Apple Coffee Cake

This apple coffee cake is an easy fall dessert made with fresh apples, cinnamon brown sugar streusel, and a sweet homemade glaze.

Course Brunch, Dessert

Cuisine American

Diet Vegetarian

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 35

Total Time 55

Servings servings

Calories 139

Author Kim

Ingredients

Streusel topping

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons melted butter

Cake

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 cup room temperature butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 large egg room temperature
1/2 cup vanilla or plain yogurt (sour cream works too)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon apple extract (optional)
2-3 cups apple diced into very small pieces (any favorite apple will work)

Glaze (optional)

1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 to 2 teaspoons milk

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease an 8x8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray; dust with 1 tablespoon flour or line with parchment paper. Set aside.
To prepare the streusel topping, mix together the 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon in a medium bowl. Stir in the 2 tablespoons melted butter and use your hands to really mix it up good. Set aside.
For the cake, whisk together the 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 2 teaspoons cinnamon in a medium mixing bowl and set aside.
Add the 1/4 cup room temperature butter and 1/2 cup brown sugar to a separate mixing bowl and use an electric mixer on medium speed to combine ingredients for 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Scrape sides as needed and then add the 1 large egg, 1/2 cup vanilla or plain yogurt, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon apple extract (if using). Mix for 1 minute until combined and smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
Turn the mixer to low speed and gradually add the flour mixture. Mix until just combined and smooth, again, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary. Fold 2-3 cups apple diced into very small pieces into the batter.
Transfer the batter into prepared baking pan. Spread it out with a spatula. It will seem very thin, but don't worry, it will bake up nice and fluffy. Sprinkle streusel topping over the cake and gently press down with your fingers. It might seem like too much streusel, but we really enjoyed the amount.
Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the cake is set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. My cake was done in 30 minutes.
Remove cake from oven and place pan on a wire rack to cool completely, about 15 minutes.
Stir 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar and 1 to 2 teaspoons milk together in a small bowl, until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cake.

Video

Notes

Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions: Cake tastes best on day 1 or day 2. The cake may be made 1 day in advance. Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days. Cake can be frozen up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or for several hours at room temperature.
Double the Recipe: You can easily double this cake recipe and bake in a 9x13-inch baking dish.

This recipe was originally published September 2021. It was updated with new content and republished September 2026.

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