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Living Well Mom

Simple, easy, and natural ways to care for your family.

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Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake with Crumb Topping

By Erika in Breakfast

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This apple coffee cake is everything a coffee cake should be. It’s moist, flavorful, filled with tender apple chunks, and topped with mouth-watering crumb topping.

This easy-to-make recipe is a favorite of ours in the fall. I’ve had many requests for this recipe, so when I made it recently, I knew I had to share it with you!

apple sour cream coffee cake on a white plate this idea now...

Apple Coffee Cake: the Perfect Fall Treat

Apples are a must-have all throughout the year, in my humble opinion. But, they’re especially necessary for the fall! When those ripe apples start falling off the trees, and the crisp chill hits the air, it’s time to start baking (with apples). 😉

Thanks to its light, tasty flavor and bursts of apple chunk goodness throughout, this apple coffee cake is the perfect recipe for this time of year.

Why is it called coffee cake?

Fun fact: For Americans, coffee cake is flavored pound cake topped with a streusel topping. It’s the perfect complement to a steaming cup of coffee, giving this delicious baked good its name—coffee cake!

Want to try yet another fun American dessert that’s slightly lighter? This healthy apple crisp is grain-free and absolutely delicious!

Ingredients Needed for This Apple Coffee Cake Recipe

You’ll probably have most of these simple ingredients on hand. Even if you don’t, they are guaranteed to be at your closest grocery store. Nothing fancy or difficult here!

  • Butter-Flavored Shortening – In addition to the apples, shortening adds the moisture that the coffee cake needs. It also gives it a rich, buttery flavor. But if you don’t have butter-flavored on hand, you can use regular shortening instead. (It will still taste delicious!)
  • Sugar – Granulated sugar is what you want.
  • Eggs – Binds everything together.
  • Vanilla Extract – Adds a delightful vanilla-flavored richness to this apple coffee cake.
  • Flour – Unbleached all-purpose flour works great in this recipe. You could also sub in your favorite gluten-free flour too.
  • Baking Powder and Baking Soda – These help the coffee cake rise.
  • Salt – Just a little bit is all you need to enhance the flavor of this cake.
  • Sour Cream – Makes this coffee cake incredibly moist and soft.
  • Tart Apples – Tart apples get soft but keep some texture when baked, while sweet apples tend to disintegrate. I prefer using Granny Smiths when baking because they do well in all my recipes! Don’t have Granny Smith? Braeburn or Honeycrisp would also work.
  • Brown Sugar – Adds a caramel flavor that pairs exceptionally well with apples.
  • Ground Cinnamon – Aren’t apples, and cinnamon just meant to go together?
  • Butter – This is used to make the crumble topping.
  • Chopped Walnuts – Nuts add just the right amount of crunch to the topping (and the recipe!).
Green apples on a baking sheet, with vanilla extract, sugar, nuts and sour cream nearby.

How To Make Apple Coffee Cake

In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy.

Shortening and sugar mixed together in a glass bowl.

Beat in eggs and vanilla.

Next, combine flour, baking soda, and baking powder.

Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture. Alternately add sour cream, mixing well after each addition.

Then add cored, peeled, and chopped apple.

Chunks of granny smith apples being folded into apple coffee cake recipe batter.

I don’t know if you’re supposed to use a mixer or not (I’m new to the fabulous world of KitchenAid mixers), but I couldn’t resist. I threw my apples in and mixed them for only a few seconds. It was perfect.

Spread the dough into a 9 x 13″ greased baking dish.

Easy coffee cake mixture spread evenly in a non stick baking pan.

Now it’s time for the topping – that’s the best part, right?!

Making The Apple Streusel Coffee Cake Topping

Mix brown sugar with cinnamon and cut in butter with a fork until it’s crumbly.

Next, add in the chopped walnuts.

Walnuts, brown sugar, cinnamon and butter crumbled up in a small bowl.

Sprinkle the crumbly mixture over the batter!

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until it tests done.

Freshly baked apple coffee cake recipe in square pan.

