Hey there! If you’re looking for the perfect treat that wraps up the cozy vibes of fall into a bite-sized delight, this Apple Crumb Cake with Cinnamon Apple Drizzle is calling your name. This is the kind of recipe where the scent alone makes your whole house feel inviting and warm. Some days, I make it just for the aroma therapy—no candle can match it! Plus, this cake is a family favorite in my house; even my picky eater loves it.
Before diving in, I’d like to suggest a check on my Apple Cinnamon Muffins. They’re a great grab-and-go snack if you’re apple-obsessed like me!
Why you’ll love this recipe
There are plenty of reasons why this apple crumb cake will become your new go-to, especially because:
- Comfort in every slice: The buttery, crumbly topping meets soft, spiced cake that’s perfect with apples.
- Versatile: You can serve it as a breakfast coffee cake or a dessert.
- Easy to make: No fancy techniques required. If I can make it while juggling kids, so can you!
- Make ahead: It stores well, so you can enjoy it over several days or share with friends.
Ingredients
Here’s everything you’ll need to whip up this delicious cake:
Cake
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and chopped into small cubes
Crumb Topping
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
Cinnamon Apple Drizzle
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons milk
- A pinch of salt
Step-by-step instructions
Preparing the cake
Prep the oven and pan:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Grease and flour a 9×9-inch baking pan, or line it with parchment paper.
Mix the dry ingredients:
In a medium bowl, whisk together:
- 1 ½ cups flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Ground cinnamon
- Salt
Set this aside.
Cream the butter and sugar:
In a large mixing bowl, beat together:
- ¾ cup softened butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Mix until light and fluffy.
Add eggs and vanilla:
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
Stir in the vanilla extract.
Combine wet and dry ingredients:
Add the dry ingredients to the wet in batches, alternating with sour cream.
Start and end with the dry ingredients.
Mix just until combined—don’t overdo it.
Add the apples:
Gently fold in chopped apples until they’re spread out evenly.
Pour the batter into your prepared pan.
Making the crumb topping
Make the crumb topping:
In a separate bowl, mix together:
- 1 cup flour
- Ground cinnamon
- Salt
- Brown sugar
- Granulated sugar
Add cold, cubed butter and use your fingers or a fork to mix until it looks like coarse crumbs.
Assemble and bake:
Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the cake batter.
Bake for 55–65 minutes, until the top is golden brown and a toothpick in the center comes out clean.
Cool the cake:
Let it sit in the pan for 15–20 minutes.
Then move it to a wire rack and let it cool completely.
Preparing the cinnamon apple drizzle
To make the sauce:
In a small saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat.
Add brown sugar, cinnamon, milk, and a pinch of salt.
Stir and cook for 2–3 minutes until it’s smooth and blended.
To serve:
Drizzle the warm sauce over the cooled cake, or serve it on the side.
Recipe tips & variations
Apple types:
You don’t have to stick to one kind of apple. Granny Smith apples are tart, but Honeycrisp or Fuji apples are sweet and work great too.
Make it your own:
Add chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans to the crumb topping if you want extra crunch.
Dairy-free option:
Use dairy-free butter and swap the sour cream for coconut yogurt to make it dairy-free.
Storage & reheating
Store your apple crumb cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, keep it in the fridge and warm up slices in the microwave for a few seconds to bring back that fresh-out-of-the-oven warmth.
FAQs
Absolutely! Feel free to experiment with different apple varieties like Fuji, Honeycrisp, or even a mix!
Yes, simply swap out dairy butter for a plant-based option and use coconut yogurt instead of sour cream.
Check with a toothpick in the center. If it comes out clean, you’re good to go!
Recipes you may like
Here are a few more recipes to tickle your taste buds:
- Add cherry pie filling to cheesecake bar desserts
- Make cherry icebox cakes for summer treats
- Pair cherry pie filling with mint cheesecake flavors
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Print
Apple Crumb Cake with Cinnamon Apple Drizzle
- Total Time: 85 minutes
- Yield: 9 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delicious and cozy Apple Crumb Cake with a delightful Cinnamon Apple Drizzle, perfect for fall.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and chopped into small cubes
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (for crumb topping)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for crumb topping)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (for crumb topping)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed (for crumb topping)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed (for crumb topping)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for crumb topping)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (for drizzle)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed (for drizzle)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for drizzle)
- 2 tablespoons milk (for drizzle)
- A pinch of salt (for drizzle)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×9-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 ½ cups flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together ¾ cup softened butter and 1 cup granulated sugar until it’s light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in alternating batches with the sour cream, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined, being careful not to over-mix.
- Gently fold in the chopped apples until evenly distributed, then pour the batter into your prepared baking pan.
- In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup flour, ground cinnamon, salt, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Add the cold, cubed butter and mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Evenly sprinkle the crumb topping over the cake batter.
- Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 15-20 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- In a small saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar, cinnamon, milk, and a pinch of salt. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is smooth.
- Drizzle the warm sauce over the cooled cake or serve it on the side.
Notes
- Apple types: Don’t feel limited to one type of apple—Granny Smiths are great for a tart contrast, but Honeycrisp or Fuji apples also work beautifully.
- Make it your own: Add a handful of chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans to the crumb topping for extra crunch.
- Dairy-free option: Substitute dairy-free butter and use coconut yogurt in lieu of sour cream to keep it dairy-free.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 65 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 60mg