Apple Streusel Cake
This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share a commission.
Apple Streusel Cake is the fall treat y’all deserve. This simple coffee cake includes oatmeal and plenty of fresh apples, along with the tastiest streusel topping! We love this fall cake for breakfast alongside a cup of coffee!
Apple Coffee Cake
If you love coffee, then you NEED coffee cake. Am I right? (Say yes!) This recipe is the perfect little breakfast, snack, or dessert. Enjoy it any time of day you desire.
Fall season has always been my favorite – especially now as we recover from another hot Texas summer. The change in weather and cozy recipes always make me happy.
Why This Recipe Works:
- SIMPLE – This recipe uses simple, pantry staples. This one gets rave reviews from family and friends!
- BUTTERY CAKE – We love the buttery flavor plus sweet or tart apples.
- FALL FLAVORS – Apple season is a great time of year to make all of the delicious desserts. The warm spices make this tender cake taste even better.
- CRUMBLY TOPPING – The cinnamon streusel is my favorite part of this apple crumb cake!
Other apple-inspired recipes include Apple Banana Bundt Cake, Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats, Apple Steel Cut Oats, and Apple Cinnamon Cobbler.
Ingredients Used:
- Unsalted Butter
- Buttermilk
- Egg
- Vanilla Extract
- Brown Sugar
- All-Purpose Flour
- Old Fashioned Oatmeal
- Baking Soda, Baking Powder, Kosher Salt, Ground Cinnamon
- Apple Mixture – Including Honeycrisp apples, butter, ground cinnamon, and a splash of water.
- Streusel Topping – Flour, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, butter
NOTE: You can use other apple varieties in this apple streusel coffee cake recipe – like Fuji, Granny Smith, Braeburn, Jonagold, Cortland, Gala, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, and Empire. The best apples will depend on your personal taste preferences.
How to make Apple Streusel Cake:
Step 1
Prep. Preheat oven to 350 degrees f. Add some parchment paper to an 8×8 pan.
Step 2
Prep apples. Peel and dice about three medium Honey Crisp apples. The small chunks of apples should equal about three cups.
Step 3
Par-cook apples. In a medium bowl, combine diced apples, butter, cinnamon, and apple. Place in microwave and cook on high power for about three minutes, or until slightly tender. Set aside.
Step 4
Process oatmeal. Add old-fashioned oatmeal to a small food processor. Pulse to process the oatmeal into crumbs (like flour).
Step 5
Make batter. In a large bowl, combine the wet ingredients – buttermilk, egg, brown sugar, and slightly cooled butter. Use a whisk to combine well. Then add the dry ingredients – flour, processed oatmeal, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Use a spoon to mix until just combined. Don’t over-stir.
Add apples. Pour the apples into the butter and gently stir.
Step 6
Make streusel topping. In a separate medium bowl, combine the streusel ingredients – flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and cold butter. Use your hands to press the cubed butter into the ingredients.
Step 7
Assemble. Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan, smoothing evenly to all sides. Then add the crumble topping to the top of the cake.
Step 8
Bake. Bake the coffee cake in the preheated oven for approximately 40 minutes, or until done in the center.
Step 9
Rest. Let the cake sit in the pan for about 20 minutes and then use the parchment paper (handles) to gently lift the cake out of the cake pan. Place on a wire rack to let cake cool. (Or eat it warm!)
Step 10
Serve. Serve apple streusel cake with Toddy Cold Brew Coffee or a Caramel Latte.
Storing and Freezing:
Store leftover apple cake in an airtight container at room temperature for several days.
Freeze cake for up to three months. I often wrap each slice in plastic wrap and then place in freezer bag. A great way to enjoy one at a time when you get the craving!
Recipe FAQs:
A streusel topping is a crumbly topping of flour, butter, and sugar (and sometimes spices and chopped nuts) that is baked on top of muffins, breads, pies, and cakes. The mixture can also added as a layer in the middle of a cake or as a ribbon waved throughout a cake.
I normally peel and dice the apples for apple cake. See photo above for the size of the apple chunks. You could also use a box shredder and shred the apples.
The weight of the apples will make a denser cake and cause some of it to looked dented on top. That’s totally ok because the taste is what matters!
Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)
xoxo ~Sue
Apple Streusel Cake
Ingredients
For the apples:
- 3 medium Honey Crisp apples (3 cups) – peeled and diced
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1-2 Tablespoons water
For the cake:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter – melted and slightly cooled
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup old fashioned oatmeal – processed
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the streusel topping
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter – diced
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat oven to 350 degrees f. Add some parchment paper to an 8×8 pan.
- Prep apples. Peel and dice about three medium Honey Crisp apples. The small chunks of apples should equal about three cups.
- Par-cook apples. In a medium bowl, combine diced apples, butter, cinnamon, and apple. Place in microwave and cook on high power for about three minutes, or until slightly tender. Set aside.
- Process oatmeal. Add old-fashioned oatmeal to a small food processor. Pulse to process the oatmeal into crumbs (like flour).
- Make batter. In a large bowl, combine the wet ingredients – buttermilk, egg, brown sugar, and slightly cooled butter. Use a whisk to combine well. Then add the dry ingredients – flour, processed oatmeal, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Use a spoon to mix until just combined. Don't over-stir.Add apples. Pour the apples into the butter and gently stir.
- Make streusel topping. In a separate medium bowl, combine the streusel ingredients – flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and cold butter. Use your hands to press the cubed butter into the ingredients.
- Assemble. Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan, smoothing evenly to all sides. Then add the crumble topping to the top of the cake.
- Bake. Bake the coffee cake in the preheated oven for approximately 40 minutes, or until done in the center.
- Rest. Let the cake sit in the pan for about 20 minutes and then use the parchment paper (handles) to gently lift the cake out of the cake pan. Place on a wire rack to let cake cool. (Or eat it warm!)
- Serve. Serve apple streusel cake with Toddy Cold Brew Coffee or a Caramel Latte.
Put me in coach! This recipe is tasty and truly amazing!