Apple Crumble Cake (The Only Recipe You’ll Ever Need)

Get ready to discover your new favorite fall dessert. This Apple Crumble Cake is the perfect fusion of a moist, tender apple-studded cake and a crunchy, buttery cinnamon crumble topping. It’s a truly unforgettable dessert that delivers pure comfort in every single bite.

We designed this recipe to be straightforward and foolproof, ensuring even beginner bakers can achieve spectacular results. It’s the perfect centerpiece for a holiday gathering, a cozy weekend treat, or any time you crave a truly special, homemade dessert. This is more than just a cake; it’s an experience.

Why You’ll Love This Apple Crumble Cake Recipe

This isn’t just another apple cake recipe. It’s a carefully crafted guide to baking perfection, balancing textures and flavors in a way that will have everyone asking for a second slice.

• Perfect Texture Contrast: The base is an incredibly moist and fluffy cake, while the topping provides a deeply satisfying, crunchy streusel texture.
• Rich Autumn Flavors: Packed with warm cinnamon, sweet apples, and rich butter, this cake tastes like autumn in every forkful.
• Incredibly Simple: The steps are broken down and easy to follow. You don’t need to be a professional baker to make this show-stopping dessert.
• Versatile and Crowd-Pleasing: Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a decadent treat or enjoy a slice with your morning coffee.

The Key Ingredients for a Perfect Cake

The magic of this Apple Crumble Cake comes from using simple, high-quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to bring this masterpiece to life.

For the Irresistible Crumble Topping

The crumble is arguably the star. The secret is using cold butter to create a coarse, sandy texture that bakes into a perfectly crunchy topping.

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structural base for the crumble.
• Brown Sugar: Adds a deep, molasses-like sweetness and helps the crumble crisp up.
• Granulated Sugar: Contributes to the sweetness and crunchy texture.
• Ground Cinnamon: The essential warm spice that makes everything better.
• Salt: A pinch is crucial to balance the sweetness.
• Cold Unsalted Butter: Must be cold and cubed to create the right texture.

For the Moist Apple Cake

The cake itself is soft, buttery, and loaded with tender apple pieces. This carefully balanced batter ensures a moist crumb that holds up perfectly to the heavy crumble topping.

• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of our cake batter.
• Baking Powder: Gives the cake its beautiful lift and fluffy texture.
• Salt: Enhances all the other flavors.
• Unsalted Butter: Make sure it’s at room temperature for a smooth batter.
• Granulated Sugar & Brown Sugar: A mix of both provides the best flavor and moisture.
• Eggs: Room temperature eggs incorporate better into the batter.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds a layer of aromatic warmth.
• Sour Cream: The secret ingredient for an ultra-moist and tender cake.
• Apples: Use a firm, crisp variety like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best texture.

How to Make Apple Crumble Cake (Step-by-Step)

Follow these simple steps to create the most amazing Apple Crumble Cake from scratch. We’ll walk through preparing the crumble, mixing the batter, and assembling it all for a perfect bake.

Step 1: Prepare Your Crumble Topping

First, combine the flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk them together until evenly mixed. Add the cold, cubed butter and use your fingertips or a pastry cutter to work the butter into the dry ingredients. Continue until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces remaining. Place the bowl in the refrigerator to keep the butter cold while you prepare the rest of the cake.

Step 2: Prepare the Apples and Dry Ingredients

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease and flour a 9-inch springform pan or round cake pan. Peel, core, and chop your apples into about a ½-inch dice. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt for the cake. Set this aside.

Step 3: Mix the Cake Batter

In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the room temperature butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with the sour cream. Mix only until just combined—do not overmix.

Step 4: Assemble and Bake

Gently fold the diced apples into the finished cake batter. Pour the batter into your prepared pan and spread it into an even layer. Retrieve your crumble topping from the refrigerator and generously sprinkle it over the top of the batter, covering it completely. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out with moist crumbs attached. Let the cake cool in the pan for at least 20 minutes before releasing and serving.

Pro Tips for a Flawless Apple Crumble Cake

Want to guarantee your cake is the best it can be? Follow these expert tips.

• Use Cold Butter for the Crumble: Do not use softened butter! Cold butter is essential for creating those crisp, distinct crumbles on top.
• Don’t Overmix the Batter: Mix the dry and wet ingredients only until they are just combined. Overmixing develops gluten and can lead to a tough, dense cake.
• Choose the Right Apples: Firm, tart apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn are best. They hold their shape during baking and provide a nice flavor contrast to the sweet cake and crumble.
• Let It Cool Properly: Allowing the cake to cool in the pan helps it set, making it much easier to slice and serve without falling apart.

Delicious Variations to Try

While this recipe is perfect as is, you can easily customize it. For more cozy and comforting meals, try adding a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans to the crumble for extra crunch. A dash of nutmeg or cardamom in the cake batter can add another layer of warmth. For a decadent finish, drizzle the cooled cake with a simple caramel sauce.

This cake is one of our all-time favorites, right up there with our favorite fall dessert. The combination of spices and fruit is simply unbeatable, much like in other cinnamon-spiced treats.

Storing and Freezing Instructions

This Apple Crumble Cake stores beautifully. Keep it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze the entire cake or individual slices. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying.

Frequently Asked Questions About Apple Crumble Cake

The Ultimate Apple Crumble Cake Recipe

Apple Crumble Cake (The Only Recipe You'll Ever Need)

This Apple Crumble Cake recipe features a perfectly moist, apple-studded cake base topped with a crunchy, buttery cinnamon streusel. It's an easy-to-make, foolproof dessert perfect for any occasion.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 55 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Servings: 12 slices

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 385

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

For the Crumble Topping

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar packed
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 6 tbsp cold unsalted butter cut into small cubes

For the Apple Cake

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar packed
• 2 large eggs at room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup sour cream at room temperature
• 2 large apples peeled, cored, and diced (e.g., Granny Smith)

Equipment

• 1 9-inch Springform Pan
• 1 Electric mixer
• 3 Mixing Bowls

Instructions

 

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter. Using your fingertips, work the butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Refrigerate while you prepare the cake.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch springform pan. In a separate bowl, whisk together the 2 cups of flour, baking powder, and salt for the cake.
3. In a large bowl, beat the room temperature butter and sugars with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla.
4. On low speed, add the dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with the sour cream, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix only until just combined.
5. Gently fold the diced apples into the batter. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Sprinkle the chilled crumble mixture evenly over the top.
6. Bake for 50-60 minutes, until a tester inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs. Let cool in the pan for at least 20 minutes before serving.

Notes

Tip 1: For the best texture, use firm and tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp.
Tip 2: Ensure your butter for the crumble is very cold to achieve a crunchy, crisp topping.
Tip 3: Do not overmix the cake batter, as this can result in a dense and tough cake.

Share Your Creation!

We are so excited for you to try this amazing Apple Crumble Cake recipe. It’s a true labor of love that we know will become a staple in your home. If you make it, please leave a comment below and let us know what you think! We’d love to see your beautiful cakes, so don’t forget to share a photo on Pinterest!