Easy Overnight Apple Cinnamon Dump Cake – Best Kid-Approved Dessert
This Easy Overnight Apple Cinnamon Dump Cake is a simple, dump-and-go dessert that changes minds. With tender, spiced apples and a golden, cake-like topping, it’s a crowd-pleaser that requires just 10 minutes of prep and an overnight rest for incredible flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Total Time: 8 hours 50 minutes (includes overnight rest)
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 6–7 medium apples (about 3 lbs), peeled, cored, and sliced (mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp recommended)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow or white cake mix (Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker recommended)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1/2 cup water
- Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream (optional, for serving)
- Caramel sauce (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Peel, core, and slice apples into 1/4-inch thick slices. Toss in a large bowl with granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and lemon juice until well coated. Let sit for 5 minutes.
- Spread the apple mixture evenly in the bottom of an ungreased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Sprinkle the entire box of dry cake mix evenly over the apples. Do not stir.
- In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter and water. Drizzle evenly over the dry cake mix. Do not stir.
- Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 8 hours, up to 24 hours.
- When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove dish from fridge and let sit on counter for 15 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for 40-45 minutes, until top is deep golden brown and apples are bubbling around edges. Center should be set and not jiggly. If browning too quickly, tent with foil for last 10 minutes.
- Let cool on a wire rack for at least 15-20 minutes before serving. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Notes
The overnight rest is crucial for flavor and texture. For a firmer set, let cool for 30 minutes. If using salted butter, reduce added salt to a pinch. For dairy-free, use plant-based butter and dairy-free cake mix. For gluten-free, use a gluten-free yellow cake mix.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/12 of cake
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 42
- Sodium: 320
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 62
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 3
Keywords: apple cinnamon dump cake, overnight dump cake, easy apple dessert, kid-approved dessert, dump cake recipe