This delicious crock pot apple cobbler is ideal for any occasion or every day. It is a super easy small-batch dessert recipe with cake mix and fresh apples. Ready in just a few hours, I love this warm and comforting treat, and you will too.
🍎Ingredients
Cake Mix—spice, white, or yellow cake mix recommended
Butter
Sugar
Cinnamon
Filling—fresh apples, sugar, and cinnamon or apple pie filling
Optional Nuts—pecans or walnuts
Jump To (scroll for more)
- 🍎Ingredients
- 👨🍳How to Make Crock Pot Apple Cobbler—Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
- ♨️When is the crock pot apple cobbler done?
- 🥣How to make apple cobbler without cake mix—Biscuit top instructions
- 🍎What apples should be used to make apple cobbler?
- 👨🍳Options, Variations, and Tips
- ↕️Making apple cobbler for two or a crowd
- 🍎Apple recipes I love
- ❄️Storage of Leftovers
- ❓FAQs
- ❓What is the Difference Between Cobblers, Crumbles, and Crisps?
- 📖 Recipe
Featured Comment by Wilma:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I made this for Thanksgiving and WOW did it go over great…Thank you for an amazing recipe. I love simple and delicious."
I love simple cooking with great results. This dump-and-go small-batch apple cobbler recipe takes about two hours and makes four servings—just right for our smaller household but is easily doubled back to full size.
Make it your way. Cook it in any size crock pot—full, small, or mini. Use a simple biscuit topping instead of the cake mix. Or substitute premade pie filling for the fresh apples and cinnamon sugar.
👨🍳How to Make Crock Pot Apple Cobbler—Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
1. Combine cinnamon and sugar in a bowl.
2. Prepare apples by peeling and cutting them into bite-size pieces.
3. Add apple to the crock pot and cover with cinnamon sugar.
4. Cover with the dry cake mix and smooth the top.
5. Add optional nuts and drizzle the mixture with melted butter. Finally, top it with a bit more sugar and cinnamon.
6. Cook on high for about 2 hours or 4 hours on low until the sides are bubbling and the center is browning. Since crock pots vary, use the color as your guide, not the time.
For more details, keep reading. See the Recipe Card below for complete instructions and to print.
♨️When is the crock pot apple cobbler done?
The cooking time for this small recipe is about 2 hours on high or 4 hours on low in a 3-4 quart crock pot.
A double recipe in a 6-quart+ crock pot takes 2 ½ to 3 hours on high or 5 to 6 hours on low. Cooking 2 servings in a 2-quart mini crock pot should take under 2 hours, but mini crock pot temperature control is highly variable, so go by color and check early.
However, any crock pot can vary, so look for the center of the cobbler to be golden brown, and the edges should be bubbling.
🥣How to make apple cobbler without cake mix—Biscuit top instructions
While making apple cobbler with cake mix is super easy, some home cooks want a different topping. Replacing the cake mix and butter with a biscuit topping is simple.
Biscuit topping:
- ½ cup biscuit baking mix (like Bisquick®️)
- 2 tablespoons sugar or brown sugar
- 1½ tablespoons cold butter cubed
- Optional: add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon
Note: If you don't have a baking mix, make your homemade biscuit mix with ½ cup all-purpose flour, ¾ teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ½ tablespoon butter. This is ONLY to replace the biscuit mix; don't forget the added sugar and butter above.
🍎What apples should be used to make apple cobbler?
Firmer and tarter apples are the best choice here. If you are buying apples just for this recipe, some good choices are Granny Smith, Gala, Jonathon, Honey Crisp, Ida Red, and Cortland. Red Delicious and Mcintosh apples are probably the only common poor choices due to their texture when cooked.
You may want to adjust your sugar if your apples are very tart.
A medium apple will make about 1 cup when cored, peeled, and sliced. This smaller recipe needs about 3 cups and a double size of 6 cups. But a little more is fine, so I list the recipe as 3 to 4 medium apples.
👨🍳Options, Variations, and Tips
Topping
You need half a full-size cake mix for this smaller recipe or use the smaller Jiffy®️ brand mix. A full-size mix is about 15 oz. and will be 3 cups by volume.
Use spice, white, or yellow cake mix. But change it out to any flavor you want.
