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The Ultimate Moist Apple Crumb Cake with Buttery Cinnamon Streusel Topping

A moist apple crumb cake with a thick layer of cinnamon streusel topping, sliced open to show the tender cake and apple filling.
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This recipe delivers a truly moist apple cake base, tender cinnamon-spiced apples, and a generous, buttery crumb topping. It is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a comforting dessert.

Ingredients

Scale
  • For the Cake: 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup sour cream or plain full-fat yogurt
  • 2 medium apples (like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and diced
  • For the Buttery Crumb Topping: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • For the Optional Cinnamon Drizzle: 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk or cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch square baking pan or an 8-inch round cake pan.
  2. Prepare the cake batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 3/4 cups flour, baking powder, salt, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Set this aside.
  3. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  4. Alternate adding the dry ingredients mixture and the sour cream to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix only until just combined; do not overmix.
  5. Gently fold the diced apples into the batter. Spread the batter evenly into your prepared pan.
  6. Prepare the buttery crumb topping: In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
  7. Cut in the cold butter pieces using a pastry blender or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  8. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the cake batter.
  9. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  10. Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes before serving.
  11. If using the drizzle, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon until smooth. Drizzle over the warm or cooled cake.

Notes

  • For the moist cake texture, make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature before mixing.
  • To keep the apples tender, toss them lightly with 1 tablespoon of the flour mixture before folding them into the batter.
  • If you prefer a crunchier topping, bake the cake for 5 minutes longer, watching carefully to prevent burning.
  • This cake pairs well with vanilla ice cream or a cup of hot coffee.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://juliameal.com/apple-crumb-cake-recipe-moist-buttery/