Apple Spice Cake

Apple Spice Cake is more like a cobbler, than a cake. It is quick, and easy to prepare with canned apple pie filling, spices and a cake mix.  It's a recipe where you basically just dump the ingredients into a pan and bake it.  But the end result looks like it took you a lot longer to achieve this great tasting, flavorful dessert.

Ingredients

2 (21 oz.) can apple pie filling
1 1/2 to 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. ground allspice
1 Tbs. white sugar
1 (15.25 oz.) pkg. yellow cake mix or spice cake mix
1 and a half sticks cold butter
1 cup pecans, finely chopped (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350º. Lightly spray or butter a 9 x 13-inch cake pan.

Pour the apple pie filling into the prepared pan. 

In a small bowl, combine cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and sugar.  Mix well to combine. Sprinkle the spice mixture evenly over the top of the apple pie filling.

In a large bowl, add cake mix.  Cut the butter into the cake mix using a pastry cutter or two table knifes held in one hand. The mixture should look crumbly, and the butter will be the size of small peas.  *See Notes

Sprinkle the cake mix and butter over the top of the apple pie filling and spices.  Try to get the cake mixture spread evenly over the apples.  This will help prevent dry spots in the cake mixture.  

Scatter the pecan nuts over the top if desired.

Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until the cake is brown on top and bubbling on the sides.  Check the cake for dry spots after 30 minutes.  If you see any dry spots, put a half tablespoon of butter in those spots and continue baking until done. 

Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

Notes

If you are in a big hurry, you don't need to cut in the butter.  Just sprinkle the cake mix over the top of the apples, then dot the butter over the top of the cake mix.  Cut the butter in small squares and line them up on top of the cake mix like a checkerboard. Make sure the butter is covering most of the dry cake mix.  Another way is to melt the butter and pour this over the top of the cake mix.