I like to add pecans or walnuts for some crunchy goodness. If you have whole nuts, put them on top for a display, or mix chopped nuts into the cake (or biscuit) topping.
See the section above for a biscuit top instead of the cake mix.
Apple, other fruit, or pie filling
I highly recommend using fresh apples with cinnamon sugar in this recipe, but a 20-oz. canned apple pie filling will also work.
Using brown sugar instead of white will add another flavor.
Fresh sliced peaches will also work to make a tasty crock pot peach cobbler.
You can also use other fruit pie fillings like blueberry, strawberry, cherry, peach, and many more. Mix and match them with your cake mix choices. I'm thinking of chocolate cherry dump cake.
↕️Making apple cobbler for two or a crowd
A full recipe makes about 8 cups of 4 large servings in a 3 to 4-quart small crock pot. You can also make a 2-serving recipe in a 2-quart mini crock pot or a family-size 8 servings in a 6-quart or larger crock pot.
- Use the recipe card and adjust the number of servings.
- Use the amount of ingredients in the ingredient list, not the instructions—those do not adjust.
- A double recipe will fit in a 6-quart or larger full-size crock pot.
- Cooking will be 1 to 2 hours longer for a double recipe but will decrease a little in mini crock pots.
🍎Apple recipes I love
For another apple crock pot dessert, see Crock Pot Apple Crisp. For other easy apple recipes, check out Apple Crumb Pie, Easy Apple Crisp, Easy Apple Cake, Apple Berry Crumble, and Apple Pie Bread.
❄️Storage of Leftovers
Room Temperature: According to USDA, fruit pie can be at room temperature for 1-2 days due to the high sugar content.
Refrigerate: Leftovers could be stored in an airtight container for 4 days. The topping will absorb fluid from the fruit and change the texture.
Freezer: You may freeze apple cobbler for 4 months safely, but like more extended refrigeration, there will be texture changes.
❓FAQs
A sprinkle of granular sugar with some cinnamon will create a sweet crunch. I have this included in the recipe.
Elaborate toppings are not needed. A biscuit topping is provided above if you wish.
Lemon juice will prevent the browning (oxidizing) of apples once peeled due to the acid in the lemon juice. But this recipe prep moves very quickly, and they don't have time to brown.
I have two excellent suggestions: whipping cream or a large scoop of vanilla ice cream.
❓What is the Difference Between Cobblers, Crumbles, and Crisps?
Cobblers are easy; they have a biscuit or cake top.
Crumbles and crisps are frequently used interchangeably. However, some feel that the differentiating factor is that crisps have oats in the topping, while crumbles do not—this seems less widely accepted.
📖 Recipe
Crock Pot Apple Cobbler
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Ingredients
- ½ box yellow or white cake mix - about 1 ½ cups
- ⅓ cup nuts - optional
- 4 tablespoons butter - ½ stick
- 4 teaspoons sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 20 ounces canned apple pie filling - or fresh apples below
Ingredients for filling or use canned pie filling—don't use both.
- 3 - 4 medium apples - about 3 cups or a bit more
- ½ cup sugar
- ⅜ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Mix ⅓ cup sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon. Reserve a heaping tablespoon for topping later. If not using a sugar topping, mix ¼ cup sugar with ⅜ teaspoon cinnamon. If not using fresh apples, mix 4 teaspoons sugar with ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon for the topping.
- If using fresh apples, peel and chop 3-4 medium apples of your choice. Measure out half of a standard-size yellow cake mix. It should be about 1 ½ cups.
- Give a 3-4 quart crock pot a good spray of PAM. If using fresh apples, add the apple slices to the crock pot and spread over the bottom. Sprinkle with the sugar/cinnamon mixture. Or add the pie filling.
- Cover with the dry cake mix and smooth the top.
- Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in the microwave for about 20 seconds.
- If using nuts, sprinkle ⅓ cup over the top. I used pecans. Sprinkle with the melted butter. Finish with topping with the reserved sugar/cinnamon mixture.
- Cook on high for about 2 hours or 4 hours on low until the sides are bubbling and the center is browning. Use the color as your guide, not the time, since crock pots vary.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips:
- Instructions for making a half recipe in a 2-quart mini crock pot or a double recipe in a full-size crock pot are in the recipe post.
- Skip the cake mix and use the sweet biscuit substitute in the recipe post.
