Description

A moist and tender Apple Coffee Cake with a crunchy cinnamon streusel topping that blends sweet, spicy, and fruity flavors perfectly. Ideal for breakfast, brunch, or dessert, this comforting cake features fresh tart apples and warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, offering a cozy, delicious treat that’s easy to make and customizable to your taste.

Ingredients

Scale

Apples

2 cups fresh apples, peeled, cored, and diced (preferably Granny Smith)
1 teaspoon sugar (to toss with apples)
Pinch of ground cinnamon (to toss with apples)

Cake Batter

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend for gluten-free option)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup milk or buttermilk

Cinnamon Streusel Topping

3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces

Instructions

Prepare the Apples: Peel, core, and dice the apples into bite-sized pieces. Toss them lightly with a pinch of cinnamon and a teaspoon of sugar to enhance their natural flavor and prevent browning while you prepare the rest of the batter.
Mix the Streusel Topping: In a bowl, combine brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside to top the cake later.
Make the Cake Batter: In a mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then stir in vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Alternately add the dry ingredients and milk to the wet mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients, mixing just until combined to keep batter smooth and tender.
Assemble the Cake: Fold the diced apples gently into the batter. Pour the mixture into a greased baking pan, then evenly sprinkle the cinnamon streusel over the top. For extra texture, optionally layer some streusel halfway through the batter.
Bake Until Golden: Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 40-45 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean or with a few crumbs attached. Let cool slightly for 15-20 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

Use cold butter for the streusel topping to get a crumbly, crisp texture instead of melted butter.
Do not overmix the cake batter to avoid toughness; mix until just combined.
Choose tart, firm apples like Granny Smith for the best texture and flavor balance.
For added texture, sprinkle some streusel halfway through layering the batter in the pan.
Allow the cake to cool 15-20 minutes before cutting for cleaner slices.
This cake can be customized by adding chopped nuts to the streusel, swapping apples for pears or berries, reducing sugar, or adding spices like cardamom.
To make it vegan, substitute butter with vegan butter, use flax or chia eggs instead of eggs, and plant-based milk instead of dairy.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
Category: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice (1/10 of cake)
Calories: 320
Sugar: 25g
Sodium: 210mg
Fat: 15g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 40g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 3g
Cholesterol: 65mg

Keywords: apple coffee cake, cinnamon streusel, autumn dessert, moist coffee cake, gluten-free coffee cake, breakfast cake, fall dessert, spiced cake