This apple crumble cake is a buttery, cinnamon-spiced cake loaded with fresh chopped apples and finished with a buttery crumble topping!
If you're looking for the ultimate cozy dessert or a sweet treat to pair with your afternoon coffee, this is it. My cousin took one bite and said, “This is one of the best cakes that I've ever had!” and I totally agree.
It’s tender, moist, and strikes the exact right balance between a rich cake and a crunchy streusel topping. Whether it's apple season or you're just craving a comforting, warm bake, this recipe never disappoints.
For more apple desserts, check out my apple crumble bars, puff pastry apple tart, apple fritters, and apple crumble muffins.
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Why this recipe works
- Cozy and Warm: The soft, buttery cake spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg is the ultimate comfort cake for a chilly day or a relaxed weekend morning.
- Irresistible Crumble Topping: A generous layer of cinnamon streusel bakes up golden and crunchy, adding a wonderful textural contrast to the soft cake.
- Simple Ingredients: Made with everyday kitchen staples that you likely already have in your pantry and fridge.
- Loaded with Apples: Every single bite is packed with juicy, freshly chopped apples.
- Easy One-Bowl Method: The batter comes together quickly and easily, with no complicated steps.
Ingredients
Before you start to make this apple cake recipe, measure and prepare your ingredients so the cooking process goes smoothly and easily. Full measurements are in the recipe card below.
For the Cake
Butter: Unsalted butter is essential. If using salted butter, omit the salt from the recipe.
Eggs: Large room-temperature eggs bind the batter and provide stability.
Vegetable Oil: Adds extra moisture to keep the crumb tender. Canola oil works great as well.
All-Purpose Flour: Provides the ideal structure. Cake flour works wonderfully as well.
Baking Powder: The leavening agent that allows the cake to rise. Make sure your baking powder is not expired.
Granulated Sugar: The most common sugar used in baking, providing sweetness and structure. Caster sugar works great too.
Brown Sugar: I used light brown sugar, but dark brown sugar will work great as well.
Cinnamon & Nutmeg: Warm spices that enhance the apple flavor. Feel free to use either freshly grated nutmeg or ground nutmeg.
Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt: Adds moisture, richness, and a tender crumb. Get your sour cream to room temperature. Any percentage of fat will work for this recipe.
Vanilla Extract: Essential for rounding out the rich flavor profile.
Buttermilk: Gives the cake extra moisture. If you don't have buttermilk on hand, simply mix a cup of milk with a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice and let it sit for at least 10 minutes.
Kosher Salt: You will need about ½ teaspoon of kosher salt to balance the sweetness.
Apples: Granny Smith apples are fantastic because they are a little less sweet and hold their shape well, but any favorite apple will work! Pink Lady apples are also wonderful for a sweeter cake.
For the Crumble Topping
All-Purpose Flour: Forms the base of the streusel. Cake flour works great as well.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the topping (brown sugar works great too).
Cinnamon: Adds a punch of warm flavor to the crumb.
Pinch of Salt: Enhances the buttery flavor.
Melted Butter: Melt unsalted butter in the microwave or on the stovetop. Melted butter adds rich moisture and creates those classic buttery clumps.
Instructions
Prep and Cream: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line an 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, add the room-temperature butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and kosher salt, and mix with an electric hand mixer until creamy.
Add Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs, Greek yogurt (or sour cream), and vegetable oil. Mix until well combined.
Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Add the flour and baking powder, and mix until almost combined.
Add Buttermilk: Pour in the buttermilk and mix until almost combined.
Fold in Apples: Add the chopped and peeled apples and mix gently with a spatula until just combined.
Pour into Pan: Pour the batter into your prepared baking pan and smooth it out evenly with a spatula.
Make the Crumble Topping: In a medium mixing bowl, add the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter. Mix with a spoon until the mixture is well combined into coarse crumbs.
Top and Bake: Top the cake batter with the cinnamon apple crumble topping, gently pressing the streusel down so it sticks and doesn't fall off while baking.
Bake in a preheated 180°C (350°F) oven for about 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Don’t overbake this cake!
Glaze and Serve: In a small mixing bowl, add the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Mix with a spoon until smooth and silky. Drizzle over the warm cake, slice, and enjoy next to a cup of coffee or hot tea!
Expert Tips
- Use Room-Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your eggs, butter, and sour cream are at room temperature. This ensures your ingredients emulsify into a smooth, homogeneous mixture that bakes perfectly.
- Use an Apple Peeler: To make prep quick, clean, and easy, use an apple peeler and corer.
- Measure Flour Correctly: Avoid scooping flour directly with your measuring cup. Instead, stir it with a spoon to create air pockets, spoon it into your measuring cup, and level it off with the back of a knife.
- Don't Overmix: Mix the batter just until combined to prevent developing excess gluten, which can make the cake dense rather than light and moist.
- Prep Your Pan: Butter your pan and sprinkle lightly with flour (or use parchment paper) to ensure the cake releases easily and bakes evenly.
- Be Patient: Allow the cake to cool to room temperature before slicing so it holds its structure and doesn't fall apart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, peeling the apples is recommended for the best texture. Leaving the skins on can introduce a tough or chewy bite that contrasts too sharply with the soft tender crumb of the cake.
This usually happens if the batter is poured too thinly or if the streusel pieces are too heavy. Gently pressing the crumble onto the batter helps secure it in place, and measuring your flour correctly ensures the batter is thick enough to support the topping.
