This is the easiest Apple Crumb Cake! It has fresh soft apples, cinnamon spice, applesauce, and incredible flavours bursting in every bite. It's topped with a delicious buttery cinnamon sugar streusel that melts and crisps up in the oven.
This cake is SO good. It melts-in-your-mouth and before you know it you'll be going for seconds!
After making my viral Easy Apple Cake, I knew I had to make a crumb version soon enough.
My favourite part about this cake is how easy it is. You don't even need an electric mixer. Let's get to baking!
For more apple bakes, try Apple Breakfast Cake, Applesauce Coffee Cake, and Apple Oatmeal Muffins.
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Why this recipe works
- Breakfast idea – This is a great recipe to make ahead of time and then enjoy with your morning coffee!
- Easy to make – This cake comes together with just a few simple steps!
- Apples – Perfect to use up apples any time of the year.
Ingredients Notes
Full recipe and ingredients are in the recipe card below. Feel free to scroll through this section to view certain key ingredients we’re using!
- 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.
- Applesauce – I used unsweetened applesauce.
- Cornstarch – This helps add a tender crumb to the cake and keeps the apples from sinking to the bottom.
- Eggs – Make sure they’re at room temperature before beginning.
- Flour – All-purpose flour is used in this recipe.
Step by step instructions
Here is how to make and bake this easy apple crumb cake. You will need a 9×9 baking pan lined with parchment paper, 3 mixing bowls, a spatula, and a whisk.
Step 1 – Prep. Grease the pan. For easy removal of the cake, place parchment paper on the bottom and 2 sides of the pan. Gently grease the other two sides and then set aside.
Step 2 - Make the streusel. In a small bowl add butter, cinnamon, white sugar, brown sugar, and flour. Mix together with your hands until a crumbly mixture forms. Set in the fridge to chill as you make the batter.
Step 3 – Mix dry ingredients. In a medium sized bowl, add in flour, cinnamon, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir to combine and set aside.
Step 4 – Mix the wet ingredients. In a large bowl, add oil, brown sugar, applesauce, vanilla, and eggs. Mix for 2-3 minutes until well combined. Make sure to scrap the sides of the bowl.
Step 5 - Add the dry ingredients. Add the dry into the wet and using a spatula, mix until just combined and no flour streaks appear. Do not over-mix!
Step 6 - Add the apples. Peel and cut the apples into small cubes. Gently toss the chopped apples in 1/4 tsp cinnamon. Then add them into the batter and mix until just combined and evenly distributed. Don't over-mix!
Step 7 – Bake. Spread the batter into the prepared pan evenly. Sprinkle the streusel on top.
Bake this easy apple crumb cake for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. It took me 45 minutes exactly in my oven, but ovens do vary so keep an eye on it after 35 minutes 🙂
Allow to cool, slice, and enjoy! This apple cake is soo good! It stays good on the counter for a day in an airtight container, and in the refrigerator for 5 days!
Expert Baking Tips
Here are a few expert baking tips from my kitchen to yours
- Use a gram scale. I cannot emphasize this enough! It is the most accurate way of measuring your ingredients in the kitchen. This is one of my favourites.
- Use tart apples. They compliment so well with the sweetness!
- Do not over-mix! A big reason cakes don’t rise or turn out tough is because the batter is over-mixed. Once you see no flour streaks, stop mixing.
- Use fresh, not frozen. Make sure to use fresh apples!
- To make ahead of time: Bake, cool, slice, and store in an airtight container or wrap in foil/saran wrap.
FAQ
Can I use sweetened applesauce?
Yes, your cake will just be a bit sweeter! If you do use sweetened applesauce, please use tart apples to compliment the sweet and sour.
Can this recipe be doubled?
Yes, bake it in a 9×13 pan and increase the baking time by checking in on it after the 35 minute mark. It should take anywhere from 40-50 minutes to bake.
Do I have to add applesauce?
If you don’t want to add applesauce, you can replace it with room temperature yogurt, buttermilk, or kefir.
Can I bake this in an 8×8 pan?
Yes, but the cake will be taller.
Can I add oats?
Check out Applesauce Oatmeal Breakfast Cake.
Check out more applesauce 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!
Easy Apple Crumb Cake
Ingredients
For the cake
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 tsps baking soda
- 3/4 tsps baking powder
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon + 1/4 tsp cinnamon for dusting apples
- 1/2 cup oil or melted and cooled butter
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce or sweetened applesauce
- 3/4 cups light brown sugar or dark brown sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- 2 large eggs or 3 small, at room temperature
- 2 medium-sized Granny Smith apples* peeled and chopped, 2 cups total
For the streusel
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup + 1 tbsp dark brown sugar
- 1 cup + 1 tbsp white sugar
- 6 tbsp butter softened
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
For the streusel
- In a small bowl add butter, cinnamon, white sugar, brown sugar, and flour. Mix together with your hands until a crumbly mixture forms. Set in the fridge to chill as you make the batter.1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup + 1 tbsp dark brown sugar, 1 cup + 1 tbsp white sugar, 6 tbsp butter, 1/4 tsp cinnamon
For the cake
- Preheat the oven to 350℉/180℃. For easy removal of the cake, place parchment paper on the bottom and 2 sides of the pan. Gently grease the two sides without parchment paper and then set aside.
- Prep the apples. Slice the apples into small cubes and gently toss in 1/4 tsp of cinnamon. Set them aside while you make the batter.2 medium-sized Granny Smith apples*
- Prep the dry ingredients. In a medium sized bowl, add in flour, cornstarch, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir to combine and set aside.1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 3/4 tsps baking soda, 3/4 tsps baking powder, 1 tsp cornstarch, 1/4 tsp salt, 1 tsp cinnamon
- In a large bowl, add oil, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, and applesauce. Whisk for 2-3 minutes until it's well combined. Make sure to scrap the sides of the bowl.1/2 cup oil, 3/4 cups light brown sugar, 1 tbsp vanilla, 2 large eggs, 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- Mix in the dry ingredients and using a spatula, gently fold until a batter forms. Do not over-mix! Then add in the chopped apples and mix in until just combined.2 medium-sized Granny Smith apples*
- Spread the batter into the prepared pan evenly. Sprinkle the streusel evenly on top.
- Bake for 25-35 minutes, depending on your oven. It took me 30 minutes exactly. Allow it to cool, slice, and enjoy!
- This cake is best enjoyed fresh day of and next day. Store in an airtight container for 3 days on your counter, or up to a week in the fridge.
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