you Leslie
DrDan
Hi Leslie,
Yes but it is 6-8 more ingredients. I looked at it and it is just too much work for the return to me. You know I’m a bit lazy any more.
If you want to try, go to allrecipes.com or food.com and search for one you like. They will probably be “full size” and will need to be cut in half.
Dan
Elisabeth Wasslen
Hello Dr. Dan,
This is the first day of getting an email from you and since I am a passionate cook, now cooking mostly for only two, your blog is really interesting to me. Very often I am cooking for sixteen. While I am usually not a dessert eater, my husband is, so he will love this. He has been away but coming home tonight, so I am going to make it tomorrow. Like Charlene I will be cooking it in the oven.
DrDan
Hi Elisabeth
Welcome to the blog. This is super easy and get him some ice cream to go with it.
Remember that the oven directions are a guess for now but probably very close. I would do it myself tonight but I’m out of apples. But keep an eye on it and please report back if you try it.
Thanks for the comment
Dan
Charlene
This looks really good – one question I have is do you think I could make this in a regular oven? I don’t have a suitable crock pot. I love the cake idea.
DrDan
Hi Charlene,
I haven’t done it but I have read a lot of recipes. I would say yes with a smaller baking pan like a 9 inch round or 9X6 oblong (my favorite ceramic one). The largest I would use would be 9X9. Oven temp 375. Probably about 30 minutes give or take a few minutes. See the picture above about cooking endpoint.
Let me know if you do it and how it worked.
Dan
Sandi
I will probably cut the nuts into smaller pieces but this looks super yummy & can’t wait to try it!
DrDan
Hi Sandi,
Welcome to the blog.
It is delicious. I felt it really cried “add nuts to me”. I went with the whole pecans since they look great in a photo. Plus they were also tasty. But a chopped nut of your choice would, of course, be fine.
Thanks for the note.
Dan