Apple Crumble Cake (Good & Easy)

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)

Apple Crisp in the Crockpot

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Easy Apple Crumble Recipe