Make this easy Crock Pot Apple Cobbler recipe with a cake mix topping, butter, fresh apples, or canned pie filling instead of apples. A smaller cobbler recipe perfect for beginning cooks.
Jump To:
- 🍎Ingredients
- 👨🍳How to Make Crock Pot Apple Cobbler
- When is the crock pot apple crisp done?
- Options, Variations, and Tips
- What apples to use to make apple cobbler?
- ⬆️How to make a double recipe
- What is the Difference Between Cobblers, Crumbles, and Crisps?
- ❄️Storage of Leftovers
- ❓FAQs
- Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
- 📖 Recipe
A dump-and-go small batch apple cobbler recipe, this easy crock pot dessert takes about two hours and makes four servings—just right for a smaller household but is easily doubled back to full size.
Using a cake mix as a shortcut reduces the work and number of ingredients. This classic cobbler may be called cake mix apple cobbler or an apple dump cake.
For another apple crock pot dessert, see Crock Pot Apple Crisp. For other easy apple recipes, check out Apple Crumb Pie, Small Batch Apple Crisp, Easy Apple Cake, Apple Berry Crumble, and Apple Pie Bread.
Inspired by a Betty Crocker Slow Cooker Apple Cobbler recipe with a few necessary adjustments for size, flexibility, and options for you.
🍎Ingredients
- Cake Mix—yellow or white cake mix
- Butter
- Sugar
- Cinnamon
- Filling—fresh apples of your choice with sugar and cinnamon or apple pie filling
- Nuts—pecans or walnuts, optional
👨🍳How to Make Crock Pot Apple Cobbler
- If not using pie filling, peel and slice apples and mix the sugar and cinnamon for the filling.
- Place apples in a 3-4 quart crock pot and cover with the sugar and cinnamon mixture, or use pie filling.
- Cover with half of a full-size dry cake mix.
- Top with nuts if using, then sprinkle with melted butter and some cinnamon sugar.
- Cook on high for about 2 hours or 4 hours on low until the sides are bubbling and the center is browning. Use the color as your guide, not the time, since crock pots vary.
This is a summary of the steps and ingredients. See the recipe card or the step-by-step photo instructions below for complete instructions.
When is the crock pot apple crisp done?
This smaller recipe is right at 2 hours on high. A double recipe is 2 ½ to 3 hours on high—double those numbers on low.
But crock pots can vary, so look for the center of the cobbler to be golden brown, and the edges should be bubbling some.
Options, Variations, and Tips
- You need half a full-size cake mix for this smaller recipe, or use the smaller Jiffy®️ brand mix. A full-size mix is about 15 oz. and will be 3 cups by volume.
- Use white, yellow, or spice cake mix. But change it out to any flavor you want. I'm thinking of chocolate cherry dump cake.
- I highly suggest using fresh apples with the cinnamon sugar in this recipe, but a 20oz. canned apple pie filling will work instead.
- A medium apple will make about 1 cup when cored, peeled, and sliced. This smaller recipe needs about 3 cups and a double size of 6 cups. But a little more is fine, so I'm listing the recipe as 3 to 4 medium apples.
- Using brown sugar instead of white will add another flavor.
- Fresh sliced peaches will also work to make a tasty crock pot peach cobbler.
- You can also use other fruit pie fillings, like blueberry, strawberry, cherry, peach, and many more. Mix and match with your cake mix choices.
What apples to use to make apple cobbler?
Apples that are firmer and tarter are the best choice here. So, if you are buying apples just for this recipe, some good choices are Granny Smith, Gala, Jonathon, Honey Crisp, Ida Red, and Cortland. Red Delicious Apples are probably the only common poor choice due to their texture when cooked.
You may want to adjust your sugar if your apples are very tart.
⬆️How to make a double recipe
This is an easy recipe to double. The full recipe makes about 8 cups of 4 large servings.
- Use the recipe card and adjust the number of servings to 8.
- Use the amount of ingredients in the ingredient list, not the instructions—those do not adjust.
- A double recipe will fit in a 6-quart or larger full-size crock pot.
- Cook for the will be 1 to 2 hours longer.
What is the Difference Between Cobblers, Crumbles, and Crisps?
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.
❄️Storage of Leftovers
Room Temperature: According to USDA, fruit pie can be at room temperature for 1-2 days due to the high sugar content. But, I suggest refrigeration—I'm a nervous retired doctor.
Refrigerate: Leftovers could be stored in an airtight container for 3-4 days. The topping will absorb fluid from the fruit and change the texture.
Freezer: You should be able to freeze apple cobbler for 3-4 months safely, but like more extended refrigeration, I don't suggest it.
❓FAQs
A sprinkle of granular sugar with some cinnamon will create a sweet crunch. I have this included in the recipe.
