Easy Apple Crisp with Cake Mix & Granola: Your Ultimate Quick Fall Dessert

As the leaves begin to turn and a crispness fills the air, there’s nothing quite like a warm, comforting dessert to celebrate the season. Step into autumn with this incredibly easy and utterly delicious apple crisp, crafted effortlessly with a simple cake mix and a crunchy granola topping. Drizzled with luscious caramel sauce and served with a generous scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, this dessert transforms into the ultimate fall treat – perfect for cozy evenings or festive holiday gatherings.

While many flock to pumpkin-spiced delights, we wholeheartedly believe that apples are the quintessential fruit of the fall season. There’s an undeniable magic in their crisp texture and sweet-tart flavor, whether enjoyed fresh from the orchard or baked into a warm, inviting dessert. In our opinion, a rich and fragrant homemade apple pie filling should be a major food group during these vibrant autumn months, filling homes with its comforting aroma.

However, we understand that fall is also a notoriously busy time for most of us. The kids are back in school, sports schedules are in full swing, daylight hours are shortening, and the bustling holiday season is just around the corner. That’s precisely where this incredibly easy apple crisp recipe comes to your rescue, saving the day (and your sanity) by providing a spectacular dessert with minimal effort.

Traditional homemade apple crisps often involve the laborious tasks of peeling, coring, and meticulously slicing a bushel of fresh apples. This recipe cleverly sidesteps that time-consuming step by utilizing convenient canned apple pie filling. This smart shortcut means you can achieve that rich, sweet apple flavor without all the prep work, making the entire process quicker, simpler, and virtually foolproof. It’s a game-changer for anyone craving that classic apple dessert taste without the extensive kitchen commitment.

You won’t even need to pull out your trusty stand mixer or hand mixer for this delightful concoction. This “dump cake” style apple crisp truly lives up to its name: you simply layer the ingredients directly into your baking dish. You’ll start with a generous base of luscious apple pie filling, followed by a sprinkle of rich dark brown sugar, a layer of dry cake mix, a pour of melted butter, and finally, a hearty topping of crunchy granola. Once all the components are assembled, the oven takes over, transforming these simple layers into a warm, bubbly, and exquisitely crispy dessert with a tender cake base.

Beyond its remarkable ease, this cake mix apple crisp is also incredibly economical. It’s made with basic, affordable pantry ingredients, proving that a mouthwatering dessert doesn’t have to break the bank. This makes it as frugal as it is irresistible, delivering a homemade taste that feels both luxurious and comforting. It truly embodies the spirit of home baking – simple, satisfying, and reminiscent of cherished fall traditions without any fuss.

Seriously, this is hands down one of the best and easiest apple desserts you can prepare, perfect for celebrating holidays or satisfying any spontaneous apple craving. Its straightforward preparation and comforting flavors ensure it’s a crowd-pleaser every single time. If you’re a fan of fuss-free “dump cake” style recipes, you might also love my 3-ingredient apple dump cake recipe, the vibrant strawberry dump cake, or even the rich and indulgent chocolate cherry dump cake recipe. But for now, let’s get right to creating the perfect, stress-free fall dessert: this easy apple crisp with cake mix.

Ingredients for Your Easy Apple Crisp

This section provides detailed notes on each ingredient, including valuable substitution options and tips to ensure you achieve the best possible results. You’ll find all precise measurements, a complete list of ingredients, and comprehensive step-by-step instructions conveniently located in the printable recipe card at the very end of this post.

