Irresistible Apple Coffee Cake: Your Go-To Recipe for a Deliciously Simple Treat
Imagine a cool morning, a warm cup of coffee or tea, and a slice of tender, flavorful cake. This isn’t just any cake; it’s a moist, cinnamon-spiced apple crumb cake, bursting with apple pie filling and topped with a buttery streusel. Forget apples and coffee as separate entities – today, we’re bringing them together in spirit, with an amazing and super-easy apple coffee cake recipe that you can whip up in practically no time! Whether it’s a comforting breakfast, a delightful afternoon pick-me-up, or a satisfying dessert, this cake promises to be a staple in your baking repertoire.
The Perfect Apple Coffee Cake: A Delight for Any Occasion
This scrumptious apple coffee cake is more than just a baked good; it’s an experience. Perfect as a sweet, substantial breakfast cake that will keep you feeling satisfied, or as a comforting afternoon snack, its rich flavors are guaranteed to brighten your day. The warm notes of cinnamon perfectly complement the tender, cooked apples nestled within the cake, all crowned with a crunchy, sweet streusel topping. A warm piece of this apple crumble coffee cake, perhaps drizzled with a simple glaze, can truly transform even the darkest morning into a great start for your day.
For those new to the term, a “coffee cake” isn’t actually made with coffee! It’s traditionally a simple, one-layer cake, often topped with a delightful streusel or a light glaze, and is meant to be served alongside your morning coffee or tea. It’s designed to be a perfect companion to your hot beverage, enhancing the overall experience without overwhelming it. This particular version takes that classic concept and elevates it further by adding a luscious, homemade apple pie filling, making it even more irresistible. You might remember the delicious crumb coffee cake I shared a while ago, and this apple-infused version is equally simple and satisfying.
More Apple Desserts You Will Love
- Apple Danish in puff pastry
- Tiramisu cake with apple filling
- Apple pull apart bread
- Apple roses pastry
- Cinnamon apple brownies
- Apple cinnamon bundt cake
What is Streusel Topping? The Secret to Crumbly Perfection
The streusel topping is a beloved component in many baked goods, known for its sweet, crumbly texture that adds a delightful crunch to cakes, muffins, pies, and sweet breads. At its core, basic streusel is a simple mixture, typically consisting of just a few key ingredients: brown sugar, flour, and butter. These humble ingredients, when properly combined, create a magical topping that elevates any dessert.
However, the beauty of streusel lies in its versatility. Many bakers love to personalize their streusel by adding extra ingredients such as warm spices (like additional cinnamon or nutmeg), dried fruits, shredded coconut, chocolate flakes, or various nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds). These additions can introduce new layers of flavor and texture, making each streusel unique.
The true secret to achieving a perfect, crumbly streusel is to mix the ingredients until they are just combined. Overmixing is the enemy of good streusel, as it can cause the mixture to develop too much gluten and turn into a dough-like consistency rather than the desired loose crumbs. You want distinct, uneven crumbs that will become beautifully crisp when baked.
A crucial tip when preparing your apple coffee cake is to make the streusel topping before you prepare the cake batter. This ensures that the streusel is ready to go immediately. Leaving the cake batter to sit for too long can sometimes affect its leavening properties. More importantly, if the streusel is added to a batter that has been sitting too long or is too thin, the crumbs (and even the apple pieces) might sink rather than forming that beautiful, distinct layer on top. By having the streusel prepared, you can quickly assemble and bake, guaranteeing an evenly distributed, perfectly crunchy topping.
How to Make Irresistible Homemade Apple Pie Filling
While store-bought apple filling offers convenience, it simply cannot compare to the fresh, vibrant taste of a homemade version. Making your own apple pie filling from scratch is surprisingly simple and allows you to control the sweetness and spice levels to your preference, ensuring a truly exceptional apple coffee cake.
The process is straightforward: combine diced apples with brown sugar and cinnamon powder in a saucepan. Cook this mixture over low heat until the apples become wonderfully soft. During cooking, the apples will release their natural juices, creating a delicious syrup. Depending on how juicy your chosen apples are, you might need to add a splash of water to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking. Conversely, if you desire a bit more tanginess to balance the sweetness, a squeeze of lemon juice can work wonders, adding both a touch of tartness and a little extra moisture. Once the apples are soft, use a potato masher to gently mash them into a chunky puree. You don’t want it perfectly smooth; some texture is desirable. Continue to cook for a few more minutes until any excess liquid has evaporated, leaving you with a rich, flavorful, and perfectly thickened apple filling ready for your cake.
Choosing the Best Apples for Your Apple Coffee Cake
The type of apples you select can significantly impact the flavor and texture of your apple coffee cake. For those who appreciate a nice balance of sweet and tart, crisp, tart apples like Granny Smith are an excellent choice. Their firm texture holds up beautifully during baking, and their bright acidity cuts through the sweetness of the cake and streusel, creating a wonderfully balanced flavor profile.
