Transform your dessert routine with this incredibly easy Instant Pot dump cake recipe! Using just a few simple ingredients like cake mix and your favorite pie filling, you can whip up a warm, comforting treat that’s perfect for any occasion. Topped with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, this pressure cooker dessert is guaranteed to become a family favorite, much like our popular 3-ingredient dump cake.

Instant Pot Apple Dump Cake: A Simple & Sweet Treat

If you’re new to the world of dump cakes, prepare to be amazed by their simplicity and deliciousness. Our Apple Spice Dump Cake is a prime example of how easy it is to create a delightful dessert with minimal effort. The basic process involves combining a few ingredients, “dumping” in your chosen pie filling, pressure cooking, and then enjoying a warm, tender cake. We’ve also experimented with white cake mix and luscious blueberry pie filling, and the flavor combination was absolutely exquisite.

Over the years, we’ve fine-tuned this recipe to perfection. While apple remains a consistent favorite, we encourage you to explore other fruit fillings. For those craving an even richer, deeper cake experience, especially if you have a springform pan, our pudding cake recipes offer another fantastic option.

Why the Instant Pot is Perfect for Dump Cakes

The Instant Pot isn’t just for savory meals; it’s a game-changer for desserts too, especially dump cakes! Here’s why using your pressure cooker is an excellent choice for this recipe:

• Speed and Efficiency: Pressure cooking significantly reduces baking time compared to a conventional oven, making it ideal for a quick dessert fix.
• Moisture Retention: The sealed environment of the Instant Pot traps moisture, resulting in an incredibly moist and tender cake every time, preventing the dry edges often found in oven-baked versions.
• Hands-Off Cooking: Once you set the timer, you’re free to attend to other tasks without worrying about oven temperatures or constant monitoring.
• Even Cooking: The consistent heat and steam distribution within the Instant Pot ensure your cake cooks evenly throughout.
• Less Heat in the Kitchen: Perfect for warm weather, using the Instant Pot means your kitchen stays cooler compared to heating up a large oven.

Cooking Your Dump Cake in a Ninja Foodi or Crockpot Express

This dump cake recipe is incredibly versatile and works seamlessly across various pressure cooker brands. Whether you own an Instant Pot, a Crockpot Express, or a Ninja Foodi, you can follow the same simple steps. The primary difference when using a Ninja Foodi is simply remembering to use the pressure cooking lid, rather than the air fryer lid, for this particular recipe.

Essential Ingredients for Your Instant Pot Dump Cake

One of the beauties of this Instant Pot dump cake is its reliance on readily available ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to create this delightful dessert:

1. Pie Filling: This is the star of the show! While apple and cherry pie fillings are our top recommendations for their classic appeal and perfect moisture balance, feel free to get creative. Peach, blueberry, or even mixed berry fillings can also produce fantastic results.
2. Box of Cake Mix: A standard box of cake mix forms the base. Spice cake mix beautifully complements apple pie filling, creating a warm, autumnal flavor profile. Alternatively, a classic yellow cake mix provides a comforting, familiar taste. For those who enjoy baking from scratch, a homemade yellow cake mix works just as well.
3. Egg: A single room-temperature egg is crucial for binding the cake mix and pie filling, creating a cohesive and moist batter.

Beyond these core ingredients, you’ll need a few cups of water for the pressure cooker to generate the necessary steam. We highly recommend serving this warm cake with generous scoops of vanilla ice cream. As the ice cream slowly melts into the warm cake, it creates an irresistible symphony of flavors and textures.

Required Equipment for Perfect Pressure Cooking

To successfully execute this “pot-in-pot” (PIP) method, you’ll need a few key pieces of equipment:

• Pressure Cooker: Your trusty Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi, or Crockpot Express.
• Oven-Safe Dish (24-32 ounce): A ceramic or glass ramekin or bowl that fits comfortably inside your pressure cooker’s inner pot, on top of the trivet. The 24-ounce size is generally ideal, but up to 32 ounces can work.
• Trivet: Essential for elevating your cake dish above the water in the Instant Pot, allowing it to steam evenly without direct contact with the water.
• Aluminum Foil: Used to cover your cake dish, preventing condensation from dripping onto the cake and ensuring a perfectly moist texture. You can spray the inside of the foil with non-stick spray for extra assurance, or use non-stick aluminum foil if available. While not a deal-breaker, it helps prevent slight sticking.
• Non-Stick Cooking Spray: For easily releasing the cake from its dish.

Substitutions and Delicious Variations

The beauty of dump cakes lies in their adaptability. Here are some ideas for substitutions and variations:

• Egg vs. Butter: Unlike traditional dump cake recipes that often call for melted butter, the inherent moisture in fruit pie filling, especially apple, allows us to use a single egg as the primary binder. This results in a cake that is exceptionally moist and never dry. Don’t be alarmed if the cake appears slightly wet when it first emerges from the Instant Pot; it will continue to firm up and set as it cools, reaching perfect consistency.
• Cake Mix Flavors: While spice cake mix pairs wonderfully with apple, yellow cake mix offers a lighter, more classic flavor. When using yellow cake mix with apple pie filling, the consistency tends to be a bit looser, and it may require a slightly longer cooking or cooling time to set completely.
• Pie Filling Combinations: Don’t limit yourself to just apple! Our cherry pie filling dump cake uses the exact same method and is equally delightful. Consider peach, blueberry, or even mixed berry for different flavor profiles. You could also swirl in a bit of cream cheese for a cheesecake-like twist.
• Toppings: Beyond vanilla ice cream, consider whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel sauce, a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar, or chopped nuts for added texture.

