Description
Delightful apple coffee cake with crumb topping showcases classic autumn flavors from American home baking traditions. Warm spices and buttery streusel create a comforting dessert you’ll savor with morning coffee or afternoon tea.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups peeled and diced apples
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 large eggs
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Leavening Agents:
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 350F (175C) and coating a 9-inch square baking pan with grease.
- Combine dry ingredients including flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium mixing bowl, whisking thoroughly to ensure even distribution.
- In a separate large bowl, blend butter and sugar until the mixture becomes airy and pale, then incorporate eggs individually, followed by vanilla extract, mixing until smooth.
- Gradually integrate the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, alternating with sour cream to maintain a consistent texture. Gently fold in diced apples, distributing them evenly throughout the batter.
- Transfer the cake batter into the prepared pan, using a spatula to spread it uniformly across the surface.
- Create the crumb topping by mixing flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon. Drizzle melted butter over the dry ingredients and stir until the mixture forms small, irregular clusters.
- Sprinkle the crumb topping generously and evenly across the cake batter’s surface.
- Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean when the cake is fully cooked.
- Remove from oven and allow the cake to cool completely on a wire rack before slicing. The cake can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Choose firm, tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best balance of sweetness and texture in this coffee cake.
- Let butter and eggs come to room temperature before mixing to ensure smoother, more even batter and better cake rise.
- Avoid overmixing the batter to prevent a tough, dense cake; stop mixing once ingredients are just combined.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend and ensure all other ingredients are gluten-free certified.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 264 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 93 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 53 mg