Embrace the cozy flavors of autumn with this incredible apple pie coffee cake. Imagine a moist, tender cake layered with warmly spiced apples, topped with a buttery streusel, and finished with an irresistible brown butter glaze.
It’s the perfect treat to brighten any morning or gather loved ones. This guide walks you through creating this delightful apple pie coffee cake, step by step, ensuring a baking success every time.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Apple Pie Coffee Cake
You’ll quickly fall in love with this apple pie coffee cake for many reasons.
- Moist, tender sour cream cake: It creates a perfect balance with the rich toppings.
- Flavorful, juicy apple pie filling: Each bite bursts with sweet, spiced apple goodness.
- Crunchy cinnamon streusel topping: Adds an irresistible texture contrast.
- Irresistible brown butter glaze: A nutty, sweet finish that elevates every slice.
- Ideal for fall and holiday gatherings: This recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for any occasion.
Ingredients
Gather these simple ingredients to create your amazing apple pie coffee cake. Crafting a perfect apple streusel coffee cake starts with quality components.
For the Streusel
- 6 tablespoons (84g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (168g) light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon (15g) ground cinnamon
For the Apple Filling
- 2 cups chopped apples, skins removed (2 medium or 3 small apples)
- 2 tablespoons (28g) light brown sugar, packed
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon apple pie spice
For the Cake
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup (190g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- ½ cup (120g) full-fat sour cream, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups (150g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the Glaze
- 2 tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter, browned and cooled
- ½ cup (65g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 2–5 tablespoons (60-75ml) milk, any type
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Apples: Use sweet-tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisps for the best flavor and texture in this apple cinnamon coffee cake.
- Spices: Feel free to adjust the amounts of cinnamon or apple pie spice to suit your personal taste.
- Sour Cream: This ingredient is crucial for a super moist cake. Full-fat Greek yogurt works as a substitute if needed.
- Butter: Ensure the butter for the cake batter is truly at room temperature for a smooth, emulsified batter.
- Glaze: Browning the butter adds a wonderful depth of flavor. For a simpler option, use regular melted butter with vanilla extract.
Equipment
You will need a few basic kitchen tools to make this delightful treat.
- 8×8 inch baking pan
- Parchment paper
- Stand mixer (or hand mixer)
- Mixing bowls
- Saucepan (for browning butter)
- Whisk or spoon
- Spatula
Instructions For The Best Apple Pie Coffee Cake
Follow these easy steps to make your delicious apple pie coffee cake. Get ready for a kitchen filled with wonderful aromas!
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease your 8×8-inch pan or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang to easily lift the cake. Allow butter, eggs, and sour cream to come to room temperature while you prepare the streusel and apples.
- Prepare the streusel topping first. In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter with the all-purpose flour, light brown sugar, and ground cinnamon. Stir with a spoon until the mixture forms a crumbly texture with both small crumbles and loose crumbs. Set it aside.
- Next, prepare the apples for your apple coffee cake. Peel and dice the apples into small pieces, about the size of a dime. In a separate bowl, toss the chopped apples with the light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and apple pie spice until evenly coated. Set them aside.
- Now, begin the cake batter. In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the room temperature unsalted butter and granulated sugar for several minutes.
- Beat until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color. Add the large egg and beat until it is fully incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything mixes evenly. Then, add the room temperature full-fat sour cream and pure vanilla extract, beating until just combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining dry cake ingredients: all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet batter in the stand mixer, beating on low speed until they are just incorporated. Finish mixing by hand with a spatula to ensure no pockets of flour remain and the batter is well combined.
- Pour about half of the cake batter into the prepared 8×8-inch pan and spread it evenly across the bottom. Sprinkle half of the prepared streusel topping over this first layer of batter.
- Carefully top with the remaining cake batter, spreading it gently to cover the streusel layer. Spoon the spiced apples over the cake batter, being careful to leave any excess juices behind in the bowl; do not add the juices to the cake. Finally, sprinkle the remaining streusel over the apple layer.
- Bake the apple pie coffee cake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean or with moist crumbs attached, the cake is done. Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack while you prepare the glaze.
- For the glaze, brown the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Slowly bring the butter to a boil, stirring occasionally. The bubbles will initially be large, then they will become smaller as the butter cooks.
- Once the milk solids at the bottom of the pan start to turn golden brown and smell nutty, stir constantly to prevent burning. Continue stirring until the golden color deepens to a rich amber. Immediately remove the browned butter from the heat and pour it into a heatproof bowl to cool for several minutes.
- Once the browned butter has cooled slightly, combine it with the sifted powdered sugar. Add the milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking continuously until you reach your desired drizzling consistency. Drizzle the warm brown butter glaze generously over the cooled apple pie coffee cake just before serving.
Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
Mastering this apple pie coffee cake is easy with a few extra pointers.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure butter, eggs, and sour cream are at room temperature. This helps create a smooth, emulsified batter and a tender crumb.
