Perfectly Moist Apple Coffee Cake with irresistible Cinnamon Streusel
There’s something truly comforting and utterly delicious about a homemade coffee cake, especially when it’s brimming with the natural sweetness and tender texture of fresh apples. This Apple Coffee Cake recipe is more than just a treat; it’s an experience. Imagine a wonderfully moist and tender cake base, generously studded with diced apples that soften and sweeten during baking, all crowned with a glorious cinnamon and brown sugar streusel. It’s the kind of bake that makes your kitchen smell incredible and brings a smile to everyone’s face.
One of the best things about apple-based desserts is their timeless appeal. While apples undeniably shine brightest in the fall harvest season, their availability year-round means you can whip up delightful treats like this coffee cake any time the craving strikes. Whether it’s a chilly February morning or a warm September afternoon, an Apple Coffee Cake offers a taste of home and comfort that transcends seasons.
This particular Apple Coffee Cake recipe is designed to be versatile. It’s absolutely perfect for a leisurely weekend brunch, serving as a delightful centerpiece that pairs beautifully with coffee or tea. But don’t limit it to breakfast! With a generous drizzle of warm caramel sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it transforms into an exquisite dessert that will impress guests. And, of course, it’s always a welcome companion for a simple afternoon coffee break, offering a moment of sweet indulgence.
Understanding “Coffee Cake”: A Sweet Misconception
It’s a common confusion, and one that often pops up when I share a coffee cake recipe: “Where’s the coffee in the cake?” The name can indeed be misleading if you’re not familiar with its origins. In many parts of the world, particularly in the United States, a “coffee cake” doesn’t typically contain coffee as an ingredient. Instead, it refers to a sweet cake that is specifically intended to be served *with* coffee or tea.
The tradition dates back centuries, with European origins where sweet breads and cakes were often enjoyed alongside hot beverages. When these traditions came to America, the concept evolved, and “coffee cake” became a category for lighter, often fruit-filled or streusel-topped cakes designed for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon snack. It’s all about the pairing – the cake complements the rich, warm flavors of your favorite hot drink. Think of it as a delightful accompaniment, rather than a coffee-infused dessert.
Coffee cakes come in a wonderful array of flavors and textures, making them incredibly adaptable. If you’re a chocolate lover, you might enjoy a Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake, boasting pockets of melted chocolate within a tender crumb. During peach season, a Peaches and Cream Coffee Cake is an absolute revelation, highlighting the juicy sweetness of fresh peaches. The beauty of this category is its flexibility, allowing for endless variations with different fruits, nuts, spices, and toppings, ensuring there’s a coffee cake for every taste and occasion.
Essential Ingredients for Your Apple Coffee Cake
For the best results, always use high-quality ingredients. You’ll find the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card with exact measurements at the bottom of this post.
Creating an exceptional Apple Coffee Cake relies on a careful balance of pantry staples. Each ingredient plays a crucial role in achieving that perfect moist crumb and flavorful profile:
- Softened Unsalted Butter: I always recommend using unsalted butter in baking. This gives you complete control over the salt content in your recipe. Softened butter creams beautifully with sugar, incorporating air for a light texture.
- Light Brown Sugar: This provides a deeper, more caramel-like sweetness than white sugar, and its inherent moisture contributes to the cake’s tenderness.
- Large Eggs: Eggs act as a binder, provide structure, and add richness to the cake. Ensure they are at room temperature for better emulsification with the other ingredients.
- Vanilla Extract: A staple in almost any sweet baked good, vanilla enhances all the other flavors, adding a warm, aromatic depth.
- All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of our cake. Proper measurement is key; spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a straight edge to avoid a dense cake.
- Baking Powder & Baking Soda: These are our leavening agents. Baking powder provides lift, while baking soda reacts with the sour cream to create a tender, airy crumb.
- Salt: A small amount of salt is essential to balance the sweetness and bring out the full flavor of the other ingredients.
- Sour Cream: This secret ingredient is what makes the coffee cake incredibly moist and tender. Its acidity reacts with the baking soda, and its fat content adds richness without making the cake heavy. For best results, ensure it’s at room temperature.
