This super easy crock pot apple cobbler is the perfect dessert for a family dinner and only needs a few ingredients. This dump-and-go recipe is done in your slow cooker in about two hours. Mouthwatering has never been so simple.
Introduction
Apple cobbler is classic cold-weather comfort food. This downsized version of apple cobbler is just right for a smaller household but is simple to double back to full size.
This recipe could also be called cake mix apple cobbler or an apple dump cake. You can tell by those names that it is simple and convenient to make.
This recipe is a cut-down version of the typical recipes out there. I will give the Betty Crocker Slow Cooker Apple Cobbler as the inspiration recipe. It is a straightforward recipe: a can of apple pie filling, top with a box of cake mix, and melt and drizzle one stick of butter, then cook on high for 2 ½ to 3 hours.
I don't usually cook with boxes of cake mix, but I also dislike long ingredient lists. I chose convenience here.
Most other recipes use canned pie filling. I never have it on hand, so I have provided a fresh apple alternative.
Features that make this recipe special:
- Use pie filling or fresh apples.
- Four large servings is enough for smaller households but easy to scale up for larger needs.
- Topping of some sugar, cinnamon, and a few nuts on top.
- Lots of flexability and options.
- Ultra simple with great results. A recipe so easy that you don't even think about the work.
One last thing, I must address my use of cake mix—it surprised my wife. I like to use straight individual ingredients and not mixes. I 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 (or more.) That would make this not worth the work.
My Rating
I'm going with a lower five just because it is the type of food I love. You might be more of a high 4.
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.
🍎Ingredients for Crock Pot Apple Cobbler
Cake mix
The standard size cake mix for a 9X13 pan is fine for a double recipe but too much for the smaller recipe.
For this smaller recipe, we need half that amount. The standard size box is about 15 oz. and will be 3 cups by volume—I measured several brands, and they are consistent. So measure or weigh if you are unsure.
The standard is white or yellow cake mix. But spice cake mix or even apple-flavored ones all seem like good choices. They should all work, but if the cake mix brings the spice, you might want to not add any extra to it.
Any other flavor of cake mix you want should work and might create some lovely combinations if you are using an alternative fruit. I'm thinking of chocolate cherry dump cake in my mind right now.
Apples and Pie Filling
Pie Filling
This cut-down recipe uses one 20 oz if you use apple pie filling. The double recipe is two cans.
Other fruit pie fillings can be used like blueberry, strawberry, cherry, peach, and many more. Mix and match with your cake mix choices.
Fresh Apples
Apples that are firmer and tarter are the best choice here. So if you are buying apples just for this recipe, then some good choices are Granny Smith, Gala, Jonathon, Honey Crisp, Ida Red, and Cortland. Red Delicious Apples are probably the only common poor choice.
A medium apple will make about 1 cup when cored, peeled, and sliced. This smaller recipe needs about 3 cups and double size of 6 cups. But a little more is fine, so I'm listing the recipe as 3 to 4 medium apples.
Stir the apple slices with ground cinnamon and sugar to simulate the pie filling. The sugar is usually white granular sugar, but part or all brown sugar would add some other flavor.
If your apples are very tart, you may want to adjust your sugar up.
👨🍳How to Make Crock Pot Apple Cobbler
- Mix sugar and cinnamon for topping and to go with fresh apples. If using pie filling instead, mix less sugar and cinnamon.
- If using fresh apples, peel and slice 3-4 medium apples.
- Spray a 3-4 quart crock pot with cooking spray. Add eithre pie filling or fresh apples topped with the sugar and cinnamon mix.
- Cover the top of the filling with 1 ½ cups of cake mix.
- Sprinkle the top with melted butter and nuts if using. Cover with the remander of the sugar/cinnamon mixture.
- Cook in the crock pot for 2 hours on high or 4 hours on low.
❓Apple Cobbler FAQs
A sprinkle of granular sugar with a bit of cinnamon will create a little bit of a sweet crunch on top. I have this included in the recipe.
Elaborate toppings are not needed.
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.
Other than doubling the ingredients, the crock pot size should be 6-quarts or above. The cooking time will increase to 2 ½ to 3 hours if cooked on high—double on low. Be sure that the center is golden brown and the edges bubbling some when done. Do not cook by time alone.
I have two excellent suggestions: whipping cream or a large scoop of vanilla ice cream.
❄️Storage of Apple Cobbler
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 airtight 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.
📖Apple Recipes
This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.
🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
The nuts are optional, and use the apples of your choice.
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
Alternative to Canned Pie Filling-don't use both
- 3 - 4 medium apples
- 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, then 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 apples to the crock pot and spread over the bottom. Sprinkle with the sugar/cinnamon mixture. If using canned pie filling, add that to the crock pot now.
- Cover the apples with the cake mix and smooth the top.
- Melt 4 tablespoons 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.
My 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 to 2 ½ to 3 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