A truly no-fuss dessert, this Quick and Easy Apple Pie Filling Cake is always a hit! The batter comes together in minutes mixed by hand and you can use your favorite apple pie filling.
Why you'll love this Quick and Easy Apple Pie Filling Cake recipe:
- Perfect for any occasion: Whether you're in the mood for a delicious dessert or need to whip up something quick for a potluck, this apple cinnamon coffee cake is the perfect option.
- Easy to make: With simple ingredients and easy instructions, you could master this cake even if you're a novice baker.
- Versatile recipe: Change up this sweet little cake with different sorts of fruit or even consider adding some nuts for extra crunch.
- Family favorite: So warm and filled with comforting flavors, this coffee cake is sure to become a family favorite.
- Dairy-free: This easy cake recipe is totally dairy-free.
I had been dreaming of making a great coffee cake and I knew it would have apples in it. My dad had been hinting the last few times he came to visit that he would love another apple pie.
When he phoned yesterday to say he was coming by for a visit, I needed to bake something quick with apples. Not having any apples on hand to make him a pie, I decided it would be perfect to make him this simple and easy coffee cake.
The Lucky Leaf company was kind enough to send me a box of their premium pie fillings to try. I honestly never buy pie fillings. I prefer peeling and slicing my own apples. I was looking forward to giving their apple pie filling a try for this cake. The apples were juicy and what I love the most, without any high fructose corn syrup.
While I was photographing the “how-to” part of the cake, Luca decided to photograph his Ice-Age characters. Not easy getting my camera back from him after he set up this scene.
My dad arrived just as I took the cake out of the oven. His eyes lit up when he saw all the gorgeous apples peaking through on the top. He didn’t understand why I as taking so many photos. It was futile trying to explain my blog and how you have to try to get the right shot. He just wanted that first piece of cake to arrive a little quicker.
My next door neighbor Oceanna needed to make an apple dessert for her 8th grade French class in school the next day. She wanted to make an apple tarte tatin. I taught her how to make this delicious cake and we made 2: one for her class and one for home. She exclaimed, “It’s the best apple cake. Ever!” It rocked! Really. Truly. Cannot wait to make another one
What ingredients are needed to make an apple pie coffee cake?
- Flour: provides structure and bulk to the cake.
- Baking powder: Reacts with the vinegar in the milk to help leaven the cake and make it light and fluffy.
- Sea Salt: Enhances the flavor of the cake and balances out the sweetness.
- Ground cinnamon: Adds warmth and spice to the cake, as well as a beautiful swirl of color.
- Baking soda: Similar to baking powder, this ingredient helps to leaven the cake and make it rise.
- Coconut sugar: Provides a less refined alternative to regular sugar, adding a subtle caramel flavor to the cake.
- Non-dairy milk: Helps create a moist, tender cake while. If you're not dairy-free, use your favorite whole milk.
- Apple pie filling: provides fruity sweetness and texture to the cake. Spoiler alert: it's not actually homemade, but shhh, no one will ever know.
- Coconut oil: Acts as a binding agent in the cake batter and adds healthy fats for richness.
- Vanilla extract: Adds depth of flavor to the cake.
How do you make apple pie coffee cake?
(Full printable recipe is below.)
Step 1: In a small bowl, add the milk and vinegar and give it a whirl. Let sit a minute.
Step 2: In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients of the cake and whisk together. Step 3: In a medium sized bowl, mix together the oil, milk, water/cornstarch mixture, and vanilla. Mix well.
Step 4: Incorporate the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, scraping the sides of the bowl with your spatula.
Step 5: Spread 1/2 of the batter in the bottom of a 9×11″ greased baking dish. (I used an 8 inch cast iron skillet)
Step 6: Spoon on the apple pie filling evenly over the top.
Step 7: Spoon the rest of the batter over the top in clumps, leaving some of the apple filling showing through.
Step 7: Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture.
Step 8: Bake for about 60-80 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean. Check the cake after 45 minutes. Cover with foil for the last portion of baking to prevent over-browning. Remove cake from oven and good luck letting it cool before serving. The cinnamon sugar smell will have you hypnotized with desire before it cools.
Expert tips to make apple dump cake with homemade batter
- Use a 9x11" baking dish or an 8 inch cast iron skillet for best results.
- Preheat your oven to 350º F before starting to make the cake.
- Let the milk and vinegar mixture sit for a minute after combining, this will help it curdle and act as a substitute for buttermilk.
- Whisk together the dry ingredients in a separate bowl before adding them to the wet ingredients.
- Mix the oil, milk, water/cornstarch mixture, and vanilla thoroughly before adding it to the dry ingredients.
- Don't worry if there are some clumps of batter left on top of the apples, this adds texture to the cake.
- Use a tester (toothpick or knife) to check if the cake is done before taking it out of the oven.
- Cover the cake with foil towards the end of baking to prevent over-browning.
