Apple Crumble Cake (Good & Easy)
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This good & easy apple crumble cake recipe will bring your tastebuds back to days in grandma’s kitchen. Filled with apples and topped with a delicious pecan crumble, I like to serve it warm with homemade whipped cream gently melting on top.
I first had this apple crumble cake when I was eight years old. I really enjoy it because it isn’t too sweet. I’m not a big icing person, but give me fresh whipped cream oozing down over warm cake and you got a happy camper on your hands!
Fortunately, this coffee cake recipe is super easy to make. If you’re new around here, let me in on a little secret… I love using box cake mix in so many of my favorite cake recipes. It’s quick, easy, and always results in a perfectly soft and moist cake, so what’s not to love?
Today we’re using a white cake mix and adding some scrumptious apple pie filling and chopped nuts for added flavor and texture. The filling absorbs into the cake so it’s deliciously moist! But as the name suggests, this apple crumble cake recipe isn’t complete without its crumble topping. This buttery, nutty, and cinnamon-spiced topping is the cherry on top, let me tell you!
Every bite will have you dreaming of crisp fall days. Alright, who’s ready to bake an easy apple crumb cake? I know I am!
Recipe Ingredients
Apple Cake
- Box of white cake mix
- Chopped pecans
- Can of apple pie filling
- Eggs
Crumble Topping
- Plain flour
- White sugar
- Unsalted butter or margarine
- Ground cinnamon
- Chopped pecans
How to Make Apple Crumble Cake
Pour the apple pie filling onto a plate or into a bowl, then get a knife and kind of coarsely chop it up a bit.
The original recipe said to “beat the apple pie filling” to break it up a bit. But I guess apple pie filling must be sturdier these days than it used to be because the one time I tried to beat it, nothing happened except the whole apple slices sloshed around in my mixing bowl for a minute or so.
Now, place all ingredients for the cake into a mixing bowl. Using a large spoon or spatula, stir this up until well combined. Set aside.
Prepare the crumb topping by placing flour, sugar, pecans, ground cinnamon, and softened butter into a small bowl.
Cut butter in with a fork and stir the entire mixture until crumbly.
Spread the cake batter into a greased 9×13 baking dish and sprinkle evenly with the crumb topping.
Bake the apple crumb cake at 350 for 50 to 55 minutes.
I love to serve this warm with homemade whipped cream on top!
I’ve included an easy homemade recipe below, but check out this post to learn how easy it is to make whipped cream at home with evaporated milk.
Storage
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can easily reheat it quickly in the microwave.
- You can also store leftovers in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Recipe Notes
- Use whatever cake mix brand you prefer. I know they’ve changed sizes slightly but this recipe still works fine. Unfortunately, after a lifetime of devotion, I no longer recommend Duncan Hines due to several test kitchen failures with their current formulation.
- This apple crumb coffee cake also tastes amazing served with custard or vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce. Try my pecan praline sauce (YUM).
- For the crumble topping, you can use just granulated sugar, just brown sugar, or a combination of both.
- For extra sweetness, top your apple cake with a simple vanilla glaze (visit this post for a recipe).
- If you like, you can totally substitute the pecans for walnuts. We all know they’re so much more budget-friendly.
Recipe FAQs
Can I substitute the apple for something else in this apple cake recipe?
You totally can! Adapt this apple cake recipe to suit you. An easy substitution is to swap the apple pie filling for a different pie filling, like cherry.
You may also like these other appetizing apple desserts:
Jack-o-Lantern Apple Pie With Puff Pastry
Caramel Apple Cheesecake (Unbelievably Blissful)
Ingredients
Apple Cake
- 1 box white cake mix
- 3 eggs
- 1 can apple pie filling 21 ounces
- 1 cup chopped nuts
Crumble Topping
- 1/2 cup plain flour
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup butter at room temp
Homemade Whipped Cream
- 1 - 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 2-4 tablespoons sugar
Instructions
- Pour the apple pie filling onto a large plate and coarsely chop it up a bit with a knife. Place it in a mixing bowl along with all the other cake ingredients. Stir until well combined with a large spoon. Pour into a greased 9x13 baking dish.1 box white cake mix, 3 eggs, 1 can apple pie filling, 1 cup chopped nuts
- Prepare topping by mixing all the ingredients together with a fork. Sprinkle the crumble mixture over the cake batter. Bake cake at 350 for 50-55 minutes. Serve warm with homemade whipped cream.1/2 cup plain flour, 1/2 cup white sugar, 1 cup chopped pecans, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 cup butter
To make whipped cream
- Place the heavy whipping cream in a chilled mixing bowl and add sugar to taste. I suggest starting with two tablespoons because you can always add more later.2-4 tablespoons sugar, 1 - 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- Mix on high for about one minute, until soft peaks and ripples form. Serve over warm cake (don't forget to lick the bowl!).
