Air Fryer Apple Dump Cake

Nothing about Air Fryer Apple Dump Cake is complicated, and that’s exactly why I love it. You get soft, sweet apple filling underneath a buttery, golden crumble that the air fryer crisps up beautifully in less time than the oven. It’s warm, cozy, and the kind of dessert that makes the whole kitchen smell amazing.

An Air Fryer Apple Dump Cake with a golden crumble topping and melting vanilla ice cream in a white stoneware baking dish, served alongside two smaller bowls and garnished with cinnamon sticks and ribbed glass cups.
Air Fryer Apple Dump Cake. Photo Credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, if you purchase through those links, I earn a commission. Thank you!

I make this for holiday gatherings, fall dinner parties, and anytime I want a warm dessert without a complicated baking project. You can throw it together while everything else is going, it feeds a crowd without any fuss, and nobody ever turns down warm apple dump cake with ice cream. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.

Four essential ingredients for an Air Fryer Apple Dump Cake arranged on a grey surface: a glass jar of apple pie filling, a bowl of yellow cake mix, a dish with a block of butter, and a stack of white plates with cinnamon sticks, all marked with white text labels.
Air Fryer Apple Dump Cake Ingredients. Photo Credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

How to Make Air Fryer Apple Dump Cake with Step-By-Step Instructions

Scroll down for the full recipe card containing a full printable recipe and measurements in both US customary and metric units.

Let me walk you through exactly how to make Air Fryer Apple Dump Cake, so it comes out perfectly every time.

Prep the Baking Dish

Butter your baking dish before adding the apple filling so it doesn’t stick to the bottom.

Add the Apple Filling

Pour the apple pie filling into the baking dish and spread it out into an even layer. I always use my ceramic baking dish for this recipe because it heats evenly and makes cleanup a breeze.

Sprinkle sugar and salt right over the top to season the filling.

A white ceramic baking dish filled with a single layer of cinnamon-spiced apple filling for an Air Fryer Apple Dump Cake, placed on a light grey surface next to a stack of white plates with two cinnamon sticks and a mixing bowl containing crumble dough.
Pour the apple filling into the dish, spread evenly, and sprinkle with sugar and salt.

Make the Crumble Topping

Add the yellow cake mix and melted butter to a medium bowl, then use a fork to combine them until the mixture starts to form crumbles.

A white mixing bowl containing a thick, pale crumble dough for an Air Fryer Apple Dump Cake with a silver spoon inside, served alongside a glass jar of cinnamon-spiced apple filling, a stack of white plates with two cinnamon sticks, and an extra spoon on the side.
Combine the yellow cake mix and melted butter with a fork until crumbly.

DO MORE WITH YOUR

AIR FRYER

A cartoon chef’s hat above hands holding a bowl of salad, with a knife in the left hand and a fork in the right hand.

This eBook is a collection of 86 recipes I make again and again in my own kitchen. If you love good food and easy instructions, this book was made for you.

Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.

A hand lifts a piece of lasagna from a dish on the cover of
Four baked red bell peppers stuffed with a vegetable and cheese filling, garnished with fresh herbs, on a parchment-lined baking tray.

Includes ad-free recipes like:

∙  Cheesy Egg Bites

∙  Broccoli Cheddar Soup

∙  Asparagus Casserole

∙  Walking Taco Casserole

∙  Chocolate Cake Cookies

...and much more!

Spread and Layer

Spread the cake mix crumbles evenly over the apple filling so every bite gets that buttery topping. A silicone spatula makes it easy to distribute the crumbles without disturbing the apple layer underneath.

A raw Air Fryer Apple Dump Cake assembled in a white ceramic baking dish with a full layer of pale crumble topping, served next to a plate with two cinnamon sticks and a bowl with a spoon.
Evenly spread the cake mix crumbles over the apple filling for a buttery topping in every bite.

Air Fry the Cake

Bake at 160ºC (320°F) for 25 minutes until the topping is golden and the filling is bubbling around the edges.

A golden-brown Air Fryer Apple Dump Cake in a white ceramic baking dish, placed inside a black air fryer basket, served alongside two glass ramekins, a plate with a cinnamon stick, a tan linen cloth, and a pint of vanilla ice cream.
Bake in the air fryer at 160ºC (320°F) for 25 minutes until golden and bubbly.

Serve and Enjoy

Scoop the warm cake into bowls and serve with vanilla ice cream. I always keep a set of dessert bowls on hand for serving because they make even a simple dessert feel a little more special. Enjoy!

If you’re taking it to a gathering, cover the baking dish tightly with foil and transport it in an insulated casserole carrier to keep it warm on the go.

Save This Recipe Form

Don’t lose this recipe!

Put in your email, and we’ll deliver it straight to your inbox. You’ll also get weekly recipe suggestions based on what you love. Opt-out anytime – no strings attached!

