Extremely comfortable apple crumb cake is loaded with heat cinnamon apples and further crumb topping. A selfmade model of traditional New York-style crumb cake, this breakfast cake is buttery and moist, deliciously tender, and drizzled with candy maple icing.
I initially revealed this recipe in 2017 and have since added new pictures and extra success suggestions.
If crumb topping is your love language, you’ve come to the best place. And if heat cinnamon apples make your mouth water, immediately’s your day. Lastly, if comfortable buttery cake is your preferrred indulgence, I’m your baker.
At the moment’s selfmade apple crumb cake is like my apple cinnamon crumb muffins, apple cake, and apple cinnamon bread… however in breakfast/espresso cake type. These are favourite seasonal recipes to make (together with pumpkin crumb cake muffins), so a cake model is a no brainer. Readers have cherished it:
One reader, Jean, commented: “Among the best crumb muffins I’ve ever made. The crumb topping adhered fantastically and made the cake. I additionally just like the addition of bitter cream to the cake which helped to make the cake moist, not dry like so many crumb muffins. ★★★★★“
One reader, Les, commented: “There is no such thing as a different phrase to explain this cake than PERFECT! Tried many recipes out of your website and this one is now in our prime 3 finest muffins… ★★★★★“
One reader, Martha, commented: “There should not sufficient superlatives to adequately describe this cake. Perfection. It is a keeper recipe. ★★★★★“
One reader, Sarah, commented: “THIS CAKE DESERVES WAY MORE THAN 5 STARS. Completely marvelous recipe… it will without end be my ‘go-to’ espresso cake recipe… the crumb topping is delightfully crunchy and is well one of the best streusel I’ve ever had. ★★★★★“
Substances You Want & Why
Like my conventional espresso cake recipe, it is a butter- and bitter cream-based cake, AKA one of the best type of cake, and right here’s what it’s worthwhile to make it:
- Flour: All-purpose flour offers the construction of this cake. It’s sturdy sufficient to help the thick batter and a number of layers of this crumb cake.
- Baking Soda + Baking Powder: Baking soda and baking powder assist the cake rise.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar sweetens the cake, and also you want brown sugar for the crumb topping.
- Butter: Butter provides taste and creates construction within the creaming course of.
- Bitter Cream: Bitter cream provides us an especially moist crumb cake that’s slightly denser than, say, a fluffy vanilla cake. Tight crumbs, like pound cake, however with a a lot softer texture. Don’t take away the fats from this cake by utilizing a lower-fat various. Fats = taste! We don’t wish to skimp there. That is cake!
- Eggs: 3 eggs add richness and bind the substances collectively.
- Salt + Vanilla Extract: Use each for taste.
- Cinnamon: We will’t have crumb cake with out cinnamon!
- Apples: The star of apple crumb cake, in fact.
Finest Apples for This Cake
Use any number of apples you get pleasure from! You want about 2-3 massive apples for this recipe. Personally, I really like tart Granny Smith apples paired with the candy crumb cake. Should you get pleasure from a sure sort of apple in your apple pie or apple cinnamon scones, you’ll find it irresistible right here, too.
- Tart apples I really like: Granny Smith, Braeburn, Jonathan, and Pacific Rose
- Candy apples I really like: Jazz, Honeycrisp, Pink Girl, Gala, and Fuji
And right here’s a full checklist of the finest apples for baking.
Overview: How one can Make Apple Crumb Cake
After I first examined this recipe, I blended the apples into the cake batter (identical to we do in my apple cinnamon muffins recipe). This was tasty, in fact, however the items of apples every held a soggy define contained in the baked cake. It simply… didn’t look appetizing. I discovered that layering the apples on prime of the cake batter was finest.
This offers us 3 delectable layers: a comfortable and buttery cake, topped with tender cinnamon-spiced apples, after which a TRUCK LOAD of crumb topping.
This apple crumb cake comes collectively simply.
Make the crumb topping first. Place that within the fridge or freezer till you want it. The colder the crumbs, the extra they’ll maintain form within the oven.
Whisk the dry substances collectively and put aside. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar till gentle and fluffy. Beat within the eggs, bitter cream, and vanilla till mixed—the combination could look curdled, and that’s completely superb. Gently combine the moist and dry substances collectively.
Toss the apple chunks with cinnamon, then unfold the thick batter right into a 9×13-inch pan (this measurement is good for the quantity of batter). Scatter the apples and crumb topping evenly over the batter, urgent the crumbs down firmly so that they stick.
Bake till golden and set. If the highest or edges start browning too rapidly, loosely cowl the pan with aluminum foil to forestall over-baking.
