Some of the very best recipes are the ones passed down from family—the simple, no-fuss, and completely comforting treats that taste like pure love and nostalgia. This incredible “My Sister Maria’s” Easy Apple Cake is one of those treasured recipes. Using the brilliant shortcut of a simple yellow cake mix, you can whip up this warm, tender, and beautifully cinnamon-spiced apple snack cake in just a few minutes.
This isn’t just a recipe; it’s your new secret weapon for the fastest, easiest, and most satisfying dessert imaginable. We’ll show you how to take a humble box of cake mix and transform it into a stunning, from-scratch-tasting masterpiece. Topped with tender chunks of fresh apple and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar, and served warm with a scoop of melting ice cream, this is the ultimate, cozy comfort food for any occasion.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview: The Ultimate Easy & Comforting Dessert
What makes this Easy Apple Cake so spectacularly delicious is its incredible simplicity and its wonderful, classic flavor. This is the ultimate “shortcut” recipe, using a box of yellow cake mix to create a foolproof, moist, and tender cake base every single time. The topping of fresh, diced apples tossed in cinnamon sugar bakes into the top of the cake, creating a wonderful, jammy, and fragrant fruit layer. It’s the perfect, last-minute dessert for a busy weeknight, a potluck, or a cozy fall weekend.
| Metric | Time / Level |
| Total Time | 35 minutes |
| Active Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Servings | 9 squares |
The Essential Ingredients for This Easy Cake
This recipe uses a handful of simple pantry staples and smart shortcuts to create a spectacular result.
- The Cake Mix Shortcut: The key to how easy and foolproof this recipe is!
- Yellow Cake Mix: One box of a simple, single-layer yellow cake mix (the recipe recommends the classic Jiffy® brand) is the perfect, convenient base for a moist and tender cake.
- The Fresh Apple Topping:
- McIntosh Apple: A classic, all-purpose baking apple like a McIntosh is a fantastic choice for this cake. It is tart enough to balance the sweetness of the cake, and its flesh breaks down slightly as it bakes, creating a wonderful, soft, and almost saucy apple topping that melds beautifully with the tender cake crumb.
- Cinnamon Sugar: A simple mixture of granulated sugar and ground cinnamon creates a delicious, spiced syrup as the apples bake and release their juices.
- The Perfect Serving Suggestion:
- Butter Pecan or Rum Raisin Ice Cream: Serving a square of this warm apple cake with a scoop of a rich, nutty, or boozy ice cream like butter pecan or rum raisin is an absolutely heavenly combination of flavors and temperatures.
Step-by-Step to the Easiest Apple Cake Ever
This recipe comes together in a flash with just a couple of bowls.
Step 1: Prepare the Oven, Pan, and Apple Topping
First, preheat your oven according to the directions on your cake mix box (typically 350°F or 375°F). Generously grease a 9×9-inch square cake pan with softened butter.
In a medium bowl, prepare your apple topping. Combine the diced McIntosh apple with the 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and the 1/4 cup of sugar. Toss everything together until the apple pieces are evenly and thoroughly coated. Set this aside.
Step 2: Mix the Easy Cake Batter
In a large bowl, prepare the yellow cake mix batter according to the package directions. For a classic Jiffy® mix, this will typically involve mixing the contents of the box with 1/2 cup of water and 1 large egg.
Pour the finished cake batter into your prepared 9×9-inch cake pan and spread it into an even layer.
Step 3: Assemble and Bake
Sprinkle your prepared cinnamon-sugar apple mixture evenly over the top of the cake batter in the pan.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cake is a beautiful golden brown and a wooden skewer or a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake part (not an apple chunk!) comes out clean.
Let the cake cool in the pan for at least 15-20 minutes before slicing and serving. This cake is at its absolute best when it is served warm.
The Best Quick & Easy Apple Cake (with Cake Mix!)
An incredibly simple and quick recipe for an apple cake that uses a yellow cake mix as a convenient shortcut. The prepared cake batter is poured into a square pan and then topped with a simple mixture of diced McIntosh apples, cinnamon, and sugar. The single-layer cake is then baked until cooked through. It is best served warm with a small scoop of butter pecan or rum raisin ice cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 23 minutes
- Total Time: 43 minutes (includes cooling time)
- Yield: 9 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix for a single layer cake (e.g., Jiffy brand)
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons softened butter, for greasing the pan
- 1 McIntosh apple, diced
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 pint butter pecan or rum raisin ice cream, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven according to the directions on the cake mix box (typically 350°F).
