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Home » Course » Dessert » Easy Apple Crumb Cake Recipe

Published: Jul 31, 2021 · Modified: Aug 10, 2022 by Veronika's Kitchen * This post may contain affiliate links

Easy Apple Crumb Cake Recipe

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Make this amazing Apple Crumb Cake! Loaded with apples and cinnamon crumbs, this moist and fluffy coffee cake will be a great easy recipe for breakfast or dessert!

Two slices of apple crumb cake on top of each other.

What can be better than a warm and fluffy coffee cake? Loaded with your favorite apples and aromatic crispy cinnamon streusel, this delicious Apple Crumb Cake is drizzled with vanilla glaze and will be a recipe that you’ll keep coming back to time and time again.

Similar to my Vanilla Strawberry Cake, Apple Coffee Cake, and Peach and Blueberry Coffee Cake, the base of this recipe is made with sour cream. This ingredient is the key to a soft and fluffy cake that stays moist for days (although, I doubt that this cake will last so long!).

A slice of apple crumb cake on a plate with a fork and mint leaves.

Ingredients and Substitution

  • Unsalted Butter. Make sure that the butter is room temperature, so it can easily be blended with other ingredients.
  • Sour Cream. I would highly suggest to use real sour cream in this recipe, which will make the cake perfectly moist and flavorful. If you substitute it with some low fat Greek yogurt, you won’t get the same texture in the cake and it might come out a bit dry.
  • Apples. Granny Smith are my to-go apples for baking. Although, you can easily substitute them with any other variety.

Why you will love this recipe

  • Easy to make. The recipe is very simple and can be easily assembled even if you are a beginner baker.
  • Use your favorite apples. While I prefer to use Granny Smith, any apple variety will work well in this recipe.
  • Loaded with your favorite Crumbs! It is all about the crumbs, right?! So, I made sure that this dessert is well covered with an aromatic cinnamon streusel!
Two slices of apple crumb cake on top of each other.

How to make it

Preheat the oven to 350°F, grease an 8×8-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper. Then set aside.

To make the crumb topping: In a mixing bowl, add together 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour, ⅓ cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp granulated sugar, 1 tbsp cinnamon, and ¼ tsp salt. Stir everything together and add ½ cup melted butter. Stir again until you have the crumbs.

Process photos of mixing ingredients for steusel crumbs.

To make the cake: In a mixing bowl stir together 1 cup all-purpose flour, ½ tsp baking soda, ½ tsp baking powder, and ¼ tsp salt. Then set aside.

Process photos of mixing dry ingredients for the cake.

In a separate large bowl, add ½ cup room temperature butter and ⅔ cup granulated sugar. Using a hand mixer or a spatula, cream it for a couple of minutes, until light and fluffy.

Process photos of mixing butter and sugar.

Add 2 eggs and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Mix again.

Process photos of adding eggs and vanilla extract to the batter.

Add ⅔ cup sour cream and 1 tbsp milk, mix until well incorporated.

Process photos of adding sour cream and milk to the batter.

Add dry ingredients, and using a spatula, fold it in until combined but don’t overmix.

Process photos of mixing the batter with dry ingredients.

In a separate mixing bowl, add peeled, cored, and diced apples, 1 tbsp granulated sugar, and 1 tsp cinnamon and mix well.

Process photos of mixing diced apples with sugar and cinnamon.

Transfer the batter into a pre-greased baking pan and spread it evenly.

Add the mixed apples evenly on top of the cake batter.

Top with the crumb topping.

Process photos of layering the cake pan with batter, apples, and crumbs.

Bake at 350°F for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

When done, take it out of the oven and let it cool off for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Drizzle with vanilla glaze before serving.

Apple Crumbs cake cut in square slices on a parchment papper.

Tips for best Apple Crumb Cake

  • Apples. I think that Granny Smith apples work best in the recipe. Because they are tart, they balance well with the sweetness of the dessert. Although, you can use any other variety you have on hand.
  • Baking Time. Because of the heavy topping, this cake takes a bit longer to bake than other similar cakes. To make sure it’s done, insert a toothpick in the middle of the cake and make sure it comes out clean.
  • Mixing. Don’t mix the apples into the batter, just layer them on top. If you mix it in, the apples will release too much juice and the cake will come out soggy.
A slice of apple crumb cake on a plate with a fork and mint leaves.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How long does it keep?

You can keep this Apple Crumb Cake covered in the refrigerator for 3 days or freeze it for up to 3 months. If you decide to freeze it, make sure it’s not drizzled with glaze.

What apples should I use?

Pretty much any apples you have on hand will work in this recipe. My personal favorite variety are tart Granny Smith apples, as they are great to balance the sweetness of any dessert. You also can use Honey Crisp, Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady, or any other variety.

Can I substitute sour cream with yogurt?

Sour cream is a star ingredient in this recipe that helps to make the cake perfectly moist and fluffy. Substituting it with lower fat alternatives may result is dry and flat cake. So, I would highly suggest to use sour cream in this recipe.

Why does my batter separate?

If you see some separation in the batter, most likely not all of the ingredients were the room temperature. This is not a big problem; the dessert still will come out well!

Two slices of apple crumb cake on top of each other.