• Spice Cake Mix: This ingredient forms the tender, flavorful cake layer of our crisp. The warm, inviting spices typically found in a standard spice cake mix, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, pair exquisitely with the sweet and tangy apple pie filling, creating a wonderfully aromatic and quintessential fall dessert. If a spice cake mix isn’t readily available, a gingerbread cake mix makes an excellent seasonal alternative, offering a similar cozy spice profile. For those with gluten sensitivities, opting for a gluten-free spice cake mix is an easy adjustment that won’t compromise flavor. Alternatively, a yellow or white cake mix can be used for a milder flavor profile, allowing the natural apple and caramel notes to take center stage.
• Apple Pie Filling: This is the ingenious shortcut that makes this crisp incredibly easy. Using two cans of your preferred brand of pre-made apple pie filling completely eliminates the need for peeling, coring, and slicing fresh apples, saving you a considerable amount of time and effort. While canned filling is incredibly convenient, if you prefer a truly homemade touch, our simple homemade apple pie filling recipe can be prepared and used in an equivalent amount (you’ll need roughly the same quantity as two 21-ounce cans).
• Dark Brown Sugar: We recommend dark brown sugar for its richer, deeper molasses flavor compared to light brown sugar. This adds an extra layer of caramel-like sweetness and complexity that perfectly complements the apples and spices, enhancing the overall autumnal profile of the dessert. However, if you only have light brown sugar on hand, it will still work beautifully in this recipe, yielding a delicious result with a slightly milder flavor.
• Oat and Honey Granola: This ingredient is crucial for achieving that signature “crisp” texture and provides a delightful chewiness to the topping. The oat and honey varieties contribute a subtle sweetness and a robust crunch that contrasts wonderfully with the soft apple filling and moist cake layer. If you can’t find oat and honey granola, cinnamon granola is another fantastic choice that will further amplify the fall spice theme. For a more traditional crisp topping, plain rolled oats can be used, or for an added textural dimension and nutty flavor, consider mixing in a handful of chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts.
• Butter: Melted unsalted butter is an essential component for creating the rich, buttery cake layer. We prefer unsalted butter as it allows for precise control over the overall saltiness of your dessert. Melting the butter ensures it can be poured evenly over the dry cake mix, allowing it to absorb moisture and develop into a tender, cake-like texture as it bakes. The butter masterfully combines with the moisture from the apple filling to form a truly decadent and flavorful spice cake layer that serves as the delicious foundation of this crisp.
• Caramel Sauce: For the ultimate indulgent experience, a generous drizzle of warm caramel sauce is highly recommended before serving. The sweet, buttery, and slightly salty notes of caramel are a classic and irresistible pairing with apples, instantly elevating this easy crisp to a gourmet-level dessert. You have the option to quickly whip up a batch of our quick and easy 5-minute homemade caramel sauce, or for maximum convenience, a high-quality store-bought caramel sauce works perfectly and is equally delicious.

Essential Equipment for Your Apple Crisp Dump Cake

Before you begin assembling your delicious apple crisp, it’s always a good idea to gather all your necessary kitchen tools. Having everything at hand will make the baking process even smoother and more enjoyable. Here’s what you’ll need to make this simple apple crisp dump cake:

• 9×13 Baking Dish: This standard rectangular baking dish is perfectly sized for generous servings, making it ideal for family dinners, potlucks, or entertaining a small crowd.
• Measuring Cups: Essential for accurately portioning your ingredients, ensuring your dessert turns out consistently perfect and delicious every single time.
• Spatula or Spoon: A sturdy spatula or large spoon will be your best friend for spreading the apple filling, brown sugar, and melted butter evenly across the baking dish.
• Toothpicks: A simple yet effective tool for testing the doneness of the cake layer, ensuring it’s baked through without being dry.
• Oven Mitts: Absolutely crucial for safely handling the hot baking dish when placing it into and removing it from the oven, preventing burns.
• Non-Stick Cooking Spray: To prepare your baking dish, creating a non-stick surface that prevents the crisp from adhering to the pan and makes cleanup an absolute breeze.
• Serving Spoon: A large, sturdy serving spoon will be perfect for dishing out warm, generous portions of your freshly baked apple crisp to eager diners.

How to Make Easy Apple Crisp With Apple Pie Filling: Step-by-Step

Follow these straightforward, step-by-step instructions to create your perfect apple crisp, complete with guiding photos to help you along the way. For the full, detailed printable recipe, please refer to the recipe card provided below.

Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Baking Dish. Start by preheating your oven to a cozy 350°F (175°C). While your oven warms up to the perfect temperature, take your 9×13-inch baking dish and lightly spray its interior with non-stick cooking spray. This small but crucial step will ensure that your delicious apple crisp bakes beautifully without sticking to the pan, making both serving and cleanup significantly easier.

Step 2: Layer the Apple Pie Filling. Carefully open your two cans of apple pie filling and gently dump their entire contents into the bottom of your prepared baking dish. Using a spatula or the back of a large spoon, take a moment to spread the apple filling evenly over the entire bottom surface of the pan. An even layer is important for consistent flavor distribution and uniform baking throughout the crisp.

Step 3: Add the Brown Sugar. Next, take your dark brown sugar and sprinkle it evenly over the top of the apple pie filling. This layer of brown sugar will melt down during the baking process, infusing the apples with a rich, deep sweetness and contributing to a beautiful caramelization that truly enhances the crisp’s overall flavor profile. Ensure a consistent sprinkle for best results.

