Things You'll Need

Instructions

1

Heat the oven to 350 F. Prepare the fresh fruit, if that's what you are using. Using fresh rather than canned fruit makes for a less sweet and healthier result. Peel, core and chop apples, pumpkin or pears, and remove stones from stoned fruit. Place the pieces in a saucepan with a little water, and cook the fruit slowly until softened. Allow it to cool a little and then sweeten to taste.
2

Grease the baking dish with a thin layer of butter. Pour in the prepared fruit, or open the canned fruit and pour it into the baking dish. Use a spoon to spread the fruit as evenly as possible over the bottom of the dish.
3

Pour the cake mix into a bowl and stir in the spices until they are evenly blended in. Sprinkle the cake mix over the fruit, trying to keep it as even as possible to allow even cooking. Sprinkle chopped nuts over the top, if desired. Dot the surface with small pieces of butter. This will help keep the cake moist. You do not need to use a specific amount of butter, but the more you use the richer the end result will be.
4

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until the top is well browned and the fruit is hot and bubbling. Use oven gloves to remove the dish from the oven, and allow the dessert to cool before eating.