Who else loves the smell of warm cinnamon and baked apples filling the kitchen?
Do you prefer your apple desserts warm with butter, or chilled with a scoop of vanilla ice cream?
What’s your favorite fall baking memory?
Ingredients
1 can (21 oz / ~595 g) apple pie filling — mashed slightly with a fork
1 box (15.25 oz / ~430 g) yellow cake mix
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup (120 g) self-rising flour
1 tablespoon (8 g) ground cinnamon
Optional Add-ins for extra flavor:
½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
½ teaspoon nutmeg
A few apple slices on top for decoration before baking
Directions (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Grease and lightly flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan (or two smaller pans).
You can also line it with parchment paper for easy removal later.
Step 2: Mash the Apples
Open your can of apple pie filling and pour it into a large bowl.
Use a fork or potato masher to mash the apples slightly — not completely smooth; you want small apple chunks to keep texture and juiciness in every bite.
Step 3: Mix the Batter
Add the yellow cake mix, self-rising flour, cinnamon, and beaten eggs to the bowl with the apples.
Stir everything together using a wooden spoon or spatula until just combined.
Don’t overmix — you want the bread to stay light and tender.
If you’re adding nuts, fold them in gently at this stage.
Step 4: Pour and Smooth
Pour the batter evenly into your prepared loaf pan.
Use a spatula to smooth the top, and if you like, sprinkle a little extra cinnamon or sugar on top for a sweet crust.
Step 5: Bake to Perfection
Bake in the preheated oven for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
If the top starts to brown too quickly, loosely cover it with aluminum foil during the last 10–15 minutes.
Step 6: Cool and Serve
Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Slice and enjoy it warm with butter, honey, or even a drizzle of caramel sauce.
Serving Ideas
For breakfast: Toast slices and spread with cream cheese or apple butter.
For dessert: Warm a slice and top it with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
For gifting: Wrap in parchment and ribbon for a cozy homemade treat!
Storage Tips
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Or refrigerate for up to 1 week — just warm it slightly before serving.
You can also freeze slices for up to 3 months; wrap each piece in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe bag.
Pro Tips
Using self-rising flour gives the bread a fluffy lift — don’t replace it with all-purpose flour unless you add 1½ tsp baking powder + ¼ tsp salt.
You can swap the yellow cake mix for spice cake mix if you want a deeper fall flavor.
The recipe works great as muffins too — bake for 20–25 minutes in muffin tins.
Enjoy