This apple fritter cake is packed with buttery, spiced apples and cozy fall flavor. It’s finished with a sweet powdered sugar glaze. Best part? It starts with a simple box of yellow cake mix!
You'll love having that signature apple fritter flavor without a drop of hot oil in sight. It's an irresistible cake you'll want on your dessert rotation all year round!
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🗝️ Recipe's key points
- This apple fritter cake recipe is a great make-ahead dessert — the flavors only get better as it sits!
- It’s the best shortcut bake. A boxed yellow cake mix turns into a treat that tastes homemade. Warm spices and a buttery apple topping make it extra cozy.
- While this cake is perfect for fall, don't let that stop you from enjoying it any time of year.
If you love apple fritters from your favorite bakery or donut shop, you’ll fall hard for this apple fritter cake recipe.
🛒 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients for the easy apple fritter cake recipe with yellow cake mix. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
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- Unsalted butter – used to cook the apples.
- Sweet tart apples – leave the peel on and dice them small so the fruit covers every inch of the cake. I prefer varieties like Cosmic Crisp or Pink Lady.
- Brown sugar – packed light or dark, it caramelizes with the apples in the skillet for a rich, jammy topping.
- Apple pie spice – stirred into both the cake batter and the apple topping for warm, layered flavor throughout.
- Kosher salt – balances the sweetness in the apple topping.
- Yellow cake mix plus the ingredients needed to make the cake – the shortcut foundation of this cake. Look for one that calls for melted butter for the best flavor.
- Milk – things out the glaze to make it pourable.
- Confectioners' sugar – creates a simple glaze that gives you that classic apple fritter finish.
🗒 Instructions
This is an overview of instructions for making an apple fritter cake without frying. Full instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Heat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray and a parchment paper sling.
- Add butter to a large skillet.
- Over medium heat, melt the butter until it begins to foam.
- Add the diced apples, brown sugar, apple pie spice, and salt.
- Cook until the apples soften and the liquid nearly evaporates, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Pour the cake mix in a medium mixing bowl.
- Add other ingredients to cake mix, usually melted butter and eggs, according to package directions.
- Combine batter ingredients until just combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Spoon the cooked apples and any remaining liquid evenly over the batter.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack, about 1½ hours.
- Whisk the powdered sugar and milk together until smooth, then drizzle evenly over the cooled cake.
- Serve immediately or let the glaze set for about 15 minutes before slicing.
🥫 Storage
Cover and store apple fritter cake at room temperature for up to 3 days.
📚 Variations
- More spice: Use a boxed spice cake mix in place of yellow cake mix for a more intense fall flavor.
- Homemade spice blend: Make your own apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice mix from scratch.
- Extra apples: Pile on even more diced apples if you like a fruit-forward cake with big pockets of apple in every bite.
👩🏻🍳 Tips
- Leave the peel on your apples. It adds texture and saves prep time.
- Dice the apples small so they spread evenly across the whole cake.
- Don't skip the parchment sling — it makes lifting the cake out of the pan a breeze.
- Let the cake cool completely before adding the glaze, or it will melt right off.
- For the best results, look for a yellow cake mix that calls for melted butter rather than oil.
🤔 FAQs
Can I use a spice cake mix instead of a yellow cake mix?
Yes! Spice cake mix works beautifully and enhances the apple pie spice flavor. It creates a deeper, warmer taste that’s perfect for fall.
What are the best apples for apple fritter cake?
Sweet-tart apples like Cosmic Crisp, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith work best. They hold their shape and balance the glaze's sweetness.
Can I make apple fritter cake ahead of time?
Yes. This cake can be made a day in advance. Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Does this apple fritter cake need to be refrigerated?
No, it can be stored covered at room temperature. If your kitchen is very warm, you may refrigerate it and bring to room temperature before serving.
Can I freeze apple fritter cake?
Yes. Wrap tightly and freeze without the glaze for best results. Add the glaze after thawing.
Why cook the apples first?
Cooking apples in butter and brown sugar makes them soft and extra flavorful. It also gives you that classic apple fritter taste and texture.
📗 Related Recipes
You can't go wrong with any of these easy apple dessert recipes:
- Caramel Apple Pie Bars – With a buttery crust and a sweet streusel crumble topping, these apple pie bars are addictive!
- Easy Apple Dumplings – You won't believe how easy these apple dumplings are, and they have a surprise secret ingredient!
- Old Fashioned Homemade Apple Pie – This classic recipe has that lattice work that makes it stand out at every picnic.