Elaborate toppings are not needed.
I have two excellent suggestions: whipping cream or a large scoop of vanilla ice cream.
This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.
Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
Mix ⅓ cup sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon. Reserve a heaping tablespoon for topping later. If not using a sugar topping, mix ¼ cup sugar with ⅜ teaspoon cinnamon. If not using fresh apples, mix 4 teaspoons sugar with ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon for the topping.
If using fresh apples, peel and chop 3-4 medium apples of your choice. Measure out half of a standard-size yellow cake mix. It should be about 1 ½ cups.
Give a 3-4 quart crock pot a good spray of PAM.
If using fresh apples, add the apple slices to the crock pot and spread over the bottom. Sprinkle with the sugar/cinnamon mixture.
Cover with the dry cake mix and smooth the top.
Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in the microwave for about 20 seconds.
If using nuts, sprinkle ⅓ 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 or 4 hours on low until the sides are bubbling and the center is browning. Use the color as your guide, not the time, since crock pots vary.
Great straight up, but also with ice cream.
📖 Recipe
Crock Pot Apple Cobbler
Ingredients
- ½ box yellow or white cake mix - about 1 ½ cups
- ⅓ cup nuts - optional
- 4 tablespoons butter - ½ stick
- 4 teaspoons sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 20 ounces canned apple pie filling - or fresh apples below
Ingredients for filling or use canned pie filling—don't use both.
- 3 - 4 medium apples - about 3 cups or a bit more
- ½ cup sugar
- ⅜ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Mix ⅓ cup sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon. Reserve a heaping tablespoon for topping later. If not using a sugar topping, mix ¼ cup sugar with ⅜ teaspoon cinnamon. If not using fresh apples, mix 4 teaspoons sugar with ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon for the topping.
- If using fresh apples, peel and chop 3-4 medium apples of your choice. Measure out half of a standard-size yellow cake mix. It should be about 1 ½ cups.
- Give a 3-4 quart crock pot a good spray of PAM. If using fresh apples, add the apple slices to the crock pot and spread over the bottom. Sprinkle with the sugar/cinnamon mixture. Or add the pie filling.
- Cover with the dry cake mix and smooth the top.
- Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in the microwave for about 20 seconds.
- If using nuts, sprinkle ⅓ 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 or 4 hours on low until the sides are bubbling and the center is browning. Use the color as your guide, not the time, since crock pots vary.
- Serve hot with vanilla ice cream if you have some.
Your Own Private Notes
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips:
- This is an easy recipe to double. Use a 6-7 qt. crock pot, and the cooking time will increase by 1 to 2 hours.
- If using fresh apples, some good choices are Granny Smith, Gala, Jonathon, Honey Crisp, Ida Red, and Cortland. Red Delicious Apples are probably the only common poor choice.
- You can change up the cake mix and pie filling. This is discussed in the post.
- The endpoint of cooking is probably the most important part of the recipe. The sides are bubbling, and the center is browning nicely. If you need a visual, see the discussion in the post.
- Preferred storage is airtight in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
To adjust the recipe size:
You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.
Nutrition Estimate
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Originally Published September 9, 2018. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Becca
Can this be made in a 2 quart slow cooker?thanks
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Becca,
Welcome to the blog.
I'm 95% sure it would. It fills a 3.5 qt about 1/3. A crockpot works well up to 2/3 to 3/4 full. So it will fit and should be fine that way. The only misgiving I have is the 1-2 quart crockpots tend to be cheaply made so temp control seems to be iffy—so watch it.
If you try it, please report back.
Dan
Becca
Thank you dan.i will try and let you know how it turns out
Can't wait to try it.
Wilma
Dan, I made this for Thanksgiving and WOW did it go over great. I made this one with can apples and yellow cake mix. Plan on making the next one with can cherries and white cake mix, leaving out the cinnamon and using less sugar. Thank you for an amazing recipe. I love simple and delicious.
Wilma
Jean Mayberry
Should I place a towel or something under the lid and over the crock? I tried a similar dump cake a year or so ago and it was disgustingly soggy from all the condensation on the lid. This sounds good and so easy but I'm not sure about the wetness. Can I leave the lid off when cooking or would that not cook at all?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Jean,
Welcome to the blog.
This recipe is for a closed lid. You can not leave the lid open or it will affect to temperature in the crock pot. The only recipe I have that is for an open crock pot is a fudge recipe where we are using it just to melt things together and there can be no moisture or the fudge will be ruined.
If you feel better, a couple of paper towels across the top with the lid holding them down probably will be ok (not sure). But I will point out that the only "liquid" in this recipe is any moisture that comes from the apples and the butter if you want to count that. So it is not soggy.
Dan
Dan
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