3 Ingredient Apple Cake

If there’s one thing we love here at Virile Recipes, it’s recipes that make you look like a baking genius without actually requiring wizard-level skills or an overflowing pantry. And folks, this 3 ingredient apple cake is exactly that. It’s moist, it’s packed with apple-cinnamon flavor, and it’s one of those no-fuss desserts that you can throw together on a weeknight, during a study break, or while wrangling toddlers.

Seriously. Three ingredients. One bowl. About five minutes of actual work. Sound like your kind of baking? Thought so.

Why This Apple Cake Works for Everyone

We tested a whole bunch of apple cake variations, and we kept coming back to this simple one. It hits the sweet spot (pun fully intended) for:

• Busy parents who want a quick apple dessert without destroying the kitchen.
• Students living off boxed cake mix and divine inspiration.
• Baking beginners who might be scared of anything involving a springform pan.
• Seniors and working professionals looking for low-effort, high-payoff treats.
• Health-conscious eaters looking for a lighter, low sugar apple cake option.

And listen—if you’re here thinking, “Three ingredients? That’s got to be bland or boring,” hang tight. Because we’re bringing in flavor with minimal effort. This is fall baking made ridiculously easy.

What You Need (Spoiler: Not Much)

Alright, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. Here are your three main players:

• Apple pie filling (Yep. The canned kind. Don’t knock it till you try it.)
• Boxed yellow cake mix
• Eggs (or a plant-based substitute if you’re going the vegan apple cake route)

That’s it. No oil, no butter, no stress. If you want to jazz it up, we’ll talk upgrades in a second.

Looking for a version without eggs? Don’t worry, this one adapts easily into an eggless apple cake or vegan apple cake with a simple swap like applesauce or flax eggs.

How to Make This 3 Ingredient Apple Cake

Let’s walk through it together. Get your oven preheated and a cake pan greased up. I usually go with a 9×13″ if I’m feeding a crowd, or an 8×8″ if it’s just a treat-yourself situation.

Step-by-Step:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (or 175°C for my international pals).
2. Dump your apple pie filling into a large bowl.
3. Crack in three eggs (or your vegan sub).
4. Add the boxed yellow cake mix. Just pour it right in.
5. Mix it all up until it’s just combined. No over-mixing! It’ll be a little lumpy and that’s totally fine.
6. Pour the batter into your prepared baking dish.
7. Bake for 35-45 minutes, depending on the pan size. You’re looking for golden edges and a center that springs back.

That’s it. Done and done.

Pro tip: Want a little more texture? Toss in some chopped walnuts or pecans before baking. Now you’re working with a rustic apple cake that looks straight out of a fancy bakery.

Add-Ins and Twists

Okay, so you’ve got your basic apple cake down. But what if you want to play a little? Here are some tasty ideas:

• Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar on top before baking for that apple cinnamon cake vibe.
• Add chopped fresh apples for a chopped apple cake texture.
• Drizzle with caramel sauce after baking for a total apple dessert overload.
• Mix in a teaspoon of vanilla or apple pie spice to round out the flavor.
• Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream. Trust me.

Pair your apple cake with this delicious cheesecake twist for the ultimate dessert duo.

What Kind of Apples Work Best?

Technically, this recipe doesn’t call for fresh apples. But if you’re feeling ambitious and want to use real ones, I salute you.

Use Granny Smith for tartness or Honeycrisp for natural sweetness. Both make great contenders for a granny smith apple cake or fresh apple cake version. Just cook them down with a little sugar and cinnamon to create your own filling.

Make It Healthier (Yes, You Can)

If you want to turn this into a healthy apple cake, try the following tweaks:

• Use sugar-free apple pie filling
• Sub in a gluten-free cake mix for a gluten-free apple cake
• Replace eggs with unsweetened applesauce for a vegan-friendly version

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Feeling inspired? Try these flaky desserts after your apple cake indulgence for something light and crisp.

How to Store and Freeze Your Cake

This cake stays soft and moist for days. Just cover it with foil or store it in an airtight container.

• Room Temp: 2 days
• Fridge: 4-5 days
• Freezer: Up to 2 months

To freeze, slice it into portions, wrap in plastic wrap, and store in a freezer-safe bag. Great for those late-night cravings or surprise guests.

Hosting guests soon? This Valentine’s Day dessert box makes a sweet gift to go with homemade apple cake.

Why We Keep Coming Back to This Cake

There’s just something nostalgic about this old-fashioned apple cake made new again with a lazy-day twist. No frosting, no layering, no cooling racks needed. Just warm cake, some cinnamon in the air, and the joy of knowing dessert is done before the oven timer dings.

And hey, if you love cinnamon and apples together? You need to check out this churro cheesecake. Thank me later.

Bonus: Apple Cake for Every Occasion

This cake fits in everywhere:

• Fall potlucks (make it a fall baking recipe hero)
• Holiday tables (without the stress of a pie crust!)
• Weeknight dinners (aka “I need dessert or I will scream” nights)
• Picnics & potlucks

It also goes great on a colorful tray with these pink velvet cookies or Christmas cookie bars.

Want a real party on your dessert table? Add this Snickers strawberry cheesecake alongside your apple cake.

3 Ingredient Apple Cake

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• Author: Jake
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 8–10 servings 1x

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Description

This 3 ingredient apple cake is a moist, cinnamon-packed miracle that takes less than five minutes of work. Perfect for beginners, busy parents, or anyone who wants a no-fuss dessert that delivers big fall flavor.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 1 can (about 21 oz) apple pie filling
• 3 eggs (or vegan substitute like applesauce or flax eggs)

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Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Grease a 9×13″ or 8×8″ baking pan depending on desired thickness.
3. In a large bowl, add apple pie filling.
4. Add the eggs or substitute.
5. Pour in the yellow cake mix.
6. Mix until just combined (don’t overmix – some lumps are fine).
7. Pour batter into the prepared baking dish.
8. Bake for 35–45 minutes until golden on the edges and the center springs back.

Notes

Optional add-ins: sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top, mix in chopped walnuts or pecans, drizzle with caramel after baking. Serve with vanilla ice cream for extra indulgence.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 slice
• Calories: 240
• Sugar: 18g
• Sodium: 320mg
• Fat: 7g
• Saturated Fat: 2g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 38g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 2g
• Cholesterol: 35mg

Final Thoughts

This easy apple cake recipe has rescued my sweet tooth more times than I can count. It’s the one bowl apple cake you can trust to always turn out delicious, whether you’re cooking with kids, solo, or for a full house.

And the best part? It’s totally customizable. Dress it up or down, serve it plain or piled with toppings—you really can’t mess this one up.

Next time you’re craving something cozy and apple-filled, remember this little gem. Three ingredients. Infinite joy.

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