Description
Classic apple coffee cake with crumb topping brings warmth from homemade baking traditions. Sweet cinnamon streusel and tender apples create delightful comfort for weekend breakfast gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
Cake Base:
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) all-purpose flour
- 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced
- 3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) sour cream
- 2 large eggs
Leavening and Seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Crumb Topping:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Craft the crumbly topping by blending flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a mixing bowl, creating a sandy texture with melted butter until small, irregular clusters form.
- Position the oven rack in the middle and preheat to 350°F, thoroughly coating a 9-inch square baking pan with butter or non-stick spray.
- Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl, ensuring a smooth, lump-free dry mixture.
- In a large mixing bowl, vigorously cream butter and sugar until the mixture becomes light, airy, and pale, creating a smooth foundation for the cake.
- Incorporate eggs individually, beating thoroughly after each addition to maintain a consistent, silky batter texture.
- Introduce vanilla extract, blending it seamlessly into the mixture to enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Gently fold in sour cream, creating a rich, moist consistency, then gradually integrate the dry ingredients until just combined.
- Delicately fold diced apples throughout the batter, distributing them evenly for consistent flavor and texture.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, spreading it uniformly with a spatula to ensure even baking.
- Generously scatter the prepared crumb topping across the surface, creating a textured, golden-brown layer.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through to promote even browning, until a inserted toothpick emerges clean.
- Allow the cake to cool completely on a wire rack, permitting the flavors to settle and the texture to stabilize before slicing.
Notes
- Select firm, slightly tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for a balanced flavor and texture that holds up during baking.
- Allow ingredients like eggs, butter, and sour cream to reach room temperature to ensure smooth, even mixing and a lighter cake texture.
- Avoid overmixing the batter to prevent a tough, dense cake; mix just until ingredients are combined for a tender crumb.
- Customize the cake by adding chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans to the crumb topping for extra crunch and depth of flavor.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 21 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg