There is something mighty comforting about a simple old-fashioned cake that comes together with just a few pantry staples, and this oven baked 3-ingredient cake mix cobbler-style dessert fits that bill beautifully. It is the sort of humble treat that reminds me of church suppers, weeknight desserts, and the kind of baking that does not ask much of a cook besides a good baking dish and a warm oven. When you want something sweet in a hurry, this Prescott-style cake has that rich, gooey, chewy-edged charm that makes folks hover around the stove waiting for it to cool just enough to sneak a piece.
Serve this warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a spoonful of lightly sweetened whipped cream, or a drizzle of cold heavy cream if you want to keep things nice and simple. It also sits right at home beside a cup of coffee in the afternoon or with hot tea after supper, and if you are feeling especially generous, a handful of fresh berries on the side brightens up every buttery bite.
Oven Baked 3-Ingredient Cake Mix Prescott
Servings: 8
Ingredients
1 box yellow cake mix, about 15.25 ounces
1 can fruit pie filling, 21 ounces, any flavor such as apple, cherry, or peach
1 stick unsalted butter, 1/2 cup, melted
Directions
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9x13-inch glass baking dish.
2. Spread the fruit pie filling evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
3. Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the top of the fruit filling, covering it from edge to edge without stirring.
4. Drizzle the melted butter as evenly as you can all over the cake mix, making sure to moisten most of the surface.
5. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the top is golden brown, the edges are bubbling, and the center looks set.
6. Let the cake rest for 10 to 15 minutes before scooping or cutting, then serve warm.
Variations & Tips
Cherry Version: Use cherry pie filling for a deeper color and a sweet-tart flavor that goes especially well with vanilla ice cream. It makes a mighty pretty dessert for holidays and potlucks.
Peach Version: Peach pie filling gives this dessert a soft summer feel and tastes lovely with a pinch of cinnamon sprinkled over the cake mix before baking.
Butter Tip: If you notice a few dry patches of cake mix before baking, drizzle an extra spoonful or two of melted butter over those spots so the top browns more evenly.
Baking Dish Tip: A glass baking dish helps you see the bubbling edges and gives that nice chewy border folks always fight over. Just be careful not to overbake, or the fruit layer can become too thick and sticky.
Make It Your Own: Yellow cake mix is a classic choice, but white cake mix, spice cake mix, or butter pecan cake mix can all work nicely depending on the fruit filling you have in the pantry.