This Apple Butter Coffee Cake will steal the show this fall. With layers of soft cake, apple butter, oat crumble, and a sweet glaze, it's the perfect treat to enjoy with coffee or to share with friends and family.
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Apple Butter Crumble Cake
Fall is my favorite season. I love the changing leaves, crisp air, apple picking, and all the apple treats. This is also the time of year when you can find jars of rich apple butter in stores.
Apple butter takes me back to my childhood. We always had a jar of this spicy, thick spread in our refrigerator for toast or biscuits.
This apple spread is delicious on toast but has many other uses. Last year, I used it in this apple butter bread and these apple butter cinnamon rolls, which are still family favorites.
This fall, I wanted to make a coffee cake that could be enjoyed for breakfast or dessert. I used the base recipe from my strawberry snack cake and added apple butter filling and a cinnamon crumb topping.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Fall Flavors: Apple butter and cinnamon create the perfect fall flavor combination, making this cake a seasonal delight.
- Perfect for Sharing: This autumn snack cake is perfect for brunches, potlucks, or a cozy family breakfast.
- Comfort Food: The warm, sweet, spiced flavor makes it perfect for chilly mornings or evenings.
- Easy to Make: This coffee cake is simple despite its fancy layers.
Main Ingredients
To make this apple butter coffee cake recipe, you will need a few basic ingredients and a jar of apple butter.
- Butter - We like to use unsalted butter to adjust the salt in the recipe to our liking. Set it out ahead of time so it can soften.
- Sugar - A combination of white sugar and brown sugar sweetens the cake base.
- Eggs - Provides moisture to the batter.
- Baking Powder - Provides the lift as the cake bakes.
- Flour - All-purpose flour adds structure to the batter. Learn how to measure flour correctly so your baked goods turn out every time.
- Apple Butter - You can use store-bought apple butter or make a homemade apple butter recipe. Either one works great!
- Topping - Oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter make the most amazing crisp crumble.
- Glaze - Whisk water and powdered sugar together to make a sweet drizzle.
How To Make Apple Butter Coffee Cake
Make our apple butter coffee cake for a taste of fall without spending too much time in the kitchen. The layers of this snack cake come together quickly.
- Beat the softened butter and sugars in a large mixing bowl until creamy. Add the eggs and then beat again. Stir the dry ingredients into the butter mixture until a soft dough forms. Spread the coffee cake batter in a prepared sheet cake pan.
- Spoon the apple butter over the top, then spread it in an even layer, leaving a ½-inch border.
- Stir together the topping ingredients in a separate bowl until the mixture resembles sand. Sprinkle over the apple butter layer and then bake in the oven. Remove and cool before adding the glaze.
BruCrew Tip: Cut the cake into bars and drizzle with the glaze once the cake is cool.
Storage Recommendations
Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Tips and Tricks
- Line a 10x15 pan with foil and spray it with a nonstick spray like Baker's Joy. Removing the cake from the baking sheet and foil is much easier.
- Add toasted nuts to the batter or crumble topping to add flavor and crunch.
- Use an angled spatula to spread the dough into the pan because it is very sticky.
- When spreading the apple butter, leave a ½ inch border around the edge so the cake batter will bake up around the apple butter.
- Make sure the cake is completely cool before adding the glaze. A warm cake will make the glaze melt into the topping.
- Serve squares with a hot cup of coffee or a cold glass of apple cider tea.
FAQs
Other fruit spreads, like pear butter or pumpkin butter, can also be used. Each will bring its unique flavor to the cake.
Applesauce has a higher water content, which can affect the texture of your cake. Apple butter has a deeper, more intense flavor than applesauce's lighter, more subtle taste.
Absolutely! Chopped pecans or walnuts would add a great crunch and flavor to the topping.
More Apple Butter Desserts
- Apple Butter Shortbread Bars
- Apple Butter Cake
- Apple Butter Cookies
- Apple Butter Oatmeal Bars
- Apple Butter Muffins
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Recipe
Apple Butter Coffee Cake
This Apple Butter Coffee Cake has layers of cake, apple butter, oat crumble, and a sweet glaze. It is the perfect fall cake for breakfast or an afternoon snack.
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 2 cups Musselman's Apple Butter
For the Topping
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- ½ cup quick oats
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon table salt
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
For the Glaze
- 1 ¼ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 15x10 pan with foil. Spray with nonstick spray and set aside.
