This Apple Coffee Cake is so fluffy and tasty! It has soft apples and a cinnamon sugar streusel sprinkled all over. Enjoy it in the morning paired with a cup of coffee, or as a sweet treat after dinner.
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.
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Why this recipe works
- Apple Cinnamon combo - The hint of cinnamon flavours mixed with the warm spices and apples is out of this world delicious.
- Fluffy simple cake - This is a soft and fluffy coffee cake. The base of the cake is really easy to make.
- 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 they aren't expired!
- Buttermilk - You can also use full fat kefir or plain yogurt. To make buttermilk, stir 1 cup of room temperature 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. It is optional, but recommended.
- Eggs – Make sure they are at room temperature before beginning.
- Flour – I used all-purpose flour for this recipe.
- 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. Set aside in the fridge when done.
Step 3 – Mix dry ingredients. In a medium-sized bowl, add in the dry ingredients. 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 the wet ingredients; 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. Toss the dry ingredients into the wet. With a spatula, gently mix together to create a soft cake batter. Mix until there are almost no dry streaks showing.
Step 7 - Add apples. Mix in the apples until evenly distributed and no more flour streaks are showing. 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 evenly. Add the rest of the 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 layers below!
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 very important or else the ingredients won’t work the way we want them too.
- Use tart apples. If you can! Tart apples 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.
- 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.
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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. Make sure to not over-mix!!
- 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 and spread evenly. Then sprinkle the remaining 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.
- Once the cake is cooled, slice it into squares. This apple coffee cake is best served fresh, but can stay on your counter for 2 days. It can also stay in the fridge in an airtight container for up to one week!
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