A bowl of Air Fryer Apple Dump Cake with a golden-brown crumble topping and warm cinnamon-spiced apple filling, topped with a scoop of melting vanilla ice cream, served alongside a white ceramic baking dish with three cinnamon sticks on a plate in the background.

Air Fryer Apple Dump Cake

Air Fryer Apple Dump Cake is one of my favorite recipes to pull out when I need a warm dessert fast without turning on the oven. The apple pie filling bubbles up soft and sweet underneath a crumbly, golden butter and cake mix topping that the air fryer handles beautifully in less time than the oven. It feeds a crowd straight from the dish, which makes it perfect for fall parties, potlucks, and holiday dinners. Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 4 days and reheat warm before serving.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Course: Air Fryer, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Air Fryer Apple Dump Cake
Servings: 8
Calories: 464kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 can 21-ounce apple pie filling
  • Sugar for seasoning
  • Salt for seasoning
  • 1 box yellow cake mix
  • 6 ounces cold butter plus more for the baking dish
  • Vanilla ice cream for serving (optional)

Instructions

  • Add the apple filling to a 9×13 baking dish and sprinkle with sugar and salt.
    1 can 21-ounce apple pie filling, Sugar, Salt
  • In a medium bowl, combine cake mix and melted butter with a fork until the cake mix begins to form crumbles.
    1 box yellow cake mix, 6 ounces cold butter
  • Spread the cake mix crumbles evenly over the apple filling.
  • Bake at 160ºC (320°F) for 25 minutes.
  • Serve with vanilla ice cream and enjoy!
    Vanilla ice cream

Notes

Here are a few tips I’ve picked up from making Air Fryer Apple Dump Cake more times than I can count.
  • Use cold butter for the crumble: Cold butter combined with the cake mix creates crumbles that are better defined than those made with softened butter, which can make the topping dense and doughy instead of light and crispy.
  • Season the filling well: Don’t skip the sugar and salt over the apple filling. The salt, in particular, balances the sweetness of the canned filling, making the overall flavor more complex.
  • Spread the crumble evenly: Take a moment to distribute the cake mix crumbles to the edges of the dish so every portion gets equal topping coverage.
  • Check at 20 minutes: Air fryers vary in heat distribution, so start checking around 20 minutes. The topping should be golden brown, and the filling should be visibly bubbling around the edges.
  • Serve it hot: Air Fryer Apple Dump Cake is at its absolute best straight out of the air fryer, with the crumble still crispy and the filling warm and bubbling.
  • Freeze in portions: Spoon leftovers into individual freezer-safe containers before freezing so you can pull out exactly what you need without thawing the whole batch.

Nutrition

Calories: 464kcal | Carbohydrates: 73g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 642mg | Potassium: 69mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 549IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 144mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

DO MORE WITH YOUR

AIR FRYER

A cartoon chef’s hat above hands holding a bowl of salad, with a knife in the left hand and a fork in the right hand.

This eBook is a collection of 86 recipes I make again and again in my own kitchen. If you love good food and easy instructions, this book was made for you.

Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.

A hand lifts a piece of lasagna from a dish on the cover of
Four baked red bell peppers stuffed with a vegetable and cheese filling, garnished with fresh herbs, on a parchment-lined baking tray.

Includes ad-free recipes like:

∙  Cheesy Egg Bites

∙  Broccoli Cheddar Soup

∙  Asparagus Casserole

∙  Walking Taco Casserole

∙  Chocolate Cake Cookies

...and much more!

How to Store Leftovers

Let the cake cool completely before covering the baking dish with a tight-fitting lid or plastic wrap, then store it at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the fridge for up to 4 days.

When you’re ready to reheat, warm individual portions in the microwave for about 60 to 90 seconds, or place the whole dish back in the air fryer at 160ºC (320°F) for a few minutes to crisp the topping back up.

For longer storage, transfer portions into a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat in the microwave or air fryer before serving.

What to Serve With Air Fryer Apple Dump Cake

Vanilla ice cream is the classic pairing and, honestly, the best one. The cold, creamy scoop melts into the warm apple filling and buttery crumble, making every bite taste like a warm slice of apple pie. A drizzle of caramel sauce over the top makes it even better if you want something extra indulgent.

For something a little lighter, a dollop of freshly whipped cream or a spoonful of thick Greek yogurt works beautifully alongside the warm cake for a lighter finish.

More Easy Recipes for You to Try at Home

You’ll also love these other easy air fryer dessert recipes.

About the Author
A woman with long brown hair is smiling and standing with her arms crossed. She is wearing a sleeveless, black and white diamond-patterned dress.

Hey there! I’m Mandy

Mandy Applegate is a home cook, food blogger, and writer who believes the best meals are the ones shared with the people you love.

She’s all about easy recipes that taste amazing, the kind that make ordinary days feel a little more special and remind you why cooking at home matters.

She has been published on NBC, the Daily News, the Boston Herald, and the Chicago Sun-Times, amongst many others.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating