Apple Surprise Cake (+Video)
This Apple Surprise Cake recipe is made with an apple muffin mix with a surprise apple pie filling that is seen only when the cake is cut!
A DELICIOUS (AND SURPRISING!) APPLE CAKE
This easy Apple Surprise Cake will makes your house smell so amazing and inviting as it bake sin the oven. Oh my gracious, just wait till you start whipping up the batter, it smells SO good! If you’re digging through your pantry and trying to figure out an easy dessert to make, you probably have all these items sitting around and ready to use!
WAYS TO USE PANTRY ITEMS
I’m actually getting a little better at this and figuring out what are good items to always have on hand. With pantry items, you don’t have to worry about refrigeration or panicking over too-soon expiration dates. I keep a number of canned goods on hand like soups, pickles, spaghetti sauce and canned vegetables. And there are other staples like rice, pasta and dried beans. Of course, I gotta have my sweet stuff like jams, jellies, canned pie fillings, cake and muffin mixes. Now, let’s make this delicious cake!
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- Martha White Apple Cider or Apple Cinnamon Muffin Mix
- milk
- apple pie filling
- ground cinnamon
- powdered sugar
HOW TO MAKE APPLE SURPRISE CAKE:
Preheat oven to 350F. Spray bundt pan (really well) with nonstick cooking spray. I like the kind that has flour in it. It’s the best for bundt pans.Mix up one packet of muffin mix according to packet directions (adding 1/2 cup milk) and stir until combined well. Batter will be lumpy.
Pour batter into the bottom of the bundt pan. Keep out that mixing bowl, you’ll use it again in a minute.
Open can of apple pie filling. Take a sharp knife and make slicing motions to cut apples while still inside the can. You want them in about 1/2-inch size pieces. This helps the filling spread easier and also gives you more little bites of apple in the cake.
Spread the pie filling evenly on top of the first layer of batter.
Sprinkle with cinnamon.
Now, make the next packet of muffin mix according to package directions. Again, adding 1/2 cup milk and stirring until combine. Add this final layer of batter on top of the apple pie filling layer. Spread evenly.
Place baking pan in the center rack and bake for about 50-60 minutes. Check it at around the 35-40 minute mark. Cake should be firm to the touch and golden brown in color. Insert a toothpick and it should come out clean. Allow cake to cool completely. Then carefully invert it on a plate. If you like, you can make a glaze to drizzle on top or just dust it with a little powdered sugar or serve it as is. To make the glaze, just combine powdered sugar with a tablespoon or two of milk.
Whisk it together until smooth, then drizzle it over the top of the cake.
Cook’s Notes: This can be made in a 9×9 square baking dish if you don’t have or don’t want to use a bundt pan.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
Apple Surprise Cake (+Video)
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 2 packets Martha White Apple Cider Muffin Mix
- 1 cup milk
- 21 ounce can apple pie filling
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
For the icing:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 Tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Spray bundt pan (really well) with nonstick cooking spray (the kind that has the flour in it).
- Mix up one packet of muffin mix according to packet directions (adding 1/2 cup milk) and stir until combined well. Batter may be lumpy.
- Pour batter into the bottom of the bundt pan. Keep out that mixing bowl, you'll use it again in a minute.
- Open can of apple pie filling. Take a sharp knife and make slicing motions to cut apples while still inside the can. You want them in about 1/2-inch size pieces.
- Spread the pie filling evenly on top of the first layer of batter. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
- Now, make the second packet of muffin mix according to package directions. Again, adding 1/2 cup milk and stirring until combine.
- Pour this final layer of batter evenly on top of the apple pie filling layer.
- Place baking pan in the center rack and bake for about 50-60 minutes. Allow cake to cool completely.
- Once cake has cooled completely, whisk together powdered sugar with milk until smooth. Drizzle icing over cooled cake. Slice and serve.
Video
Notes
- This can also be made in a 9 x 9 square baking dish if you don’t have or don’t want to use a bundt pan.
- Can’t find the Apple Cider muffin mix? Just use the Apple Cinnamon instead.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Originally published: November 2014
Updated & republished: April 2020
I would love to make this recipe BUT I can’t find the brand.
Hi Diane, that’s okay. You can use any apple muffin packet mix. Most of the packet mixes are about the same amount of ounces.
II am confused, Do you add an additional 1/2 cup per pack in addition to the 1/2 cup to make the muffin mix making it at total of 2 cups? Thanks.. Can’t wait to try this.
Can this be done in an Instant Pot? If so, what would timing be?
I want to make these as muffins or in a mini cake pan. What should my cooking time be?
yeah! it was the best cake, so delish and easy 2 make!!!i would definitely recommend this recipe!!!!!!!!;)
I have a large bundt pan, can I double the recipe? I’m thinking cook time would be longer. Any suggestions?
You could double it. Just keep an eye on the time. It will obviously take longer. Make sure you spray your bundt pan really well with a flour non-stick spray like Baker’s Joy. It really makes a difference with bundt pan cakes. Also, make sure to let the cake cool completely before trying to remove it or it will fall apart on you. Hope that helps! 🙂
Hi, cinnamon is listed as optional. If I elect to use it, at what point to I incorporate it into the mix?
Hi Tabitha! You would sprinkle it over the apple pie filling after you’ve layered it over the batter. Hope that helps! 🙂
I’m a little confused by the video at the top. It wasn’t for this recipe, but also how do I find the recipe for that video? it looked good too, but there’s no link to that recipe
Hi Carol! Did you happen to catch the name of the recipe on that video?
I just made this and it's so
easy but so great!
Thank you so much..
I will make this many times I'm sure! My family will think I'm a chef!
((hugs))
Is there anything else that can be used beside the muffin mix? Not available in my area.
Any apple cinnamon muffin mix you can find will do! 🙂
Thank you so much everyone! Y'all are so sweet!! Two notes about the mix: you can order it online for relatively inexpensively and you can also request your local store carry it. I asked my local Kroger store manager if they could carry more flavors and within a month, they started carrying more! 🙂
Hi, I live in a small town and I can’t get these mixes, can I use cake mix?? I really hope so I want to make it.
Thank you.
Dee
Thanks for sharing! This was so easy and so good!
Thanks for this easy and yummy sounding recipe. Most of all tho: Thank you and your family for your service to our country.
Congrats on the new house!! This is a perfect house-warming dessert 🙂
I'm just so sad when I see a brand that's not in my area. 🙁 These look great.
Amazon sells the muffin mix.