Name: Yellow Cake Mix Apple Crisp
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ½ cup packed brown sugar; ¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, melted; 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix; 2 tsp ground cinnamon; 7 medium apples, peeled or unpeeled, thinly sliced (about 8 cups); Optional: ½ tsp nutmeg, ½ cup chopped pecans

Yellow Cake Mix Apple Crisp is the easiest fall dessert ever: tender cinnamon apples under a buttery, crunchy golden topping made from cake mix. Only 6 ingredients, 10 minutes prep, and it tastes like classic apple crisp with half the work!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This Yellow Cake Mix Apple Crisp is pure cozy magic with zero fuss. Juicy, cinnamon-spiced apples bubble away under a crisp, buttery topping that forms all by itself from a box of yellow cake mix—no oats, no cutting in butter, just sprinkle and bake. It’s warm, comforting, and smells like autumn in your kitchen. Perfect for weeknight dessert, Thanksgiving backup, or when you need a crowd-pleaser that looks and tastes homemade but starts with a shortcut everyone secretly loves.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Use a mix of sweet and tart apples (Granny Smith + Honeycrisp is perfect).
Toss apples with sugar and cinnamon before adding topping so every bite is spiced.
Melt the butter – pouring it evenly is the secret to crispy top.
Do NOT stir the cake mix – just sprinkle in an even layer.
Bake until deep golden – the darker the top, the crunchier the crisp.
Let rest 15–20 minutes so juices thicken.
Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Yield: 12 Servings

Yellow Cake Mix Apple Crisp

Warm cinnamon apples under a buttery, crunchy yellow cake mix topping—easiest apple crisp ever.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Additional Time 15 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

½ cup packed brown sugar
¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, melted
1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
2 tsp ground cinnamon
7 medium apples, peeled or unpeeled, thinly sliced (about 8 cups)
Optional: ½ tsp nutmeg, ½ cup chopped pecans

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.
Slice apples thinly (⅛–¼ inch) – uniform pieces cook evenly.
Toss apples with brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg (if using) right in the baking dish.
Spread apples into an even layer.
Sprinkle entire box of dry yellow cake mix evenly over the apples – no stirring!
If adding nuts, scatter them over the cake mix now.
Melt butter completely, then drizzle slowly and evenly over the entire surface.
Gently shake pan so butter soaks down in spots (still no stirring!).
Bake 40–50 minutes until top is deep golden brown and apples are bubbly.
Let rest 15 minutes (sauce will thicken), then scoop into bowls and serve warm with ice cream!

Notes

The darker the top, the crunchier the crisp – don’t be afraid of 50 minutes.
Works beautifully with canned apple pie filling in a pinch.
Can be assembled ahead and refrigerated; add 10 minutes to bake time.
Leftovers reheat amazingly – even better breakfast than dessert!

Nutrition Information

Yield

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 233Total Fat 14gSaturated Fat 8gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 38mgSodium 116mgCarbohydrates 29gFiber 3gSugar 24gProtein 1g

The recipes and nutritional information on Yum Tonight are for informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare provider for personalized dietary advice.

Ingredients Notes

Yellow Cake Mix (15.25 oz): Creates the sweet, buttery crisp topping.
Apples (6–7 medium): About 8 cups sliced – no need to peel if you like rustic texture.
Butter (¾ cup / 1½ sticks melted): Real butter makes the topping golden and rich.
Brown Sugar (½ cup): Adds caramel flavor to apples.
Cinnamon (2 tsp): Essential fall warmth.