- Creaming Butter & Sugar: Cream for at least 3-5 minutes until very light and fluffy. Understanding the science of creaming butter and sugar highlights how this technique incorporates air, resulting in a lighter cake texture.
- Prevent Soggy Cake: Do not add any excess apple juices to the cake batter. Spoon only the apples onto the cake.
- Pan Size Adjustments: If using a 9-inch round pan, reduce baking time slightly and you may omit the middle streusel layer for a flatter cake.
- Check Doneness: For dense cakes like coffee cakes, insert a toothpick in several spots to confirm it’s baked through.
- Avoid Over-Browning: If your streusel topping starts to brown too quickly, lightly tent the pan with aluminum foil for the remaining baking time.
- Perfect Brown Butter: Follow a visual tutorial for browning butter if it’s your first time to ensure that distinct nutty flavor for your glaze.
Serving, Storage & Variations
This apple pie coffee cake is versatile and delicious for any occasion.
Serving Suggestions
- Enjoy a slice with a hot cup of coffee or tea for a delightful breakfast or brunch.
- Top individual servings with a dollop of fresh whipped cream for an extra treat.
- Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for a comforting dessert.
- Drizzle with a swirl of homemade salted caramel sauce for added indulgence.
Storage & Freezing
- Room Temperature: Store leftover apple pie coffee cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days to maintain freshness.
- Refrigeration: While not strictly necessary, you can refrigerate it for up to 4 days. Bring to room temperature before serving for best flavor.
- Freezing: For longer storage, double-wrap cooled slices or the entire cake in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months.
- Thawing: Thaw frozen coffee cake at room temperature overnight or for several hours before serving.
Variations
- Add Nuts: For extra crunch and flavor, mix ½ cup of chopped pecans or walnuts into your streusel topping.
- Different Fruit: Experiment with other fruits! Try sliced peaches, mixed berries, or even pears for a seasonal twist on this coffee cake.
- Cream Cheese Glaze: Instead of the brown butter glaze, whisk together softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and a splash of milk for a tangy topping.
Nutrition Information
This apple pie coffee cake provides a delightful balance of energy and flavor. Enjoying a homemade treat means you control the ingredients.
| Nutrition | Per Serving (1 slice) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 398 |
| Sugar | 37.8 g |
| Sodium | 114.7 mg |
| Fat | 17.9 g |
| Carbs | 57.8 g |
| Fiber | 1.6 g |
| Protein | 3.5 g |
| Cholesterol | 61.9 mg |
Frequently Asked Questions
What apples are best for apple pie coffee cake?
Sweet-tart apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji work wonderfully for a balanced flavor and texture. For a perfectly balanced apple pie coffee cake, using a mix of apple varieties for baking is often recommended.
Can I make this coffee cake in a different pan?
Yes, a 9-inch round pan works well, but you may need to adjust the baking time slightly as the cake will be thinner.
How do I prevent a soggy coffee cake?
Always drain any excess juices from the chopped apples before adding them to the cake batter.
Can I prepare the streusel ahead of time?
Absolutely! Preparing the streusel a day in advance allows the flour to absorb the butter, often resulting in a crispier topping.
Conclusion
This delightful apple pie coffee cake perfectly captures the essence of fall. With its moist cake, warmly spiced apple filling, crunchy streusel, and irresistible brown butter glaze, it’s a true celebration of comforting flavors.
It’s an easy-to-follow recipe that yields impressive results, perfect for sharing with family and friends. We encourage you to bake this amazing apple pie coffee cake soon. Try it, rate it, and let us know what you think in the comments below!
Apple Pie Coffee Cake
This incredible apple pie coffee cake features a moist sour cream cake layered with warmly spiced apples, a buttery cinnamon streusel topping, and finished with a rich brown butter glaze—perfect for cozy fall mornings or holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper.
- Make streusel: combine melted butter, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon until crumbly. Set aside.
- Prepare apple filling: toss chopped apples with brown sugar, cinnamon, and apple pie spice. Set aside.
- Cream butter and sugar in a mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg, mix. Add sour cream and vanilla, mix until just combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to wet ingredients gradually. Mix just until combined.
- Spread half the batter in the pan. Top with half the streusel. Add remaining batter, then spoon apples on top. Finish with remaining streusel.
- Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely in the pan.
- For glaze, brown butter in a saucepan until golden and nutty. Let cool. Whisk with powdered sugar and milk until drizzling consistency forms.
- Drizzle glaze over cooled cake before serving.
Nutrition
Notes
- Use sweet-tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for best flavor.
- Full-fat Greek yogurt can substitute sour cream.
- You can make the streusel a day ahead.
- For a simpler glaze, skip browning the butter.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Looking for more comfort recipe like this? Come hang out with me over on Facebook and Pinterest where I drop new recipes, family favorites, and quick how-to guides almost every day.
