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Easy Apple Crumble Cake

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This Apple Crumble Cake is the perfect way to start your day. It’s sweet, moist, and delicious. Everything you could want in a simple apple cake recipe. And it’s easy to make too! 

A white plate with a slice of apple crumble cake topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzles on it.

Fresh apples and a streusel topping add a sweet flavor to this apple crumble cake. But it doesn’t stop there. We also added a sweet glaze that will make this coffee cake even more irresistible!

It really is the perfect treat for fall.  You won’t be able to stop eating bites once you try it for yourself.

Why You’ll Love this Apple Crumble Cake

It doesn’t matter if you are looking for a quick breakfast or if you just want something sweet after dinner. This simple fall cake is topped with apple slices, a crumble topping, and a sweet glaze, and it will hit the spot every time. 

This is a simple recipe that anyone can make at home, and it tastes absolutely delicious. It literally comes together in minutes with just a few simple ingredients.

Make your next brunch or breakfast extra special with this easy coffee cake recipe. Or warm it up and add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzles for dessert.  Either way, it’s sure to satisfy your apple cravings!

Overhead picture of an apple crumble cake with a sweet glaze on a white cake plate.

Main Ingredients Needed

This easy apple crumble cake recipe can be made in minutes with ingredients you probably already have on hand.

  • Butter – Unsalted and softened. If you use salted, adjust the salt in the recipe.
  • Brown Sugar – Light or dark brown sugar sweetens the coffee cake.
  • Applesauce – Adds a little more apple flavor. You can also use 1 egg instead of the applesauce.
  • Greek Yogurt – Gives it a great crumb texture. Sour cream can also be used in place of this.
  • Flour – Provides the structure in the batter. Make sure you are measuring the flour correctly.
  • Baking Powder & Baking Soda – The combination helps the cake rise and brown.
  • Salt & Vanilla Extract – Balances and adds flavor.
  • Spices – A combination of cinnamon and star anise add a delicious flavor. Don’t have star anise? Use nutmeg or extra cinnamon instead.
  • Apples – Cored and cut into thin slices. Leaving the peels on adds a little bit of color to the top of the cake.

Have leftover apple slices? Make a plate of apple nachos or a batch of this strawberry applesauce recipe to snack on.

A white board with bowls of ingredients needed to make an apple crumble coffee cake.

How to make an Apple Crumble Cake

This cinnamon apple crumble cake comes together in four easy steps. Follow each one and in minutes you can have this sweet cake baking in your oven too.

Step One: Cake Batter

  1. Beat the softened butter and brown sugar until creamy.
  2. Add applesauce, yogurt, and vanilla and mix again. It’s ok if the mixture looks strange or curdled.
  3. Slowly mix in the dry ingredients until a soft batter comes together.
  4. Spread in a prepared 9 inch springform pan.

Step Two: Apples

  1. Core and cut the apples into thin slices.
  2. Arrange the apples in a ring around the pan on top of the batter.
  3. Use more slices to make a smaller ring in the center. Do not over lap the apples.

Step Three: Crumble

  1. Cut the cold butter into the crumble ingredients.
  2. Drop pieces of the crumble evenly on top of the sliced apples.
  3. Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few crumbs on it.
  4. Remove and cool on a wire rack before removing the sides of the pan.

Step Four: Glaze

  1. Mix together powdered sugar and a little bit of water in a small bowl. 
  2. Drizzle over the top of the cooled apple coffee cake.

Six photos collaged together showing how to make the batter for an apple coffee cake.A white cake plate with a full apple crumble cake with a sweet glaze on it.

Storage

Counter: Let the cake cool completely, then cover tightly with plastic wrap or foil to keep the cake from drying out. It will keep on the counter for 1-2 days.

Freezer: Wrap the unglazed cake tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer safe bag or container. Freeze for 1-2 months. Thaw over night in the fridge. Bring to room temperature, then add the glaze before serving.

Tips and Variations

  • Use a a mix of sweet and tart apples to give the cake a great flavor. Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples are two great choices.
  • Do not layer the apple slices when you put them on the batter.  They should be mostly flat with the batter with just the very edge on top of each other.
  • Use other fruits to change up the breakfast cake. Pears, peaches, and raspberries would be great.
  • Add 1/4 cup of your favorite chopped nuts to the streusel topping.
  • Sprinkle the top of the cake with powdered sugar instead of adding the glaze.
  • Serve slices of this apple crumble cake with vanilla ice cream and salted caramel topping or with a big swirl of homemade whipped cream and cinnamon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different size pan?

