This delicious apple crumb cake is a moist, comforting coffee cake made with sour cream for extra richness. A thin layer of sliced apples sits beneath a substantial cinnamon streusel that bakes into a crisp, fragrant topping.
How This Is Different From Other Cakes
This coffee cake is light, tender and very moist thanks to sour cream in the batter. It uses fewer apples than some fruit-forward cakes to leave room for a generous cinnamon streusel layer. The streusel here is sandy and crisp because it’s made with melted butter rather than the chunkier, oat-forward crumble often used for crisps.
What You Need to Make This Apple Crumb Cake
Most of these ingredients are pantry staples. The combination of sour cream, brown sugar and cinnamon gives the cake its moist crumb and classic flavour.
- Flour – all-purpose for the batter; a mix of all-purpose and whole wheat for the streusel.
- Spices – ground cinnamon is classic with apples; pumpkin spice or a similar blend also works.
- Brown sugar – recipe uses both light and dark brown sugar for depth of flavour.
- Butter – unsalted is preferred; if using salted butter, reduce added salt.
- Leavening – baking powder and baking soda for reliable rise.
- Salt – fine kosher salt is used; reduce if using table salt.
- Vanilla – pure vanilla extract for best flavour.
- Eggs – large, at room temperature so the batter emulsifies properly.
- Sour cream – full-fat (about 14% fat) for a tender, moist cake.
- Apple – a baking apple that holds its shape, such as Cortland, Gala, Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp or Granny Smith.
See the recipe card below for exact quantities and step-by-step instructions.
Substitutions and Variations
When substituting ingredients in baking, consider how each element affects texture and flavour.
- Sour cream – crème fraîche or a high-fat Greek yogurt (9% fat or more) can replace sour cream. Avoid low-fat sour cream to prevent a dry cake.
- Apples – thinly sliced pears work well as an alternative; if using canned pears, pat dry before slicing.
- Streusel shortcut – graham cracker crumbs mixed with melted butter and sugar can replace the flour-based streusel for a similar crunchy topping.
How To Make Coffee Cake with Apples
Crumb cakes are straightforward. Use the creaming method for the batter and simply mix the streusel together with a fork. Layer batter, sliced apples and streusel in a prepared pan, then bake until set. Key steps:
Step 1: Make the cinnamon streusel by combining the flours, cinnamon and brown sugar, then add melted butter and stir until the mixture is moistened and resembles wet sand.
Step 2: Cream softened butter with light brown sugar, then add vanilla and eggs one at a time, beating until light and well combined.
Step 3: With the mixer on low, alternate adding the dry ingredients and sour cream, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. The batter should be thick and smooth.
Step 4: Prepare a 9×9-inch pan by buttering, flouring and lining the bottom with parchment. Spread the batter evenly in the pan and slice the apple thinly for the topping.
Step 5: Arrange a single even layer of apple slices over the batter, then scatter the streusel evenly over the apples.
Step 6: Bake until the edges pull away and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before slicing.
Cut the cake into nine generous squares. If you prefer smaller portions, cut each square in half to yield 18 pieces.
Baking FAQs
Choose an apple that holds its shape while baking: Cortland, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Gala and Golden Delicious are all good choices. McIntosh tends to break down and is better for sauces.
Crumb cake, also called coffee cake or streusel cake, is topped with a thick layer of crumbly streusel made from butter, sugar and flour.
All states of butter work but yield different textures: melted butter produces a sandy streusel, softened butter makes clumps, and cold butter creates more distinct flakes. Melted butter is easiest for a sandy streusel like this recipe uses.
More Recipes with Streusel Topping
If you enjoy streusel, try other baked goods that use a similar topping, including fruit muffins and crumbles with seasonal fruit.
More Creative Ways to Bake With Apples
Fall apples are versatile — use them in crumbles, tarts and cookies. Try combining apples with berries or warming spices for variety.
If you tried this apple crumb cake recipe (or another recipe on this site), please leave a star rating and share your feedback in the comments — I love hearing from you!
📖 Recipe
Apple Crumb Cake
Equipment
- 5-quart mixer or a hand mixer
- Whisk
- Spatula
- 9×9-inch pan
Ingredients
Cinnamon Streusel
- 60 g bleached all-purpose flour
- 40 g whole wheat all-purpose flour
- 7.5 mL ground cinnamon
- 100 g dark brown sugar
- 58 g unsalted butter, melted
Sour Cream Cake
- 250 g bleached all-purpose flour
- 5 mL baking powder
- 2.5 mL baking soda
- 2.5 mL fine kosher salt (reduce if using table salt)
- 115 g unsalted butter, softened
- 250 g light brown sugar
- 7.5 mL pure vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 250 mL sour cream (about 14% fat)
- 1 Cortland apple, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
Instructions
- Prepare a 9×9-inch pan by buttering, flouring and lining the bottom with parchment. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Streusel: In a small bowl, stir together the streusel ingredients with a fork until the dry ingredients are moistened and the mixture clumps slightly. Set aside.
- Cake: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt.
- Cream the softened butter and light brown sugar in a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add vanilla, then add eggs one at a time, scraping the bowl as needed.
- On low speed, add the dry ingredients alternately with the sour cream, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Stir briefly with a spatula to ensure the batter is smooth.
- Assembly and baking: Spread batter evenly in the prepared pan. Arrange a single layer of thin apple slices over the batter and press gently. Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the apples and press lightly. Bake for 40–50 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean and the edges pull away from the pan.
- Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
Notes
- If using table salt, use half the listed amount to avoid oversalting.
- Choose apple varieties that hold their shape when baked. Cortland, Golden Delicious, Gala, Honeycrisp and Granny Smith are all good options.
- Sour cream can be substituted with crème fraîche or full-fat Greek yogurt (9% fat or more). Do not use low-fat sour cream.
- To add more apple, dice one apple and fold it into the batter, then use a second apple, sliced, as the topping.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.