With only 3 ingredients you can whip up this easy apple cinnamon crumb cake without a fuss and still have that made from scratch taste.
Who doesn’t love a super easy recipe that also tastes great. Sometimes you don’t always have the time to whip up something from scratch.
That is why this easy apple cinnamon crumb cake is the perfect dessert when in a pinch. Only 3 ingredients (4 if you make the icing topping) and you will have a moist fall inspired cake in no time.
Why is this so easy?
- You only need 3 ingredients. No flour, butter, milk.
- Buying the Krusteaz cinnamon swirl cake mix everything is all ready to go. Just add an egg and water and you have your cake batter
- No peeling apples, cooking them and adding sugar and water. Just buy a can of apple pie filling and you’re ready to go.
What ingredients you will need
- Krusteaz Cinnamon Swirl Crumb Cake Mix– You can pick this up at your local grocery store. My local Walmart always has it stocked
- Apple Pie Filling– No specific brand, whatever you prefer
- Egg– just one large egg
Mixing the Batter
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add 2/3 cup of water to a mixing bowl (Photo 1) and then add one large egg to the bowl (Photo 2)
Then add the cake mix (Photo 3) and mix really well (Photo 4) There will still be some lumps to the mix (Photo 5)
Preparing the filling
Add the apple pie filling to a bowl (Photo 6) and cut up the apple pieces with your spoon to make smaller apple pieces (Photo 7)
Take a fourth of the cinnamon sugar crumb mix and add it to the apple pie filling (Photo 8) and stir well (Photo 9)
Layering the crumb cake
Spray a 8 inch spring pan (Photo 10) Add half of the cake batter mix to the pan (Photo 11) and spread out in an even layer (Photo 12) Add the apple pie filling mix on top of the batter that is in the pan (Photo 13)
Spread out the apple pie filling evenly (Photo 14) and then add the remaining cake batter (Photo 15) and spread out evenly (Photo 16)
Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar crumb mix on top evenly (Photo 17) and put in the oven for 50-55 minutes until fully cooked.
Tips for this recipe
- You don’t have to use just apple filling. Think of anything that pairs well with cinnamon, such as peach would taste great as well
- If you want part of the recipe to be homemade make your own apple filling. Here is a great recipe for one at The Crumby Kitchen
- Let it completely cool before cutting into it. This is kind of a big deal
- You don’t have to use a spring pan. You can also use a square 8×8 pan or even make these into muffins
- In case there isn’t enough sugar for you make a icing to drizzle on top with just some powder sugar and water, but wait until the cake has cooled to add it
- Be sure and check the center of the cake before pulling out. The center cooks slower so take a toothpick and stick it down the middle. If the liquid is clear that’s just the apple filling. If there is a milky colored liquid that is cake batter and keep cooking.
Looking for something else that is sweet?
Banana Pudding Pie
The Best Pumpkin Pie
Peppermint Bark Grahams
White Chocolate Cranberry Walnut Fudge
Or check out all my fall favorite recipes with my Thanksgiving page.
Did you make this recipe? If so please give a STAR rating below and tag your picture on Instagram using #glitterandgraze
Easy Apple Cinnamon Crumb Cake
Ingredients
- Krusteaz cinnamon swirl crumb cake
- Apple pie filling
- 1 egg
Optional Icing
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 TBSP water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Add water, egg, and cake mix to a bowl and mix well. It will still be slightly lumpy
- Add the apple pie filling to a bowl and chop up the apples to smaller pieces with your spoon
- Add 1/4 of the cinnamon sugar crumb mix from the box to the apple pie filling and mix well
- Grease a 8 inch round spring pan
- Pour half of the cake batter into the pan and spread out evenly
- Add the apple pie filling on top of half of the batter in the pan and spread out
- Add the remaining cake batter and spread out
- Add the cinnamon sugar crumb mix on top and spread out evenly
- Put the cake in the oven for 50-55 minutes. Check the center with a toothpick to make sure its completely cooked before pulling up
- Let cool before cutting into or adding icing if you are doing so
Notes
- You don’t have to use just apple filling. Think of anything that pairs well with cinnamon, such as peach would taste great as well
- If you want part of the recipe to be homemade make your own apple filling. Here is a great recipe for one at The Crumby Kitchen
- Let it completely cool before cutting into it. This is kind of a big deal
- You don’t have to use a spring pan. You can also use a square 8×8 pan or even make these into muffins
- In case there isn’t enough sugar for you make a icing to drizzle on top with just some powder sugar and water, but wait until the cake has cooled to add it
- Be sure and check the center of the cake before pulling out. The center cooks slower so take a toothpick and stick it down the middle. If the liquid is clear that’s just the apple filling. If there is a milky colored liquid that is cake batter and keep cooking.
Nutrition
Update Notes; This recipe was originally posted in May of 2017, but was republished with new photos, cooking tips, step by step picture instructions and a recipe tweak in September 2019
I love to have fast, easy pantry-ready recipes + ingredients close at hand to those urgent sweet tooth (and sometime savory salty) cravings. This one sounds especially good ~ given the better than most cake mix base…
Just curious as an clearly talented, creative and intuitive cook ~ how do you think this simple recipe work out using cherry or blueberry pie filling instead of the apple? Any thoughts? Thanks ~ Love your website!
Hi there! Thanks for your comment. As for using another filling think about which of those would taste good with the cinnamon crumb part. I think peaches would taste good too. It’s really your personal preference
Awesome! So glad I found you and your recipe! I had the box mix and was just going to mix in the apples and put in a square baking dish! But, so much prettier in the springform pan! It was easy, delicious, and everyone should try. I cooked a little longer in my electric oven, but followed recipe exactly! I’ll try to post a photo but not sure how to do that!! Time for a cake break! Thank you, I may try with drained pineapple chunks next!!
So glad you enjoyed it. If you want to post a pic you can do so on Instagram and tag #glitterandgraze or on pantries under one of the pins for the recipes you can add a pic