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Want a fresh apple cake without pulling out the flour, sugar, and baking powder? Start with a box of yellow cake mix. Stir in sour cream, oil, eggs, and diced apples, then swirl cinnamon sugar through the batter. One 9×13 pan, and it’s ready in under an hour!
This is one of THE best coffee cakes I’ve ever made and by far the easiest.
-Kathleen
A friend brought me lots of apples, so this was a good chance to try this recipe. It came together beautifully and is absolutely delicious. The recipe is now in my tried and true file. Thank you.
-Pauline
Delicious Fresh Apple Cake made with Cake Mix
- Starts with a box of yellow cake mix
- Bakes in one 9×13 inch pan
- Fresh diced apples in every bite
- Makes your house smell like fall!
This recipe is all about the cake mix. Want a from scratch version with a thick crumb topping? Try my apple coffee cake. It’s a completely different recipe, built on my coffee cake base.
Best Apples for Apple Cake
For apple cake, choose apples with a balance of sweetness and tartness, like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji, Braeburn, Gala, Jonathan, or Cortland. These varieties hold their shape during baking.
Apple Cake with Cake Mix Ingredients
You only need a box of cake mix and a few things from the fridge and pantry. Find the full amounts in the recipe card.
- Apples: About 2 apples, or 2 cups diced. I use Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Gala, and I leave the peel on. Dice them small so they soften while the cake bakes.
- Brown sugar and cinnamon: Packed brown sugar mixed with cinnamon. A little gets tossed with the apples, and the rest gets swirled through the batter.
- Sour cream: It goes in with the oil, eggs, and vanilla. (See Open Decision 3.)
- Yellow cake mix: One 15.25 oz box. White, butter golden, spice, and French vanilla cake mix work too. I’ve also made it with a gluten free yellow cake mix, and it turned out great.
- Plus: vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract for the batter, and powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla for the glaze.
How to Make Apple Cake with Cake Mix
- Preheat the oven to 350º F. Spray a 9×13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Dice the apples into small pieces. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon, mix with a spoon to combine. Remove 3 tbsp and sprinkle over the apples. Set aside the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture. And set aside the apples.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the sour cream, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract, beat with an electric mixer for 1 minute or until combined. Add in the cake mix, gently mixing with the beater. Add in the apples and mix by hand until incorporated. Pour the cake mixture into the 9×13 inch pan, smooth with a spatula.
- Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture all over the cake. Use a butter knife or spatula to swirl this mixture into the cake batter.
- Bake for 32-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool while you make the glaze.
- In a mixing bowl combine the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract. Use a whisk to stir the mixture until it’s smooth. YOUR CHOICE: pour the glaze over the warm cake or let the cake cool completely then add the glaze. Serve right away or cover the cake pan with a lid and store on the counter until serving.
This is for sure the easiest way to make apple cake!
Making Apple Cake with Cake Mix Ahead of Time
You can make this apple cake the day before you serve it and store it on the counter in an airtight container. However, I recommend waiting to add the glaze until the day of, otherwise the glaze can make the cake soggy.
How to Store Apple Cake with Cake Mix
The cake can be kept on the counter in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Apple Cake with Cake Mix Substitutions and Variations
You can replace the 15.25 oz box of yellow cake mix with another 15.25 oz cake mix. Other flavors I recommend are white, butter golden, spice, and french vanilla!
Want Cream Cheese Icing Instead? Beat 4 oz softened cream cheese with 2 cups powdered sugar and 1/4 cup milk until thick. If too thick, beat in more milk (1 tsp at a time).
Gluten Free Apple Cake with Cake Mix
I tested this recipe with a gluten free yellow cake mix, and it turned out SO good. Swap it in for the regular mix and change nothing else. One recipe for the whole table!
Apple Cake with Cake Mix Tips for Success
- Be sure to dice the apples into small pieces so they soften during baking. If the apple pieces are too large, they won’t become fully soft.
- Don’t be afraid to really swirl in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Use a butter knife or small spatula.
- Recommended apples include: granny smith, honey crisp, or gala.