- Apples: The star of the show! Peeled and chopped, they provide natural sweetness, moisture, and a lovely texture. (More on apple varieties below!)
- Ground Cinnamon: The quintessential spice for apples, cinnamon infuses both the cake and the streusel with its warm, fragrant notes.
And let’s not forget the streusel topping ingredients, which include more light brown sugar, all-purpose flour, and cinnamon, creating that irresistible crumbly texture and spicy-sweet finish.
Step-by-Step Guide to Baking Your Apple Coffee Cake
Making this Apple Coffee Cake is a straightforward and rewarding process. Follow these steps carefully for a perfect result:
- Prepare Your Pan and Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a 9-inch baking dish by greasing and lightly flouring it, or lining it with parchment paper for easy removal. This ensures your cake won’t stick.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer, cream together the softened unsalted butter and light brown sugar. Beat on medium speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and smooth – usually about 2-3 minutes. This step incorporates air into the batter, contributing to the cake’s tender crumb.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is well mixed.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk for about 30 seconds to ensure the leavening agents and spices are evenly distributed throughout the flour.
- Alternate Wet and Dry: With the mixer on low speed, slowly alternate adding the flour mixture and the sour cream to the wet ingredients, beginning and ending with the flour. Start by adding about a third of the flour mixture, mix until just combined, then add half of the sour cream, mix, then another third of flour, the remaining sour cream, and finally the last third of flour. Mix *just until* everything is incorporated and no streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to overmix the batter, as this can develop the gluten in the flour and result in a tough, dry cake.
- Fold in Apples: Gently fold the chopped apples into the batter using a spatula. Distribute them evenly throughout the mixture. Pour the batter into your prepared baking pan and spread it evenly.
- Prepare the Streusel Topping: In a clean bowl, combine the ingredients for the streusel topping: light brown sugar, all-purpose flour, and cinnamon. Use your fingertips or a fork to work in small pieces of cold butter (which is crucial for a crumbly streusel). Continue mixing until the mixture resembles coarse sand or small crumbs.
- Top and Bake: Evenly sprinkle the streusel topping over the cake batter in the pan. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 45-55 minutes. The cake is done when a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with only moist crumbs attached. The streusel should be golden brown and fragrant.
- Cool Before Serving: Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool for at least 10-15 minutes before slicing. This allows the cake to set and ensures it holds its shape when served.
Choosing the Best Apples for Baking
The choice of apples significantly impacts the texture and flavor of your coffee cake. While many apples are delicious for snacking, not all are ideal for baking. For this Apple Coffee Cake, I prefer to use a blend of apples to achieve a complex flavor and ensure the apples hold their shape without becoming overly mushy.
Given that the cake itself and the streusel topping are already sweet, it’s best to avoid apples that are excessively sweet, such as some varieties of Honeycrisp, as they can make the overall cake cloying. Instead, opt for varieties that offer a good balance of tartness and sweetness, and that are known to maintain their structure when baked.
My top recommendations for baking apples, and often my go-to choices, include:
- Granny Smith: These are classic baking apples for a reason. Their crisp texture and distinct tartness provide a perfect counterpoint to the sweet cake and streusel. They hold their shape beautifully.
- Pink Lady (Cripps Pink): Offering a delightful balance of sweet and tart with a firm flesh, Pink Ladies are excellent for baking. They retain a pleasant texture and vibrant flavor.
- Braeburn: Known for their sweet-tart flavor and crisp, juicy texture, Braeburn apples bake wonderfully, softening just enough while still providing a slight bite.
Other great options include Fuji (sweet and crisp), Honeycrisp (if you prefer a sweeter cake, but consider mixing with a tart apple), Gala (mild sweetness, good texture), or Jonagold (sweet with a hint of tart, holds shape well). Don’t be afraid to experiment with a combination of two or three different types to find your favorite flavor profile! Just ensure they are peeled and chopped into roughly equal-sized pieces for even cooking.