- Grease a 9 by 9-inch square cake pan with the softened butter.
- In a mixing bowl, prepare the cake batter according to the package directions, using 1/2 cup of water and 1 egg.
- Pour the prepared batter into the greased cake pan.
- In a separate small bowl, toss the diced apples with the cinnamon and sugar.
- Sprinkle the apple mixture evenly on top of the cake batter.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool for a few minutes.
- Serve warm cake squares with small scoops of butter pecan or rum raisin ice cream.
Notes
- This recipe’s simplicity comes from using a boxed cake mix as the base.
- The apple topping is sprinkled over the raw batter before baking, allowing it to sink slightly into the cake as it cooks.
- The cake is intended to be served warm to complement the cold ice cream.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square of cake
- Calories: 250-320
- Sugar: 30-40 g
- Sodium: 300-400 mg
- Fat: 10-14 g
- Saturated Fat: 4-6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40-50 g
- Fiber: 1-2 g
- Protein: 3-5 g
- Cholesterol: 40-60 mg
Serving Your Warm Apple Cake
The beauty of this cake is its simple, rustic presentation. The best way to serve it is warm, cut into nine generous squares, and scooped directly from the pan into cozy bowls.
For the ultimate, classic comfort food experience, serve each warm square of the apple cake with a large scoop of butter pecan or rum raisin ice cream. The cool, creamy, and nutty ice cream melting into the warm, tender, and spiced cake is one of life’s greatest simple pleasures.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
This Easy Apple Cake is a fantastic dessert to have on hand for a sweet treat.
- Make-Ahead: You can bake the entire cake a day in advance. Let it cool completely, then cover it tightly and store it at room temperature.
- Storage: Store any leftover cake, well-covered, at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: You can enjoy leftovers at room temperature, but it’s best when reheated. You can reheat individual slices in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds until just warm.
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Creative Recipe Variations
This incredibly simple cake recipe is a fantastic base for your own creative and delicious twists.
- Add a Crunchy Crumble Topping: For a more classic, “coffee cake” style texture, you can add a simple crumble topping. In a small bowl, mix together 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon. Cut in 4 tablespoons of cold butter until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle this over the top of the apples before you bake the cake.
- Use a Different Fall Fruit: This simple cake method is also absolutely fantastic with other fruits. Try it with one large, ripe, and diced pear, or a mix of apples and 1/2 cup of fresh or frozen cranberries.
- Add a Decadent Caramel Drizzle: For an even more indulgent dessert, you can drizzle the entire warm, finished cake with your favorite store-bought or homemade salted caramel sauce just before serving.
Enjoy The Ultimate Easy & Cozy Dessert!
You’ve just discovered a truly magical recipe that delivers all the comforting, delicious flavor of a from-scratch apple cake with almost none of the work. This Easy Apple Cake is a perfect harmony of a tender, buttery cake and a warm, spiced fruit topping. It’s a rewarding and deeply satisfying recipe that is sure to become a new family favorite.
We hope you enjoy every last, warm, and delicious bite!
If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves an easy and delicious dessert!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the best kind of apple to use for this cake?
The recipe suggests a McIntosh apple, which is a fantastic choice. Softer “eating” apples like a McIntosh are perfect for this style of cake because they break down slightly as they bake, creating a wonderful, soft, and almost jammy topping that is incredibly tender. If you prefer your apples to hold their shape more, you could use a firmer baking apple like a Gala, a Fuji, or a Honeycrisp.
Q2: Can I use a different kind of cake mix for this recipe?
Yes, absolutely! While a classic yellow cake mix is perfect, this recipe would also be absolutely delicious when made with a spice cake mix for an extra boost of warm, fall flavor, or even a butter pecan cake mix. Just be sure to use a “single layer” size mix (around 9 ounces), or use half of a standard-sized cake mix.
Q3: Can I add nuts to this recipe?
Of course! For a wonderful, nutty crunch, you can add about 1/2 cup of toasted, chopped pecans or walnuts. You can either sprinkle them over the top along with the apples, or you can fold them directly into the cake batter.
Q4: How do I store this apple cake?
This cake stores beautifully! Simply let it cool completely, then cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap or foil. It will stay wonderfully moist and delicious at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Q5: Can I make this cake in a different pan, like a round cake pan or a loaf pan?
Yes. This recipe will work perfectly in a 9-inch round cake pan. It would also work in a standard 9×5-inch loaf pan, but you may need to increase the baking time to about 35-45 minutes.