Apple Crumb Cake – Sally’s Baking

Extremely comfortable apple crumb cake is loaded with heat cinnamon apples and further crumb topping. A selfmade model of traditional New York-style crumb cake, this breakfast cake is buttery and moist, deliciously tender, and drizzled with candy maple icing.

I initially printed this recipe in 2017 and have since added new photographs and extra success suggestions.

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If crumb topping is your love language, you’ve come to the correct place. And if heat cinnamon apples make your mouth water, at the moment’s your day. Lastly, if comfortable buttery cake is your best indulgence, I’m your baker.

At present’s selfmade apple crumb cake is like my apple cinnamon crumb muffins, apple cake, and apple cinnamon bread… however in breakfast/espresso cake type. These are favourite seasonal recipes to make (together with pumpkin crumb cake muffins), so a cake model is a no brainer. Readers have beloved it:

One reader, Jean, commented: “Among the finest crumb desserts I’ve ever made. The crumb topping adhered superbly and made the cake. I additionally just like the addition of bitter cream to the cake which helped to make the cake moist, not dry like so many crumb desserts. ★★★★★“

One reader, Les, commented: “There is no such thing as a different phrase to explain this cake than PERFECT! Tried many recipes out of your web site and this one is now in our prime 3 greatest desserts… ★★★★★“

One reader, Martha, commented: “There are usually not sufficient superlatives to adequately describe this cake. Perfection. This can be a keeper recipe. ★★★★★“

One reader, Sarah, commented: “THIS CAKE DESERVES WAY MORE THAN 5 STARS. Completely marvelous recipe… it will perpetually be my ‘go-to’ espresso cake recipe… the crumb topping is delightfully crunchy and is well one of the best streusel I’ve ever had. ★★★★★“

Elements You Want & Why

Like my conventional espresso cake recipe, it is a butter- and bitter cream-based cake, AKA one of the best sort of cake, and right here’s what it’s good to make it:

• Flour: All-purpose flour supplies the construction of this cake. It’s sturdy sufficient to help the thick batter and a number of layers of this crumb cake.
• Baking Soda + Baking Powder: Baking soda and baking powder assist the cake rise.
• Sugar: Granulated sugar sweetens the cake, and also you want brown sugar for the crumb topping.
• Butter: Butter provides taste and creates construction within the creaming course of.
• Bitter Cream: Bitter cream provides us an especially moist crumb cake that’s a bit denser than, say, a fluffy vanilla cake. Tight crumbs, like pound cake, however with a a lot softer texture. Don’t take away the fats from this cake by utilizing a lower-fat different. Fats = taste! We don’t wish to skimp there. That is cake!
• Eggs: 3 eggs add richness and bind the components collectively.
• Salt + Vanilla Extract: Use each for taste.
• Cinnamon: We are able to’t have crumb cake with out cinnamon!
• Apples: The star of apple crumb cake, in fact.

Overview: Methods to Make Apple Crumb Cake

After I first examined this recipe, I blended the apples into the cake batter (identical to we do in my apple cinnamon muffins recipe). This was tasty, in fact, however the items of apples every held a soggy define contained in the baked cake. It simply… didn’t look appetizing. I discovered that layering the apples on prime of the cake batter was greatest.

This provides us 3 delectable layers: a comfortable and buttery cake, topped with tender cinnamon-spiced apples, after which a TRUCK LOAD of crumb topping.

This apple crumb cake comes collectively simply.

Make the crumb topping first. Place that within the fridge or freezer till you want it. The colder the crumbs, the extra they are going to maintain form within the oven.

Whisk the dry components collectively and put aside. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar till mild and fluffy. Beat within the eggs, bitter cream, and vanilla till mixed—the combination could look curdled, and that’s completely positive. Gently combine the moist and dry components collectively.

Toss the apple chunks with cinnamon, then unfold the thick batter right into a 9×13-inch pan (this measurement is excellent for the quantity of batter). I’m utilizing this pan within the photographs. Scatter the apples and crumb topping evenly over the batter, urgent the crumbs down firmly in order that they stick.

Bake till golden and set. If the highest or edges start browning too rapidly, loosely cowl the pan with aluminum foil to forestall over-baking.

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Crumb Cake with Further Crumbs

You’ll discover A LOT of components within the crumb topping. Not within the variety of components, however when it comes to the quantity of components… like extra butter, sugar, and simply as a lot flour as within the cake itself. Why? As a result of the crumb topping is the BEST PART of a CRUMB CAKE!