- Let the cake cool for at least 15 minutes before serving to allow it to set and make cutting easier.
- Serve the apple upside-down cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delicious and indulgent dessert.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different types of fruit, such as peaches or berries, in this recipe.
- For an extra cinnamon kick, add some ground cinnamon to the batter before pouring it over the apples.
- If you're using fresh apples, use ripe but firm apples for the best texture and flavor in the cake.
- Simple way to make your own brown sugar, you can make your own by mixing 1 cup of granulated sugar with 2 tablespoons of molasses.
- Store leftover cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Simply reheat it in the oven or microwave before serving.
Variations and substitutions:
- Instead of using canola oil, you can use melted butter or coconut oil for a richer flavor.
- For a gluten-free version, replace the all-purpose flour with your favorite gluten-free flour blend. I do like King Arthur's GF 1-1 blend or Bob's Red Mill.
- If you don't have apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, you can use white vinegar as a substitute in the milk mixture.
- Feel free to switch up the fruit filling and use your favorite pie filling, such as cherry or blueberry.
- Add in some chopped nuts, like pecans or walnuts. Gives a little bit of crunch and texture.
- If you don't have Lucky Leaf pie filling, you can make your own by cooking sliced apples with sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt until soft.
- If you need a vegan option, use almond milk and a flax egg (1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water) instead of regular milk and eggs.
- For an even cozier, warmer flavor, you could could get creative with the spices and add a dash of nutmeg or cloves to the cinnamon sugar mixture. Adds a lovely flavor.
- Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for an indulgent dessert experience.
What to serve with apple pie cake?
- Whipped cream: This simple apple dump cake goes really well with homemade whipped cream (you could also use your favorite store-bought brand). Sprinkle on a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg.
- Vanilla ice cream: When the cake is still warm, it goes so nicely with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream.
- Caramel sauce: Drizzle on some homemade caramel sauce...I promise you it will be amazing!
- Candied nuts: Candied nuts or regular nuts could be chopped up and sprinkled on top.
Storing and freezing
To store this delicious apple cinnamon cake, simply cover it with foil or place it in an air-tight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Before serving, you can reheat slices of the cake in the microwave or oven.
If you want to freeze the whole cake, allow the cake to fully cool down before wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap and placing it in a freezer-safe container. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. To thaw, simply place it in the refrigerator overnight or on the counter for a few hours before serving.
Yes, you definitely can! All you need to do is replace the canned apples with 3 apples that have been peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Mix them with 2 Tablespoons brown sugar.
This easy cake tastes delicious just baked. Once it completely cools down, store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
This isn't a true apple dump cake, as the batter is homemade. This is sort of a hybrid of an apple dump cake, as it has homemade cake batter and uses canned apple pie filling.
If you happen to have cake batter on hand, you you could use it.
Yes, in the summertime, use a nice cherry or blueberry pie filling in place of the apples.
Other apple desserts:
Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below:)
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Apple Pie Coffee Cake
Ingredients
- 2 ½ Cups Flour
- 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- ¾ tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Cinnamon
- ⅔ Cup Canola Oil
- ⅔ Cup rice milk or regular milk + 2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar (or lemon juice)
- 2 Tbs Cornstarch mixed with 1/2 Cup Water
- 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 20 to 25 oz Jar Apple Pie Filling I used Lucky Leaf
- 2 Tbs Sugar mixed with 2 tsp Cinnamon for topping.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F.
- In a small bowl, add the milk and vinegar and give it a whirl. Let sit a minute. In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients of the cake and whisk together. In a medium sized bowl, mix together the oil, milk, water/cornstarch mixture, and vanilla. Mix well. Incorporate the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, scraping the sides of the bowl with your spatula.
- Spread 1/2 of the batter in the bottom of a 9×11″ greased baking dish. (I used an 8 inch cast iron skillet)
- Spoon on the apple pie filling evenly over the top.
- Spoon the rest of the batter over the top in clumps, leaving some of the apple filling showing through.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Bake for about 60-80 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean. Check the cake after 45 minutes. Cover with foil for the last portion of baking to prevent over-browning. Remove cake from oven and good luck letting it cool before serving. The cinnamon sugar smell will have you hypnotized with desire before it cools.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information presented below is an approximation and may vary depending on the exact ingredients used.
Claudia says
I love the ice age characters being photographer. And had to laugh - my family does get impatient when I whisk food away to be photographed. Sometimes I just give in and serve it and know the photos won't work or it will not be happening in the blog!
As for this apple pie/cake - delicious and the best of both worlds. I love an apple cake and I adore my apple pie and bringing them together under one roof is inspired.
Barbara | Creative Culinary says
I want an apple coffee cake. I might make this tomorrow but saute some apples I need to use. Sounds yummalicious Lora!
