This 4-ingredient oven baked mock apple dessert is one of those budget-friendly, surprisingly good recipes that feels perfect for busy weeknights or casual potlucks. Using canned sliced water chestnuts gives the filling a tender-crisp texture that bakes up a lot like apples once it’s coated with cinnamon and sugar, and the simple pantry-style ingredient list makes it especially handy when you want an easy dessert without a lot of prep.
Serve this warm on its own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped topping, or a drizzle of heavy cream. It also pairs nicely with coffee after dinner, and if you want to round it out for a holiday-style dessert table, it fits right in beside roast dinners, baked ham, or a simple weeknight casserole meal.
4-Ingredient Oven Baked Mock Apple Dessert
Servings: 6
Ingredients
2 cans sliced water chestnuts, drained
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 box yellow cake mix
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease an oven-safe glass casserole dish.
2. Drain the sliced water chestnuts well, then spread them evenly in the prepared casserole dish.
3. Sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon evenly over the water chestnuts, tossing gently in the dish if needed so the slices are coated.
4. Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix evenly over the top to cover the cinnamon-sugar water chestnuts in a thin, even layer.
5. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the top is golden and the filling is bubbling around the edges. Let it cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Variations & Tips
Add butter if you want a richer topping: If you have a little flexibility beyond the four basic ingredients, drizzle 1/2 cup melted butter over the cake mix before baking. It helps create a more classic crisp-like topping with extra golden color and a better texture.
Make it taste more like apple pie: A small splash of lemon juice or a pinch of nutmeg added with the cinnamon can make the flavor feel even more like a traditional apple dessert. This is a nice trick when you want to lean into the mock apple effect.
Drain thoroughly: Since canned water chestnuts hold a lot of moisture, draining them very well is important so the dessert doesn’t turn watery. I like to let them sit in a colander for a few minutes and pat them lightly with paper towels when I’m trying to get the best texture.
Best served warm: This dessert really shines when it’s still a little warm from the oven. If you’re making it ahead, reheat individual portions briefly before serving so the topping softens slightly and the cinnamon aroma comes back.