Description
Homemade apple coffee cake with crumb topping delivers comfort and warmth in one delightful dessert. Rich cinnamon notes and tender apple pieces invite home bakers to savor classic fall flavors you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 medium apples, peeled and diced
- 1 3/4 cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) sour cream
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup (60 g) all-purpose flour (for topping)
- 1/2 cup (100 g) brown sugar
- 1/4 cup (55 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (for topping)
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 350F (175C) and thoroughly coating a 9-inch baking pan with grease to prevent sticking.
- Sift together dry ingredients including flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium mixing bowl, creating a uniform dry mixture.
- Using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and airy, developing a fluffy texture that provides a rich base for the cake.
- Incorporate eggs one at a time into the butter mixture, then blend in sour cream and vanilla extract, ensuring a smooth and consistent wet mixture.
- Gently fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined to maintain a tender cake texture.
- Carefully fold diced apples into the batter, distributing them evenly throughout to ensure apple flavor in every bite.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan, using a spatula to spread it evenly and create a level surface.
- Prepare the crumb topping by combining flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a separate bowl, then drizzle melted butter and mix until small, crumbly clusters form.
- Generously sprinkle the crumb topping across the entire surface of the cake batter, creating a textured and flavorful crust.
- Place the cake in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean and dry.
- Remove from oven and allow the cake to cool completely in the pan, which helps set the structure and makes slicing easier.
Notes
- Choose ripe, firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best texture and balanced sweetness in the cake.
- Avoid overmixing the batter to prevent a tough, dense texture; mix just until ingredients are incorporated.
- Dust the diced apples with a little flour before folding into the batter to prevent them from sinking to the bottom during baking.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend and add xanthan gum for better binding.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 293 kcal
- Sugar: 21 g
- Sodium: 88 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 56 mg