Welcome to my kitchen, where the smell of freshly baked apple coffee cake fills the room. This isn’t any coffee cake; it’s a fancy mix of soft cake layers, apples flavored with cinnamon, buttery crumbs, and a brown butter glaze that will make your mouth dance. This recipe is sure to please, whether you’re having brunch or just want a special treat on the weekend.
Why You’ll Love This Apple Coffee Cake
I’ve made this coffee cake many times in my kitchen to ensure it always comes out great. The sour cream keeps it moist, making the apples naturally sweet. Everyone returns for seconds because the crunchy streusel topping makes the dish taste different.
Just Perfect For :
- Brunch on the weekend
- Breakfast on holidays
- Coffee dates in the afternoon
- Sales of baked goods
- Gatherings with family
- Breakfast you can make ahead of time
Full Ingredients List
For the Streusel Topping:
- 6 tablespoons (84g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (168g) light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon (15g) ground cinnamon
For the Apple Filling:
- 2 cups chopped apples (2 medium or three small apples)
- 2 tablespoons (28g) light brown sugar, packed
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon apple pie spice
For the Cake:
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 cup (190g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- ½ cup (120g) full-fat sour cream at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups (150g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the Brown Butter Glaze:
- 2 tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter
- ½ cup (65g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 2–5 tablespoons (60-75ml) milk
Let’s Make It!
Prep Work (15 minutes):
Let the sour cream, eggs, and butter cool down.
Warm the oven up to 350°F.
Print out parchment paper and line your pan.
Make the Streusel (5 minutes):
To make crumbles, mix the butter with flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Hint: Do this first, giving the flour time to soak the butter.
Prepare the Apples (10 minutes):
To make crumbles, mix the butter with flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Hint: Do this first, giving the flour time to soak the butter.
Get the apples ready (10 minutes):
Peel the apples and cut them up into small bits.
Add brown sugar and spices and mix.
Let it sit while you make the batter.
Make the Cake Batter (15 minutes):
Pay close attention to the steps for mixing; this is where the magic happens!
Top Tips for Success
Ingredients that are at room temperature mix better.
Do not mix the batter too much.
Tiny, even pieces of apple should be cut up.
Use a toothpick to see if it’s done.
Please wait until it’s cool before adding the sauce.
Problems & Solutions
If Your Cake is Dry:
- Check how hot your oven is.
- Do not bake for too long.
- Sour cream with all the fat should be used.
If Streusel is Wet:
- Do not add more apple juice.
- When it’s warm, don’t cover.
- Follow the correct measurements for butter.
How to Store It:
Keep it fresh at room temperature:
It can be kept for two days in a sealed container. Best eaten within 48 hours.
Freezer Space:
Use a lot of plastic and paper to wrap.
Up to two months frozen
Spend the night at room temperature to thaw.
Ideas for Serving
In the morning, with hot tea or coffee
For brunch, along with fruit and eggs
Warm caramel ice cream for dessert
Print
Homemade Apple Coffee Cake Recipe
There is apple pie pastry inside this apple coffee cake recipe, and a sweet brown butter glaze on top. It’s sure to become a favorite!
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 9–12 Slices 1x
Ingredients
For the Streusel Topping:
- 6 tablespoons (84g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (168g) light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon (15g) ground cinnamon
For the Apple Filling:
- 2 cups chopped apples (2 medium or 3 small apples)
- 2 tablespoons (28g) light brown sugar, packed
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon apple pie spice
For the Cake:
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup (190g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- ½ cup (120g) full-fat sour cream, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups (150g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the Brown Butter Glaze:
- 2 tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter
- ½ cup (65g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 2–5 tablespoons (60-75ml) milk
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F
- Make the crumb topping
- Mix the cake batter
- Layer everything in the pan
- Bake for 45-50 minutes
- Add glaze when cool
Notes
- Room temperature ingredients mix better
- Don’t overmix the batter
- Cut apples into small, even pieces
- Test with a toothpick for doneness
- Let cool before adding glaze
Storing:
It’s room warm. After the apple coffee cake has cooled down, put it in a container that won’t let air in. This cake is best enjoyed within 2 days. After that, the streusel tends to soften.
Put it away. Once the apple cake is cool, it can be tightly wrapped in two layers and frozen for up to two months. Let it thaw at room temperature before you serve it.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Cake
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 398
- Sugar: 37.8 g
- Sodium: 114.7 mg
- Fat: 17.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 57.8 g
- Fiber: 1.6 g
- Protein: 3.5 g
- Cholesterol: 61.9 mg
Questions you may ask
Could I make this ahead of time?
Yes! Keep at room temperature with a top lid, and add the sauce before serving.
What do I do when it’s done?
Put a toothpick in the middle, and it should come out clean.
Can I make twice as much?
Using a 9×13 pan, the baking time must be extended by 10 to 15 minutes.
There’s no apple pie spice?
Add cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg and mix them.
Can I not use the glaze?
Yes! Just use powdered sugar to cover it instead.
Tell Us About Your Win!
I would love to see your coffee cake! You must remember to:
Tell us about your experience in the comments.
Tell your baking friends about this recipe.
Last Words
Remember that you should enjoy baking as much as the result. Take your time, do what it says, and most of all, enjoy it! This recipe for apple coffee cake will become a family favorite.
Have fun baking! 🍏
Hi, I’m Clara Magnet
Hi there! As an author, I’m actually a professional chef and food blogger. I’ve been cooking for over 10 years and absolutely love creating recipes that bring people together around the table.
I take a lot of pride in making sure all of my recipes are accurate and delicious. I do a ton of research and testing to make sure everything turns out just right. I get inspiration from all sorts of sources, and I try to use ingredients that are in season, organic, and locally sourced whenever I can.
One of the most important things to me is making sure my recipes are easy to follow and producing great results every time. If you ever have any questions or need some extra guidance, don’t hesitate to ask! I’m always happy to help out. Thanks for checking out my recipes, and happy cooking!