As far as 3-ingredient recipes go, it’s hard to beat Instant Pot Dump Cake! When I first encountered this idea, I had already made delicious cheesecake and creme brûlée in my Instant Pot, so this felt like a natural next step along the path of pressure cooker dessert recipes.
And while I thought the cake was closer to a fruit crumble or fruit cobbler than a cake, it was absolutely delicious and easy to make! This recipe makes a terrific dessert option any day of the week!
What Is An Instant Pot Dump Cake?
Most Instant Pot “dump cake” recipes call for three basic ingredients: cake mix, pie filling, and butter. As it cooks, the butter and pie filling seep into the cake mix to create a dessert that’s cake-like in some places and streusel-esque in others.
The Instant Pot dump cake recipe I’m sharing in this post uses apple pie filling, but you could just as easily use cherry, peach, blueberry, or any other pie filling. I’ve included more delicious variations you can try further down this post.
How To Make Instant Pot Apple Dump Cake
Ingredients:
2 (20-ounce) cans of apple pie filling
1 (16.5-ounce) box yellow cake mix
4 Tbsp cold butter
Equipment:
- Instant Pot
- Heat-safe bowl or container
- Trivet
- Sling
- Water
Directions:
Put the pie filling in a heat-safe container that is suitable for pressure cooking. (I use a Pyrex bowl, but you could use a cake pan, steamer pan, or other Instant Pot-friendly dish.)
Sprinkle the cake mix over the pie filling in an even layer. Next, cut the butter into several pats and arrange them on top of the cake mix.
Pour about 1 cup of water into the bottom of your Instant Pot, then place the assembled dump cake on a sling and carefully lower it onto a trivet.
Seal the lid and use the Manual or Pressure Cook setting to cook the cake on high pressure for 25 minutes. When the timer goes off, use Quick Release to depressurize the pot.
Use the sling to carefully remove the cake from the pot, then serve your delicious Instant Pot dessert with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Instant Pot Dump Cake Variations
Give these delicious ideas a try, or use them as inspiration for your own unique creations:
More Ideas You'll Love
- Chocolate cake mix + cherry pie filling
- Lemon cake mix + blueberry pie filling
- White cake mix + strawberry pie filling
- Spice cake mix + peach pie filling
- Gingerbread mix + apple pie filling
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Make Instant Pot Cherry Dump Cake?
To make Instant Pot Cherry Dump Cake, you’ll need cake mix, cherry pie filling, and butter. Follow the instructions provided above to make a delicious cherry dump cake.
What Are Some Essential Accessories For Instant Pot Cooking?
Depending on what you want to cook in your Instant Pot, you may need a trivet, sling, rack, or special pans to achieve the results you want.
How Do I Know When My Instant Pot Dump Cake Is Done?
The main drawback of pressure cooking a cake is that you can’t really check on it while it’s cooking! An Instant Pot Dump Cake should take around 25 minutes. The cake is done when the top is set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Can I Use A Pressure Cooker Instead Of An Instant Pot To Make Desserts?
Yes, you can use a standard pressure cooker to make Instant Pot desserts. Electric pressure cookers give you more control, but a stovetop pressure cooker can certainly get the job done!
What Is The Difference Between Dump Cake And Cobbler?
A dump cake is a quick and easy dessert made by “dumping” ingredients into a dish and baking it. It can be similar to a cobbler, which is a style of dessert that typically has a biscuit or cake topping.
Conclusion
Cooking in just 25 minutes, this dump cake recipe is the perfect quick and easy dessert. Since it tastes great warm, you can have dessert on the table in no time!
Have you made any memorable desserts in your Instant Pot?
Instant Pot Apple Dump Cake Recipe
Equipment
- Pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 2 cans apple pie filling
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 4 tbsp butter cold
Instructions
- Pour the apple pie filling into a pressure cooker safe bowl or container.
- Sprinkle the cake mix over the top of the pie filling in an even layer.
- Cut the butter into several pats and arrange them on top of the cake mix.
- Pour 1 cup of water into the bottom of the inner pot.
- Place the assembled dump cake onto a sling and lower it onto a trivet in the pot.
- Secure the lid, press “Manual” or “Pressure Cook,” and set the timer for 25 minutes.
