There’s something so comforting about the smell of apples and cinnamon filling your home on a chilly day. I’ve always loved making desserts in my slow cooker – especially when the kids have friends over and the oven is tied up with dinner. This apple cobbler has become my go-to dessert for busy weekends and casual get-togethers.
I started making this recipe a few years ago when I wanted something warm and cozy but didn’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. The best part? While it’s cooking, you can go about your day, run errands, or curl up with a good book. By the time everyone’s ready for dessert, your house smells amazing and you’ve barely lifted a finger.
If you’re looking for an easy dessert that tastes like it came straight from grandma’s kitchen, this crock pot apple cobbler is exactly what you need. Just toss everything in, set it, and forget it – until the wonderful aroma reminds you it’s almost ready to serve.
Why You’ll Love This Apple Cobbler
- Dump-and-go recipe – With just 4 main ingredients and minimal prep work, you simply layer everything in your slow cooker and let it do its magic.
- Perfect for busy days – While it takes a few hours to cook, your hands-on time is less than 10 minutes – just dump, sprinkle, and pour.
- Budget-friendly dessert – Using simple pantry staples like canned pie filling and boxed cake mix makes this an affordable treat that tastes like it’s made from scratch.
- Cozy comfort dessert – The smell of warm cinnamon and apples will fill your home as it cooks, making it perfect for fall days or any time you need a comforting sweet treat.
What Kind of Apples Should I Use?
While this recipe calls for canned apple pie filling, you can easily make your own filling using fresh apples if you prefer. Granny Smith apples are the classic choice for cobblers since their tartness balances the sweet cake mix, but Honeycrisp or Pink Lady apples work great too. If you’re making your own filling, you’ll want to choose apples that hold their shape when cooked – avoid softer varieties like Red Delicious or McIntosh, which can turn mushy in the slow cooker. For the best results, peel and slice your apples about 1/4 inch thick, and toss them with some lemon juice to prevent browning if you’re prepping them ahead of time.
Options for Substitutions
This easy cobbler recipe is pretty forgiving and allows for several substitutions:
- Apple pie filling: You can swap the canned apple pie filling with any other fruit pie filling like cherry, peach, or mixed berry. If using fresh apples, cook about 6 cups of sliced apples with 1 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons cornstarch until slightly softened.
- Cake mix: While white or yellow cake mix works best, you can try spice cake mix for extra fall flavor, or gluten-free cake mix if needed. French vanilla cake mix is another good option.
- Butter: Margarine can work in place of butter, though the flavor won’t be quite as rich. You can also use coconut oil for a dairy-free version.
- Ground cinnamon: Out of cinnamon? Try apple pie spice, or a mix of nutmeg and allspice. For cherry or berry filling, you might want to skip the cinnamon altogether.
- Vanilla ice cream: While vanilla ice cream is classic, feel free to serve with whipped cream, caramel sauce, or even a scoop of butter pecan ice cream.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking
The biggest mistake when making Crock Pot Apple Cobbler is lifting the lid too frequently during cooking, as each peek can add 15-20 minutes to your cooking time and disrupt the even heating process. Another common error is not greasing your slow cooker before adding ingredients – a quick spray of cooking oil prevents sticking and makes cleanup much easier. The distribution of cake mix is crucial – avoid dumping it all in one spot; instead, sprinkle it evenly over the apple filling and gently press it down with a spoon before adding the melted butter. For the best texture, make sure your butter is completely melted and warm when you drizzle it over the cake mix, as this helps create those perfect golden-brown crispy spots on top. If you notice any dry cake mix spots towards the end of cooking, simply drizzle a little more melted butter over those areas.
What to Serve With Apple Cobbler?
This warm and cozy crock pot apple cobbler practically begs for a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream on top – the contrast between hot and cold is just perfect! If you’re feeling fancy, you might want to drizzle some caramel sauce over everything, or add a dollop of fresh whipped cream instead of (or let’s be honest, in addition to) the ice cream. A cup of hot coffee or spiced chai tea makes an excellent beverage pairing, especially on chilly evenings. For a special breakfast treat, serve this cobbler warm with a splash of cold heavy cream and a side of crispy bacon – trust me, the sweet-and-salty combo is worth trying!
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: Once your apple cobbler has cooled down, pop it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 5 days. The flavors actually get even better after a day or two as everything melds together nicely. Just remember to cover it well to prevent it from drying out or absorbing other flavors from the fridge.
Freeze: This cobbler is perfect for freezing! Place portions in freezer-safe containers and they’ll stay good for up to 3 months. It’s such a time-saver to have some tucked away for those sudden dessert cravings or unexpected guests.
Warm Up: To enjoy your stored cobbler, warm individual portions in the microwave for about 30-45 seconds, or until heated through. For the best texture, you can also pop it in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes. Don’t forget to add a fresh scoop of vanilla ice cream before serving!
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 240-360 minutes |
| Total Time | 250-375 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 2200-2400
- Protein: 10-15 g
- Fat: 80-90 g
- Carbohydrates: 350-375 g
Ingredients
- 40 ounces apple pie filling (2 cans of 20 ounces each, or 1 can for a smaller crock below 4.5 quarts)
- 16-ounce package white or yellow cake mix
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons butter, melted
- Optional: cinnamon-sugar mixture
- Optional: vanilla ice cream
Step 1: Prepare the Apple Base
Empty both cans of apple pie filling into the crock of your slow cooker.
For extra flavor, you may want to sprinkle the apples with cinnamon sugar to taste.
Step 2: Add the Cake Mix Topping
Mix some cinnamon into the dry cake mix for added warmth and spice.
Carefully sprinkle this dry cake mix mixture evenly over the apples in the crock.
Step 3: Add Butter for Moisture
Spoon the melted butter on top of the cake mix layer.
Ensure that you do not mix the butter with the cake mix, as the moisture generated from cooking will help bake the cake mix evenly.
Step 4: Cook the Cobbler
Place the slow cooker’s lid on securely.
Set the slow cooker to cook on a high setting for 4 hours or on a low setting for 6 hours, depending on your timing preferences.
This slow cooking method will allow the flavors to meld and the cake to bake thoroughly.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
Once the cobbler is done, spoon it into individual serving dishes.
Top each serving with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delicious finishing touch.
Enjoy your warm and comforting apple cobbler!