- Best French Apple Cake – This buttery, vanilla-flavored cake with fresh apples is perfect topped with homemade whipped cream.
- Caramel Apple Pie No-Churn Ice Cream – Perfect for those fall days that are still warm, this apple pie ice cream is easier than you think!
- Apple Pie Bread Pudding – If you can't get enough bread pudding, you have to try this apple pie version!
🍽 What to serve with Apple Fritter Cake
I absolutely love this easy dessert with a cup of coffee, a spicy Chai tea, or a cold glass of milk. It's also perfect topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream!
🔪 All Our Way recommends the following
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You’ll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.
- Cooking spray – used to ensure the cake doesn't stick to any part of the baking dish.
- Parchment paper – used to create a sling for easy cake removal.
- Baking dish 13-9-inch – the right size for even baking.
- Large skillet – for cooking the apple topping on the stovetop.
- Apple Peeler and Corer – used for preparing the apples.
- Sharp knife and cutting board – for dicing the apples.
- Mixing bowls – for mixing up the cake batter and the glaze.
- Measuring cups and spoons – to get all those proportions just right.
📞 Chiacchierata (chat)
Can we talk about how dangerous this torta di mele (apple cake) is? It just sits there, innocent, in a 9x13 pan. It smells like brown sugar and apple pie spice. Then “just a little slice” becomes a second trip back. This time, it’s with a second cucchiaio—a spoon.
I love recipes like this because they feel bakery-special but come together with everyday ingredients. No frying. No fuss. Just tender cake, buttery apples, and that sweet glaze that puddles into the little cracks like it was meant to be there.
This is the kind of dessert you bring to a potluck, and someone asks for the recipe before they’ve even finished chewing. It’s the kind of cake that disappears at Thanksgiving. The kind that makes you feel like you’ve got l'autunno (fall) completely under control.
Whether you’re baking for stagione delle mele (apple season) or just want something cozy on a martedì (Tuesday)afternoon, this apple fritter cake is perfect.
Now slice yourself a generous piece, pour a cup of coffee, and as always…buon appetito, amici!
Tutti a tavolo, è pronto!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
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📖 Recipe
Easy Apple Fritter Cake Recipe
Equipment Needed
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter plus the butter needed for cake mix (see package directions), divided
- 4 ½ cups small dice unpeeled sweet-tart apples such as Cosmic Crisp or Pink Lady (about 4 medium or 1 ½ pounds apples)
- ¼ cup packed light or dark brown sugar
- 3 teaspoons apple or pumpkin pie spice divided
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 box 13.25- to 15.25-ounce box yellow cake mix
- Water or milk and eggs needed for cake mix see package directions
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 5 teaspoons whole milk or 2% milk
Instructions
Prepare the Fritter Apples:
- Melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add 4 ½ cups finely diced unpeeled sweet-tart apples, ¼ cup packed brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of the apple pie spice, and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt.
- Cook until the apples begin to soften and the liquid is almost evaporated, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
Make the Apple Fritter cake:
- Heat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Line the bottom and two long sides with a sheet of parchment paper to form a sling.
- Prepare 1 (13.25- to 15.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix by mixing it with the water or milk, eggs, and unsalted butter or oil as directed on the package, along with the remaining 2 teaspoons of apple pie spice.
- Pour the batter into the baking pan and smooth out the top. Spoon the apples and any remaining liquid evenly over the cake batter.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Place the pan on a wire rack and let it cool completely, about 1 ½ hours.
Apple Fritter Cake Topping:
- Whisk ¾ cup powdered sugar and 5 teaspoons whole milk together in a small bowl until smooth. Drizzle evenly over the cake. Serve immediately, or let the glaze set for about 15 minutes before serving.
- Drizzle evenly over the cake. Serve immediately, or let the glaze set for about 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
👩🏻🍳 Tips
- Leave the peel on your apples. It adds texture and saves prep time.
- Dice the apples small, so they spread evenly across the whole cake.
- Don't skip the parchment sling — it makes lifting the cake out of the pan a breeze.
- Let the cake cool completely before adding the glaze, or it will melt right off.
- For the best results, look for a yellow cake mix that calls for melted butter rather than oil.
Nutrition
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Marisa Franca
If your family loves apple fritters, they'll love this apple dessert. You'll love it because there is no messy deep-frying. Another reason is that I can start with a cake mix. Talk about good AND convenient. Try it and don't wait for fall!