Cake Mix Apple Cobbler
This super easy Cake Mix Apple Cobbler recipe is loaded with tender apples mixed with sweet brown sugar and spices, then topped with a buttery cake mix topping. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
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With the arrival of fall, everyone is all about the pumpkins. But honestly, I’m over here like HEY APPLES!. I’ve made dozens of cobblers out of a wide variety of fillings — peaches, blackberries, blueberries, even Snickers bars! This was the first time I’ve ever made a cobbler with apples. It did not disappoint! As a kid, I loved the baked apples from Cracker Barrel (who am I kidding, I still do!). The filling reminds me of those baked apples but with a buttery, sweet and flaky crust. It’s so good, I may or may not have eaten this cobbler for breakfast one or two days last week.
What are the best apples for baking?
There are so many varieties of apples, it can become overwhelming when trying to decide which ones to choose. However, your favorite snacking apple may not be the best choice. When it comes to baking, some varieties hold up better than others. You need to select an apple with a firm texture that will keep its shape during baking. Varieties to consider include Granny Smith. Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Fuji or Jazz.
Ingredients and tools you’ll need
No surprise that this simple recipe is made from pretty basic ingredients, many of which you may already have stocked in your kitchen. To make this apple cobbler recipe, you’ll need:
- 4 cups peeled, cored and sliced apples – I used Granny Smith apples, but any of the apples mentioned above will also work. Four large apples gave me roughly the amount of sliced apples I needed. After peeling the apples with a vegetable peeler, I used an apple corer to cut the apples into wedges. I then cut those wedges in half using a knife.
- 1/4 cup lemon juice – this not only helps the apples keep their color and texture but adds a bit of flavor.
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 (15.25 ounce) box butter flavored cake mix
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, melted – this would be one whole stick of butter and one half stick.
- Roughly 8 x 8 baking dish – I say roughly 8 x 8 because you could use a dish that’s a different size. The baking dish you see in the pictures measured 9 inches wide and 2 1/2 inches deep. However, I do think a 9 x 13 inch baking dish would be too big.
How to make Cake Mix Apple Cobbler
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, toss the apples with the lemon juice. Then add the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Give the apples another good stir until they appear to be evenly coated with the spices and sugar.
Pour the apples into your baking dish. You don’t have the grease the baking dish beforehand. Make sure the apples are evenly distributed on the bottom of the baking dish, then pour the contents of one box of butter flavored cake mix over the top. You do not have to prepare the cake mix according to the package directions beforehand. Just sprinkle the dry mix over the top of the apples and spread it out evenly with a spoon.
Pour the melted butter over the top of the cake mix. You will need to use a spoon to spread the butter around or carefully tilt the pan from side to side to ensure all the cake mix is coated with the butter. Otherwise you will end up with pockets of dry cake mix in your crust.
If the pan seems a little full, don’t worry. The apples cook down during baking and the cake mix really does not rise during baking. But if you have concerns, place a foil lined baking pan underneath.
Place the cobbler in the center of the oven. I tested this recipe multiple times and the position in the oven did make a difference in the crust. Baking it with the rack in the middle of the oven resulted in the best results — a crust that was evenly cooked and golden brown.
The cobbler is going to be REALLY hot when you pull it out of the oven. The juices from the apples will also be runny, so I recommend letting the cobbler sit for 10 minutes before serving. This gives the cobbler time to cool and allows the juices to thicken into a nice syrup. I whole heartedly recommend serving the cobbler hot with several scoops of vanilla ice cream, but whipped cream would also be tasty.
Storage, Freezing and Reheating Instructions
Storage. Cover the cobbler or transfer it to a container with a lid within two hours of baking. Eat within five days.
Freezing. This cobbler can be frozen baked or unbaked. If freezing unbaked, follow the recipe through adding the cake mix. Skip the melted butter for now. Cover with foil and freeze for up the three months. Allow the cobbler to thaw completely in the refrigerator. Then add the melted butter and follow the directions as instructed.
Allow a baked cobbler to cool completely, then cover with foil and freeze for up to three months. Please keep in mind that freezing a cobbler – either baked or unbaked — will slightly change the texture of the apples.
Reheating. Individual servings can be reheated for 1-2 minutes in the microwave, or baked for 10 minutes at 350 until heated through.
For a whole cobbler, let it stand at room temperature for about 15 minutes to take the chill off. Then bake at 350 degrees for approximately 20-30 minutes until the filling is heated through and the crust is crisp again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Substitute two cans of filling for the fresh apples. Omit the lemon juice, spices and salt.
Could I use a different type of fruit like peaches or cherries?
While I have not tried this cobbler using a different type of fruit, I do think the recipe as written would work well.
Can I double this recipe?
Yes. If doubling, I would use a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
Can I use a different flavor of cake mix?
Yes! I chose butter because I thought it would nicely compliment the flavor of the apples, but I think white, yellow or even a spiced cake mix would be delicious.
Can I make this in a slow cooker?
Yes. The recipe as written would fit in a round slow cooker. Spread the apples on the bottom and top with the cake mix and butter as instructed. Cook on low for four hours or high for two hours. If you are using an oval shaped slow cooker, I recommend doubling the recipe.
Cake Mix Apple Cobbler
Ingredients
- 4 cups cored and sliced Granny Smith apples roughly four medium sized apples
- 1/4 lemon juice
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 (15.25 ounce) box butter flavored cake mix
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the apples with the lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Toss until the apples are evenly coated.
- Transfer the apples to an 8 x 8 inch baking pan. Sprinkle the cake mix evenly over the top of the apples.
- Drizzle the melted butter over the cake mix. Carefully stir the butter around to make sure all the cake mix is coated with the butter. If the dish seems a little full, don’t worry. The apples will cook down and the cake mix will not rise during baking.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes until the crust is golden brown. Allow the cobbler to sit for about 10 minutes before serving.
- Serve the cobbler hot with ice cream or whipped cream.
