This Gluten-Free Spiced Apple Dump Cake comes together quickly with just a few pantry ingredients. Apple pie filling is layered in a baking dish with gluten-free cake mix and drizzled with melted coconut oil before baking. The result is somewhere between apple pie and cobbler with a gooey apple base topped with a soft, cakey layer. It's a quick win when you're craving a cozy dessert on a cool fall day. Gluten-free, vegan.
A No-Fuss Dessert Everyone Can Enjoy!
Dump cakes are the ultimate last-minute dessert to make when you don't have time to pull out a bunch of ingredients or equipment. This apple version is a Fall favorite, thanks to the warming spices in the pie filling that bring so much flavor. This recipe is dairy-free, egg-free and gluten-free so it's perfect for hosting guests with different dietary requirements (and it couldn't be easier to make!).
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Ingredients and Substitutions
Apple pie filling - Look for brands that make pie fillings with a simple ingredients list that's high in fruit content and doesn't contain emulsifiers, colors or flavorings. I've listed some tips further down the post for other things I look out for in healthier canned pie fillings.
Gluten-free yellow cake mix - Has a light buttery, vanilla flavor. You can use spiced cake mix instead for even more flavor. I like the gluten-free mixes made by King Arthur, Pillsbury, Miss Jones, or Simple Mills.
Coconut oil or vegan butter - Melted oil or butter is drizzled over the cake mix, moistening it so it bakes up tender and light. Coconut oil lends a slight coconut flavor, whereas vegan butter keeps the flavor more neutral. You can use unsalted dairy butter if you don't need it to be dairy-free.
How to Make Gluten-Free Spiced Apple Dump Cake
Before you start: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease an 8x8 or 9x9-inch baking dish.
Step 1: Pour the apple pie filling into the baking dish and spread evenly.
Step 2: Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the filling (don't stir).
Step 3: Drizzle melted coconut oil (or vegan butter) evenly across the top of the dry mix. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the top is golden and bubbling around the edges.
Let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Delicious warm with dairy-free vanilla ice cream or whipped coconut cream.
Variations
This simple apple dump cake can be easily customized with a few mix-ins:
- Add 2 teaspoons of ground Chai spice mix to the bag of cake mix and shake to combine before sprinkling over the pie filling.
- Sprinkle a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans over the cake mix before drizzling on the coconut oil.
- Dot spoonfuls of date caramel or chocolate hazelnut spread over the apple pie filling just before you sprinkle on the cake mix.
Tips for Choosing Healthier Canned Pie Fillings
It can be tough to know what to look for when browsing canned pie fillings if you want to make a healthier choice. Here are some things to look out for on the label:
- A shorter, recognizable ingredient list (apples, water/juice, maybe fruit-sweetener, spices).
- No high‐fructose corn syrup or large amounts of added refined sugar.
- Organic or non-GMO certification.
- Good fruit content (not mostly syrup).
- Free of artificial preservatives, artificial flavors, or colors
- Compatibility with your dietary constraints (gluten-free/dairy‐free) - while these fillings are naturally dairy-free, check for hidden ingredients.
Suggested Healthier Canned or Jarred Filling Options
If you need some pointers on brands that make healthier canned pie fillings, these are some of my favorites:
- Simple Truth Organic Apple Pie Filling Slices
- No Sugar Added Apple Pie Filling
- Lucky Leaf Organic Apple Fruit Filling & Topping
- Amish Style Natural Apple Pie Filling
- Duncan Hines Comstock More Fruit Apple Pie Filling & Topping
- Lucky Leaf Premium Apple Fruit Filling (No HFCS)
- Nature's Flavors Organic Apple Pie Filling
- Bonne Maman Apple Pie Filling
More Cake, Pie & Dessert Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Gluten-Free Spiced Apple Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 1 21-ounce can apple pie filling (like Lucky Leaf)
- 1 box gluten-free yellow cake mix (such as King Arthur, Pillsbury, Miss Jones, or Simple Mills)
- ¾ cup melted coconut oil or vegan butter
Instructions
- Heat to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease an 8x8 or 9x9-inch baking dish.
- Pour the apple pie filling into the baking dish and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the filling (don't stir).
- Drizzle melted coconut oil (or vegan butter) evenly across the top of the dry mix.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the top is golden and bubbling around the edges.
- Let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Delicious warm with dairy-free vanilla ice cream or coconut whipped cream.
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