Easy Stick of Butter Dessert with Cake Mix & Pie Filling

Looking for a dessert that’s as easy as it is irresistible? This Simple Stick of Butter Dessert is a vintage-inspired treat made with just three pantry staples—butter, cake mix, and pie filling. It’s the kind of no-fuss bake that delivers maximum comfort with minimal effort. 

Golden, buttery, and bubbling with sweet fruit, it’s perfect for potlucks, Sunday suppers, or anytime you need a quick and cozy dessert. One bite, and you’ll see why this old-fashioned favorite has stood the test of time. 

 

 

I often have a cake mix or two in the pantry as well as a few tins of pie filling. On this occasion I used a tin of apple pie filling and a spice cake mix. I have downsized the original recipe to make a much smaller dessert which is more befitting the size of my household.

Another name for this tasty dessert is a "Dump Cake."  Personally, I don't really like that name, but it is delicious no matter what you call it.

A bit of a cheat, yes, but this is the kind of recipe which everyone should have on hand. It is the perfect dessert solution for unexpected company, or for those times when you are wanting a dessert but don't really want to put forth a lot of time and energy.  Quick and easy to make and incredibly versatile, it is also very delicious.

You really can't go wrong!

 

INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO

MAKE

STICK OF BUTTER DESSERT

Only three simple ingredients. I almost always have the ingredients to throw together one of these tasty desserts in my cupboard. Today I did an apple and spice version.

• 1 tin of fruit pie filling (choose whichever you enjoy)
• 1 cup (100g) dry cake mix (again choose your own flavor)
• 1/2 cup (114g) cold butter

 

On this day I used a tin of apple pie filling.  The size of the tin was 540ml/18 1/4 ounces. This is enough to make one 8- or 9-inch pie.

I used a spice cake mix, approximately 1/2 of the box, which I measured out and weighed.

I used salted butter. I don't see the point of keeping both salted and unsalted butter in the house where there is only me. I can always cut back on the salt required in a recipe to make up the difference. Well, most of the time anyways.

 

HOW TO MAKE STICK OF BUTTER DESSERT

This really is very simple to make. Just make sure you spread the cake mix evenly over the fruit filling and try to cover it all with thin slices of the butter.

1. Preheat the oven to 350*F/180*C/gas mark 4. Butter a 9 by 5-inch baking dish really well. (I used my vintage pyrex baking dish.)
2. Open your tin of fruit pie filling. Spread it out in the baking dish. (Today I used apple pie filling.)
3. Measure out the cake mix and then sprinkle it evenly over the pie filling in the dish. (Today I used a spice cake mix.)
4. Slice the butter into thin pats and lay it out evenly over the cake mix, covering it all.
5. Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven for 45 minutes to an hour. It will be golden brown and set when done. (It will be crisper around the edges where the filling bubbled up.)
6. Allow to cool slightly and then serve warm with whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream on top.

 

SOME OTHER CAKE AND FILLING COMBINATIONS

FOR OTHER TASTY DESSERTS

• Blueberry pie filling and lemon cake mix
• Cherry pie filling and cherry chip cake mix
• Pumpkin pie filling and spice cake mix
• Cherry pie filling and devil's food cake mix
• Peach pie filling and yellow cake mix
• Cherry Cranberry pie filling and yellow cake mix

There really is no end to the variations and options available.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

CAN I DOUBLE THIS RECIPE?

Absolutely. If you are wanting to feed a crowd it is very easy to double this recipe. Just use 2 cans of pie filling, 1 box of cake mix and 1 cup of butter (228g).  Use a buttered 9 by 13-inch baking dish. 

HOW CAN I STORE ANY LEFTOVERS?

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

HOW LONG WILL THIS KEEP?

Due to the fresh nature of the pie filling, this will only keep about 3 days. Brint to room temperature prior to eating.

CAN I FREEZE THIS?

I never have so I cannot say for sure.  

I DON'T HAVE A CAKE MIX, WHAT CAN I USE IN ITS PLACE?

Here is a very simple formula to make your own plain cake mix. If you want a spice mix you will need to add some warm baking spices. (nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, etc.)

For this recipe you will need:

3/4 cups plain all-purpose flour (80g)

1/3 cup granulated sugar (67g, in the U.K, use caster)

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp soda

1/4 tsp salt

Whisk everything together and store in an airtight container until you are ready to use it. 

 

A FEW OTHER EASY & DELICIOUS DESSERTS 

FOR THE HOLIDAYS

BABY STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING CAKES - This is a personal favorite and something I baked often for dinner parties when I cooked at the Manor. One of the reasons I love it so much is that you can totally bake the buttery date cakes ahead of time, simply napping them with the sticky toffee sauce and reheating when it is time to serve. Of course, you will want to serve lashings of cream with these for the ultimate taste experience!  

SALTED CARAMEL PAVOLA - I think Pavlova's have to be one of the easiest desserts going! This one is no exception. Its incredibly lush and rich and delicious. With its crisp meringue base with that lovely marshmallow-like insides, topped with billowing whipped cream and topped with a mix of caramel and chocolate drizzles as well as caramelized almonds, this simple dessert elicits oohs and aahs every time I serve it! 

  

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Yield: 6 servings

Author: Marie Rayner

Stick of Butter Dessert

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 60 MinTotal time: 1 H & 10 M

A small batch recipe for a very simple and popular dessert. Three simple ingredients are all you need. You can vary the flavor depending on what you have in the house at any given time!

Ingredients

• 1 tin of fruit pie filling (choose whichever you enjoy)
• 1 cup (100g) dry cake mix (again choose your own flavor)
• 1/2 cup (114g) cold butter

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350*F/180*C/gas mark 4. Butter a 9 by 5-inch baking dish really well.
2. Open your tin of fruit pie filling. Spread it out in the baking dish.
3. Measure out the cake mix and then sprinkle it evenly over the pie filling in the dish.
4. Slice the butter into thin pats and lay it out evenly over the cake mix, covering it all.
5. Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven for 45 minutes to an hour. It will be golden brown and set when done.
6. Allow to cool slightly and then serve warm with whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream on top.

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