Lightly grease the inside of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray or a thin layer of butter to help prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
Place the sliced apples into the bottom of the slow cooker in an even layer. If you like, gently toss them with a spoon so they’re spread out and not clumped together.
Pour the apple juice or apple cider evenly over the apples. This helps create that saucy, pudding-like texture as everything cooks down.
Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix evenly over the apples. Try to cover as much of the fruit as you can with the dry mix—no need to stir.
Slowly drizzle the melted butter over the top of the dry cake mix, trying to moisten as much of the surface as possible. It’s fine if there are a few dry spots; they’ll still bake up nicely.
Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on HIGH for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or on LOW for 4 to 5 hours, until the apples are very tender and the cake mixture on top is set and golden around the edges. The center will be soft and spoonable, more like a pudding or cobbler than a firm cake.
Once cooked, turn off the slow cooker and let the pudding sit, covered, for about 10 minutes to thicken slightly. Then spoon the warm apple pudding into bowls and serve as is or with your favorite toppings.
Variations & Tips
For cinnamon lovers: Before adding the apples to the slow cooker, toss them with 1–2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon and, if you like, a tablespoon of brown sugar for a deeper, caramel-like flavor. This makes the whole dessert taste more like a classic apple pie. For a lighter version: You can use a reduced-sugar yellow cake mix if you’re watching sweetness, and swap the melted butter for 1/3 cup of canola oil. The texture will be slightly different but still very comforting. For picky eaters: If your kids aren’t big on noticeable apple pieces, slice the apples very thin or even chop them into small cubes so they cook down more smoothly into the pudding. You can also peel them extra carefully so there are no chewy bits of skin. For extra texture: Sprinkle 1/2 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts over the dry cake mix before drizzling on the butter for a little crunch on top. For a caramel twist: Drizzle 1/4 cup of caramel sauce over the apples before adding the cake mix, then serve with an extra drizzle on top. For make-ahead prep: You can peel and slice the apples earlier in the day and toss them with a little lemon juice to prevent browning, then store them in the fridge. When you’re ready, just layer everything in the slow cooker and turn it on. This is also an easy recipe for kids to help with—they can sprinkle the cake mix and help drizzle the butter, which makes them excited to eat the finished dessert.
