Easy One Bowl Apple Cake
This easy one bowl apple cake is packed with cinnamon-spiced apple flavor and bakes up deliciously tender and moist!
Oh, this easy apple cake! It’s one of my favorite go-to desserts—not only because it is sweet, tender and full of cinnamon-spiced apple flavor, but also because the whole thing mixes up in one bowl and bakes in one pan.
And here’s my little confession: there are no fresh apples involved. As much as I adore them, sometimes I’m simply not in the mood to peel, core and chop a pile of apples. Those are the moments when a can of apple pie filling is exactly the right answer.
Just stir everything together, pop it in the oven and get ready for a wonderfully moist apple cake—especially wonderful with a generous drizzle of caramel sauce! 🍎
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🔎 A quick look at this recipe
- What It Is: A tender, cinnamon-spiced apple cake made with apple pie filling
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Servings: 10 servings
- Calories: 399 calories
- Cooking Method: Oven
- Good For: Fall baking, holidays and easy entertaining
⭐️ Why this recipe works
- 🍎 Apple pie filling gives the cake plenty of sweet apple flavor without any peeling, coring or chopping.
- 🥣 One-bowl mixing keeps both the preparation and the cleanup wonderfully easy.
- ✨ Cinnamon and vanilla add warm, cozy flavor to every tender bite.
- 🌰 Walnuts and raisins bring a little crunch, chewiness and extra sweetness—and both are optional!
- 🍮 Caramel sauce turns this simple apple cake into an extra-special fall dessert.
🍎 Ingredients you need
📝 Ingredient additions
- Apple pie filling: You’ll need one 21-ounce can. If the apple slices are especially large, cut them into smaller bite-sized pieces before adding them to the batter.
- Flour: Regular all-purpose flour works perfectly here.
- Canola oil: This gives the cake its wonderfully moist texture without adding a strong flavor.
- Raisins: These are optional, so feel free to leave them out if raisins aren’t your thing.
- Walnuts: Walnuts add a lovely crunch, but pecans work equally well. You can also leave the nuts out altogether.
- Caramel sauce: Also optional—but a warm drizzle over each slice takes this apple cake straight into dessert heaven!
💡 Ingredient substitution ideas
Missing something or want to swap in something different? Check out the links below to find more ingredient substitution ideas. 👇🏻
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.
👩🏻🍳 How to make this recipe
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F and generously grease a 9-inch round baking pan or springform pan.
Step 2: Add the apple pie filling, sugar, flour, canola oil, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, baking soda and baking powder to a large mixing bowl. Stir until everything is well combined. The batter will be very thick!
Step 3: Fold in the raisins and walnuts until they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Step 4: Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top into an even layer.
Step 5: Bake until the cake is deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs, 60 to 75 minutes. Let the cake cool before slicing, then serve as is or drizzled with caramel sauce. 🍎
🧐 Recipe FAQs
For this recipe, stick with canned apple pie filling. Its thick, sweet sauce supplies moisture that fresh apples alone won’t provide, so substituting fresh apples could change the cake’s texture. Have fresh apples you want to bake with? Try my caramel apple cake, packed with cinnamon-spiced apples and topped with a homemade caramel glaze!
Apple pie filling is in the baking aisle of your friendly neighborhood supermarket.
A springform pan is a pan that has a round bottom that is separate from the sides. The sides close with a lever that closes everything up, and then when you are ready to take whatever you are baking out of the pan, move the lever to open up the sides. No more trying to wrestle something sticky out of the pan!
Yes! A 9-inch square baking pan should work nicely. I don’t recommend a Bundt pan because this moist, slightly sticky cake may be difficult to remove cleanly. Begin checking the cake after 60 minutes, since baking time can vary with the pan.
Pop your question (or comment, or suggestion) in the Comments section below and I will answer pronto!
Cover the cake tightly and store it at room temperature for up to two days or in the refrigerator for up to five days. Bring refrigerated slices to room temperature or warm them briefly before serving.
Let’s stir up this sweet and simple apple deliciousness! 🍎🍰
Easy One Bowl Apple Cake
This easy one bowl apple cake combines cinnamon, apple pie filling, raisins and walnuts in a wonderfully moist fall dessert!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- One 21 ounce can apple pie filling
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 2 eggs, slightly beaten
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- Caramel sauce for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Generously grease a 9-inch round baking pan, square baking pan or springform pan.
- Place the apple pie filling, sugar, flour, oil, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, baking soda and baking powder in a large mixing bowl. Stir until well combined. The batter will be thick.
- Fold in the raisins and nuts. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake until the cake is deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs, 60 to 75 minutes. Begin checking after 60 minutes.
- Let the cake cool before slicing. Serve with caramel sauce, if you like.
Notes
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- Nuts: You can leave out the nuts if you don’t like them, or if you are taking this cake to a party where you want to be respectful of nut allergies. You can also swap in pecans for the walnuts if you like those better.
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- Raisins: Same with the raisins – you can either leave them out, or you can swap in dried cranberries.
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- Caramel Sauce: We love this cake just the way it is, but if you pour some caramel sauce over the top you will go straight to apple cake heaven. Look for the caramel sauce near the frozen food section (because it goes so well with ice cream!)
💫 Variations on this recipe
- Apple cake muffins: Divide the batter among greased or paper-lined muffin cups and bake at 350°F for about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Cranberry apple: Swap the raisins for dried cranberries for a sweet-tart twist.
- Pecan apple: Replace the walnuts with chopped pecans.
- Caramel apple: Drizzle the cooled cake generously with caramel sauce and add a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Nut-free: Leave out the walnuts without making any other changes.
