Apple Earthquake Cake
A fall twist on the classic dessert!
Recipe of the Day
Discover a New Recipe Every Day. Give Back With Every Bite.
Every day, we feature a hand-picked recipe for you to discover, cook, and share. The best part?
Every recipe you read helps feed the hungry.

Apple desserts always set the tone for a cozy fall mood, and this Apple Earthquake Cake is no exception. It takes all the warm fall flavors we love like spiced apples, crunchy walnuts, and a creamy swirl of sweetness, and bakes them into one irresistible treat. The best part? This recipe is incredibly easy, starting with a box of cake mix and transforming into a showstopping dessert. It’s the kind of cake that looks impressive and smells incredible, all without requiring you to spend all day in the kitchen.


This cake is loaded with flavor and textures. You’ve got the crunch of walnuts along the bottom, the soft, tender crumb of the cake, and the pockets of creamy sweetness from the cream cheese mixture. It’s cozy enough for fall gatherings but delicious enough to make year-round whenever you’re craving something a little indulgent.


Another thing we love about this recipe is how approachable it is. Starting with a cake mix means the base comes together quickly, and from there, it’s just a matter of adding apples and stirring in a few pantry staples. The cream cheese swirl is easy to whip up, yet it transforms the cake into something that feels bakery-worthy. Serve it up with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and watch the compliments roll in. Happy baking!


Apple Earthquake Cake
Watch How It's Made
Video unavailable — your ad blocker may be preventing it from loading.
Ingredients
- 1 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
- 1 (15.25 oz) box yellow cake mix
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
- 3 eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 ½ cups peeled and diced apple
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Sprinkle walnuts across bottom of baking dish.
- In a large bowl, mix cake mix, water, oil, eggs, and cinnamon until smooth. Fold in diced apple and pour batter over the walnuts.
- Mix cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until smooth. Mix in powdered sugar until well combined.
- Scoop cream cheese mixture over cake batter and lightly swirl it into the batter.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow cake to cool for a minimum of 30 minutes before serving.
Recipe adapted from 12tomatoes.com