- Some good choices for fresh apples are Granny Smith, Gala, Jonathon, Honey Crisp, Ida Red, and Cortland.
- You can change up the cake mix and pie filling. This is discussed in the post.
- The endpoint of cooking is probably the most important part of the recipe. The sides are bubbling, and the center is browning nicely. For a visual, see the discussion in the post.
- Preferred storage is airtight in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Your Own Private Notes
To adjust the recipe size:
You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.
Nutrition Estimate
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Inspired by a Betty Crocker Slow Cooker Apple Cobbler recipe with a few necessary adjustments for size, flexibility, and options for you.
Originally Published September 9, 2018. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Joe says
I was skeptical that this would work with just dry cake mix on top of apples, but it came out great. We used King Arthur gluten free yellow cake mix. Served on top of vanilla ice cream.
Becca says
Can this be made in a 2 quart slow cooker?thanks
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Becca,
Welcome to the blog.
I'm 95% sure it would. It fills a 3.5 qt about 1/3. A crockpot works well up to 2/3 to 3/4 full. So it will fit and should be fine that way. The only misgiving I have is the 1-2 quart crockpots tend to be cheaply made so temp control seems to be iffy—so watch it.
If you try it, please report back.
Dan
Becca says
Thank you dan.i will try and let you know how it turns out
Can't wait to try it.
Wilma says
Dan, I made this for Thanksgiving and WOW did it go over great. I made this one with can apples and yellow cake mix. Plan on making the next one with can cherries and white cake mix, leaving out the cinnamon and using less sugar. Thank you for an amazing recipe. I love simple and delicious.
Wilma
Jean Mayberry says
Should I place a towel or something under the lid and over the crock? I tried a similar dump cake a year or so ago and it was disgustingly soggy from all the condensation on the lid. This sounds good and so easy but I'm not sure about the wetness. Can I leave the lid off when cooking or would that not cook at all?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Jean,
Welcome to the blog.
This recipe is for a closed lid. You can not leave the lid open or it will affect to temperature in the crock pot. The only recipe I have that is for an open crock pot is a fudge recipe where we are using it just to melt things together and there can be no moisture or the fudge will be ruined.
If you feel better, a couple of paper towels across the top with the lid holding them down probably will be ok (not sure). But I will point out that the only "liquid" in this recipe is any moisture that comes from the apples and the butter if you want to count that. So it is not soggy.
Dan
Dan
Leslie says
Is there a way I could make this without using cake mix? Thank you Leslie
DrDan says
Hi Leslie,
Yes but it is 6-8 more ingredients. I looked at it and it is just too much work for the return to me. You know I'm a bit lazy any more.
If you want to try, go to allrecipes.com or food.com and search for one you like. They will probably be "full size" and will need to be cut in half.
Dan
Elisabeth Wasslen says
Hello Dr. Dan,
This is the first day of getting an email from you and since I am a passionate cook, now cooking mostly for only two, your blog is really interesting to me. Very often I am cooking for sixteen. While I am usually not a dessert eater, my husband is, so he will love this. He has been away but coming home tonight, so I am going to make it tomorrow. Like Charlene I will be cooking it in the oven.
DrDan says
Hi Elisabeth
Welcome to the blog. This is super easy and get him some ice cream to go with it.
Remember that the oven directions are a guess for now but probably very close. I would do it myself tonight but I'm out of apples. But keep an eye on it and please report back if you try it.
Thanks for the comment
Dan
Charlene says
This looks really good - one question I have is do you think I could make this in a regular oven? I don't have a suitable crock pot. I love the cake idea.
DrDan says
Hi Charlene,
I haven't done it but I have read a lot of recipes. I would say yes with a smaller baking pan like a 9 inch round or 9X6 oblong (my favorite ceramic one). The largest I would use would be 9X9. Oven temp 375. Probably about 30 minutes give or take a few minutes. See the picture above about cooking endpoint.
Let me know if you do it and how it worked.
Dan
Sandi says
I will probably cut the nuts into smaller pieces but this looks super yummy & can't wait to try it!
DrDan says
Hi Sandi,
Welcome to the blog.
It is delicious. I felt it really cried "add nuts to me". I went with the whole pecans since they look great in a photo. Plus they were also tasty. But a chopped nut of your choice would, of course, be fine.
Thanks for the note.
Dan