Step 4: Create the Cake Layer with Melted Butter. Now, evenly sprinkle the dry spice cake mix over the brown sugar and apple layers. This dry mix will form the tender, spiced cake base of your crisp. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter, heating it in short 15-20 second increments until it is completely liquid. Then, carefully pour the melted butter over the entire surface of the dry cake mix. Use your spatula to gently spread the butter as evenly as possible, ensuring every bit of the dry mix is thoroughly moistened. This butter is absolutely essential for hydrating the cake mix and creating a moist, tender cake layer during baking.

Step 5: Add Granola and Bake to Golden Perfection. Finish assembling your crisp by spreading the oat and honey granola evenly over the buttered cake mix layer. This final topping will bake into a wonderfully crispy, golden-brown layer. Carefully place the uncovered baking dish into your preheated oven and bake for approximately 45 minutes. Your apple crisp is ready when the topping is beautifully golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake layer (through the granola) comes out clean, free of any wet cake mix. Don’t be concerned if your toothpick picks up some apple pie filling – that’s perfectly normal and expected, as long as there’s no dry cake mix residue.

Step 6: Serve Warm with Caramel Drizzle. Once your apple crisp is baked to golden perfection, remove it from the oven. For the most delightful experience, serve it fresh and warm. Generously drizzle warm caramel sauce over each individual serving. For an extra touch of indulgence, consider adding a dollop of fresh whipped cream or a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream. The exquisite combination of warm, spiced apples, tender cake, crispy granola, and rich toppings is truly divine and the perfect end to any meal.

Serving Suggestions for Your Easy Apple Crisp

This homemade apple crisp is wonderfully versatile and incredibly delicious, whether served piping hot straight from the oven or gently reheated. The warmth truly awakens all the wonderful fall flavors and aromas. Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy this comforting dessert:

• Classic Vanilla Ice Cream: A generous scoop of cold, creamy vanilla bean ice cream melting into the warm crisp is a match made in heaven. The contrasting temperatures and textures create a truly delightful sensation.
• Whipped Cream Wonderland: A light, airy dollop of fresh whipped cream (or even a high-quality store-bought version) adds a touch of creamy richness that beautifully complements the spiced apples and crispy topping.
• Extra Caramel Drizzle: Don’t be shy with the caramel! An additional swirl of warm caramel sauce over your individual serving takes this dessert to an even more decadent and indulgent level.
• Cinnamon Dusting: For an extra boost of autumnal aroma and flavor, a light dusting of ground cinnamon or freshly grated nutmeg just before serving can be a wonderful touch.
• Toasted Nut Topping: For an additional layer of crunch and rich, earthy flavor, consider sprinkling a few toasted chopped pecans, walnuts, or even sliced almonds over the top of your serving.
• A Unique Breakfast Treat: While a dessert, any delicious leftovers (if you manage to have any!) can be surprisingly delightful the next morning. Perhaps enjoy it with a dollop of plain or vanilla Greek yogurt for a slightly healthier, yet still indulgent, breakfast twist.

Storage and Freezing Your Apple Crisp

To ensure your delicious cake mix apple crisp remains fresh and maintains its quality, proper storage is essential. Here’s how to keep your leftovers tasting great:

• Refrigerator: Store any leftover apple crisp in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out or absorbing other odors from the refrigerator. Alternatively, you can simply cover the entire baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It’s important to note that beyond this period, the granola topping may begin to lose its delightful crispness and could become slightly soggy due to the moisture from the apples and the cake layer.
• Freezer: This apple crisp dump cake can also be successfully frozen, offering a convenient make-ahead option. However, it’s worth noting that freezing and thawing may slightly reduce the delightful crispiness of the granola layer. To freeze, first allow the crisp to cool completely to room temperature. You can then transfer individual servings into freezer-safe containers, or for longer storage, use sturdy freezer-safe bags, removing as much air as possible. It will stay fresh and delicious in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy it, thaw the crisp overnight in the refrigerator, and then reheat gently in the oven at a low temperature (around 300°F/150°C) or in the microwave until it is warmed through. For optimal crunch, you might consider adding a small sprinkle of fresh granola after reheating.

