Apple Crumb Cake

This delicious Apple Crumb Cake is so fluffy and delicious. Loaded with apples and topped with a Streusel Crumb and a sweet Apple Cider Cinnamon Glaze.

This soft buttery cake is so easy to make, it comes together beautifully, and it’s such a great dessert for Fall season. It’s one of my favorite apple desserts, better than apple pie. The cake tastes like apple crisp, but even better because it’s in cake form.

I will show you step-by-step how to make this delicious and easy Apple Crumb Cake.

You can click the jump to the recipe button located right on top of the page to be taken straight to the recipe measurements, and ingredient amounts.

Apple Crumb Cake Recipe

This Apple Crumb Cake features a buttery vanilla cake, loaded with fresh chopped and spiced apples, with a streusel crumb on top, and cinnamon glaze.

The cake is soft, and easy to make. And anyone who tries it will be super impressed!

It has such a wonderful texture, that melts in your mouth, with juicy spiced apples in the middle. The top tastes like an amazing sugar cookie crumble, with more gooey apples, and a sweet glaze.

Streusel Topping

First we will start by making the crumb topping for the cake.

Mix the flour, granulated and brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a mixing bowl. Technically you can use light brown sugar or dark brown sugar. I used light brown sugar.

Add the butter, and cut the butter into the dry ingredients with the fork, until the mixture is crumbly and all incorporated.

You can also use your hands to mix the crumb and bring it together. When you pinch a portion of the crumb it should come together like a dough.

Place it in the fridge until ready to use.

While the crumb topping is in the fridge, prepare the apples.

Peel and chop the apples. They should be about 3/8″ thick.

Add the cinnamon and nutmeg, mix the apple chunks with the spices. Set it aside.

You can use Gala apples, Pink Lady, Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith.

My favorite apples to use are Fuji and Honeycrisp.

Cake batter

To make the cake batter start by beating the butter, add the sugar and beat until fluffy and light.

Add the eggs one at a time, waiting for one egg to incorporate before adding the next one.

Then, add the vanilla and mix.

Add the buttermilk to the bowl, mix until combined.

Follow by the dry ingredients: flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Mix until incorporated. You can continue to fold with a spatula instead of the mixer, to prevent over mixing.

Over mixing the cake batter can lead to a dry cake after baked.

The batter will be thick and smooth. It’s time to assemble the cake and prepare it for baking.

To assemble the cake

Line the bottom of a springform or cheesecake pan with parchment paper. You can cut a few slits around the paper so it will fit on the bottom of the pan.

I used a deep 8″ springform pan. You can also use a 9″ springform pan.

To assemble the cake, spread about 2/3 of the batter on the bottom of the cake pan.

Sprinkle half of the apples on top. Make sure to arrange them on an even layer.

Pour the remaining batter over the apples. Use an offset spatula to spread it out and smooth it out.

It’s ok if the apples aren’t completely covered with batter. They will sink a bit when the cake bakes.

Sprinkle the remaining apples on top of the batter.

Top with the crumble topping.

Bake in the pre-heated oven for about 1 hour. It should bake until the top is set, and a toothpick comes out clean once inserted in the cake.

Baking time will vary depending on the pan or type of oven you are using.

Convection ovens need a lower temperature for baking. They also tend to bake things faster, so you want to pay attention not to over bake the cake.

Another instance where the cake might bake faster is if you use a 9″ pan instead of an 8″ pan.

It’s important not to over bake the cake.

Time baking will depend on the size of pan you use. If you use a 9″ pan, it might cook faster, since the cake’s height will be thinner.

And if you use a 8″ cake pan, make sure it’s a deep one, to fit all the batter.

Cinnamon Apple Cider Glaze

To make the glaze, simply beat the cream cheese, butter, cinnamon, powdered sugar, and apple cider.

Make sure the cream cheese and butter are at room temperature.

The glaze should be runny and smooth.

If the glaze is not thick enough, add a bit more powdered sugar, and if the glaze is too thick, you can add some more apple cider to thin it out.

Drizzle it over the cake once it cools down, before serving.

Use a sharp knife to cut the cake into slices.

Storing the cake

Once you drizzle the glaze over the cake, it has to be stored in the fridge, because of the cream cheese.

Store the cake in a sealed container at room temperature if it doesn’t have the glaze on top for up to 1-2 days.

The cake should ideally be stored in the fridge to remain fresh.

Let it come to room temperature before serving.

To freeze the cake, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap, place it in an air tight container. You can also wrap it in foil to offer an extra layer of protection. The cake can be frozen for up to 1-2 months.

To thaw it, place it in the fridge overnight. Let the cake come to room temperature before serving.

Tips for making Apple Crumble Cake

• Make sure the ingredients for the cake such as butter, eggs, buttermilk are at room temperature.
• Don’t over mix the batter once you add the flour in. Over mixing will lead to a dry cake.
• Don’t over bake the cake. The cake should be set on top, insert a toothpick in the cake, and it should come out clean.
• Here are my favorite apples for making cake: Gala apples, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Fuji, or Pink Lady.
• Don’t chop the apples so big, but also don’t chop them so small, about 3/8″ inch thick.

I made this cake 4 times before I arrived to this final recipe. I was looking for the most buttery, soft, sweet, and delicious cake recipe. This apple cake had to have the perfect amount of spiced apples, streusel on top, and a moist crumb.

The glaze on top is optional, but definitely recommended, unless you serve the cake with a caramel sauce instead.

Recipe substitutions

Here are some substitutions you can make in the recipe. Either in the flavor, or in the ingredients needed for the batter.

• Gluten-free option: to make this cake gluten-free follow the instructions for the apples, and make the crumb with gluten-free flour. However, for the cake batter itself, I recommend following a recipe such as this one for Gluten-Free Bundt Cake.
• Buttermilk: the buttermilk can be substituted by regular milk mixed with a teaspoon of vinegar. Or it can be substituted by a mixture of half sour cream or yogurt, and half milk.
• Almond flavor: add a dash of almond extract to the batter.
• Blueberries: add blueberries to the batter along with the apples. You can do half and half of each.
• Orange zest: this cake will taste wonderful with a touch of orange zest in the batter, or mixed along with the apples.

Serving suggestions

The way I most love serving this cake is when it’s barely warm out of the oven, drizzled with the delicious glaze.

You can serve the apple cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce.

This apple coffee cake is perfect to be served alongside a cup of hot apple cider, tea, coffee, or even a nice tall glass of hot chocolate.

It can be served with plain greek yogurt, or fresh fruit. And the best part is this cake will do amazing for breakfast, fancy brunch, afternoon tea time, or dessert.

The aroma of the delicious spiced apples, the inviting glaze, and the scrumptious looking crumb will make this cake stand out on top of the dinner or brunch table.

This is one of my favorite coffee cakes ever! And I am sure you will love it too.

If you like more recipes like this cake, you will also like these recipes:

• Blueberry Coffee Cake: a delicious blueberry coffee cake, with streusel crumb and vanilla glaze.
• Peach Cobbler Pound Cake: a buttery cake, with caramelized peaches.
• Lemon Bundt Cake: a moist and tangy cake, with a lovely lemon glaze.
• Pistachio Raspberry Cake: layers of pistachio cake filled with pistachio ganache and raspberry jam.
• Dulce de Leche Apple Cake: another cake that’s perfect for fall, with a lovely dulce de leche glaze.
• Apple Crisp Cupcakes: spiced apple pie filling in a delicious vanilla cupcake, topped with cinnamon cream cheese.

If you make this recipe, leave a comment below, or tag me on instagram, I always love seeing your creations.