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Apple Coffee Cake

Apple Coffee Cake
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This Apple Coffee Cake is a warm, comforting, and delicious treat featuring tender crumb, fresh apple chunks, and a generous sprinkle of cinnamon. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert, it offers a moist and flavorful bite with a crunchy streusel topping that’s simple to make and customizable to your taste.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake Ingredients

  • 2 to 3 fresh tart apples (such as Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and diced
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (or plant-based butter for dairy-free)
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Streusel Topping

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend)
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans, optional)
  • 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed (or plant-based butter for dairy-free)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Apples: Peel, core, and dice the apples into small, uniform pieces to ensure even fruit distribution and moist, flavorful bites throughout the cake.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt to evenly distribute spices and leavening agents for a perfect texture.
  3. Cream Butter and Eggs: Using a mixer, beat the softened butter and eggs on medium-high speed until light and fluffy; this traps air and helps the cake rise beautifully.
  4. Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the butter and egg mixture to avoid overmixing, then fold in the diced apples gently, coating them evenly without breaking them apart.
  5. Prepare the Streusel Topping: Mix the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and chopped nuts (if using) with cold butter cubes until crumbly and coarse to form a crunchy, caramelized topping.
  6. Assemble and Bake: Pour the batter into a greased baking pan, sprinkle the streusel evenly over the top, and bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 45-55 minutes or until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.

Notes

  • Use room temperature eggs and butter for better mixing and lighter texture.
  • Gently fold ingredients to prevent overmixing and maintain a tender crumb.
  • Choose tart, firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp to balance sweetness and acidity.
  • Keep butter cold in the streusel topping for a crispy, crumbly texture after baking.
  • Test doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out with just a few moist crumbs.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple coffee cake, cinnamon cake, streusel topping, moist cake, breakfast cake, gluten-free cake, dairy-free option, fall desserts

Find it online: https://juliaglam.com/apple-coffee-cake/