You can also bake this coffee cake in an 8×8 pan or a regular 9 inch cake pan. Just remember that the baking time will need to be adjusted slightly based on the pan you use.

Do the apples need to be peeled?

That’s up to you. I prefer to leave the peels on in this cake because it adds color and texture.

A white plate with a slice of apple coffee cake topped with a glaze on it.

Other Breakfast Recipes with Apples

A white plate with a slice of apple crumble cake on it and a cake plate behind it.

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Apple Crumble Cake Recipe

Apple Crumble Cake Recipe

Yield: 10 slices of cake
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients

For the Cake

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup applesauce
  • 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon table salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon powdered star anise
  • 2 medium apples cut into thin slices

For the Topping

  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup quick oats
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter

For the Glaze

  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon water

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven tp 350°F. Line the bottom of a 9" springform pan with parchment paper. Spray the sides lightly with nonstick baking spray.
  2. Beat the butter and brown sugar until creamy. Add the applesauce, yogurt, and vanilla and beat again.
  3. Stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and star anise. Slowly beat it into the butter mixture.
  4. Spread the batter in the pan. Arrange the apple slices around the top of the cake. Do not overlap.
  5. Mix together the flour, oats, and cinnamon. Cut in the butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over the top of the apples.
  6. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with only a few crumbs on it. Let cool completely. Remove the sides of the pan.
  7. Stir together powdered sugar and water. Drizzle over the top of the cake.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 220Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 229mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 2gSugar: 17gProtein: 3g

Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Jocelyn @ Inside BruCrew Life
Two pictures of Apple Crumble Cake collaged together with a yellow text box.

*The post for Apple Crumble Cake was first published September 2015. The post and photos were updated and republished October 2021.

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Comments

  1. DogRescuer says

    Hi Jocelyn,
    Quick question. I am about to make this tomorrow and since I cannot really cook or bake, I have to follow recipes to a T.
    You said, “Also, do not layer the apples on the batter. The slices should be flat with the batter, so everything can bake evenly.” You mean I shouldn’t layer the slices on top of one another? I don’t know if it’s just me and I am missing something obvious here, it just kinda got me confused for a sec.
    Thanks a lot!

    Reply

  2. Karina says

    I made this cake the other night, I couldn’t find star anise in my cupboard, but it was delicious anyway!! It was so yummy warm from the oven on an autumn night! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

  6. Jamie @ Love Bakes Good Cakes says

    This looks like the perfect apple crumble cake! I wish I had a slice waiting for me for breakfast!! 🙂

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      Crumbles and glaze definitely make for one awesome fall cake. I do not envy your heat in CA right now…that would be so hard to get in the fall baking mode!

      Reply

  13. Anne says

    I think half of my cookbooks came from Goodwill. Gotta love it! What was the book where you found the original recipe?

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      I love looking for old cookbooks at Goodwill…I think this one actually came from an old Pillsbury cookbook. I tried to find the recipe online, but didn’t see anything like it on their website.

      Reply

  14. Kentuckylady717 says

    Yum, they all sound so good….which should I make first…that is the real question….I like the sound of anise in the cake, I do like that spice, and the glaze just took it to the top 🙂

    Thanks Jocelyn…..

    Reply

  16. Danae @ Recipe Runner says

    As soon as I saw a picture of this super crumbly apple stuffed cake I knew I had to come check out the recipe! It looks absolutely delicious Jocelyn! I’m intrigued by the powdered star anise, I’ll be checking that stuff out.

    Reply

  17. Beth says

    You make me laugh! We try to not turn our air on.. but I think it’s been on more this past week then the whole summer. I’m ready for fall! And apples, and cake!

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      We try to keep ours off too, but mother nature is laughing at us every day. So it comes back on in the afternoons. I am so ready for fall all day, every day!

      Reply

  19. allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says

    Gorgeous apple cake Jocelyn, I’d love this for breakfast. Broken AC is the pits. It’s been in the 90’s around here too, but thankfully our little window unit keeps chugging…have never used powdered star anise before and so now my curiosity is up and will have to try it out in this cake.

    Reply

  20. TammyO says

    Star anise with apple cake sounds cool! My grandma, who is Mennonite makes chicken soup with whole star anise. Sounds crazy, but it’s delicious!

    Reply

  21. Mir says

    Boy, does this look good. I’ve never used star anise powder before, but now it’s on my baking bucket list! I agree that 90 degrees in September has been bizarre, but I’m holding onto the heat for as long as it wants to keep me company!

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      It’s a spice I don’t use very often at all, but as soon as I opened the jar I knew it needed to be paired with this apple cake. Now you have me curious how it is in soup!!! Thanks for the pin love!

      Reply

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