Farmgirl Gourmet says
Oh my gosh....I am with Barb - want this coffee cake right now! That looks amazing Lora! YUM!
claudia @Whats Cookin says
Your photos and recipe is bar none magnificient!
Baker Street says
Gorgeous Lora! I love how you used apples! Very creative and delicious!
Come and share it on our apple blog hop too! 🙂 http://bakerstreet.tv/2011/10/apple-blog-hop-cream-cheese-apple-tart/#.Tpzte5xmI5E
Fuji Mama says
Oh, why oh why did I read this right now? Now I've got a FIERCE craving for apple pie coffee cake! This looks amazing!
El says
Oh my- this looks sensational...
Cookin' Canuck says
This is fall goodness wrapped up in one yummy cake. Your dad must have been thrilled!
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
That looks and sounds fabulous and it's great that it's vegan too!
Paula says
I really, really need to get some more apples. The very first photo of your scrumptious apple cake really did me in.
EA-The Spicy RD says
I can understand why your dad would want a bite of cake right away-looks fabulous! Love that you made one with your neighbor too. Very sweet!
Jamie says
Yum yum and I was toying with the idea of making this fabulous cake with apples. It just screams autumn! Looks luscious, tasty and perfect for breakfast and snack. Great baking, Lora! Lucky neighbors and kids!
A Spoonful of Yumm says
wow...apple pie in a coffee cake ! doesn't get better than this 😀
Susan Lindquist says
What a wonderfully quick and easy 'apple fix'! With a hot cup of coffee ... heaven on Earth! AND ... I love it when you bake in that cast iron skillet! Looks so homey and cozy!
Monet says
Perfect in my book! This apple coffee cake looks so good, my friend! Thank you for sharing such a delectable treat. I've missed visiting here, and I'm glad that I'm able to type again! Take care and many blessings.
The Mom Chef says
The quality of the pie filling shows with the whole slices of apple. I was surprised to see that. Usually they're all mushy and in pieces.
The coffee cake is beautiful. Look how wonderfully caramelized those apples got. It's fantastic, Lora. Thanks for sharing.
Shawn says
Your apple pie coffee cake looks absolutely delightful! It's like a sophisticated cobbler 🙂
marla {family fresh cooking} says
Hi Lora, love that you made this fall pie in the skillet! So creative & something I must try 🙂
Becky says
Lora,
The apple pie filling looks like it is high quality, which makes your Apple Coffee Cake, look even more delicious, and vegan, too.
Great pics for Luca! So cute!
Megan says
Oh, I love this cross between coffee cake and biscuit-style cobbler. I'm thinking this would be perfect for Thanksgiving breakfast!
Priscilla - She's Cookin' says
Apple/coffee cake would be perfect with my cup of coffee 🙂 I'm sure your dad was thrilled! Perfect fall treat and love that it's vegan - I only have one suggestion - next time make three 😉
Reeni says
Your apple cake looks scrumptious! I would be impatient waiting for a piece too. I wish I lived nearby - it would be so fun to bake (and eat) together!
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
love this idea! fantastic
Emily Malloy says
This looks divine!
A Thought For Food says
I want this in my belly right now! A marvelous combination!
Priyanka says
Love the recipe..need to try it out soon.thanks for sharing
Eliotseats says
I love that you used a cast iron skillet. Beautiful pics (especially the Ice Age still life!)
Lizzy says
Oh, my gosh, this looks amazing, Lora!!!! Simply gorgeous...and delicious, too; my mouth is watering. And love how you included Luca's photos, too 🙂 Hope you have something fun planned for the weekend! xoxo
Erin says
What a great coffee cake! Love the use of pie filling, I too never buy it. But good to know it is worth it in a pinch.
Gotta laugh at your son - totally something my 6 year old would do. that and try to jump in the picture!
kita says
My dad loves the movie Ice Age. Something about the little prehistoric squirrel that makes him laugh every time. This apple pie cake looks sooooo good.
Kara says
Oh geez, this cake looks amazing!! This is a must try for sure! Thank you for the recipe! I love your blog and your recipes 😀 New follower for sure!!
Kara 🙂
http://lovehomebird.blogspot.com/
Sue says
Warm right out of the oven? Your dad has perfect timing:) Delicious!
Val says
Such an incredible recipe and photo!! I want to reach through the screen!
Anonymous says
Brilliant and easy and looks so comforting!
Nancy says
Apples and coffee cake are a classic - the fact that this one is made in a skillet only makes it that much better!!!
Let Me Eat Cake says
wow this looks so incredible! i've never seen a marriage of pie and coffee cake i can't wait to try this out
Tickled Red says
This has fall written all over it, yum! I love that you made it for your dad and that the cast of Ice Age was along for the ride. Too cute!
Anonymous says
Oh your cake looks so delicious! Skillet apple pie coffee cake...brilliant!
Give me money says
delicious cake
Jules says
LOVE love this easy apple cake. I make it now every year. I like to add a little more cinnamon sugar on top.