Crumb Cake with Additional Crumbs
You’ll discover A LOT of substances within the crumb topping. Not within the variety of substances, however by way of the quantity of substances… like extra butter, sugar, and simply as a lot flour as within the cake itself. Why? As a result of the crumb topping is the BEST PART of a CRUMB CAKE!
You’re utilizing the identical substances within the crumb topping as you might be within the cake, so it’s an especially handy recipe. The gang’s all right here: granulated sugar, cinnamon, salt, melted butter, and flour, plus brown sugar. Make sure that some crumbles keep in bigger chunks as a result of these are one of the best bites.
The crumb layer is actually half the cake and I see zero drawback with this! In any other case, you would possibly as effectively simply make an everyday apple cake (additionally scrumptious, by the best way)!
Icing Choices
This apple crumb cake actually doesn’t want something on prime, but when the chance for candy maple icing presents itself, we’d be fools to say no. Listed here are some great icing choices for this cake:
And if you’re in search of extra fall dessert inspiration, here’s a checklist of 30+ fall cake recipes.
Description
Scrumptious New York-style crumb cake with heat cinnamon apples and DOUBLE the buttery crumb topping! Make the crumb topping first, after which place it within the fridge or freezer till prepared to make use of. Chilly crumbs maintain their form within the oven.
Crumb Topping
- 1 cup (200g) packed gentle or darkish brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon floor cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (16 Tbsp; 226g) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 and 1/2 cups (313g) all goal flour (spooned & leveled)
Cake
- 2 and 1/2 cups (313g) all goal flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup (12 Tbsp; 170g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 and 1/4 cups (250g) granulated sugar
- 3 massive eggs, at room temperature
- 1 cup (240g) full-fat bitter cream, at room temperature*
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups (375g) peeled chopped apples (about 2–3 massive apples, see Notice)
- 1/4 teaspoon floor cinnamon
- non-obligatory: maple icing, vanilla icing, or caramel icing from apple cinnamon rolls
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line with parchment paper. Put aside.
- Make the crumb topping: Combine the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt collectively in a medium bowl. Stir within the melted butter. Utilizing a fork, flippantly combine within the flour till crumbles type. Don’t over-mix. Place within the fridge or freezer till you want it in step 6. Chilly crumbs maintain their form within the oven.
- Make the cake: Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt collectively. Put aside.
- Utilizing a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and granulated sugar collectively on excessive pace till gentle and creamy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the edges and up the underside of the bowl with a silicone spatula as wanted. Add the eggs, bitter cream, and the vanilla. Beat on medium-high pace till mixed. The combination will look curdled; that’s okay. Scrape down the edges and up the underside of the bowl as wanted. With the mixer on low pace, combine within the dry substances till easy. Don’t overmix. The batter can be thick.
- Toss the chopped apples and cinnamon collectively.
- Unfold the batter evenly into ready baking pan. Prime evenly with cinnamon-coated apples. Prime with crumb topping. Utilizing a silicone spatula or the again of a big spoon, press the crumb topping tightly down into the cake so it sticks.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes. Baking instances differ, so regulate yours. The cake is completed when a toothpick inserted within the middle comes out clear. Should you discover the highest or edges of the cake is/are browning too rapidly within the oven, loosely cowl it with aluminum foil.
- Take away the cake from the oven and set on a cooling rack. Enable to barely cool for a minimum of 30-45 minutes earlier than slicing and serving.
- Drizzle with non-obligatory icing, if desired.
- Cowl leftover cake tightly and retailer within the fridge for five days.
Notes
- Freezing Directions: Put together cake by way of step 8. Cowl the cake tightly and refrigerate for as much as 2 days or freeze as much as 3 months. Deliver to room temperature, add icing if desired, and serve.
- Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): 9×13-inch Baking Pan | Glass Mixing Bowls | Apple Peeler | Whisk | Electrical Mixer (Handheld or Stand) | Silicone Spatula | Cooling Rack
- Bitter Cream: Bitter cream is a key ingredient on this cake. I don’t counsel subbing the bitter cream with a liquid—plain full-fat yogurt would work although. However don’t take away the fats from this cake by utilizing a decrease fats yogurt or bitter cream various.
- Apples: For depth of taste, it’s finest to bake with a mixture of candy and tart apples. For this cake, I often use about 2 massive Honeycrisp apples and 1/2 of a big Granny Smith apple. For slicing, it’s finest to cut the apple into skinny items. Slice the apple, then lower every of these slices in half so you may have smaller, thinner, easy-to-eat items. See photograph above.
- Room Temperature: All refrigerated gadgets needs to be at room temperature so the batter mixes collectively simply and evenly. Learn extra in regards to the significance of room temperature substances.