Storing Your Apple Coffee Cake for Freshness
To enjoy the deliciousness of your homemade Apple Coffee Cake for as long as possible, proper storage is key. Here’s how to keep it fresh:
Room Temperature: If you have leftovers, the best way to store this coffee cake for up to 3-4 days is at room temperature. Make sure it’s completely cooled before covering it tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. An airtight cake dome or container also works wonderfully. After about 4 days, the apples in the cake tend to release more moisture, and the cake can start to become soggy, losing its desirable texture.
Refrigeration: While it can be refrigerated, it’s generally not recommended for more than a day or two as the cold air can dry out the cake. If you must refrigerate, ensure it’s very tightly wrapped to prevent moisture loss and absorption of other refrigerator odors. Bring it back to room temperature or gently warm before serving for the best flavor and texture.
Freezing: For longer storage, this coffee cake freezes surprisingly well! Once the cake has cooled completely, you can freeze it whole or in individual slices. Wrap the cake tightly in several layers of plastic wrap, then an additional layer of aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. To thaw, simply unwrap and let it sit at room temperature for several hours, or overnight in the refrigerator. You can also warm individual slices gently in the microwave or a low oven.
Reheating: To revive a refrigerated or leftover slice, a quick zap in the microwave for 15-30 seconds can bring back some of its warmth and tenderness. Alternatively, you can warm slices in a preheated oven at 250°F (120°C) for about 5-10 minutes until heated through.
Delightful Ways to Serve Your Apple Coffee Cake
This Apple Coffee Cake is incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed in many ways, depending on the occasion. Its comforting flavors make it suitable for various times of the day:
For Breakfast or Brunch: A slice of this coffee cake, all by itself, is a perfect start to the day. Its rich flavors pair beautifully with a hot cup of coffee, a soothing mug of tea, or even a glass of milk. To elevate it into a more complete meal for brunch, consider serving it alongside:
- Fresh Fruit Skewers or a vibrant Berry Fruit Salad for a light, refreshing counterpoint.
- A side of crispy bacon or savory sausage for a balanced sweet and salty meal.
- A dollop of Greek yogurt or crème fraîche to add a creamy tang.
- A selection of other pastries or breads to create a bountiful brunch spread.
As a Decadent Dessert: Transform your coffee cake into an unforgettable dessert with a few simple additions. This is where it truly shines!
- Top a warm slice with a generous scoop of premium vanilla ice cream, allowing it to slowly melt into the cake.
- Drizzle it with a rich, homemade caramel sauce or a store-bought quality caramel topping for an extra layer of sweetness and indulgence.
- Add a sprinkle of chopped toasted pecans or walnuts for a delightful textural crunch.
- A dollop of freshly whipped cream can also provide a light and airy contrast to the dense cake.
An Anytime Afternoon Treat: Sometimes, simplicity is best. Enjoy a slice of Apple Coffee Cake as a simple, comforting afternoon snack. It’s the perfect pick-me-up during a busy day or a cozy companion for a quiet moment. No fancy adornments needed, just pure, apple-cinnamon goodness.
Explore More Delicious Apple Recipes
If you’ve fallen in love with the comforting flavors of apple in this coffee cake, you’ll be thrilled to discover a world of other incredible apple recipes. Here are some favorites that showcase the versatility and deliciousness of this beloved fruit:
- Apple Crisp Cheesecake
- Apple Blonde Brownies
- Caramel Apple Pie Bars
- Apple Cider Donuts
- Apple Smoothie
- Apple Turnovers
- Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Apple Coffee Cake
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Ingredients
Apple Coffee Cake
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 whole large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups peeled and chopped apples
Streusel Topping
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350° F. Prepare a 9-inch baking dish with grease and flour, or line with parchment paper. Set aside.
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In an electric mixer start by creaming butter and brown sugar together until smooth.
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Add eggs and vanilla and beat until fully incorporated.
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In a separate bowl whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until blended.
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Slowly alternate adding flour mixture with sour cream until everything is just incorporated. Do not over mix or cake can get tough.
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Fold in chopped apples and spread into prepared baking pan.
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Next mix together crumb topping using your fingers or a fork to blend mixture to be consistency of sand.
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Spread evenly over cake and bake for about 45 minutes until a tester comes out clean.
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Remove from oven and let it cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing to serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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