Vintage Apple Kuchen Recipe With Yellow Cake Mix

This deliciously easy apple kuchen recipe with yellow cake mix was tucked away in my Nana's recipe box, and it's absolute perfection! This comforting dessert relies on basic pantry staples, making it an incredibly simple fall treat to whip up. You'll love how quickly it comes together, especially since using a cake mix saves so much prep time!

🍂Meet Your New Favorite Fall Dessert

When the crisp fall air rolls in, there's nothing quite like the smell of warm, spiced apples baking in the oven! Fall baking is all about filling your home with those comforting aromas, and this easy apple kuchen recipe with yellow cake mix does exactly that. It's the ultimate cozy treat to enjoy with a hot cup of coffee or cider on a chilly autumn afternoon.

🍎Apple Kuchen With Yellow Cake Mix: The Ultimate Shortcut

While baking from scratch is wonderful (especially with apples), some days you just need a reliable shortcut! Grabbing a box mix is the perfect way to skip measuring out all those dry ingredients when you're short on time. It turns this apple kuchen recipe into a completely foolproof dessert you can throw together in a matter of minutes.

🥣Made With Simple Pantry Staple Ingredients

The best part about finding Nana's old recipe was realizing I already had everything I needed right in my kitchen. Besides the yellow cake mix and some fresh apples, you only need absolute basics like butter, cinnamon, and sugar. It's always a win when a delicious apple recipe doesn't require a special trip to the grocery store!

😍Just 7 Ingredients Needed For Apple Kuchen

• Butter: Softened butter is blended directly into the dry cake mix to create a rich, crumbly crust.
• Yellow Cake Mix: I highly recommend using Duncan Hines because it typically offers a few extra ounces in the box!
• Fresh Apples: Honeycrisp apples are perfect for this dessert, just be sure to peel and slice them thinly so they become beautifully tender in the oven.
• Sugar: A simple sprinkle of white sugar perfectly balances the natural tartness of the fresh fruit.
• Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon gives this comforting treat that classic, warm autumn flavor we all love.
• Reduced Fat Sour Cream: A high-quality brand like Daisy's or Breakstone's creates a wonderfully smooth and creamy base for the topping. Feel free to swap this with plain Greek yogurt.
• Egg Yolks: Blending rich egg yolks with the sour cream creates an absolutely decadent custard that bakes perfectly over the apples.

🔪How To Make Apple Kuchen With Yellow Cake Mix

Step 1: Combine yellow cake mix with softened butter; press into 13x9 baking pan; bake for 10 minutes.

Step 2: Arrange sliced apples over partially baked crust.

Step 3: Sprinkle apples with cinnamon and sugar.

Step 4: Make the custard, then drizzle over the sugared apples. Return the cake to the oven and bake until edges are slightly brown.

For step-by-step instructions, see the printable recipe card below.

Hint: It's important to lightly press the cake mixture into the pan. If it's packed down too much, the bottom layer won't bake properly and might come out dry.

🌿Healthy Ingredient Substitutions

• Plain Greek Yogurt: Swap the reduced-fat sour cream for plain, non-fat Greek yogurt. It keeps the custard topping perfectly creamy while adding a fantastic boost of protein!
• Coconut Sugar: Trade the standard white sugar for coconut sugar. It adds a wonderful, rich caramel flavor that perfectly complements the apples, and it's a great unrefined option.
• Sugar-Free Cake Mix: To easily cut down on the overall sugar content, simply swap your standard box for your favorite sugar-free or keto-friendly yellow cake mix!

📖Easy Apple Kuchen Recipe With Yellow Cake Mix Variations

• Spice Cake Swap: If you want to lean even further into those cozy autumn flavors, simply swap the yellow cake mix for a box of spice cake mix. It pairs beautifully with the fresh fruit and rich custard!
• Caramel Apple Twist: Take this dessert over the top by drizzling a generous amount of warm caramel sauce over the baked cake just before serving.
• Add A Nutty Crunch: Sprinkle a handful of finely chopped pecans or walnuts over the apples before pouring on the custard to give every single bite a fantastic, buttery crunch.

For a classic dessert, my Easy Apple Pie With Crumb Topping is another perfect way to put those fresh apples to good use!

Also check out our super easy collection of recipes using cake mix!

🍽Essential Equipment Needed

• 1 large mixing bowl
• pastry blender (optional, but helpful for mixing cake mix and butter together)
• 13 x 9 square pan, lightly greased or lined with parchment paper
• fruit/vegetable peeler
• paring knife
• cutting board
• powdered sugar shaker (optional, but handy for sprinkling on the sugar and cinnamon)

🍶Storing Your Apple Kuchen

Cover your apple kuchen with foil or store in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Enjoy leftovers right out of the fridge, or cover with aluminum foil and reheat at 325 degrees for 10 minutes or until heated through.

❓Apple Kuchen With Yellow Cake Mix Recipe FAQ

🍎More Apple Recipes

Looking for other tasty apple recipes like this? Try these:

🍰More Easy Desserts

Like easy shortcut baking recipes like this Apple Kuchen recipe with yellow cake mix? Check out the recipes below, or head over to our Easy Desserts page:

📋Recipe With Step-By-Step Instructions

Easy Apple Kuchen Recipe With Yellow Cake Mix

Kitchen Ready Betty

This comforting apple kuchen recipe relies on a simple yellow cake mix shortcut to save you valuable prep time in the kitchen. You will absolutely love how these basic pantry staples combine to create the ultimate warm and cozy fall dessert!

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Rest Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Course Desserts

Cuisine American, German

Servings 12

Calories 302 kcal

Equipment

• 13x9 nonstick metal pan (lined with parchment paper)
• vegetable peeler
• pairing knife
• cutting board
• mixing bowls
• pastry cutter
• whisk

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Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ½ cup (½ stick) butter softened
• 1 box yellow cake mix try to use a brand that has at least 15 oz in the box
• 3 cups apple slices; peeled and sliced thin Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Braeburn work best
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup reduced fat sour cream may substitute with plain Greek yogurt
• 2 egg yolks

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix with softened butter. Use a pastry blender to help combine the ingredients.
• Gently press the mixture into prepared pan, building up slight edges along the sides. Bake this portion for 10 minutes, then remove from oven.
• While the cake layer/crust is baking, prep the apples. Wash and peel the skins. Then use a paring knife to halve and core the apples. Slice apples into even-sized slices, aiming for ¼ inch thickness or less. Then place the sliced apples on top of the warm crust.
• In a small bowl, mix the sugar and cinnamon together. Then sprinkle over the apples.
• Make the custard by whisking the sour cream and egg yolks together. Drizzle over the apples. Then use a spoon to spread it further. (The custard will not cover all the apples in the pan.)
• Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until edges are light brown. DO NOT OVERBAKE. Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

It's important to lightly press the cake mixture into the pan. If it's packed down too much, the bottom layer won't bake properly and might come out dry.

Cover leftovers with foil or store in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days. Enjoy right out of the fridge, or cover with aluminum foil and reheat at 325 degrees for 10 minutes or until heated through.

 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 sliceCalories: 302kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 2gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 391mgPotassium: 98mgFiber: 1gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 319IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 124mgIron: 1mg

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