Slow Cooker Apple Cobbler with Cake Mix (Just 4 Ingredients)

Warm, gooey, and filled with apple flavor, this slow cooker apple cobbler with cake mix is pure comfort food! It’s so easy to make, and with a few quick shortcuts, you can set it and forget it and have a delicious dessert or snack ready when you are!

Apple Cobbler with Cake Mix

Y’all know I love my slow cooker, and boy oh boy, is this Crockpot Apple Cobbler recipe good! Making an apple cobbler with cake mix ensures that putting it all together is as easy as pie (pun intended).

This easy recipe uses a box of cake mix as a clever shortcut to achieve that perfect cobbler topping, resulting in a crisp, even layer that’s simply scrumptious.

The only thing better than eating this apple cobbler is smelling it cooking!

I tell you, people come running to see what’s cooking when they get a whiff of this tasty slow cooker dessert cooking, just like they do when I make Crockpot Apple Butter.

The best part about this recipe is you can set it and forget it.

No worrying about the oven timer or heating up your kitchen. Just load it into your slow cooker, and it’ll be ready in a few hours. This crock pot dump recipe is great for family dinners, events, BBQs, potlucks, and more.

Plus, you can serve it right from the slow cooker, so you don’t have to worry about keeping it warm. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, then sit back and listen to the compliments!

What Is A Cobbler?

Cobblers are a super cozy dessert that’s all about fruit and a special topping that’s not quite cake or pie crust but something really yummy in between. They’re kind of like an upside-down pie, with a biscuit-like crust on the top and a fruity layer on the bottom.

Cobblers started in the British American colonies when the settlers couldn’t make their usual suet puddings. They didn’t have the right stuff to make it, so they got creative. People took stewed fruit and covered it with a simple batter or biscuit dough and baked it.

That’s how we got the cobbler we love today!

As time went on, cobblers changed up a bit, using different fruits and whatever ingredients were around. The top part could be like a biscuit or more cakey, or even like a crumble, depending on where you are and what recipe you’re using.

Down in the Southern part of the United States, people really like making them with peaches or blackberries, but apple cobblers, especially my cake mix apple cobbler, are super popular too.

Why You’ll Love My Apple Cobbler with Cake Mix

Personally, apple cobbler is one of those comfort foods I associate with Grandma’s house. The sweet apples mixed with cinnamon and sugar and finished with a crumble topping makes this crock pot apple cobbler recipe a warm dessert you’l want again and again!

• Perfect for Busy Families: This crockpot apple cobbler with cake mix recipe is ideal for those evenings when you know you’ll be short on time. Just set it up in the crockpot and let it cook while you deal with your busy life.
• Minimal Ingredients Required: You only need a few simple ingredients: a can of apple pie filling, a box of white cake mix (or another type), cinnamon, and butter. This makes for an easy shopping list.
• Delicious Dessert Option: Combining the sweetness of apple pie filling with the comforting texture of cake mix, this dessert is sure to be a hit with the whole family.
• Easy Cleanup: Since everything cooks in the crockpot, you won’t have multiple dishes to wash, making cleanup a breeze.
• Perfect Fall Dessert: The combination of apple and cinnamon makes this the perfect dessert for fall, when it’s apple season. But if you’re like me, you’ll want to make it all year round!
• Customizable: You can easily customize this recipe by using different types of cake mix or adding extra spices as you desire.

Slow Cooker Apple Cobbler Ingredients

This easy apple cobbler recipe requires just a handful of ingredients and can be prepared in a large bowl before being transferred to a baking dish.

For those looking to serve a perfect fall dessert at family gatherings or simply enjoy a delicious apple dessert after a busy weeknight dinner, this recipe promises a delicious outcome with minimal effort.

• Apple Pie Filling: This is the heart of the cobbler, giving it a sweet and tender apple base. You can use canned apple pie filling for convenience or make your own with fresh granny smith apples, brown sugar, and a touch of lemon juice for freshness.
• White cake mix: Acts as a simple and quick topping for the cobbler, creating a golden brown crust when baked. If you’re looking for a different flavor, a spice cake mix or yellow cake mix can be used as an alternative.
• Ground cinnamon: Adds a warm spice to the cobbler, complementing the apple flavor perfectly. If you’re out of ground cinnamon, apple pie spice can be a great substitute.
  