Step-by-Step: How to Cook Instant Pot Dump Cake to Perfection

Making dump cake in your Instant Pot is a straightforward process. Follow these simple steps for a consistently delicious result:

1. Prepare the Batter: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine your chosen cake mix with one room-temperature egg. Mix thoroughly until just incorporated. Next, gently fold in your selected fruit pie filling until it’s well combined. Be careful not to overmix.
2. Add Water to the Instant Pot: Pour 1.5 cups of water into the inner pot of your Instant Pot. This water will create the steam necessary for pressure cooking your cake.
3. Place the Trivet: Insert the metal trivet (the rack that came with your Instant Pot) into the bottom of the inner pot, resting it above the water. This is crucial for the “pot-in-pot” method, preventing your cake dish from sitting directly in the water.
4. Prepare the Cake Dish: Lightly spray the inside of your oven-safe bowl (ramekin) with non-stick cooking spray to ensure easy release of the cake after cooking.
5. Transfer Batter: Carefully pour the dump cake batter into the prepared oven-safe dish.
6. Cover with Foil: Loosely cover the top of the cake dish with aluminum foil. This prevents any condensation that forms during pressure cooking from dripping onto your cake, which could make the top soggy. For extra precaution, you can spray the underside of the foil with non-stick spray.
7. Load into Instant Pot: Create a “sling” out of aluminum foil by folding a long strip multiple times to create a sturdy handle. Place the sling under your covered cake dish and use it to carefully lower the dish onto the trivet inside the Instant Pot.
8. Pressure Cook: Secure the lid on your Instant Pot, ensuring the sealing valve is in the “Sealing” position. Select the “Pressure Cook” or “Manual” setting, set the pressure to “High,” and adjust the cooking time to 28 minutes.
9. Natural Release: Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow for a natural pressure release (NPR). This means you do nothing and let the pressure release gradually on its own. Do not touch the steam release valve. This natural release typically takes 10-15 minutes and is vital for the cake to finish cooking and set properly without falling.
10. Rest and Serve: Once the pressure has fully released and the float valve has dropped, carefully open the lid. Use your foil sling (or oven mitts) to lift the cake dish out of the Instant Pot. Remove the foil cover and place the dish on a cooling rack. Let the cake stand and rest for 5-10 minutes to allow it to firm up and settle. Serve warm, topped with generous scoops of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream!

While the cake is plenty sweet on its own, ice cream or whipped cream truly elevates the experience. If you prefer to avoid processed ingredients, our Instant Pot Apple Crisp recipe, made with fresh fruit, offers a wonderful alternative.

Expert Cooking Tips for the Best Instant Pot Dump Cake

Achieving the perfect Instant Pot dump cake is simple with these helpful tips:

• Natural Release is Key: Always allow for a natural pressure release. This extended resting period within the Instant Pot ensures the cake continues to cook gently and prevents it from collapsing or becoming dense. A quick release can shock the cake, causing it to deflate.
• Allow Resting Time: After removing the cake from the Instant Pot, let it rest on a cooling rack for at least 5-10 minutes. This allows the cake to firm up and settle, resulting in a better texture.
• Grease Your Pan Well: Use non-stick cooking spray generously inside your oven-safe cake pan. This makes cleanup significantly easier and ensures your beautiful cake comes out in one piece.
• Don’t Overmix: When combining the cake mix, egg, and pie filling, mix just until the ingredients are incorporated. Overmixing can lead to a tougher cake texture.
• Room Temperature Egg: Using a room-temperature egg helps it integrate more smoothly into the batter, leading to a more uniform and tender cake.

Understanding the “Pot-in-Pot” (PIP) Method

The “pot-in-pot” (PIP) method is a fundamental technique for cooking many dishes, especially baked goods and delicate items, in your Instant Pot. It simply means that your food is cooked in a separate, oven-safe container (the “inner pot”) that is then placed on a trivet inside the Instant Pot’s main cooking pot. Water is added to the main pot, which then creates steam that cooks the food in the inner pot indirectly. This method prevents food from scorching, allows for more precise cooking, and is ideal for cakes, cheesecakes, and smaller portions. While it’s possible to cook some recipes directly in the Instant Pot’s inner pot, using PIP for dump cakes ensures a consistently moist result and prevents sticking issues that some users have experienced with direct cooking.

Any leftover dump cake should be allowed to cool completely to room temperature before being stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator. Enjoy it within 2-3 days for optimal freshness and taste. Once you’ve mastered this delightful dessert, be sure to explore our other Instant Pot dessert recipes!

• Our pressure cooker donuts offer another unique and fun dessert experience.
• Discover a wide variety of easy dump cake recipes, featuring all sorts of fruit filling ideas. Many of these recipes also include oven baking instructions for your convenience.