Notes
Nutrition
Oh goodness! Another cake recipe to add to my list – it looks delicious. I’m going to make the coconut cake you posted lately for this coming weekend … we’re spending the weekend at husband’s grandmother’s farm with my in-laws. She passed away a couple years ago, but his parents have kept old family place. They’ll be thrilled with the cake!
For years I didn’t cook because we live in an ancient house and our kitchen used to be the back porch. It has 8 doors coming in from various rooms and only had 6 feet of cabinets & counterspace with a sink in the middle, a microwave at one end, and a toaster oven at the other end. I had to do all prep work on my ironing board … try cutting biscuits on an ironing board! Anyway, we finally got the kitchen remodeled about 5 years ago … changed out the ugly dark paneling from the last remodel in the 60’s, relocated the backdoor, and had custom cabinets put in. My kitchen is now a sunny bright orange (think Tennessee orange) with bright white trim and it still makes me very happy every time I walk in there. A beautiful color can make all the difference in the world!
**Jumping up and down** Yay! I have everything to make this today! It looks so yummy and I’ve been craving cake so bad but couldn’t decide what kind. I’ll let you know how everyone likes it.
dora
Oh now that is just meant to be!!!!
I can’t wait to hear back! Save me a slice!
This cake looks like my Great-Grandmothers Apple Cake. She is in heaven with Jesus now, but I still can taste her cake. Thank you so much for sharing. God Bless and Happy Cooking :o)
Thank you Tracy, I know you miss your grandmother and hope this made you smile a bit thinking of her. Thank you so much for commenting and being one of the people who makes me feel I have a purpose here. 🙂
Gratefully,
Christy
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! My husband’s b-day is Thursday and I was wondering what kind of cake to make for him; this will be perfect!
Michele
Oh Happy Birthday to your husband!! I love homemade cakes for birthdays! My husband likes to have Strawberry Punch Bowl Cake (its on here, too!) for his Birthday, which is at the end of next month. Mine is coming up soon and I have no idea what I want! Guess I need to get to thinking on that.
Gratefully,
Christy 🙂
Hi Christy…Thank You for the Husband BD cake idea.
Ray’s BD was Jan 27th … but, he would enjoy a BD cake any day…so let’s celebrate again!!
I really like your style in cooking and baking. I will be visiting your site quite often! Thanks for sharing great ideas!!
~~~ Eileen
This is wonderful to hear. Warms my heart and you are so right, a BD cake any day sounds good to me 🙂
Welcome to the Southern Plate Family!
Stacey Lynn
This looks like a wonderful cake. I’m like you and prefer cakes that don’t have frosting. I’ll a real fan of pound cakes…any special recipes in your collection?
YES! I have a to die for chocolate pound cake on this site with a homemade fudge glaze that is my grandmother’s recipe, it is divine.
Also, my Aunt Sue makes the BEST pound cake. Mama makes a special custard to pour over it. I’ll try to get it up here soon!!!
My Dear Daughter turned me on to your site and I LOVE it, you always brighten my day with your great recipes and wonderful way of writing.
Thank You for adding so many happy moments to my life and I loved your Christmas video.
M
Hey Maxine!! Please thank your daughter for me!! I LOVE getting new readers and your kind words just made my day.
Thank you for sitting through the video, too! We had a blast this last Christmas and I love throwing little things like that together. I haven’t made that blog public yet so you must be one of my email subscribers! I needed a place to do little random writings and not have to stick to a certain niche or topic. I’m still trying to decide if I should put a link to it here or not!
I hope you have a wonderful day! I am sitting here looking at sunshine yellow walls and grinning from ear to ear.
Life is good, isn’t it?
No way! I’m first to post, ha!
This sounds great and I’m going to make it for the family tomorrow. NO doubt it’s yet another keeper from you, thanks for sharing it.
Hey Socalmal! You are so sweet!!! I do love this cake but then again I guess y’all have noticed that I don’t post anything I don’t love! So far, that has worked for me so I figure I’ll keep it up!
Hope you are having a wonderful Monday!
🙂
So what would happen if you really loved apples and put in two cans of apple pie filling? Asking for a friend.
My family loved this cake and do did I. There was even some cake left to take for lunches the next day and it’s not so fluffy that it will fall apart, just had to omit the whipping cream and eat it with milk or coffee. Fabulous!