Apple Cake with Cake Mix FAQs
No. I didn’t peel mine. Just dice them into small pieces so they soften while the cake bakes.
Yes, halve the recipe and the glaze. I haven’t tested it in an 8×8 pan, so start checking around 25 minutes at 350ºF. It’s done when a toothpick in the center comes out clean.
Yes. White, butter golden, and French vanilla cake mix work too. Use a 15.25 oz box.
Your choice. Pour the glaze over the warm cake, or let it cool completely first. If you’re making it ahead, wait to glaze until the day you serve it so the cake doesn’t get soggy.
More Favorite Recipes
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Fresh Apple Cake with Cake Mix
Ingredients
- 2 apples, about 2 cups diced into small pieces (I recommend granny smith, honey crisp, or gala)
- ½ cup (107g) brown sugar
- 1 ½ Tbsp cinnamon
- 1 cup (228g) sour cream
- ¾ cup (177ml) vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 box yellow cake mix, 15.25 oz (can use a gluten free mix!)
GLAZE
- 2 cups (227g) powdered sugar
- 3 Tbsp milk or more in needed
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350º F. Spray a 9×13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Dice the apples into small pieces. Set aside.2 apples
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon, mix with a spoon to combine. Remove 3 tbsp and sprinkle over the apples. Set aside the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture. And set aside the apples.1/2 cup (107g) brown sugar, 1 1/2 Tbsp cinnamon
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the sour cream, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract, beat with an electric mixer for 1 minute or until combined. Add in the cake mix, gently mixing with the beater. Add in the apples and mix by hand until incorporated. Pour the cake mixture into the 9×13 inch pan, smooth with a spatula.1 cup (228g) sour cream, 3/4 cup (177ml) vegetable oil, 4 large eggs, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 box yellow cake mix
- Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture all over the cake. Use a butter knife or spatula to swirl this mixture into the cake batter.
- Bake for 32-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool while you make the glaze.
- In a mixing bowl combine the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract. Use a whisk to stir the mixture until it’s smooth.2 cups (227g) powdered sugar, 3 Tbsp milk or more in needed, 1 tsp vanilla extract
- YOUR CHOICE: pour the glaze over the warm cake or let the cake cool completely then add the glaze. Serve right away or cover the cake pan with a lid and store on the counter until serving.
Last Step: I’d love to hear what you think. Leave a rating and comment here.
Made this cake tonight for my boyfriend’s birthday. Used 3 apples instead of 2 (needed to use them up) and also used 1/2 cup whole-fat plain yogurt and half cup sour cream. I went with Pillsbury’s traditional yellow cake mix since it’s what I had on hand. Wound up taking several minutes longer in the oven to cook through, but it tasted great. :) Also went with a simple caramel glaze instead, which paired nicely.
Can I add more apples to the recipe?
Yes!
The very best moist cake we have ever eaten. So easy. I commend you. Have made your apple cake several times–love it. Have made your cake recipe without apples and added half can of drained crushed pineapple to mixture. Wow!
Thanks for sharing the apple coffe cake recipe.I will try to make this at home
Yay! Let me know how it turns out!
Can you put chopped walnuts into the batter?
Definitely, that sounds delicious!
I’m thinking of using this recipe. Can I use nuts in it? Have you tried it with chopped walnuts?
Nuts would be a great addition!
I’m going to make this today bu forgot to get powdered sugar, will it be too dry without it?
Hi Heide! Powdered sugar is a critical ingredient for the glaze – but you could skip the glaze and the cake will still be delicious!
You can blend regular sugar in a blender and it will turn into powdered sugar
Hi! I actually changed this recipe up today and instead of apples, I used a can of whole cranberry sauce and swirled it in along with the cinnamon mix. It was so delicious and moist. I’ve received so many compliments already and was told it tasted like a bakery made it! Thank you for such a great, versatile recipe. Definitely will make this again!
If you use a Bundt pan, how long should it bake?
I don’t have fresh apples. Can I use a can of apple pie filling? And do I need to make other changes to the recipe because of canned apple pie filling?
I think apple pie filling would work great! Report back if you make it with pie filling.