Moist and delicious, this Apple Crumb Coffee Cake recipe with sweet apples in the middle and a cinnamon streusel topping is to die for! Enjoy a slice for breakfast, brunch, snack, or dessert!
Why this Coffee Cake with Apples Recipe is Amazing: I elevated my grandma's classic New York sour cream coffee cake to new levels by layering it with spiced apples and finishing it with a buttery rich crumble for the best flavor combination.
Plus, I love anything streusel-topped like pie or Banana Streusel Muffins. My son calls this Dutch Apple Coffee Cake since the topping is like a dutch apple pie.
Small bits of crumb topping fell off when I released the springform pan. I quickly gobbled them up - no wasting when it's this good.
This was inspired by my love for fruity breakfast baked goods like my recipe for Easy Applesauce Muffins also on this site. Ok, now we bake!
Ingredients
The items for this recipe starts with classic ingredients for making a deep dish coffee cake. Plus items to make a crumb topping.
Fresh apples shine in this recipe. I am using a combination of home grown Granny Smith and Golden Delicious - which are my favorite baking varieties.
Here are the ingredients needed to make Apple Crumb Cake from Scratch:
- Golden Delicious/Granny Smith Apples - peeled, cored, & cut into small bite-seized pieces.
- Spices - nutmeg & cinnamon.
- Dry Ingredients - flour & baking powder.
- Wet Ingredients - room temperature salted butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, full-fat sour cream, & vanilla.
- Crumb Topping Ingredients - melted salted butter, sugar, brown, sugar, flour, & cinnamon.
See the recipe card for quantities & substitutions/variations.
How to Make Apple Crumb Coffee Cake
This is made without a boxed cake mix but no worries, it's simple. The old-fashioned batter is made from scratch and whips up in just minutes. Then layer with apples, top, & bake.
Here are the easy steps for making Coffee Cake with Apples:
- Mix Batter & Dice Apples
- Layer the Cake & Add Topping
- Bake, Cool, & Serve
See the step-by-step instructions with photos below plus the recipe card at the end of the post.
1 - Mix Batter & Dice Apples
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
In a large mixing bowl cream together the softened salted butter, and both sugars using an electric mixer. Next add the eggs & vanilla and mix until combined.
To the wet ingredients add the sour cream and mix for 1 minute.
Add in the flour and baking powder. Mix to combine.
In a separate bowl add the diced apple pieces & toss with nutmeg and cinnamon.
2 - Layer the Cake & Add Topping
Spray a 9" springform pan with non-stick spray.
Spoon half of the batter into the bottom of the springform pan. Spread into an even layer.
Top the batter with the apples in an even layer.
Add the other half of the cake batter over the apples. Spread evenly and get it to all the edges.
In a bowl add the crumb topping ingredients & mix together; melted butter, brown sugar, sugar, flour, & cinnamon.
Top the cake with the crumb topping. Spread evenly and get it to all the edges.
3 - Bake, Cool, & Serve
Bake in the 350°F oven for 80-90 minutes on the middle rack. The house will smell amazing while it bakes.
When ready it will be slightly golden on the top, apples softened, & a cake tester will come out clean.
Let the cake cool still in the springform pan for 30 minutes on a wire baking rack.
Finally, gently release the springform pan sides & let it continue to cool another 30 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
Once cool but still warm, slice wedges and plate. As soon as I cut into this and saw the chunks of fresh cooked apples swirled throughout the fluffy cake, I knew I had a hit.
This is a great brunch option in fall, winter, and holidays. I recommend baking this for Thanksgiving or Christmas breakfast. It is hearty and makes enough for a large family gathering.
What to Serve with Apple Crumb Coffee Cake : This is a filling breakfast on its own but if you wish to add some protein, serve with a few slices of Toaster Oven Bacon or Turkey Bacon Made in the Oven.
Top with a drizzle of caramel or fresh whipped cream to set this over the top for a fancy dessert.
Recipe Tips & Behind the Scenes
Here is my recipe for success - including what I learned when testing, funny stories or bloopers, and more.
- #1 Tip - make sure the apples are not too big - small similar-sized pieces ensure they cook evenly & become soft.
- A springform pan makes this a lovely deep dish coffee cake & makes it easy to release, serve, & slice thick tall pieces.
- Precut apples is a quick timesaving hack. I have not tried using apple pie filling as a substitute.
- Use Bob's Red Mill G-F 1:1 Baking Flour for a gluten-free version or try my recipe for Gluten-Free Apple Cobbler instead.
- Btw, this cake is big. Enough for a crowd; 12 large slices or up to 16 regular pieces. I had a hard time fitting it on my photography backdrops - See Below!
Apple Crumb Coffee Cake
Equipment
- 9" springform pan
- mixing bowls
- Electric Hand Mixer
Ingredients
Cake Batter
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup salted butter softened at room temperature
- 1 ¼ cup sugar
- 3 eggs room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- ½ cup sour cream
- 4 cups chopped apples peeled
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Crumb Topping
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup salted butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat to 350°F. Also spray the 9" springform pan with non-stick spray.
Make the Batter
- In a large mixing bowl add the softened butter and sugars. Using the hand mixer on medium speed, cream together for 4 minutes. It should be creamy & fluffy.½ cup salted butter, 1 ¼ cup sugar, ¼ cup brown sugar
- Next add the eggs & vanilla; mix for 1 minute.1 tablespoon vanilla, 3 eggs
- Add the sour cream & mix for 1 minute.½ cup sour cream
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula as needed.2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder
Prep the Apples & Topping
- Peel, core, & dice the apples into small bite-sized pieces. Making them the same size will ensure they all cook evenly.*DO NOT make the pieces too large or they will not soften or cook correctly as the cake bakes.4 cups chopped apples
- In a bowl add the apples and pieces. Toss to coat.1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- In a separate bowl add the topping ingredients. Use your hands to bring it together. It will be chunky with both small & big chunks of crumble.1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ½ cup sugar, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup salted butter, ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Layer & Bake
- To the springform pan add ½ of the cake batter. Spread it out in an even layer on the bottom.
- Top with the apple mixture. Add the remaining batter over the apples. Spread it to the edges & to cover the apples completely.
- Finally, top sprinkle on the crumb topping.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 80-90 minutes on the center rack in the middle of the oven.
- It will be ready when the top is slightly golden, the apples are tender, & a tester comes out clean from the cake.
Cool & Serve
- Let the cake cool in the springform pan for 30 minutes on a wire baking rack. Then remove the sides of the springform pan and let it cool another 30 minutes on the rack.
- Slice into wedges and plate to serve.
Notes
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Slices and the whole baked cake can be frozen for up to a month. Defrost for 2 days in the refrigerator before serving.
- Reheat slices in the microwave for 30 seconds.
- Use any baking apple variety such as Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Fuji, HoneyCrisp or Braeburn.
- Make sure the apples are cut into small pieces and uniform in size.
- Do NOT over bake or the cake will turn out dry and the topping with be hard instead of soft and pillowy.
- Top with fresh whipped cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce.
- Use Bob's gluen-free 1:1 baking mix for a gluten-free version.
Nutrition
More Apple Recipes
Here are some similar recipes for baked goods with fresh apples:
Esme Slabbert says
WOW, this does look superb, love it and the crumble on top, magic
Saw this awesome post at Eclectic Red Barn
My entries this week are 50+51
Please also share at SSPS https://esmesalon.com/tag/seniorsalonpitstop/