- Extra spice: Add a pinch of nutmeg or ground cloves along with the cinnamon for even cozier fall flavor.
Other apple recipes we love ❤️
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⭐️We want to know what you think!
If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! 🌟 ) and your thoughts in the Comments section below the recipe card.
I love the simplicity of this cake! Some cake recipes get really complicated, but even I can’t mess this one up. Love it and it tastes just like fall!
Thanks Cindy! Sometimes the simplest things are the most delicious, right? Happy Monday!
I meant to say it reminded me of fruit cake my mom use make ! came out lovely and golden brown on the top!
Hi just trying this now with fresh apples , will make my own pie filling with cinnamon and muscovado sugar and will leave in fridge over night and do the cake 2mmrw ! looking forward to trying it
I’ve never made this with fresh apples, so I would love to know how it turns out for you!
Hi made this a few days ago turned out great with fresh apple pie filling . I left out the vanilla and pecans and jus had fresh whipped cream with it was delicious, Thanks for the recipe its a keeper !
My friend and I love to get together and cook. It can be difficult at times because our husbands are so picky My turn last night. I chose the Lasagna Soup and the Easy One Bowl Apple Cake. First the Main dish. I have never heard my friends rave so much about a bowl of soup! It was a huge hit. I always hate it when people tell you how they changed this and they change that to the point it is not even the same recipe. The only thing I added was fresh garlic. The Apple Cake was just as big of a hit. I also love fresh apples, but that just would be the same here. It turned out perfect! Wouldn’t change a thing. Both to easy to make! Thanks so much!
really good recipes. just found your page, I’m also on face book..
made it! ate it! i say that’s success! thanks again. will wait with bated breath for the peach cake recipe!
I used to make big batches of peach pie filling – everything you would put in the mixture when you make pie, thickener and all – put it in one pie-size freezer bags and stack them up in the freezer. I’m not sure how this would work for apples – you might need to add lemon juice so they don’t discolor – but seems like it might work. So, those of you who prefer fresh apples could give that a try in apple season, and you, Kate, still wouldn’t have to can! ;)
I have Comstock Apple Pie Filling on my grocery list. Ahem. I think I will make this in small pans to freeze, since we aren’t real big on sweets here. But a nice warm slice of this will some caramel sauce sounds like heaven.
Oooh, peach cake….I am tempted. Very tempted.
Hi, lol, I am still laughing at Joanne licking the computer screen !
We are moving back to the US in about 3-4weeks and I keep dreaming of the foods that I will eat again. Apple pies are up there on the list, now apple cake has been added too.
Besos, Candice
Hurray and let me be among the first to say welcome back! :)
I’ve kept “Love Shack” in my life…. it’s on my house cleaning cd. :D
PERFECT house cleaning song!! For a nice clean love shack. :)
Looks Yummy! Think I gained a couple pounds just seeing this recipe but will be making this for sure as hubby has quitye the sweet tooth.
Instead of canned apple pie filling; about how many fresh apples would be required ?
I have an apple peeler so doesn’t take long at all to peel and core an apple.
Thank you
ColleenB.
Hi Colleen! The can has 21 ounces of apples in it, which looks to be about two cups. They are definitely cooked, so you would want to saute your peeled and sliced apples in a little water and brown sugar before you put them in the mixture, I think (I’ve never tried this recipe with fresh apples so I’m just guessing here!) I would think 5 or 6 apples would do it?
thank you.
I had made this over the weekend and my hubby Loved it. I had no fresh apples so did end up using canned but did drizzle with Smuckers Marshmallow topping as well as the caramel and DH thought it was wonderful and went back for a second piece….only bigger slice second time around. :}
Recipe is keeper for sure but do think the next time I will use fresh apples
Hurray! Come back after you try the fresh apple version and let us know, ok? :)
I seriously just tried to lick that caramel sauce off my computer screen. So sad it didn’t work. You are invited to my apartment ANY TIME. So long as this cake is in tow. :P
That caramel sauce should be classified as a controlled substance! Soooooo good.
I cqnned apple pie filling in the fall. This will be a perfect way to use it! Looks delicious. Thanks.
Yes, perfect! (And I am impressed – I have never tried canning! One day…)
Hi Kate, Remember you from days past in Saddle River when Ira B and I were always together. Canning is easy and the easiest thing to can is tomatoes because they are easy to peel, process and achieve a good product with little effort.
Hi Sharon – I’m so glad you found me! One day I will try canning – it’s on my culinary bucket list!
That is a great cake! Thanks for the post! I love quick cake recipes that don’t involve me peeling and cutting apples!!!!
My pleasure (and I feel the same way about the peeling!) :)
Bang, Bang, Bang on the door… Love Shack! Baby Love Shack!
Oh my gosh … LOVE THIS SONG…an all time fav!
Pretty hard to sit still listening to it. Wasn’t sure when I hit the link what I was going to hear!
Therefore, I will have to make this beautiful cake, listen to Love Shack at a semi-respectable level
and dance with wreck less abandon… you know.. like nobody is watching:-)!
Thanks for the big smile Kate, and Happy Hearts Day to you and your Southern Hubby!!<3
Hurray! Hope you had a lovely happy Valentine’s Day too! :) :)
Love one bowl cakes. What is in that can? Just sliced stewed apples – what would it take to replicate it with fresh apples?
H Rachel – here are the can ingredients: APPLES, LIQUID SUGAR (NATURAL SUGAR, WATER), WATER, FOOD STARCH-MODIFIED, NATURAL FLAVOR, SPICES, ERYTHORBIC ACID (TO PROMOTE COLOR RETENTION), CITRIC ACID. So it looks like apples that have been cooked in sugar, maybe with some cinnamon?