This 5-ingredient oven baked apple dessert is the kind of practical, cozy recipe that earns a permanent place in a busy cook’s rotation. Using frozen raw apple slices means there’s no peeling or slicing to do, and the apples can go straight from freezer to baking dish with a handful of pantry staples for a simple dessert that tastes like a rustic apple crisp meets baked cobbler filling. It’s especially useful in fall and winter, but because frozen fruit is available year-round, it’s an easy way to bring warm spiced apple flavor to the table whenever the craving strikes.
Serve this dessert warm on its own, or dress it up with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a spoonful of whipped cream, or a drizzle of cold heavy cream for a classic contrast to the hot fruit. It also pairs nicely with sharp cheddar for a Midwestern sweet-savory touch, and if you’re serving it after dinner, coffee, black tea, or hot cider make especially good companions.
5-Ingredient Oven Baked Apple Dessert
Servings: 6
Ingredients
1 bag (about 32 ounces) frozen raw apple slices
1 box (about 15.25 ounces) yellow cake mix
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch oven-safe glass baking dish.
2. Spread the frozen raw apple slices evenly in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon over the apples, then toss lightly in the dish or spread the seasoning as evenly as possible over the top.
3. Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix evenly over the apple layer, covering the surface from edge to edge without stirring it in.
4. Drizzle the melted butter as evenly as possible over the cake mix. Try to moisten most of the surface so the topping bakes up golden rather than powdery.
5. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, until the apples are tender and bubbling and the top is golden brown. If needed, rotate the dish once during baking for even browning.
6. Let the dessert rest for 10 minutes before serving so the juices thicken slightly. Spoon warm portions into bowls and serve as is or with vanilla ice cream.
Variations & Tips
Add oats for a crisper topping: If you want more texture, mix 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats into the dry cake mix before sprinkling it over the apples. This gives the topping a heartier crisp-like feel.
Use spice cake mix: For a deeper fall flavor, swap the yellow cake mix for spice cake mix. It layers in extra notes of cinnamon and warm baking spices without adding more ingredients.
Watch the butter coverage: Dry patches of cake mix can remain powdery after baking, so drizzle carefully and evenly. If a few dry spots remain after 20 minutes in the oven, you can dab them lightly with an extra spoonful of melted butter.
Do not thaw the apples first: Baking the apples from frozen keeps this recipe simple and helps prevent them from releasing too much liquid too early. The dessert may take a few extra minutes depending on your oven and the thickness of the apple slices.
Add nuts if you like: A small handful of chopped pecans or walnuts scattered over the top before baking adds a pleasant crunch. This is especially good if you plan to serve the dessert with ice cream.