- Beat the butter and sugars until creamy. Add the eggs and beat again. Stir together the salt, baking powder, and flour and add to the butter mixture until a soft dough forms.
- Spread the dough into the pan. Spoon the apple butter over the top and spread out evenly, leaving a ½-inch border all around.
- Stir together the topping ingredients until it resembles sand. Sprinkle over the apple butter layer. Bake for 22-24 minutes. Remove and cool. Cut into 30 bars.
- Stir together the powdered sugar and water. Drizzle over the cake squares. Let set. Store in a covered container on the counter.
Notes
- Line a 10x15 pan with foil and spray it with a nonstick spray like Baker's Joy. Removing the cake from the baking sheet and foil is much easier.
- Add toasted nuts to the batter or crumble topping to add flavor and crunch.
- Use an angled spatula to spread the dough into the pan because it is very sticky.
- When spreading the apple butter, leave a ½ inch border around the edge so the cake batter will bake up around the apple butter.
- Make sure the cake is completely cool before adding the glaze. A warm cake will make the glaze melt into the topping.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 30 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 230Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 122mgCarbohydrates: 36gFiber: 1gSugar: 23gProtein: 3g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
This post was first published in October 2014. It was updated and then republished in August 2024.
Mary Hickey
I don't have a 10x15 pan. can I use another size ?
Jocelyn
You could bake it in a normal 9x13 pan. The baking time will definitely need to be increased, but I'm not sure how much longer because I have never used a different pan for this recipe. I like using the sheet pan because it keeps the cake thinner. Keep me posted if you try it this way.
JOYCE
can you use homemake apple butter instead of store bought?
Jocelyn
You sure can. I hope you enjoy it!
Kari Davis
Would this work with applesauce instead of apple butter?
Jocelyn
I think it would work ok, but I can't say 100% for sure. The only thing that I would worry about is that applesauce is runnier than apple butter, so I'm not sure how it would end up. You could always strain your applesauce through cheesecloth to remove some of the excess moisture. Let me know how it works if you try it.
Christine Thompson
These are awesome. Just out of the oven and I can eat the whole pan. I doubled the topping only because I love lots of crumble. Thank you so much for this great recipe 🙂
Marielys
I never comment on recipes but I had to because this one is THAT good. I had a jar of apple butter I was ready to get rid of but thankfully I found this recipe before I did so. I baked it in a 9 x 13 and put some extra in a pie pan. They just came out of the oven and my house smells amazing. The glaze on top is what ties it all together for me. Could not be happier. Thank you.
Jocelyn
I am so happy to hear you are enjoy these bars. They are definitely one of my favorite things to make with apple butter. Have a great weekend!
Brittany
Making this now for my husband to take into work tomorrow! It smells amazing-I am a little biased on the apple butter though, mine is homemade! Thanks for sharing a great recipe. I will definitely be using this again considering all the canned Apple butter that I have 🙂
Cassie
This looks great! I have some pumpkin butter I'd like to try it with. Do you think it could be cut in half to a 9x9 pan?
Jocelyn Brubaker
I do think it could be cut in half. And pumpkin butter would be so good on this. Keep me posted on how it turns out!
Erin @ Simple, Sweet & Savory
Ohhhhh my heavens does this look delicious. Apple is the quintessential fall baking ingredient and these look so addicting. Which means, of course, that I'm going to have to make them. YUM!
Jessica Knott {Swankyrecipes}
These look amazingly delicious! Will def be baking these soon, thanks for sharing!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Jessica! 🙂
The Wright Touch
These are so good , brings back memories when my Mom and all her family would get together and make Apple Butter in a copper kettle on the farm. Wonderful Days!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Mmmm, I bet that smelled wonderful! 🙂
Chels+R.
Oh, that drizzle is calling my name. This looks amazing. I love apples in baked goods.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Chels! 🙂
Michelle
Made this today for a family dinner. It was great. I loved that it was super quick to put together. I had it in the oven in less than 15 minutes. I also enjoyed that the bottom had a cake type texture. It didn’t feel like most bar type cookies. I did make a half batch in a quarter sheet pan but am looking forward to trying again with different filling flavors. Thanks for the recipe .
laura@notatrophywife.com
The title alone brought back memories of apple butter on toast! Printing this recipe! If you get a minute would you link this to Friday Favorites? Party goes live Thursday night! laura