And it really is as easy as that! Ooh, apple goodness!

layout of printable recipe binder pages
Print

Apple Coffee Cake

With its light tasty flavor and bursts of apple chunk goodness throughout, this Apple Coffee Cake is a perfect recipe for this time of year.
Print Recipe

With its light tasty flavor and bursts of apple chunk goodness throughout, this Apple Coffee Cake is a perfect recipe for this time of year.

  • Author: Erika Bragdon

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 cup butter flavored shortening or regular
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup (8 oz) sour cream
  • 2 cups chopped peeled tart apples (approx 3 medium-sized apples)
  • Topping
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 TB cold butter
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy.
  2. Beat in eggs and vanilla, combine the flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
  3. Gradually add to the creamed mixture alternately with sour cream, mixing well after each addition.
  4. Stir in apples.
  5. Transfer to a greased 9x13x2″ pan or 2 8″ square pans.
  6. For the topping, combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in nuts; sprinkle over batter.
  7. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely.

FAQs About This Recipe

Here are some common questions that readers ask.

How long does apple coffee cake last?

This apple cinnamon coffee cake definitely tastes best when served fresh. And, it’s so good that we rarely have leftovers!

However, if you do have any left over, store it in an airtight container in the fridge or at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Can I freeze this coffee cake recipe?

Yes, this cake freezes (and thaws) well.

To freeze, let it cool completely after baking. Then wrap it up in plastic wrap and then again in a layer of aluminum foil. Label it with the date and what’s inside. Freeze for up to 3 months.

To thaw, simply put the cake out on the counter until it reaches room temperature. You can eat it at room temperature or warm it up for just a few seconds in the microwave.

How can I add variety to this recipe?

Every now and then, we need to add a little variety to the things we love (and eat) the most! If you want a little break from the norm with this cake, try:

  • Adding a drizzle of maple syrup just before serving.
  • Make a simple glaze to pour on top.
  • Add a cream cheese layer just below the streusel topping.
  • Drizzle the top with salted caramel.

This delicious coffee cake may taste like dessert, but you can enjoy it for breakfast (just like pancakes!), brunch, or a snack, too. Enjoy!

A serving of breakfast coffee cake with apples on a white dish.

More Recipes with Apples

  • Apple Oatmeal Muffins
  • Homemade Apple Crisp
  • Easy 6 Ingredient Apple Dumplings

Pin the image below to save the recipe for later!

 

Dear mom, I have so much more I’d love to share with you…

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    Filed Under: Breakfast, Desserts, Recipes Published on June 1, 2021

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    About Erika

    Erika Bragdon is a second-generation homeschooling mom with 3 kids at home and 1 in college. She lives in the beautiful hills of New Hampshire on a small farm and loves writing, baking, nature, and sharing flower essences and more natural solutions with moms.

    Comments

    1. Dee W. says

      November 14, 2011 at 2:27 pm

      That looks SO good. I’m definitely going to try this.

      Reply
    2. Lesli says

      November 16, 2011 at 11:34 pm

      That looks so good! Perfect for the holidays!

      Reply
    3. marie says

      November 17, 2011 at 3:16 am

      this is so off topic(the coffee cake looked great . btw) but I had the same dinnerware pattern till just about a year ago when I broke the last bowl and finally got new stuff. 🙂

      Reply
    4. Brooke @ Untrained Hair Mom says

      November 17, 2011 at 4:06 am

      This looks and sounds really good..a must try! Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    5. Little Miss Kate says

      November 17, 2011 at 6:26 am

      Great tutorial, love the step by step pictures! I love coffee cake but haven’t made it in ages

      Reply
    6. Rita Spratlen says

      April 19, 2012 at 7:34 pm

      I have some apples and this would be a great thing to do with them. Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
    7. Sue Hull says

      January 25, 2013 at 12:46 am

      I’m telling you, you should open a bakery. I don’t like to cook or bake. This looks sooooo yummy! Your’s looks way better than the one I buy at starbucks. 🙂

      Reply

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    Erika Bragdon sitting on a bench drinking a drink out of her mug

    Welcome! I’m Erika and I’m the creator behind Living Well Mom.

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