You’re utilizing the identical components within the crumb topping as you’re within the cake, so it’s an especially handy recipe. The gang’s all right here: granulated sugar, cinnamon, salt, melted butter, and flour, plus brown sugar. Make certain some crumbles keep in bigger chunks as a result of these are one of the best bites.

The crumb layer is actually half the cake and I see zero downside with this! In any other case, you may as nicely simply make an everyday apple cake (additionally scrumptious, by the way in which)!

Icing Choices

This apple crumb cake really doesn’t want something on prime, but when the chance for candy maple icing presents itself, we’d be fools to say no. Listed here are some fantastic icing choices for this cake:

And if you’re in search of extra fall dessert inspiration, here’s a record of 30+ fall cake recipes.

Print

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Description

Scrumptious New York-style crumb cake with heat cinnamon apples and DOUBLE the buttery crumb topping! Make the crumb topping first, after which place it within the fridge or freezer till prepared to make use of. Chilly crumbs maintain their form within the oven.

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Crumb Topping

• 1 cup (200g) packed mild or darkish brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
• 1 Tablespoon floor cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (16 Tbsp; 226g) unsalted butter, melted
• 2 and 1/2 cups (313g) all objective flour (spooned & leveled)

Cake

• 2 and 1/2 cups (313g) all objective flour (spooned & leveled)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup (12 Tbsp; 170g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 and 1/4 cups (250g) granulated sugar
• 3 giant eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup (240g) full-fat bitter cream, at room temperature*
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 3 cups (375g) peeled chopped apples (about 2–3 giant apples, see Word)
• 1/4 teaspoon floor cinnamon
• non-compulsory: maple icing, vanilla icing, or caramel icing from apple cinnamon rolls

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1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and grease a glass or metallic 9×13-inch baking pan or line with parchment paper. Put aside.
2. Make the crumb topping: Combine the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt collectively in a medium bowl. Stir within the melted butter. Utilizing a fork, frivolously combine within the flour till crumbles type. Don’t over-mix. Place within the fridge or freezer till you want it in step 6. Chilly crumbs maintain their form within the oven.
3. Make the cake: Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt collectively. Put aside.
4. Utilizing a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and granulated sugar collectively on excessive pace till mild and creamy, about 3 minutes. (Right here’s a useful tutorial should you want steering on how one can cream butter and sugar.) Scrape down the perimeters and up the underside of the bowl with a silicone spatula as wanted. Add the eggs, bitter cream, and the vanilla. Beat on medium-high pace till mixed. The combination will look curdled; that’s okay. Scrape down the perimeters and up the underside of the bowl as wanted. With the mixer on low pace, combine within the dry components till clean. Don’t overmix. The batter might be thick.
5. Toss the chopped apples and cinnamon collectively.
6. Unfold the batter evenly into ready baking pan. Prime evenly with cinnamon-coated apples. Prime with crumb topping. Utilizing a silicone spatula or the again of a giant spoon, press the crumb topping tightly down into the cake so it sticks.
7. Bake for 45-55 minutes. Baking instances range, so control yours. The cake is completed when a toothpick inserted within the heart comes out clear. Should you discover the highest or edges of the cake is/are browning too rapidly within the oven, loosely cowl it with aluminum foil.
8. Take away the cake from the oven and set on a cooling rack. Permit to barely cool for a minimum of 30-45 minutes earlier than slicing and serving.
9. Drizzle with non-compulsory icing, if desired.
10. Cowl leftover cake tightly and retailer within the fridge for five days.

Notes

1. Freezing Directions: Put together cake by means of step 8. Cowl the cake tightly and refrigerate for as much as 2 days or freeze as much as 3 months. Carry to room temperature, add icing if desired, and serve.
2. Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): 9×13-inch Baking Pan | Glass Mixing Bowls | Apple Peeler | Whisk | Electrical Mixer (Handheld or Stand) | Silicone Spatula | Cooling Rack
3. Bitter Cream: Bitter cream is a key ingredient on this cake. I don’t recommend subbing the bitter cream with a liquid—plain full-fat yogurt would work although. However don’t take away the fats from this cake by utilizing a decrease fats yogurt or bitter cream different.
4. Apples: For depth of taste, it’s greatest to bake with a mixture of candy and tart apples. For this cake, I often use about 2 giant Honeycrisp apples and 1/2 of a giant Granny Smith apple. For slicing, it’s greatest to cut the apple into skinny items. Slice the apple, then lower every of these slices in half so you might have smaller, thinner, easy-to-eat items. See picture above.
5. Room Temperature: All refrigerated gadgets needs to be at room temperature so the batter mixes collectively simply and evenly. Learn extra in regards to the significance of room temperature components.