Lazy Apple Crisp

This week we've had our first real cold snap here in "The North."

My beloved electric blankets have been awaken from their restful summer slumber and are back in full working force. And as much as I love my dear little electric blankets, it always saddens me to bring them out of their "off season" because it means that summer is officially over.  *sigh*

Another thing that reawakens itself this time of year is my baking skills.  Or the lack there of.

I like to bake during Fall.  Or wait.  Maybe I should say it like this... I ONLY like to bake during Fall.

So last night since it was cold here, and my sweet little electric blankets were humming along to warm my chilly toes, I decided it was time to have my first Apple Crisp of the season.

Now when I was growing up my mom (hi mom!) made a VERY lazy dessert called Dump Cake.  It consisted of apple pie filling, yellow cake mix and butter.  And we loved it!

I've made Dump Cake many times over the years, but one Fall I started experimenting with how to turn Dump Cake into an Apple Crisp.  Because I like a crunchy, yummy topping on sweet things.  And as good as Dump Cake is, it just didn't have that crunchy, yummy topping I longed for.

I discovered that by adding just two more ingredients (thereby keeping it still "lazy"), Dump Cake turns into a delicious....

Lazy Apple Crisp
(makes an 8x8 pan)

1 can of apple pie filling (21oz can)
1 pkg of yellow cake mix
Old fashion oats
nuts (I used walnuts)
1 stick of butter

In an 8x8 pan (no need to spray it beforehand) spread the apple pie filling out in the bottom.
Sprinkle the yellow cake mix as is, over the top of the apples. You don't make the cake mix first, you just sprinkle the powder on top of the apples.  You will use about half of the package of cake mix.  (I found a small 9oz yellow cupcake mix at the dollar store, so I used that this time and used the whole package.)

On top of the cake mix sprinkle the oats (as much or as little as you like) all over.
On top of the oats sprinkle on the nuts.  I used finely diced walnuts I had on hand.
On top of the walnuts put pats of butter all over the top.  I did 4 rows of 4 all over the top and didn't use the whole stick of butter (just had a nub left!).
Bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes or until it's slightly browned and bubbly!

Serve with ice cream or whipped cream (or both!).

To make a 9x13 sized version, just use 2 cans of apple pie filling and the whole package of cake mix!

So easy, so lazy, so delicious, so YUM!

Oh, oh, oh!!!  I almost forgot!  I was about to throw my apple pie filling can into recycling when I realized, WAIT A MINUTE!  What would Traci Romine do with this cute little can???

And lookie what I did!  Lookie what I did!! I turned it into a cute little decoration for fall....

(it looks cuter in person, I promise)

And I'm in the process of painting my first jelly jar per Traci's FABULOUS "Decorating the Lazy Mom Way" post this Wednesday.  I'm gonna paint another one as soon as I have an empty jar to use and I'm going to group the three together on this cake stand and put on my dining room table for fall!

Eeek! Aren't I all "Traci" like and stuff?!?!

I truly thought it was a stroke of genius and am quite proud of myself for being so "decorative" and "crafty."

And "frugal" and "green."

And "awesome" and "gorgeous."

What?

I had to sneak those last two in when you weren't looking.

Enjoy your weekend!

Posted in: Dessert Recipes, recipes