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Easy Apple Cake Recipe Made with a Mix

This easy apple bundt cake recipe will have you serving up a fall dessert in no time with minimal fuss!

Using a dry cake mix, fresh apples, and some spice you can pull together an impressive dessert that will satisfy any sweet tooth.

Whether you need something for a bake sale, pot luck, or just dessert for the family this apple cinnamon cake is sure to check all the boxes and delight.

A slice of apple cake on a white plate with icing on top. The background shows the whole cake and a couple of red apples on a wooden surface. Text reads "Apple cake made with a cake mix.

The Cake Mix

This easy apple cake recipe was tested with our homemade cake mix – we used the white cake mix recipe but made it yellow by leaving the egg yolks.

A jar filled with delightful white cake mix sits on a wooden surface. Attached to the jar is a recipe card with instructions for making the cake. A baking dish is partially visible in the background, and a whimsical "Rootsy" logo adorns the top-right corner.

Any standard boxed cake mix from the store would also likely work. 

If you use a spice cake mix, skip the addtional spices in the recipe. 

The Liquid

For a sweeter, more intense apple flavor consider using apple cider or apple juice instead of the milk in the recipe.

You could also do half milk and half apple cider, if desired.

Applesauce

The applesauce add moistness, flavor, and sweetness to final cake. Use an unsweetened applesauce as a sweetened type maybe too sweet in the final recipe.

A bundt cake with caramel glaze sits on a floral-patterned plate on a wooden slab. There's a jar nearby, and a couple of red apples are placed around it, all set against a wooden background.

If you’re using a spiced applesauce, you may want to skip the additional spices in the recipe. 

If you don’t have applesauce on hand, use any liquid or melted fat you prefer. Melted butter or vegetable oil will work just fine. 

Spices

In the original recipe below, we used our favorite combination of spices, but you could switch them up to anything you prefer.

Use apple pie spice for an easy addition that is full of flavor. 

You could also increase the spice some if you prefer a heavier spice in your cake.

The Apples

There are all kinds of recommendations for baking apples, we tend to believe you can just use what you have on hand. If you want it tart, use granny smith apples. 

A slice of glazed apple bundt cake on a white plate. The cake has a golden brown crust with visible apple pieces and a caramel-colored glaze. In the background, the rest of the cake sits on a decorated serving platter.

You can peel or not, go with your preference. If I was serving this to guests or selling at a bake sale, I’d peel but for us at home, I don’t.

Want to use a can of apple pie filling? Check out our apple pie cake recipe as it was tested specifically for the filling. This recipe is best suited for fresh apples. 

Cake Shape Choices

This easy recipe was tested in a bundt pan, because it’s quite beautiful straight from the pan that way.

You could bake it in two round cake pans or a 9X13″ rectangular pan, if desired. Check for doneness sooner, than suggested for the bundt cake, however.

A Bundt cake with caramel glaze drips onto a decorative plate with floral patterns, set on a wooden slab. A glass jar with a white label is in the background. The scene is set against a wooden backdrop.

Cupcake sould also likely be made and again check the baking time much sooner.

Glaze Options

To give the cake a bit of extra sweetness and decoration, we drizzled it with a very simply homemade caramel glaze. 

You could skip the glaze and serve it plain or use a simple vanilla glaze instead.

How to Serve

Keep it simple and serve slices with your favorite beverages – coffee, tea, milk, etc.

Dust slices with a bit of powdered sugar just before serving for a nice touch.

A glazed Bundt cake on a decorative plate sits on a wooden slab. It is surrounded by two red apples and a jar with a label. The background features wooden paneling.

A scoop of vanilla ice cream with each slice is decadent and delicious dessert. 

Whipped cream and a drizzle of warmed caramel sauce is delightful and impressive. 

How to Store

Keep any leftover cake in an airtight container where it should stay fresh for up to 5 days at room temperature.

For longer term storage, wrap in plastic wrap or store in bags and freeze. Let frozen cake thaw on the counter before serving.

A bundt cake with caramel glaze on a floral plate, set on a wooden surface. The text above reads "Apple Cake Made with Cake Mix." A jar is partially visible in the background.

Use up any frozen cake within 6 months for best flavor. 

Faced with an abundance of apples? Be sure to check our favorite apple recipes to use them up!

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Yield: 12 Servings

Apple Cake Recipe

A bundt cake with caramel glaze sits on a floral-patterned plate. The cake is placed on a wooden slab, with an apple and a jar in the background against a wooden wall.

Make our best apple cake with simple ingredients complete with a short cut from a boxed mix for a delicious and impressive Autumn-inspired easy dessert. 

Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes

Ingredients

Cake Batter

  • 1 Box / Jar of Cake Mix
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon Ground Allspice
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Applesauce
  • 1 1/2 Cups Milk
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
  • 2 Cups Diced Apple

Caramael Glaze

  • 1/3 Cup Brown Sugar, Packed
  • 1/3 Cup Salted Butter
  • 1 Tablespoon Milk
  • 3 Tablespoons Powdered Sugar

Instructions

Make the Cake

  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Grease a bundt pan. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the cake mix and spices. Set aside.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, applesauce, milk, and vanilla until thoroughly combined.
  5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until almost combined.
  6. Add the apples and mix completely.
  7. Pour batter into the prepared cake pan.
  8. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes or until golden brown and an inserted tester comes out clean.
  9. Let cake cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes.
  10. Turn the cake out onto a cake plate to cool completely before glazing or serving.

Make the Glaze

  1. In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter, and milk.
  2. Melt everything together over medium heat and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly. Let simmer for 10 minutes to make sure the sugar is completely dissolved and smooth.
  3. Remove from the heat and whisk in the powdered sugar, mixing until smooth.
  4. Pour over the top of the cake as desired and let harden prior to serving. 

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 280Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 387mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 1gSugar: 30gProtein: 4g

We try, but cannont 100% guarantee the accuracy of these results.

Thanks for sharing!

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