• Unsalted butter: Melted butter is mixed with the dry cake mix before baking, which helps create the crisp topping’s rich flavor and texture.
• Vanilla ice cream: Who can resist the hot cobbler with a scoop of ice cream? Serve it warm with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra special touch.

How To Make The Best Slow Cooker Apple Cobbler

1. Prepare Your Slow Cooker: Start by spreading the apple pie filling evenly at the bottom of a slow cooker.
2. Add Some Spice:  Sprinkle half of the cinnamon over the apple filling and gently mix it in a bit to combine.
3. Add Cake Mix: In a large bowl, combine the dry cake mix with the remaining cinnamon. It’s important to mix these together before adding to the slow cooker so everything gets evenly distributed throughout the cobbler topping.
4. Top Your Cobbler:  Evenly sprinkle the cake mix and cinnamon mixture over the top of the apples in the slow cooker. Make sure you create an even layer for the perfect topping!
5. Add the Butter: Drizzle the melted butter over the top of the cake mix. It’s important not to mix the cake mix into the apples. The butter will help the cake mix to form a golden brown and crisp topping as it cooks.
6. Cook Your Cobbler: Cover the slow cooker and set it to cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 hours. The long, slow cooking process allows the apples to become tender and the topping to turn golden brown and delicious. Personally, I LOVE how it makes my house smell, so I often cook it for 6 hours on low!
7. Serve and Enjoy: Once cooked, serve your apple cobbler hot. For an extra treat, add a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. You can even drizzle some caramel sauce over this easy recipe – AMAZING!

Recipe Tips

• I buy cake mix and pantry ingredients like apple pie filling when they go on sale. That way, they’re always in my pantry to make easy recipes like this Crockpot Apple Cobbler.
• White cake mix has the most neutral flavor.  You can also use yellow cake mix or even a caramel apple cake mix or butter pecan cake mix.
• Do not mix the cake mix into the apples. It should sit in a layer on the top.
• I like to let the cobbler cool a little bit in the slow cooker before serving, that way, the ice cream doesn’t melt right away.
• You can use an Instant Pot for this recipe, just use it on the slow cooker setting for the specificed time. Rushing it with pressure cooking will not produce good results for the crumble topping.
• For easy cleanup, consider using a liner in the bottom of the crock pot.
• For a crisp topping, sprinkle a handful of chopped pecans or walnuts over the cake mix before drizzling with melted butter.

Making Different Fruit Cobblers

Using the same recipe steps and instructions, you can make a blueberry cobbler, cherry cobbler, or basically any type of fruit cobbler for different flavor combinations.

All you need to do is swap out the pie filling for the type you prefer to use. Here are some options:

• Cherry pie filling (this makes a classic cobbler everyone loves!)
• Peach pie filling
• Blueberry pie filling

That makes my apple cobbler with cake mix recipe so great—simply swap the fruit for another type and you have a different dessert!

Storage

Store any leftover apple cobbler with cake mix topping in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Let it cool completely before putting the lid on it, or you’ll get condensation inside the container, which could make your cobbler soggy.

Reheat the cobbler in the microwave, or enjoy it cold! It’s great for picnics or school lunches.

More Apple Desserts

• Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
• Apple Fritters
• Caramel Apple Trifle
• Apple Pecan Pie
• Apple Pie Muffins
• Caramel Apple Tres Leches

Other Delicious Cobbler Recipes

• Who says cobblers have to be sweet? This Chicken Cobbler is a main dish wonder!
• Fruit Cobbler
• Blueberry Cobbler
• Strawberry Cobbler Granola Bars
• Strawberry Cobbler

More Crock Pot Dessert Recipes

• Crockpot Pecan Pie
• Slow Cooker Candied Pecans
• Slow Cooker Cinnamon Rolls

Print Pin

Crockpot Apple Cobbler

Ingredients

• 40 Oz Can or jar of apple pie filling
• 16 Oz box of white cake mix
• 1 tsp cinnamon divided
• 1 Stick unsalted butter melted
• vanilla ice cream, to serve optional

Instructions

• Pour the apple pie filling into your crockpot. Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp cinnamon and mix in to combine. 
• Mix the remaining cinnamon in with the dry cake mix in a separate bowl. Sprinkle over the apples. Drizzle the melted butter over the cake mix, evenly. Do NOT mix the butter into the cake mix. 
• Cover and Cook on high for 4 hours - or on low for 6 hours. 
• Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired.