Apple Pie Cake from the Slow Cooker is easy and fast to prepare. You start with a yellow cake mix and add fresh apple slices. A few more ingredients and stir. The best sweet dessert!
Making an apple pie cake suddenly becomes a whole lot easier and your kitchen still will smell like your grandma just took her classic apple pie straight out of the oven.
There is a reason why some people in my family call this Apple Pie Cake an apple dump cake from the crockpot. It's fast and you can just walk away for a couple of hours.
With just a few ingredients, some stirred and some layered, you get the most satisfying sweet dessert.
Table of Contents
Slow Cooker pros
The slow cooker is, without a doubt, an indispensable tool in the kitchen. You can plan and prepare big-batch recipes that leave a lot of leftovers to store in the fridge or freeze.
It takes the stress out of busy weeknight dinners, knowing that you have something already in the fridge that feeds the family for more than a day.
And who doesn’t like throwing healthy ingredients in a pot, then set it and forget it? I certainly do!
The more you use your crockpot, the more experimenting you'll be doing with it. You'll be searing out more recipes, too.
You can tell how much I love mine as I have about fifty crockpot recipes on the blog.
One thing is for sure. You don’t need to stick with just making soups or staples like beans or grains.
You can use this handy tool for hearty breakfasts, savory make-ahead meals, and lovely desserts!
Apple Pie Meets Cake in the Crockpot
Vegan Apple Crumble is the best of all worlds:
- It's easy to make and requires little preparation.
- It is an inviting, sweet dessert with that perfect crumbling texture. It is finger-licking good!
- It is healthier than your store-bought apple pie and one hundred percent vegan!
- It's super easy to make in the slow cooker.
Pro Tips:
Yellow Cake Mix
Yes, that is right, my friends. I have taken the word effortless to a whole new level with making this apple pie! And you’ll love it!
A great vegan mix is Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Classic Yellow Cake Mix. This isn't a sponsored post. I just happen to like this one.
It is not only a cost-effective product, but you get that fine crumbly texture when you incorporate dairy-free butter the right way. That means to measure the melted butter in a measuring cup - not a scoop measurer.
Most Duncan Hines Cake mixes are an excellent option for vegans because most of them contain no dairy ingredients.
You can sure use another cake mix just check out the ingredients to make sure it's vegan.
Choose Fresh Apples
Probably the most time-consuming part of making this super simple dessert is peeling and slicing the apples.
It still doesn't take a lot of time though because there are only four apples!
You can see in the photo above the steps I take with each apple. I use to live right down the street from Apple Hill in California and I've peeled literally bushels of apples.
How do you peel an apple
So that doesn't mean this is the only way to peel an apple but it's fast for me and it gets the job done very well.
- First, cut the apple through the core and then cut each half through the core again. Now you have four pieces.
- Take a little nip off the end of one quarter, cutting inward, and then go down around the core to the middle of the length.
- Flip the apple around and get the other end and the core from the other side.
- Now all you have to do is peel the quarter and then slice into thick slices. After I start coring the apple it never leaves my hand until it's sliced.
Please cut the apples in any way that feels safe to you. I'm just fast doing it this way.
Apple choices
Also, not every apple is created equal when it comes to making a pie in the slow cooker. The fruit is going to spend some time in the crockpot, and the last thing you want is mushy apples that lose their structure completely.
Just like choosing the right cake mix, you also want to select the right apples to obtain that perfect sweet-tart flavor that you love so much in an apple pie.
You can’t go wrong with good old Granny Smith apples. They are an excellent go-to baking apple, probably one of the most popular ones for making an apple pie.
I have another type of pie on the blog that is equally simple and delicious. Blueberry Apple Half Moon Pie uses a Granny Smith apple, too.
The photo above shows that the little bit of the sugar mixture is plenty. As you're slicing the apples, you might be thinking that ¼ cup of sugar can't be enough for these apples. It really is.
Especially with the sweet buttery mix of the cake mix, there is plenty of sweetness.
Now, for the final flourish, toss some chopped pecans on top of the finished cinnamon-spiced apple pie. It's like a vegan apple crumble and is so good.
📋 Recipe
Slow Cooker Apple Pie Cake
Ingredients
- 4 Granny Smith apples sliced
- ¼ cup coconut sugar
- ⅛ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ cup dairy free butter melted
- 1 yellow cake mix 1 box, I use Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Classic Yellow Cake Mix
- ¼ cup pecans chopped, optional
Instructions
- Use a wider slow cooker if you have one. That gives the cake more of a crumbly top surface. I used a 10" diameter slow cooker and one of those big oval ones would work too. If you have the regular size crockpot then it will work too.
- Peel and slice the apples and drop them right into the crock~pot.
- Mix the sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the apples.
- Stir with a wooden spoon to coat all of the apples with the sugar mixture.
- Melt the butter in the microwave for a few seconds. Set aside.
- Pour the cake mix into a medium sized bowl.
- Stir in the butter and mix well. I use my fingers at the end to 'pinch and roll' to help incorporate the butter evenly and get that fine crumbly texture.
- Sprinkle half of the cake mix/vegan butter mixture over the apples. Stir in well.
- Sprinkle the rest of the cake mixture over the top of the mixed apples. Do NOT mix in.
- Cover and cook on low 2 to 3 hours.
Nichole Kraft
Ooohhh! I'm already thinking ahead to Thanksgiving. I cook for my husband's side of the family, and this would be a quick and easy dessert to take. His family lives an hour and a half way from us, so we usually end up transporting most of the meal in the car and pies tend to be so delicate. A sturdier dessert like this would be perfect! Thanks for sharing!
Amanda @The Kitcheneer
You had me a t slow cooker, then it all went uphill from there! This looks delicious!
foodwanderings
Love the hybrid cake/pie & in a crock pot?! How about that. Love this seasonal recipe. It reminds me I need to go apple picking this fall.
christine
I can get behind anything that has both the words cake and pie in the title! Seriously looks delish, like fall in a bowl!
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes
This would make for the perfect holiday dessert! So low maintenance!
Rebecca {foodie with family}
My word. That is fun, convenient, AND tasty looking. Hat trick!
Lauren Kelly Nutrition
I just love everything about this!
Ginny McMeans
You are so welcome. I think everyone will love it for Thanksgiving. You are a good daughter-in-law. 🙂
Ginny McMeans
Ha! You are too funny Amanda and thanks!
Ginny McMeans
Thanks! Yes, I love apple picking and all the apple recipes that go with it.
Ginny McMeans
Thanks so much Christine. You are so sweet!
Ginny McMeans
That is so true Ashley! Dessert - done!
Ginny McMeans
Ha! It is magical Rebecca. 🙂
Ginny McMeans
Thanks so much Lauren! 🙂
Kim (Feed Me, Seymour)
Perfect!
Stephanie @ Back For Seconds
I love this! What a fun recipe!
Heather // girlichef
Oooohhh, I love this idea. My family would devour these.
Anonymous
can you make this with canned apple pie ??????????????
Ginny McMeans
Yes, I think you could! It would add more liquid but I think it would work. I have not tried it but I think it would be good. This is a tried and true recipe - basically for years from those church round-ups. I just made it vegan but I think the canned apples would work.
Nichole Kraft
Aw, thanks! I enjoy it because it gives me an excuse to try out new recipes like this one. 😉
Anonymous
What is coconut sugar and would regular sugar work? Not sure I can even get that here.
Ginny McMeans
Coconut sugar can be found at Sprouts, Whole Foods and other natural food stores. Yes, you can use regular sugar and it will be delicious.
Aly ~ Cooking In Stilettos
This looks delicious Ginny!
Angela {Mind Over Batter}
Did you see that? Did you hear that? That was me, drooling over my keyboard, then bumping my head because I sooo wanted to lick the screen. Looks Amazing!
Anonymous
No Whole Foods or Sprouts here. There is a little hole-in-the-wall health food store. I will look there for coconut sugar or use regular. Sounds awesome. Granny Smith apples are my favorite anyway.
Nutmeg Nanny
I love that this dessert is made in the slow cooker!
Maria
Hi! This sounds great!! How many would your recipe feed? Can it be made the night before or is it meant to be served warm? Also, if I double the receipe, will it have to cook longer then 2-3 hours?
Ginny McMeans
Hi maria, it serves 6 to 8 people and can be made the night before and kept in the fridge. The 'cake' can be served cold or warmed, slightly, in the microwave. No you do not have to double the time if your double the recipe (it would burn) but I would us a wider base slow cooker so that more heat touches the bottom. The edges are what tend to burn.
Paula
I used a gluten free cake mix (Namaste) to make it Gluten Free! Yummy thanks!!
Ginny McMeans
Fantastic Paula! I am so glad to hear that! 🙂
Shannon Savage
If I wanted to add pie crust instead of cake mix or in addition to it, would that work in the crockpot too?
Jeff
This looks (and smells) lovely. I have a batch underway now. Very much looking forward to it. Many thanks!
Ginny McMeans
I really don't know but I don't think so.
Ginny McMeans
That is fantastic Jeff! Thanks for letting me know and enjoy!
Ashton
Can I use regular butter?
Ginny McMeans
Yes, you sure can.
Stephanie
Can I substitute organic unsweetened applesauce for the butter?
Ginny McMeans
I think that would work Great Stephanie! I have to try that too.
Annalee
The recipe isn't showing up. 🙁
Ginny McMeans
Thank you Annalee! I'll get right on it! Don't know what happened - All fixed. Thanks for the heads up!
Alexa
Have you tested this recipe with a gluten free cake mix such as Betty Crocker? Thanks!
Ginny McMeans
Hi Alexa! I haven't tried any gluten-free cake mixes so I am clueless in this department. I am very sorry that I can't help you now but I will ask around. I'll put the question out on facebook and see if anyone else has done this.
Patrick Fisher
Maybe, I'm just not seeing where the recipe says how many this serves. Will these portions serve 6?
Ginny McMeans
Sorry about that Patrick, Yes it will serve 6 but not huge portions. 4 would be huge.
Spifninja
Do not cook with aluminum foil! You are poisoning yourself! Otherwise, amazing recipe 🙂
Ginny McMeans
Fixed it Spifninja. I had changed that a couple of years ago for cleaning sake and then I learned better and forgot to change the recipe. Oh, well. All fixed and thanks.
apple vermaak
can i use a plain vanilla home made cake instead of a box mix?
Ginny McMeans
Yes, you sure can apple. Just follow the measrement in the recipe for the final product.
Kathy Wardley
Could this be put into silicone muffin cups and frozen please Ginny?
Ginny McMeans
Yes, I think that would work great Kathy! I think you could reheat in a microwave very easily too. Not positive of the moisture after freezing so it may not be great cold at that point. But it may be perfect cold. Let me know!