As soon as September hits my tastes change from strawberries to apples. I LOVE Fall spices! When added to tart apples something magical happens. Add it all to a delicious quick bread with two layers of crumb topping and well…I am in love! This Apple Crumb Cake is such a great way to use apples because it can be breakfast or dessert. Top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a super special treat. Keep scrolling to see how you can make it too!
Cookies are still my biggest love but crumb coated baked goods are a close 2nd. Crumb topping is the bomb!
Brown sugar, cinnamon and butter are combined to create an amazing mixture that bakes up in the most perfect way.
Adding apples gives it a Fall vibe that can’t be beat! If you love Fall flavors than this Apple Crumb Cake is for you too!
How to Make an Apple Crumb Cake Batter
Begin my combining butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, an egg and vanilla. I like to use a hand held mixer but it can be done by hand.
Mix until the mixture is nice and creamy.
Once the mixture is creamy, add the flour, baking powder and salt. Combine with a hand held mixer or by hand.
The dough might not come together how you hoped but that is totally fine. Add the milk and continue to mix.
The milk will bring the dough together and create a nice batter.
Put half of the batter into a greased 9×9 baking pan and spread out into an even layer.
Quick Bread Ingredients and Functions:
- Butter: Always butter! Not only does it add flavor but it also gives the bread moisture and tenderness. It will also help give the bread the tender quality you want and love.
- Sugar: Sweetness! It also provides a tenderness and helps the bread brown when it bakes.
- Eggs: They bind the batter, add moisture and also help the bread brown.
- Vanilla: Get the good stuff! Flavor, flavor, flavor.
- Flour: It also binds all of these other wonderful ingredients together into one magical mixture and creates the structure the bread needs to bake.
- Baking Powder: Let’s talk leavening! Most quick bread recipes call for baking powder which allows your batter to rise.
- Salt: You might know that it adds flavor but did you know that it also strengthens the gluten.
- Milk: Moistens the batter and turns to steam in the oven during baking.
How to Make your Crumb Topping
Combine the butter, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon into a medium bowl. Using a pastry cutter or forks, cut the butter into the other ingredients.
Don’t over mix the ingredients or you will end up with a paste instead of a crumb.
Top the half of the batter in the 9×9 baking pan with the chopped apples. Spread them out into an even layer.
Top the apples with half of the crumb topping.
Add the last half of the batter on top of the apples and crumb topping. Spread it out into an even layer.
Finally top with the remaining crumb topping. Spread it out into an even layer.
Bake your apple crumb cake in a 350 degree oven for 40-45 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Serve warm or cool on a cooling rack.
A piece of this cake is pretty darn amazing! Moist cake, perfectly cooked apples and delicious crumb topping are what Fall is all about!
Eat a slice of apple crumb cake for breakfast and then a couple later for dessert. You will certainly be glad you did! DELICIOUS!
Do you love Fall desserts? Try these recipes…
- Pecan Upside Down Cake
- Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Crumb Cake
- Apple Crisp Skillet
- Pecan Shortbread Bars
- Apple Cake Mix Cobbler
- Pumpkin Roll Cookies
Apple Crumb Cake Recipe
Ingredients
Cake
- 1/2 cup butter {softened}
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar {packed}
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 cup milk
- 2 small apples {peeled and chopped}
Crumb Topping
- 1/2 cup butter {softened}
- 3/4 cup brown sugar {packed}
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 9x9 baking pan with non stick spray and set aside.
- In a medium bowl combine butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, egg and vanilla. Combine with a hand held mixer {stand mixer or by hand} until creamy.
- Add flour, salt and baking powder and mix to combine. The mixture might be a bit crumbly but that is alright.
- Add the milk all at once and combine until you have a nice cake batter. Pour half of the batter into the prepared 9x9 pan. Top with the chopped apples.
- To make the crumb topping, combine the butter, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Cut the butter into the other ingredients until you have crumbs. Do not over mix or you will have a paste. Spread half of the crumbs over the top of the apples.
- Add the remaining cake batter on top of the apple and crumbs, spread in an even layer. Top with remaining crumbs.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center of the cake comes out clean. Serve warm or cool on a wire rack. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Freeze for up to 3 months.
