Quick and Easy Apple Pie Filling Cake

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:

1. 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.
2. Easy to make: With simple ingredients and easy instructions, you could master this cake even if you're a novice baker.
3. Versatile recipe: Change up this sweet little cake with different sorts of fruit or even consider adding some nuts for extra crunch.
4. Family favorite: So warm and filled with comforting flavors, this coffee cake is sure to become a family favorite.
5. 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

1. Use a 9x11" baking dish or an 8 inch cast iron skillet for best results.
2. Preheat your oven to 350º F before starting to make the cake.
3. Let the milk and vinegar mixture sit for a minute after combining, this will help it curdle and act as a substitute for buttermilk.
4. Whisk together the dry ingredients in a separate bowl before adding them to the wet ingredients.
5. Mix the oil, milk, water/cornstarch mixture, and vanilla thoroughly before adding it to the dry ingredients.
6. Don't worry if there are some clumps of batter left on top of the apples, this adds texture to the cake.
7. Use a tester (toothpick or knife) to check if the cake is done before taking it out of the oven.
8. Cover the cake with foil towards the end of baking to prevent over-browning.
9. Let the cake cool for at least 15 minutes before serving to allow it to set and make cutting easier.
10. Serve the apple upside-down cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delicious and indulgent dessert.
11. Don't be afraid to experiment with different types of fruit, such as peaches or berries, in this recipe.
12. For an extra cinnamon kick, add some ground cinnamon to the batter before pouring it over the apples.
13. If you're using fresh apples, use ripe but firm apples for the best texture and flavor in the cake.
14. 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.
15. 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.

Other apple desserts:

• Easy Cranberry and Apple Cake
• Sourdough Discard Apple Galette
• Italian Vegan Apple Cake

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5 from 5 vote

Apple Pie Coffee Cake

A truly no-fuss dessert, this Apple Pie Coffee Cake is always a hit! The batter comes together in minutes mixed by hand and you can use your favorite apple pie filling.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

1 hour hr

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apples, cake, vegan

Servings: 6 slices

Calories: 541kcal

Author: Lora

Equipment

• 8 inch cast iron skillet
• 9x11 baking pan

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.

Nutrition

Calories: 541kcal | Carbohydrates: 77g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 374mg | Potassium: 14mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 0.5IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 119mg | Iron: 3mg

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