This Apple Coffee Cake is so delicious! It's fluffy, full of soft apples, and has a cinnamon sugar streusel. Enjoy it in the morning with a cup of coffee, or after dinner as a sweet treat.
There's something so delicious about the pairing of apples and cinnamon! This cake has a cinnamon sugar filling and is topped with a buttery cinnamon streusel. It is so good.
For more coffee cake recipes, try Blueberry Coffee Cake, Pumpkin Coffee Cake, Applesauce Coffee Cake.
Jump to:
Why this recipe works
- Apple Cinnamon combo - The hint of cinnamon flavours mixed with the warm spices and apples is out of this world.
- Fluffy simple cake - This is a soft and fluffy coffee cake. It is so good!
- Cinnamon filling - A layer of cinnamon and brown sugar is sprinkled in the middle adding even more flavour.
Ingredients Notes
Scroll to view a few ingredients notes. Full recipe and measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
- Apples – I used 2 large Granny Smith apples. You can use any kind of apples though. I prefer using a tart apple in this cake as it compliments well with the sweetness. I had 2 cups total, sliced into small cubes. I chopped them with the skin off, but you can keep it if you wish.
- Baking soda & baking powder - Make sure it isn't expired!
- Buttermilk - You can also use full fat kefir or plain yogurt. To make buttermilk, stir 1 cup of milk with 2 tbsp of lemon juice or vinegar. Allow to sit on your counter for at least 10 minutes before using.
- Cinnamon - An essential spice in this cake!
- Cornstarch – This helps add a tender crumb to the cake.
- Eggs – Remove two hours before baking.
- Flour – I used all-purpose flour for this recipe and it cannot be substituted for any other type of flour.
- Vanilla – Using a good quality vanilla is important to enhance the flavours.
Step by step instructions
Here is how to make and bake this Apple Coffee Cake. You will need an 9×9 square pan lined with parchment paper, three mixing bowls, a spatula, and a whisk.
Step 1 – Prep. Preheat the oven to 350°F/175°C and line and grease a 9×9 inch square pan. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside. This will be the filling.
Step 2 – Make the streusel. In a medium sized bowl, add flour, brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, and softened butter. Using a fork or your hands, mix this until combined. Then add 1 tbsp of extra flour on top and using your hands, crumble the streusel into smaller and larger pieces. You may need 1 more tbsp of flour. Set aside in the fridge when done.
Step 3 – Mix dry ingredients. In a medium-sized bowl, add in flour, baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt. Mix together and set aside.
Step 4 - Prep the apples. Peel the apples and chop them into small cubes. Set aside for later.
Step 5 – Whisk wet ingredients. In a large bowl, add oil, butter, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla. Whisk together until well combined and smooth. Then mix in the white sugar.
Step 6 – Add in dry ingredients. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet and using a spatula, gently fold to create a soft cake batter.
Step 7 - Add apples. Mix in the apples until evenly distributed. Don't over-mix!
Step 8 – Layer. Add half of the batter into your prepared pan and spread evenly. Then sprinkle all of the cinnamon sugar topping, and about 4-5 tbsp of the streusel. Add the remaining half of your batter evenly, and then the rest of your streusel on top. I recommend dolloping the batter using a cookie scooper. This helps to evenly distribute the batter without disturbing the filling layer!
Step 9 – Bake. Bake the cake for 45-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out dry. Mine took 55 minutes. If it is wet, then the cake hasn’t fully baked yet so continue to bake at 5 minute intervals. Allow it to cool completely.
Slice, and enjoy! This apple coffee cake is best served fresh, but can stay on your counter for 2 days, and in the fridge in an airtight container for up to one week!
Expert Baking Tips
Here are a few expert baking tips from my kitchen to yours
- Make sure all of your wet ingredients are at room temperature. This is superrr important or else the ingredients won’t work the way we want them too together.
- Use tart apples. They pair so well with the sweetness from the streusel and filling!
- Add a bit of streusel inside the cake. A secret trick of mine, the streusel inside melts with the cinnamon sugar filling. Next level good!!!!
- For the streusel: Make sure the butter is softened. If you make it with melted butter, the streusel will not turn out.
FAQ
Why isn’t there any coffee in this cake?
Coffee cake actually doesn’t have any coffee in it! It’s meant to be paired with a cup of coffee.
Do I have to add apples?
No!
Can I add blueberries instead?
Check out Blueberry Coffee Cake.
Check out more recipes
PS : If you enjoyed this recipe, please make sure to leave a STAR REVIEW down below! I'd love to stay connected on Instagram @taffeybakery! To get more recipes follow me on TikTok @taffeybakery!
Apple Coffee Cake
Ingredients
For the cake
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted and cooled
- 3 tbsp oil
- 3/4 cups white sugar
- 2 eggs room temperature
- 1 cup buttermilk* room temperature
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 medium-sized apples cut in small cubes (about 2 cups)
For the streusel
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 6 tbsp butter softened
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
For the filling
- 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
For the streusel
- In a medium sized bowl, add flour, brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, and softened butter. Using a fork or your hands, mix this until combined. Then add 1 tbsp of extra flour on top and using your hands, crumble the streusel into smaller and larger pieces. You may need 1 more tbsp of flour. Set aside in the fridge when done.1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 6 tbsp butter, 1/2 tsp cinnamon
For the cake
- Preheat the oven to 350°F/175°C and line and grease a 9×9 inch square pan. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside. This will be the filling.1/4 cup dark brown sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- In a medium-sized bowl, add in flour, baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt. Mix together and set aside.2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tbsp cornstarch, 1/4 tsp salt
- Peel the apples and chop them into small cubes. Set aside for later.2 medium-sized apples
- In a large bowl, add oil, butter, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla. Whisk together until well combined and smooth. Then mix in the white sugar.1/2 cup unsalted butter, 3 tbsp oil, 2 eggs, 1 cup buttermilk*, 1 tbsp vanilla, 3/4 cups white sugar
- Pour the dry ingredients into the wet and using a spatula, gently fold to create a soft cake batter.
- Mix in the apples until evenly distributed. Don't over-mix!
- Add half of the batter into your prepared pan and spread evenly. Then sprinkle all of the cinnamon sugar topping, and about 4-5 tbsp of the streusel. Add the remaining half of your batter evenly, and then the rest of your streusel on top. I recommend dolloping the batter using a cookie scooper. This helps to evenly distribute the batter without disturbing the filling layer!
- Bake the cake for 45-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out dry. Mine took 55 minutes. If it is wet, then the cake hasn’t fully baked yet so continue to bake at 5 minute intervals. Allow it to cool completely.
- Slice, and enjoy! This apple coffee cake is best served fresh, but can stay on your counter for 2 days, and in the fridge in an airtight container for up to one week!
Comments