Apple Crisp Recipe Tips and Tricks

While this is an incredibly easy and forgiving recipe, these expert tips and tricks will help ensure your apple crisp turns out perfectly delicious and satisfying every single time:

• Greasing the Dish Effectively: If you find yourself without non-stick cooking spray, don’t fret! You can easily grease your baking dish with a thin, even layer of butter. This will achieve the same non-stick effect and also impart a subtle, extra buttery flavor to the crust of your crisp.
• Embrace the Warmth: One of the best qualities of this dessert is that it’s meant to be enjoyed warm! Don’t feel the need to let it cool completely before diving in. This apple crisp is designed to be wonderfully scoopable right out of the oven – that’s when its textures and flavors are at their absolute peak. Grab a large serving spoon and dish out generous portions to your family and friends immediately.
• Even Layers for Consistent Results: For truly uniform cooking and a perfectly balanced bite in every spoonful, strive to make all your layers – the apple filling, brown sugar, dry cake mix, and granola – as even as possible. This meticulous layering ensures that everything bakes through simultaneously, preventing any unfortunate dry spots or areas that might be undercooked.
• Crucial Butter Coverage: The melted butter plays a pivotal role in transforming the dry cake mix into a moist, tender, and flavorful cake layer. It is absolutely crucial to pour and spread the butter over the *entire* surface of the dry cake mix layer. If you notice any dry patches, gently spread the butter around with your spatula until it’s fully covered. This step is fundamental for the “dump cake” magic to happen successfully.
• Avoid Overbaking: While you want the top of your crisp to be beautifully golden brown and the cake layer fully cooked, be mindful not to overbake. Overbaking can lead to a dry cake layer and can make the apple filling less tender and juicy. Keep a close eye on your crisp, especially during the last 10-15 minutes of its baking time.
• Room Temperature Handling: The baked apple crisp can safely be left at room temperature for approximately 24 hours. For any duration beyond that, it is highly recommended to refrigerate or freeze it to maintain its freshness, flavor, and overall quality.

Creative Additions and Variations for Your Apple Crisp

This easy apple crisp recipe is wonderfully adaptable, making it perfect for customization! Feel free to experiment with these delicious additions and variations to tailor the dessert to your taste preferences or to utilize ingredients you already have on hand:

• Swap the Sugar: While dark brown sugar is fantastic for its deep molasses flavor that pairs beautifully with apples, you can certainly substitute it with light brown sugar if that’s what you have in your pantry. Light brown sugar will still provide a lovely sweetness and a subtle caramel note, just with a slightly milder flavor profile.
• Explore Different Cake Mix Flavors: The spice cake mix lends a classic and aromatic fall flavor, but don’t limit your creativity! Gingerbread cake mix is a superb option, especially perfect for holiday baking, as its spice blend is very similar and equally complementary to apples. For a less spiced, more neutral base that allows the apple and caramel flavors to truly shine, try using a yellow cake mix or even a white cake mix. For a unique and unexpected twist, a chocolate fudge cake mix could create an intriguing chocolate-apple dessert.
• Enhance with Extracts: For an added layer of aromatic depth and flavor, consider stirring a teaspoon of pure vanilla extract directly into your apple pie filling before spreading it. You could also experiment with a hint of almond extract for a slightly different, sophisticated dimension.
• Vary the Granola Flavor: Oat and honey granola is an excellent choice, but feel free to swap it out! Cinnamon raisin granola will add an extra burst of spice and delightful chewiness, while classic plain granola works perfectly fine as well. If you don’t have any granola on hand, a simple mixture of about 1.5 cups of quick-cooking or rolled oats mixed with a tablespoon of melted butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar can serve as a simple, yet delicious, crunchy alternative.
• Introduce Crushed Nuts: If your chosen granola doesn’t already include nuts, or if you simply adore a nuttier crunch, sprinkle some crushed pecans, walnuts, or even toasted almonds over the granola layer before baking. They provide a wonderful textural contrast and a rich, earthy flavor that complements the apples and spices beautifully.
• Add More Spices: For those who truly love a bold and vibrant spice profile, consider sprinkling a pinch of extra ground cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, or even a touch of ginger directly over the apple filling or lightly mixed into the dry cake mix before adding the melted butter.
• A Hint of Citrus Zest: A little bit of finely grated lemon zest (from about half a lemon) stirred into the apple filling can brighten the flavors and add a subtle, refreshing tang, especially if you find your apple pie filling to be very sweet.
• Dried Fruits for Extra Chew: For an additional layer of chewiness and concentrated fruit flavor, sprinkle a handful of dried cranberries, tart dried cherries, or even finely chopped dried apricots over the apple layer before adding the cake mix.

Apple Crisp Recipe FAQ

More Apple Recipes You’ll Love

If this delightful apple crisp leaves you craving more comforting and delicious apple desserts, be sure to explore these other no-fail recipes that are guaranteed to tantalize your taste buds throughout the fall season and beyond:

• Apple Pie Cupcakes
• Apple Pie Crescent Rolls
• Cinnamon Roll Apple Upside Down Cake
• No-Bake Apple Pie
• Apple Nachos
• Caramel Apple Crumb Cake