While an electric mixer makes creaming the butter and sugars quick and effortless, you can mix it by hand using a sturdy whisk and a spatula, just ensure your butter is thoroughly softened so it incorporates smoothly.
Storing
This cake will last up to 3 days at room temperature or up to 5 days in the fridge. Cover it with plastic wrap or foil to prevent it from drying out.
Freezing
You can freeze the whole cake or individual slices for up to 3 months:
Freeze individual slices: Chill the cake, slice into portions, wrap each slice tightly in plastic wrap, and store them together in a freezer-safe bag or container. Thaw overnight in the fridge or at room temperature before serving.
Freeze the whole cake: Cool completely, then freeze uncovered for 1 hour to set the glaze. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, followed by aluminum foil, to prevent freezer burn. Thaw overnight in the fridge or at room temperature before serving.
Substitution
Dairy-Free: Replace the butter with vegan or plant-based butter. Swap the buttermilk for a plant-based milk mixed with a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar.
Gluten-Free: Swap the all-purpose flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour blend.
Variations
Spices: Add your favorite warm spices like cloves, pumpkin spice, or ginger.
Caramel: Add a caramel drizzle over the cake batter before sprinkling with the crumbly topping for a decadent twist.
Maple Syrup Glaze: Drizzle maple syrup glaze over the baked cake for a sweet, sticky finish that complements the tart apples.
Nuts: Toss chopped pecans or walnuts into the batter or crumble topping for extra crunch.
How to Scale This Recipe for Different Pans
To adjust your ingredients, multiply every single ingredient in the recipe by the percentage listed below for your chosen pan setup:
- 6-Inch Round Pan: Multiply the entire recipe by 60 percent (or 0.6). Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 35 to 40 minutes.
- 9-Inch Round Pan: Multiply the entire recipe by 125 percent (or 1.25). Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 50 to 55 minutes.
Serving Tips
- Whipped Cream: Add a dollop of whipped cream on a slice to create a light, creamy contrast to the fruity flavors.
- Apple Compote: Drizzle warm homemade apple compote over the top for an extra burst of fruit flavor.
- Vanilla Ice Cream: Serve a warm slice next to a large scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.
Equipment
- Mixing bowl set
- Whisk set
- 8-inch cake pan
- Rubber spatula
- Electric hand mixer
- Apple corer and slicer
More apple recipes
Apple crumble muffins- Moist cinnamon muffin batter filled with chopped apples and topped with a buttery crumble and sweet glaze.
Apple fritters- Made with fresh apples and a simple glaze, taking just 30 minutes with no yeast or rising time needed!
Apple upside down cake- Features an incredibly moist cake loaded with cinnamon and nutmeg, topped with a caramelized apple topping.
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📖 Recipe
The Best Apple Crumble Cake
Ingredients
- ½ cup Butter room temperature, unsalted
- ¾ cup Granulated sugar
- ¼ cup Brown sugar
- 2 ½ teaspoon Baking powder
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon Nutmeg
- 3 Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- ¼ cup Vegetable oil
- ⅔ cup Greek yogurt
- 2 ½ cups Flour AP, plain flour
- ½ cup Buttermilk
- 1 ½ cups Apples peeled and chopped
Streusel topping:
- 1 cup Flour
- ⅓ cup Brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- ½ Kosher salt
- 3.17 oz Butter melted
Simple glaze:
- 1 cup Powder sugar
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoon Milk
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Prep and Cream: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line an 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the room-temperature butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and kosher salt, and mix with an electric hand mixer until creamy.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs, Greek yogurt (or sour cream), and vegetable oil. Mix until well combined.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Add the flour and baking powder, and mix until almost combined.
- Add Buttermilk: Pour in the buttermilk and mix until almost combined.
- Fold in Apples: Add the chopped and peeled apples and mix gently with a spatula until just combined.
- Pour into Pan: Pour the batter into your prepared baking pan and smooth it out evenly with a spatula.
- Make the Crumble Topping: In a medium mixing bowl, add the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter. Mix with a spoon until the mixture is well combined into coarse crumbs.
- Top and Bake: Top the cake batter with the cinnamon apple crumble topping, gently pressing the streusel down so it sticks and doesn't fall off while baking.
- Bake in a preheated 180°C (350°F) oven for about 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Don’t overbake this cake!
- Glaze and Serve: In a small mixing bowl, add the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Mix with a spoon until smooth and silky. Drizzle over the warm cake, slice, and enjoy next to a cup of coffee or hot tea!
Notes
- Room-Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter, eggs, and sour cream or Greek yogurt are fully at room temperature so the batter emulsifies properly into a smooth, homogeneous mixture.
- Measure Flour Correctly: Fluff your flour with a spoon, scoop it into your measuring cup, and level it off with a knife to avoid packing too much flour and drying out the cake.
- Uniform Apple Chops: Peel and chop your apples into even, bite-sized pieces so they distribute evenly throughout the cake without weighing down the batter.
- Do Not Overmix: Once you add the dry ingredients and buttermilk, mix just until combined to prevent developing excess gluten, which can make the cake dense.
- Crumble Topping: Gently press the cinnamon streusel topping onto the cake batter before baking, so it adheres securely and stays crunchy.
- Storing: Store the cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nisha says
Such an easy recipe and so delicious! This is going to be one of our regular recipes we use going forward!! Thank you!
RichandDelish says
Thank you so much for taking the time to share a review! I'm happy you liked it!
Maria says
Parece muito deliciosa,deu água na boca 😋😋😋