Apple Spice Cake Crockpot
So you’re craving something warm, spiced, and aggressively comforting but the idea of turning on the oven and babysitting a cake sounds like way too much commitment. Same. Enter: apple spice cake made in a crockpot. Yes, your slow cooker is about to do something other than chili or regret-filled experiments. This is the kind of dessert that makes your house smell like a fall-scented candle and makes people think you tried harder than you actually did. Win-win.
Why This Recipe Is Awesome
First of all, it’s a dump-and-go dessert. You mix, you dump, you walk away like a confident person who has their life together. The crockpot does all the heavy lifting while you scroll your phone or rewatch a comfort show for the 400th time.
Second, it’s almost impossible to mess up. Forget exact temperatures, water baths, or dramatic oven preheating rituals. The slow cooker is forgiving, patient, and non-judgmental unlike most baking recipes.
And finally? The flavor. We’re talking soft apples, warm spices, and cozy vibes in every bite. Serve it plain, drown it in icing, or top it with ice cream and call it “rustic.” No one will question you.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Nothing fancy here. If your pantry looks like it’s been ignored for weeks, you’re probably still fine.
- 2 cups apples (peeled and diced, or don’t peel them if you’re feeling rebellious)
- 1 box spice cake mix (yes, boxed this is a judgment-free zone)
- 3 large eggs (they hold everything together emotionally)
- ½ cup vegetable oil or melted butter (butter tastes better, IMO)
- ½ cup applesauce (unsweetened if possible, but we’re not the boss of you)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional, but highly encouraged)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon (because more cinnamon is always correct)
- ½ tsp nutmeg (go easy unless you love chaos)
- Optional toppings: powdered sugar, cream cheese frosting, caramel sauce, vanilla ice cream
Pro tip: If your apples are super sweet, you don’t need extra sugar. If they’re a little sad? Add a tablespoon or two of brown sugar and move on with your life.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Grease your crockpot.
Seriously. Do not skip this unless you enjoy chiseling cake out of appliances later. A little butter or nonstick spray goes a long way. - Add the apples to the bottom.
Spread them out evenly like you care. They’ll soften and turn jammy while cooking, which is honestly the best part. - Mix the batter.
In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, oil (or butter), applesauce, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir until just combined don’t overmix unless you want dense, sad cake. - Pour batter over the apples.
Don’t stir it once it’s in the crockpot. Trust the process. The apples know what they’re doing. - Cover and cook.
Cook on LOW for 3–4 hours or HIGH for 2–2½ hours. You’ll know it’s done when the center is set and a toothpick comes out mostly clean (a few moist crumbs are fine this isn’t a test). - Let it cool slightly.
Give it 15–20 minutes before digging in. This helps it firm up and saves your mouth from lava-level regret.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting to grease the crockpot.
Rookie mistake. You will regret it deeply when cleanup time comes. - Lifting the lid every 10 minutes.
Stop checking on it like an anxious parent. Each peek lets heat escape and slows cooking. - Overcooking “just to be sure.”
Crockpot cakes keep cooking even after you turn it off. Overdo it and you’ll end up with apple-flavored brick. - Using watery apples only.
If you use super juicy apples (looking at you, Red Delicious), balance them with firmer ones like Granny Smith.
Alternatives & Substitutions
No spice cake mix? Yellow cake mix + extra spices works just fine. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of cloves, and no one will know the difference.
Want to make it a little “healthier”? Swap the oil for Greek yogurt or use half oil, half applesauce. Is it suddenly a health food? Absolutely not but it helps you sleep at night.
No eggs? You can use flax eggs (1 tbsp ground flax + 2.5 tbsp water per egg). The texture will be slightly denser, but still delicious.
Feeling fancy? Toss in chopped walnuts or pecans. Feeling extra fancy? Add caramel chips and fully embrace chaos.
Final Thoughts
This apple spice cake is the kind of dessert that feels like a hug but requires minimal effort. It’s cozy, forgiving, and makes your house smell like you have your life together even if you absolutely don’t. Serve it warm, top it with something indulgent, and enjoy the quiet pride of pulling off a dessert with almost zero stress.
Now go impress someone or just yourself with your new crockpot magic. You’ve earned it.