However, if you prefer a sweeter cake, or simply want to use what you have on hand, sweeter varieties work just as well. For this particular recipe, I often use Gala apples, which contribute a lovely sweetness and still maintain a good texture. Other sweet options include Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Golden Delicious. You can chop these apples into smaller pieces and even spread some on top of the cake as a beautiful, edible décor before adding the streusel.
Beyond apples, this versatile recipe can accommodate other fruits that bake well. Consider replacing apples with diced pears, peaches, apricots, or even cherries for a delightful seasonal twist. The key is to choose fruits that can withstand the baking process without turning mushy, ensuring a pleasant texture in your finished cake.
Can You Make Apple Crumb Cake in Advance? Absolutely!
One of the many appealing aspects of this apple crumb cake is its excellent make-ahead potential. This cake stores exceptionally well, both in the refrigerator and the freezer, making it a perfect option for meal prepping, entertaining, or simply ensuring you always have a delicious treat on hand. Its stable structure means it holds its shape beautifully, so you don’t have to worry about it losing its appeal when transported to events or gatherings.
If you’re pressed for time but still want to serve a freshly baked cake, you can prepare several components the day or night before. The apple filling can be cooked and cooled, the crumb topping can be mixed and stored, and the glaze can be whisked together. This way, when you’re ready to bake, all you’ll need to do is quickly whip up the cake batter, assemble the layers, and pop it into the oven. This strategy drastically reduces active preparation time on baking day, allowing you to enjoy a warm, homemade cake with minimal effort.
How to Store Apple Crumb Coffee Cake for Maximum Freshness
- Refrigerator Storage: To keep your apple coffee cake fresh and moist, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. This helps to preserve its texture and flavor.
- Freezer Storage: For longer storage, slices of the cake can be individually wrapped in plastic film, then placed in freezer-safe zip bags or an airtight container. It will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy it, thaw the cake in the refrigerator overnight before serving. If you prefer it warm, simply reheat slices in the oven at a low temperature or briefly in the microwave.
This apple coffee cake is truly amazing and tastes wonderful whether you pair it with coffee or enjoy it on its own. We’d love to hear your favorite twists or serving suggestions for this delightful cake in the comments below!
The Essential Ingredients for Your Delicious Apple Crumb Cake
Creating a truly exceptional cinnamon apple crumb cake begins with selecting the right ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that perfect balance of flavor, moisture, and texture that makes this cake so special. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need:
- Apples: Whether you prefer sweet or tart varieties, your favorite apples will work wonderfully. Tart apples like Granny Smith offer a bright contrast, while sweeter ones such as Gala or Honeycrisp provide a mellow sweetness that enhances the overall dessert.
- Flour: While all-purpose flour is generally suitable, cake flour or a combination of all-purpose and a small amount of cornstarch (to simulate cake flour) can yield an even more tender and delicate crumb for your cake.
- Granulated Sugar: Essential for sweetness and structure in the cake batter.
- Butter: Unsalted butter is recommended as it gives you control over the overall saltiness of the cake. Ensure it’s softened to room temperature for the cake batter, allowing it to cream beautifully with the sugar for a light, airy texture. For the streusel, melted butter helps bind the crumbs.
- Eggs: Room temperature eggs are crucial for emulsifying properly with the butter and sugar, resulting in a smooth, well-combined batter and a finer crumb in the finished cake.
- Buttermilk: Cold from the fridge, buttermilk adds a lovely tang and helps activate the baking soda, contributing to the cake’s tenderness and moistness. If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make a substitute by adding a tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to regular milk and letting it sit for 5-10 minutes.
- Baking Powder & Baking Soda: These leavening agents work in harmony to give the cake its lift and light texture. Baking soda reacts with the acidic buttermilk, while baking powder provides additional leavening.
- Salt: A pinch of salt is vital for balancing the sweetness and enhancing all the other flavors in the cake.
- Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract adds a warm, aromatic depth of flavor that complements the apples and cinnamon beautifully.
- Cinnamon Powder: The star spice that ties all the flavors together, providing that quintessential comforting aroma and taste.
- Brown Sugar: Used in both the apple filling and the crumb topping, brown sugar adds a deep, caramel-like sweetness and moisture that granulated sugar alone cannot provide.
- Icing Sugar (Powdered Sugar) and Milk for the Glaze: This is entirely optional, but a simple drizzle of glaze adds an extra touch of sweetness and a beautiful finish to the cake. You can easily skip it if you prefer a less sweet option or simply want to let the crumb topping shine.
Do I Have to Peel the Apples for Apple Coffee Cake?
The question of whether to peel apples for baking is a common one, and for this apple coffee cake, the answer is largely a matter of personal preference. While some bakers prefer the smooth texture of peeled apples, it’s certainly not a strict requirement for this recipe.
If you choose to leave the peel on, rest assured that it will soften considerably when you cook the apples on the stovetop to create the filling. The heat breaks down the apple skins, making them tender and almost unnoticeable in the baked cake. Furthermore, the apple peel actually contributes additional fiber and nutrients to your cake, and it can also add a subtle extra layer of flavor and a rustic appearance. So, if you’re looking to save a bit of time and add a nutritional boost, feel free to skip the peeling step!
