Easy Apple Crumble Cake with Streusel Topping

It’s no coincidence that the start of baking season and apple-picking season are one and the same. Nature never fails to provide! Fall’s favorite fruit is perfect for mixing up into easy apple desserts like my apple pie bars, French tarte tatin, or this apple crumble coffee cake. If you’re ready to make your whole house smell like an autumnal wonderland, this easy recipe should be top of your list.

How to Make Apple Crumble Cake

Watch the full video recipe to learn how to make the BEST Apple Streusel Cake recipe. This step-by-step tutorial simplifies the process, offering tips and tricks to guarantee perfect results every time.

Prefer the written recipe? Scroll down to the recipe box 👇

Why You’ll Love Apple Crumble Cake

• With over 228,000 views and nearly 5,000 likes on my YouTube video, it’s clear this recipe is a winner. Don’t you just love when you know a baking project will be a success?!?
• The combination of tender coffee cake, crunchy streusel topping, and sweet-tart apples is unbeatable. It’s cozy, comforting, and crowd-pleasing!
• Sneak a slice for a decadent breakfast, serve it at tea time, or turn it into a full-blown dessert. This versatile apple streusel coffee cake recipe can do it all, in style.

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Apples & Lemon Juice – Adding a bit of bright acidity to the apples helps keep their color clean and emphasizes their sweet-tart flavor profile. Use fresh lemon juice if possible!
• Vanilla Extract – You’re welcome to use an equal amount of vanilla paste or powder.
• Butter – For cooking the apples, because butter makes everything better! 
• Honey & Brown Sugar – I prefer sweetening the apples with floral honey and using brown sugar in the crumble topping. If needed, swap in brown sugar or maple syrup for honey.
• Ground Almonds – Also known as almond meal, this adds a lovely texture and nutty flavor to the streusel.
• All-Purpose Flour, Baking Powder, & Salt – Combined, these three ingredients make self-rising flour. Feel free to swap it in if needed.
• Cinnamon – Apples and cinnamon go together like caramel and sea salt. Experiment with spicy cassia cinnamon and sweeter, more floral canela to find your favorite iteration of this ubiquitous spice.
• Large Eggs – When recipes call for more than one, the size of your eggs matters. 1 large egg = ¼ cup.
• Granulated Sugar – Using neutral white sugar is necessary for achieving the perfect coffee cake consistency. Feel free to use an equal amount of caster/superfine or cane sugar.
• Neutral Oil – Using oil instead of butter in the cake batter creates a fluffier consistency. Choose neutral-flavored options like avocado, canola, or sunflower oil so as not to overpower the apples. Feel free to swap in melted butter for a richer, denser cake.
• Milk – Swap the milk in the cake batter with the same amount of buttermilk for an even softer, more tender crumb.

This is just a short review of the ingredients; for the complete recipe, including quantities, scroll down to the recipe card 👇

The Wide World of Apple Cakes: What is Apple Crumb Cake?

Apple cakes are a wonderfully broad category of desserts where textures, flavors, techniques, and even ingredients vary widely. This Cinnamon Apple Crumble Cake (or streusel cake) is all about contrasting textures and flavors: a soft, buttery cake base mixed with grated caramelized apples, and a crunchy cinnamon crumble topping, much like my Easy Apple Fritters, which balance a crispy exterior with a soft, cinnamon-spiced center under a light glaze.

By contrast, my Easiest Apple Cake keeps things simple with a rustic semolina base and grated apples baked right in. With no toppings and no fuss, this is an everyday cake you can pull together quickly. 

If you’re looking for a more nutritious option, my Apple Oatmeal Cake or Healthy Apple Oatmeal Snack Cake are the way to go. These snacking cakes lean more wholesome, using oats for heartiness, plus less sugar and fat. They’re just as fitting for breakfast or snacking as they are for dessert!

For a special presentation, my Upside-Down Apple Cake flips the script, quite literally. The apples are caramelized on the bottom of the pan and turn into a glossy topping once inverted. Meanwhile, The Best Apple Cake is more of a classic, tender crumb cake where apples are folded right into the batter, delivering pure apple-spice comfort without multiple components.

The combination of textures and flavors in this apple streusel cake makes this low-lift treat exceptionally crave-worthy. It has the richness of caramelized apples, the softness of a sponge, and the buttery crunch of streusel, all in one bite. It’s more indulgent than the oatmeal snack cakes, and more rustic than the upside-down cake, making it a perfect middle ground.

Optional Variations & Dietary Adaptations

• Nut-Free – Swap the almond meal for flour to make a nut-free streusel.
• Gluten-Free – I haven’t tried it, but I think this recipe would be a good candidate for using 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blends. Try to find one with xanthan gum and allow the batter to rest for 30 minutes before baking for the best texture.
• Pre-Portioned – Don’t want to fuss with slicing and serving? Try making my apple crumble muffins instead.
• Extra Crumbly – For extra crunch, add a tablespoon of rolled oats or chopped nuts to the crumble mix.

Expert Tips & Tricks 

• Choose the right apples. A mix of tart and sweet (like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp) gives the cake balance and prevents it from being overly sweet. Stick to firm apples so they hold up during baking.
• Caramelize with care. When cooking down the apples, keep the heat medium and stir occasionally. You want them golden and slightly softened, not mushy or burnt.
• Keep the butter cold for the crumble. Cold butter is the key to a crisp, crumbly streusel topping. If the butter gets too soft, the topping will bake up greasy instead of crunchy.
• Don’t overmix the batter. Once the dry ingredients meet the wet, stir gently just until combined. Overmixing can make the cake dense instead of tender.
• Check doneness with a skewer. Insert a toothpick or skewer into the cake portion (not the apple or crumble layer). If it comes out with just a few crumbs, the cake is ready.
• Let it cool slightly before slicing. The cake needs time to set up; cutting too soon can cause the crumble to slide. Waiting 20-30 minutes gives you cleaner slices. Better yet, let it rest overnight so the flavors can meld.

How to Serve Apple Crumble Cake

This apple streusel cake is delicious on its own, but a few thoughtful pairings can make it even more special. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla or salted caramel ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for a classic dessert combo. A drizzle of caramel sauce over the top takes it to the next level, especially if you love extra buttery salty-sweetness.

For a cozier touch, pair a slice with a pumpkin spice latte, spiced chai, or mulled cider—it’s the perfect snack for fall gatherings or as an afternoon pick-me-up. This cake also makes a wonderful addition to a brunch spread. Serve it alongside savory dishes like Spanish omelet or scrambled eggs as a morning treat.

How to Store Apple Crumble Coffee Cake

• Make Ahead: This cake actually tastes even better the next day, once the flavors have had time to settle and meld together. 
• Store it covered at room temperature for up to 2 days. 
• Refrigerate for up to 5 days.
• Freezing: To keep it longer, wrap the cake well in plastic wrap and foil (or place slices in an airtight container) and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then bring to room temperature or warm gently in the oven before serving.
• Reheating: For the best texture, warm individual slices in a 300°F (150°C) oven or toaster oven for 5-10 minutes. This not only refreshes the cake but also helps crisp the crumble topping back up. Avoid the microwave if possible, as it can make the crumble soggy.

FAQs