Apple Walnut Dump Cake

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Apple Walnut Dump Cake combines everything you love about autumn in an easy dessert. Tart apples, warm cinnamon, and crunchy walnuts create a dump cake you'll want to make every time fall rolls around!

apple walnut dump cake in a blue bowl with a dollop of cinnamon whipped cream on top.
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What Is a Dump Cake?

A dump cake is usually made with pie filling, cake mix, and butter. Those are the main ingredients, but there are many variations.

You basically dump the ingredients into a 9 x 13 inch dish and pop them in the oven. An easy and delicious apple nut cake comes out in 45 minutes!

The fun thing about a dump cake is it's hard to mess up. But, the best part is how amazing it tastes.

This apple cinnamon dump cake is moist, packed with chunky fruit, and layered with a crunchy topping. Apple Walnut Cake is especially good when topped with homemade cinnamon whipped cream!

spoonful of apple walnut dump cake in a 9 x 13 inch dish.

What's the Difference Between a Dump Cake and a Poke Cake?

Dump cakes literally involve dumping all of the ingredients into a pan or skillet before baking, while poke cakes require that you use a fork to poke holes in the cake after baking.

5 Easy Ingredients

You only need 5 ingredients for this recipe. Chances are, you already have these ingredients in your fridge and pantry, which makes it so easy!

  • apple pie filling or canned fried apples
  • cinnamon (ad)
  • yellow cake mix
  • walnuts
  • butter

Quantities are listed in the recipe card.

ingredients needed to make apple walnut dump cake.

How to Make It

Empty two cans of fried apples or apple pie filling into a 9 x 13 inch oven-safe dish. Sprinkle apples with cinnamon and 1 cup of the walnuts.

apples in a dish with cinnamon sprinkled on top.

Layer dry yellow cake mix over apples. Pour melted butter over the top of cake mix.

apple cake with yellow cake mix on top

Top with remaining walnuts. Swirl cake with a knife.

dump cake in a rectangular dish with butter, cake mix and walnuts on top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes until golden brown. What could be easier than that?

Dump Cake Variations

If you want to get creative with this recipe, or try another combination, here are a few ideas to get you started...

  • substitute pecans for walnuts
  • mix in dried fruit such as cranberries
  • substitute spice cake mix
  • swirl the entire cake with caramel syrup after baking
  • top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream instead of whipped cream
a spoon standing upright in a bowl full of apple walnut dump cake.

How to Make Cinnamon Whipped Cream

To make Cinnamon Whipped Cream, pour a carton of heavy whipped cream into a mixing bowl. Beat with a mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form.

Fold in powdered sugar, vanilla, and a dash of ground cinnamon. Stir and serve on top of Apple Walnut Dump Cake while still warm. See quantities in the recipe card below.

More Desserts to Love

If you like this recipe, you'll love my other desserts...

Recipe Card

apple walnut dump cake in a blue bowl with a dollop of cinnamon whipped cream on top.

Apple Walnut Dump Cake

Tart apples, warm cinnamon, and crunchy walnuts create an Apple Walnut Dump Cake you'll want to make every time fall rolls around!
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings8
Calories: 211kcal

*See notes in blog post for detailed tips, photos and instructions.

Equipment

  • 13 x 9 inch baking dish
  • mixer (hand or free standing)
  • spoon

Ingredients

DUMP CAKE

  • 2 cans 14.5 oz. fried apples (or apple pie filling)
  • ½ tsp. ground cinnamon ad
  • 1 box 15.25 oz yellow cake mix
  • 2 cups walnuts chopped
  • 1 stick butter melted

CINNAMON WHIPPED CREAM

  • 1 16 oz carton heavy whipping cream
  • ½ tsp. cinnamon
  • 2 Tbsp. powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions

DUMP CAKE

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Empty cans of apples into a 9 x 13 inch oven safe dish. 
  • Sprinkle apples with cinnamon and 1 cup of the walnuts.
  • Sprinkle apples with dry yellow cake mix.
  • Pour melted butter over the top and sprinkle with remaining walnuts. 
  • Swirl cake around with a knife.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes until golden brown.

CINNAMON WHIPPED CREAM

  • Pour heavy whipping cream into a mixing bowl.
  • Beat with a mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form.
  • Mix in cinnamon and powdered sugar.
  • Spoon over apple cake while still warm.

Notes

This recipe doubles the walnuts that most dump cakes require. If preferred, you can use only 1 cup on top, but the more the better!
Store leftover cake and whipped cream in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

Nutrition

Calories: 211kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 133mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition info is an auto generated estimate.

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10 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Made this cake recently for a ladies luncheon and used a mix of black walnuts and pecans. Everyone raved about it - a hit on the dessert table, not a bite left! It was delicious!! Thanks for all your recipes, they are wonderful!!
    Barbara H

    1. That makes me so happy! So glad my apple cake was a hit at your party! You truly made my day. 🙂

    1. Hi Janet. I've never tried not swirling it, but if you try it and it turns out great...let me know! 🙂

  2. 5 stars
    So delicious and perfect at this time of year! Fall is here and this dessert gets my husband and me in the fall spirit! Easy too! Thanks Debi!

    1. It sure did taste good when I made it last night! 🙂 Even better with cinnamon whipped cream!

5 from 5 votes

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