How to Make Apple Coffee Cake from Scratch: A Step-by-Step Guide
Creating this delightful apple coffee cake from scratch is a rewarding experience, and following these simple steps will ensure a perfect bake every time:
- **Prepare the Apple Filling:** Begin by dicing your chosen apples. Place them in a saucepan, then add brown sugar and cinnamon powder. Cook this mixture over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the apples become wonderfully soft and tender. If your apples aren’t very juicy, you might need to add a splash of water or a bit of lemon juice to prevent sticking and aid in cooking. Once soft, use a potato masher to create a chunky puree. Continue cooking briefly until any excess liquid has evaporated, yielding a rich, concentrated apple filling.
- **Make the Crumb Topping:** In a small bowl, combine melted butter, flour, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon. Use a fork to mix these ingredients together until distinct, soft crumbs form. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the streusel too dough-like. Set this aside; it will be ready to sprinkle over your cake.
- **Prepare the Cake Batter:** In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients for the cake: all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Ensure they are well combined.
- **Incorporate the Butter:** Add the softened unsalted butter to the dry ingredients. Using a hand mixer (or a pastry blender), beat the butter into the flour mixture until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. This ensures the butter is evenly distributed, creating a tender cake.
- **Add Wet Ingredients:** Pour in the room temperature eggs, vanilla extract, and cold buttermilk. Continue mixing with your hand mixer until the batter is smooth, light, and fluffy. Avoid overmixing once the wet ingredients are added, as this can lead to a tough cake.
- **Assemble the Cake Layers:** Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish generously with butter and set it aside. Pour approximately half of the prepared cake batter into the greased pan and spread it evenly across the bottom.
- **Add the First Flavor Layer:** Sprinkle a generous amount of cinnamon and brown sugar directly over the first layer of batter. This adds an extra burst of spice and sweetness.
- **Spread the Apple Filling:** Carefully spoon the homemade apple pie filling evenly over the cinnamon-sugar layer. Gently spread it out, leaving a small border around the edges if desired.
- **Top with Remaining Batter and Crumb:** Carefully spoon the remaining cake batter over the apple filling, gently spreading it to cover the apples as much as possible. Then, generously cover the entire top with your prepared crumb topping, ensuring an even layer of those delicious crumbs.
- **Bake to Golden Perfection:** Bake the cake in your preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 25-30 minutes, or until it is fully cooked. You can test for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake; it should come out clean, or with just a few moist crumbs attached (some crumb topping might stick, which is perfectly fine). Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before attempting to add the glaze.
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Apple Coffee Cake with Cinnamon Streusel
petro
Pin Recipe
Equipment
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mixing bowl
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spatula
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whisk
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hand mixer
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saucepan
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baking dish
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potato masher
Ingredients
For the cake
- 2 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 3 eggs room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
For the apple pie filling
- 3 apples diced
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- lemon juice or water – optional if the apples are not juicy
For the crumb topping
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
For the glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 – 3 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C).
Make the apple pie filling
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Put the diced apples in a saucepan, top with brown sugar and cinnamon, and cook on low heat until the apples are soft and tender. If your apples are not very juicy, add a bit of water or lemon juice to help them cook down and prevent sticking. Once soft, mash the apples into a chunky puree using a potato masher. Continue cooking until any excess juice has evaporated, leaving a thick, flavorful filling.
Make the crumbs
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In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon. Using a fork, mix these ingredients together until soft, distinct crumbs form. Set aside.
Make the cake
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Generously grease a 9×13 inch baking pan with butter or cooking spray and set it aside.
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In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until they are thoroughly combined.
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Using a hand mixer (or a pastry blender), beat the softened unsalted butter into the dry flour mixture until it is completely combined and resembles fine, sandy crumbs.
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Add in the room temperature eggs, vanilla extract, and buttermilk. Beat with the hand mixer until the mixture is fully combined, smooth, and fluffy. Be careful not to overmix.
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Pour half of the prepared cake batter into the greased baking pan and spread it evenly to form the base layer.
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Evenly sprinkle a layer of ground cinnamon and brown sugar over the batter.
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Spoon the apple pie filling over the cinnamon-sugar layer and spread it evenly across the cake.
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Gently pour and spread the remaining cake batter over the apple filling, ensuring it covers the fruit as much as possible.
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Generously cover the entire top of the cake with the prepared crumb topping, creating a beautiful and crunchy layer.
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Bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until the cake is fully cooked and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few crumbs. Let the cake cool completely on a wire rack before proceeding with the glaze.
Make the glaze (optional)
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In a medium bowl, combine the powdered sugar, two tablespoons of milk, and the vanilla extract.
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Whisk the ingredients together until fully combined and smooth, with no lumps. If the mixture appears too thick, add an additional tablespoon of milk, one teaspoon at a time, until the glaze reaches a thick but pourable consistency.
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Once the cake has completely cooled, use a fork or spoon to drizzle the icing artfully over the top. Serve and enjoy!
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