An Apple Coffee Cake is the perfect blend of soft, spiced cake and buttery cinnamon streusel.
It’s a delicious choice for breakfast, brunch, or even dessert.
With tender apples baked into every bite, this cake captures the flavors of fall.
Here’s how to easily make this delicious cake at home!
How To Make Apple Coffee Cake: At A Glance
- Prepping the Apples
- Making the Cake Batter
- Assembling the Cake
- Baking
- Let the Cake cool, then enjoy!
Ingredients Breakdown
For the Coffee Cake
- Flour: 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- Sugar: ⅓ cup granulated sugar + ¼ cup brown sugar
- Cinnamon: 1 ½ teaspoons for warm, spiced flavor
- Butter: 6 tablespoons, softened
- Egg: 1 large
- Vanilla: 1 teaspoon
- Buttermilk: ¾ cup (or substitute with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar mixed with milk to make ¾ cup)
- Baking Powder and Baking Soda: 1 teaspoon baking powder + ½ teaspoon baking soda for leavening
- Salt: ½ teaspoon
- Apples: 1 ½ cups peeled and diced (Granny Smith for tartness or Honeycrisp for sweetness)
For the Streusel Topping
- Flour: ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- Brown Sugar: ½ cup for caramelized sweetness
- Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon
- Butter: 4 tablespoons, softened to create a crumbly texture
Optional Glaze (or Caramel Drizzle)
- Glaze: ¾ cup powdered sugar, 1–2 tablespoons milk, and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract for a simple glaze
- Caramel Drizzle: For a richer topping, use pre-made caramel or make your own using sugar, butter, and cream.
These quantities are optimized for a standard 8×8 or 9×9-inch pan size.
Adjust quantities accordingly if using a different pan size.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepping the Apples
- Peel, core, and dice 1 ½ cups of apples (Granny Smith for tartness or Honeycrisp for sweetness).
- Sauté the apples: In a skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add the diced apples, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the apples begin to soften but are still firm.
2. Making the Cake Batter
- Mix dry ingredients: In a bowl, combine 1 ¾ cups of flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, and 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon.
- Cream the butter and sugars: In a separate large bowl, beat 6 tablespoons of softened butter, ⅓ cup granulated sugar, and ¼ cup brown sugar until light and fluffy. This ensures a tender crumb.
- Add wet ingredients: Mix in 1 egg and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract until smooth. Slowly add the dry ingredients, alternating with ¾ cup buttermilk (or your buttermilk substitute), until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cake light and moist.
3. Assembling the Cake
- Layering: Pour a little more than half of the cake batter into a greased 8×8 or 9×9-inch pan. Smooth it out evenly with a spatula.
- Add the apple mixture: Evenly spread the sautéed apple mixture over the batter.
- Final layer: Pour the remaining cake batter over the apples and smooth it out.
- Streusel topping: Sprinkle the prepared streusel (made from flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter) evenly over the cake. Gently press the streusel into the batter to adhere.
4. Baking
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Bake the assembled cake for 35-45 minutes, depending on pan size. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with only a few moist crumbs.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for at least 10-15 minutes before serving.
Optional Variations
Cream Cheese Layer
For an extra layer of richness, you can add a cream cheese filling between the apple and batter layers.
Simply mix 8 ounces of softened cream cheese with 3 tablespoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract until smooth.
Spread this over the first layer of cake batter before adding the apples and the rest of the batter on top.
This gives the cake a creamy, tangy contrast to the sweetness of the apples and the crunch of the streusel.
Nutty Twist
To add extra crunch and flavor, mix ¼ cup of chopped pecans or walnuts into the streusel topping.
The nuts will provide a delightful texture contrast to the soft cake and crumbly streusel, making it even more indulgent.
Serving Suggestions
Apple Coffee Cake is best served warm to fully enjoy its tender, spiced crumb and buttery streusel.
Pair it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a classic touch, or drizzle it with caramel sauce for extra sweetness.
If you prefer something lighter, a dollop of freshly whipped cream works beautifully as well.
These additions elevate the cake, making it an irresistible dessert or brunch option.
Storage and Freezing Tips
Storage
To keep your Apple Coffee Cake fresh, store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
For longer storage, you can refrigerate it, where it will stay good for about 5 days.
Storing it this way helps retain the cake’s moisture without drying out.
Freezing
If you want to save some for later, wrap the cooled cake tightly in plastic wrap, then cover it with aluminum foil.
Place the wrapped cake in a freezer-safe bag, and it will last for up to 3 months.
When you’re ready to enjoy it again, allow the cake to thaw at room temperature before serving.
Conclusion
Give this Apple Coffee Cake a try and see how it becomes a hit at your table!
Whether you’re making it for a family gathering or simply treating yourself, this cake is a crowd-pleaser.
Don’t forget to share your experience in the comments—we’d love to hear how it turned out for you.
It also makes a great gift or dessert to bring to any occasion!
FAQs
How can I substitute buttermilk if I don’t have it?
If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can easily make a substitute.
Mix 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice with enough milk to make ¾ cup.
Let it sit for about 5 minutes before using.
This creates the same tangy effect as buttermilk and works perfectly in this recipe.
Can you use different types of apples?
Yes, you can use a variety of apples depending on your preference.
Granny Smith apples are commonly recommended for their tartness, which balances the sweetness of the cake.
However, if you prefer a sweeter apple, you can use Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala apples.
How do you prevent the streusel from sinking into the batter?
To prevent the streusel topping from sinking, make sure the batter is thick enough to support it.
You can also gently press the streusel into the top of the cake, rather than fully mixing it in, which helps it stay on the surface during baking.