More Dessert Ideas:

  • Buttermilk Blueberry Muffins
  • No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake
  • Chocolate Chip Blondies
  • Chocolate Cake from Scratch
  • Cheesecake Brownies Recipe
  • Easy Tiramisu Recipe
  • Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
  • Healthy Morning Glory Muffins
  • Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp
  • Classic Apple Pie Recipe
  • Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake
  • Apple Pie with Puff Pastry
  • Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls
Two slices of apple crumb cake on top of each other.
Print Recipe
5 from 10 votes

Apple Crumb Cake

Make this amazing Apple Crumb Cake! Loaded with apples and cinnamon crumbs, this moist and fluffy coffee cake will be a great recipe for breakfast or dessert!
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time1 hr
Total Time1 hr 20 mins
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 9 people
Calories: 526kcal
Author: Veronika’s Kitchen

Ingredients

Ingredients for Cake:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • ⅔ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ⅔ cup sour cream room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon milk room temperature
  • 2 apples peeled, core, and diced
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Ingredients for Topping:

  • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter melted

Ingredients for Vanilla Glaze:

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoons milk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F, grease an 8×8-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper. Then set aside.
  • To make the crumb topping: In a mixing bowl, add together 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour, ⅓ cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp granulated sugar, 1 tbsp cinnamon, and ¼ tsp salt. Stir everything together and add ½ cup melted butter. Stir again until you have the crumbs.
  • To make the cake: In a mixing bowl stir together 1 cup all-purpose flour, ½ tsp baking soda, ½ tsp baking powder, and ¼ tsp salt. Then set aside.
  • In a separate large bowl, add ½ cup room temperature butter and ⅔ cup granulated sugar. Using a hand mixer or a spatula, cream it for a couple of minutes, until light and fluffy.
  • Add 2 eggs and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Mix again.
  • Add ⅔ cup sour cream and 1 tbsp milk, mix until well incorporated.
  • Add dry ingredients, and using a spatula, fold it in until combined but don’t overmix.
  • In a separate mixing bowl, add peeled, cored, and diced apples, 1 tbsp granulated sugar, and 1 tsp cinnamon and mix well.
  • Transfer the batter into a pre-greased baking pan and spread it evenly.
  • Add the mixed apples evenly on top of the cake batter.
  • Top with the crumb topping.
  • Bake at 350°F for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • When done, take it out of the oven and let it cool off for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Drizzle with vanilla glaze before serving.

Notes

Apples. I think that Granny Smith apples work best in the recipe. Because they are tart, they balance well with the sweetness of the cake. Although, you can use any other variety you have on hand.
Baking Time. Because of the heavy topping, this cake takes a bit longer to bake than other similar cakes. To make sure it’s done, insert a toothpick in the middle of the cake and make sure it comes out clean.
Mixing. Don’t mix the apples into the batter, just layer them on top. If you mix it in, the apples will release too much juice and the cake will come out soggy.
How to Store. You can keep it covered in the refrigerator for 3 days or freeze it for up to 3 months. If you decide to freeze it, make sure it’s not drizzles with glaze.

Nutrition

Calories: 526kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 100mg | Sodium: 250mg | Potassium: 144mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 45g | Vitamin A: 822IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 2mg
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to know how it turned out! Please let me know by leaving a review below. Or snap a photo and share it on Instagram; be sure to tag me @veronikaskitchen.

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Reader Interactions

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Chef and Steward says

    August 11, 2021 at 1:41 pm

    5 stars
    This was such a delicious coffee cake thanks for this recipe. It went down a treat!

    Reply
  2. Farrukh Aziz says

    August 09, 2021 at 8:45 am

    5 stars
    This apple crumb cake is fantastic! I love the simple and quick procedure to prepare this awesome recipe! 🙂

    Reply
  3. Amanda Dixon says

    August 08, 2021 at 5:14 pm

    5 stars
    This is one delicious cake! It was full of apple flavor with the perfect soft crumb, and the topping is just divine.

    Reply
  4. Katie Crenshaw says

    August 08, 2021 at 4:23 pm

    5 stars
    This comes out moist and delicious. The flavors are perfect for fall!

    Reply
  5. Jenny says

    August 08, 2021 at 12:19 pm

    5 stars
    This apple cake looks gorgeous and so delicious. It will be perfect for the fall season. I am saving it. Thank you so much for the recipe.

    Reply
  6. Brianna says

    August 07, 2021 at 9:19 pm

    5 stars
    This apple cake is so moist and has a great texture! Love that crumb topping too.

    Reply
  7. Tristin says

    August 07, 2021 at 9:08 pm

    5 stars
    This cake reminds me of one my dad used to make for us in the fall, he always used Granny Smith apples! Delicious apple crumb cake, I will be making this one again.

    Reply
  8. Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer says

    August 05, 2021 at 9:57 pm

    5 stars
    Mmm I’m so ready for apple picking, fall weather, and falling leaves. This cake would be PERFECT after a day spent out in the orchard! It looks absolutely fantastic!

    Reply
  9. Lauren Vavala Harris says

    August 03, 2021 at 9:12 am

    5 stars
    This apple cake is so perfect for fall! Apple picking starts in just a couple of weeks here and I’m so excited to make this!

    Reply
  10. Gloria says

    August 02, 2021 at 9:47 am

    5 stars
    With apple season just around the corner, this cake looks fantastic. What a great addition to the weekend brunch menu. I would even eat it for breakfast LOL.

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Veronika! I'm so happy to see you on my blog and share my favorite meals with you! My main goal is to share delicious classic recipes using simple ingredients. Read More…

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