- After cooking, hit “Cancel” and use Quick Release to depressurize.
- Carefully lift the dish out of the pot and serve.
FANTASTIC for a hot summer – no oven needed, press start and walk away. Thanks so much Jillee :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Do you need to do all your recipes in the instapot because I do not have one and it is hard for me to follow reecipes when I don’t have this pot.I enjoy your recipes bu can’t follow with instapot and I don’t plan to buy one. I am 78 yrs. old and live on budget. Have to use the pots and pans I have.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Phyllis, many recipes that I have on my website do not require an instant pot. So many of my readers do have one, so I share instant pot recipes.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Made this today, cake did not cook throughout. Taste was good, but totally done.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can you do this recipe directly in the instapot bowl or do you need to use an extra bowl and sling? TIA!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You need to have the extra bowl and sling because you add water to the inner pot (instapot bowl). Without that water, the IP won’t come to pressure. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Girl Scouts have been making these at camp for decades, you don’t need an instant pot to make it. You can just put it in the oven… in a baking dish, cake pan, dutch oven, etc
Please log in or create a free account to comment.How can you tell if your bowl is “pressure cooker safe?”
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If your bowl is able to be heated in an oven or microwave, then it will be ok in the instant pot. Just don’t use plastic.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can I use fresh or frozen fruit in place of a can of pie filling? Trying to find ways to use up my frozen peaches :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.yes
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It’s the same thing as “dump cake,” which has been around for YEARS. If you don’t have an Instant Pot (I don’t), you can make it in the oven. All you need is a yellow or white cake mix, any canned fruit you want to use or pie filling, and 1 stick of butter. Bake it in a 9 x 13 pan. Dump in the fruit first (I like peaches), followed by the cake mix, then cut up the butter and place around the top. EASY and a new idea.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What temperature do you bake it, and for how long?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.350°F… 20 minutes? When it looks like it has a streusel topping it’s done.
That was supposed to say 50, not 20
We have made Dump cakes before- but not the instant pot version. The only difference in ours is we melt the butter and drizzle it on top. We usually make the Cherry version. We also add a can of crushed pineapple with the Cherry version.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love your recipes but I don’t have an instant pot, it would be great to have alternative cooking instructions.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Dump pie filling in a greased 9×13 pan, sprinkle cake mix over filling, slice a stick of butter over the cake mix. Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes until it’s golden brown and bubbly.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jillee…..
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!
I can’t wait o make this. In act I think I’ll make two kinds for my contribution to my families Thanksgiving Day.
I love raspberry pie filling or peach so I’ll use those.
How does cake mix compare with homemade cake? Is it sponge or madeira or something entirely different?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Where I live, cake mix is not a thing.
If no cake mix is available in your area, I would make a streusel topping. A streusel topping would be even better. Dump cake was a “thing” back in the 70’s for working Moms that needed something quick and easy. Most people had a box of cake mix in their cupboard.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.For streusel topping combine 1/2 cup of all purpose flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar (packed), 1/4 cup of quick or old fashioned oats, 1/8 tsp. salt, and 4 tablespoons of butter, firm not soft. Mix the dry ingredients together. Work in the butter until coarse crumbs form. Sprinkle this topping on top of your pie filling and bake at 350 F. or 176 C. until bubbly. I like to use a pastry blender to cut the butter into the dry ingredients.
Intrigued, where is cake mix not a thing?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.In answer to Maggie, Cake mix isn’t common in the UK/Ireland, or at least it wasn’t when I lived there. You *can* buy it, but it’s probably 4-5 times more expensive than it is in the States. Most people I knew consequently baked their cakes from scratch.
Here are a couple of links. And there are many links explaining how to mix your own boxed cake mix ingredients. https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_make_dump_cake_from_scratch/ (including metric measurements) and https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-make-dump-cake-recipe-fresher-tastier-easier-article
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Are there conventional oven directions for this recipe?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes, There are traditional dump cake recipes …without using an instant pot.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Dump pie filling in a greased 9×13 pan, sprinkle cake mix over filling, slice a stick of butter over the cake mix. Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes until it’s golden brown and bubbly.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Lise, thanks for providing this for the other readers! Just to add to your great directions… You can use any pie filling. I have used peach and cherry as well. :-)