Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake is loaded with layers of tender cinnamon apples, moist sour cream cake, buttery crumb topping, and sweet vanilla glaze. Every bite delivers cozy fall flavors that make it perfect for breakfast, brunch, dessert, holiday mornings, or an afternoon coffee break. If you love bakery-style coffee cakes, this homemade version is guaranteed to become a family favorite.
Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Recipe Essentials
- 🍽️ Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
- ⏱️ Cooking Time: 20 Minutes Prep + 45 Minutes Bake Time
- 🍴 Servings: 9 Servings
- 🧄 Flavor Profile: Sweet, buttery, cinnamon-spiced, and packed with tender apples
- 🍚 Best Served With: Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, fresh fruit, or yogurt
- 🧊 Make Ahead?: Yes! Bake a day ahead and glaze before serving.
Summarize and Save This Content On
There is something comforting about the smell of apples and cinnamon baking in the oven. The warm spices, sweet fruit, and buttery crumb topping make the entire kitchen smell incredible long before the cake is ready to serve.
My grandma always believed that coffee cake made any gathering feel special, whether it was a holiday breakfast or a casual weekend visit. She loved recipes that looked impressive but were secretly easy to make, and this cake reminds me of the kinds of treats she'd proudly set on the table for family and friends.
This recipe was inspired by our baked apple fritters and apple upside down cake and pairs perfectly with a hot cup of coffee, our apple cider float or a fresh fruit salad.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Layers of flavor: Tender cinnamon apples, moist cake, buttery crumb topping, and vanilla glaze in every bite.
- Perfect for any occasion: Delicious for breakfast, brunch, dessert, holidays, and special gatherings.
- Easy to make: Simple ingredients and straightforward steps create bakery-quality results.
- Make-ahead friendly: Tastes wonderful the next day and stores beautifully.
Ingredients
Most of these ingredients are pantry and refrigerator staples, making this an easy recipe to pull together whenever you're craving a cozy homemade treat.
Crumb Topping
- Flour: Creates the structure for the crumb topping.
- Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness and rich caramel flavor.
- Cinnamon: Gives the topping warm spice.
- Butter: Creates a buttery crumb texture.
Apple Filling
- Apples: Provide sweet, tender bites throughout the cake.
- Brown Sugar: Sweetens the apples and enhances their flavor.
- Flour: Helps thicken the filling.
- Cinnamon: Adds classic apple-cinnamon flavor.
Cake Batter
- Butter: Creates a rich, tender cake.
- Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and flavor.
- Eggs: Provide structure and richness.
- Sour Cream: Keeps the cake moist and soft.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor.
- Flour: Forms the base of the cake.
- Baking Powder: Helps the cake rise.
- Baking Soda: Creates a lighter texture.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness.
Vanilla Glaze
- Powdered Sugar: Creates a smooth glaze.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds flavor.
- Milk: Thins the glaze to the perfect consistency.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Switch up the apples and fruit: Use Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious or a combination of apples, or add pears, peaches, raisins, cranberries, or dried cranberries for extra flavor.
- Customize the topping: Stir chopped pecans or walnuts into the crumb topping, or double the topping for an extra-thick bakery-style crumb layer.
- Change the flavor profile: Add nutmeg, ginger, cloves, apple pie spice, orange zest, or replace the vanilla in the glaze with maple extract.
- Try a different finish: Drizzle with caramel sauce or top with a cream cheese glaze instead of the vanilla glaze.
- Make it holiday-worthy: Combine dried cranberries, orange zest, warm spices, and a maple or cream cheese glaze for a festive seasonal version.
Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake
This Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake may look impressive, but it comes together in just six simple steps. You'll prepare a buttery crumb topping, cinnamon apple filling, tender sour cream cake batter, and sweet vanilla glaze before layering everything together and baking until golden brown. Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°c. Line an 8 inch square baking tin with parchment paper and set aside.
Step 1: Prepare the pan and crumb topping. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon for the crumb topping. Add the softened butter and use a fork or pastry cutter to work the mixture together until crumbly. Set aside.
Step 2: Make the apple filling. In a separate bowl, combine the diced apples, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Stir until the apples are evenly coated and set aside.
Step 3: Prepare the wet ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar for about 3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, sour cream, and vanilla extract and mix until smooth and fully incorporated.
Step 4: Add the dry ingredients. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cake tender.
Spread just over half of the batter into the prepared baking pan.
Step 5: Assemble the coffee cake. Evenly spoon the apple filling over the batter.
Step 6: Finish cake assembly. Carefully spoon and spread the remaining batter over the apple filling, then sprinkle the crumb topping evenly across the surface.
Step 7: Bake and cool. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Step 8: Make and glaze cake. To make the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons of milk. Add additional milk if needed until the glaze reaches a pourable consistency. Drizzle over the cooled cake before slicing and serving.
Expert Tips
- Start with the right ingredients: Use baking apples like Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, or Granny Smith, keep ingredients at room temperature, and don't skip the sour cream for the moistest cake.
- Prepare and layer carefully: Dice the apples evenly, mix the batter just until combined, and spread the apple filling evenly throughout the cake for the best texture and flavor.
- Bake with confidence: Line the pan with parchment paper for easy removal and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Finish properly: Allow the cake to cool before adding the glaze so it stays beautifully drizzled on top instead of melting into the cake.
- Store for freshness: Keep the cake tightly covered to maintain its soft texture and delicious flavor for several days.
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy our apple pie bars and apple crisp muffins.
Storage Directions
Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Refrigerator: Store tightly covered for up to 5 days.
Freezer: Freeze whole or sliced for up to 3 months. Wrap tightly before freezing. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying.
Reheat: Microwave individual slices for 15 to 20 seconds or warm in a 300°F oven.
Make Ahead: Bake the cake a day in advance and add the glaze before serving.
Serving Suggestions
- For breakfast or brunch: Serve with coffee, tea, hot chocolate, fresh fruit, fluffy cloud eggs, twisted bacon, or bacon wrapped sausage for a complete meal.
- For dessert: Top with whipped cream, vanilla or strawberry crunch ice cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce for an extra-indulgent finish.
- For holidays and gatherings: Add it to Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or weekend breakfast spreads where it is sure to be a crowd favorite.
- For everyday enjoyment: Serve warm from the oven as an afternoon snack or cozy weekend treat.
- For a bakery-style treat: Pair with a pumpkin chai latte, cappuccino, peanut butter banana muffins, pastries, or a brunch board for special occasions.
Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Recipe FAQs
Peeling is recommended for the best texture, but it's optional.
The butter may have been too soft. The topping should be crumbly before adding it.
Yes. The cake is delicious with or without the glaze.
More Apple Recipes
If you love sweet, cozy apple desserts and breakfasts, here are some delicious apple recipes you may also enjoy trying.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
Crumb topping:
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup butter softened
Apple filling:
- 2 cups apples diced peeled
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Cake batter:
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Vanilla glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-3 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°c. Line an 8 inch square baking tin with parchment paper and set aside.
- To make the crumb topping, add the flour, brown sugar and cinnamon to a large mixing bowl. Mix to combine, then add the softened butter. Use a fork to mash the butter into the other ingredients until well combined. Set aside.
- To make the apple filling, add the diced and peeled apple, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon to another large mixing bowl. Mix until well combined and set aside.
- To make the cake batter, add the softened butter and brown sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat on a medium-high speed using a paddle beater attachment for 3 minutes or until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, sour cream and vanilla extract and beat until well combined.
- Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and mix on a low speed until just combined.
- Pour just over half of the batter into the prepared baking tin. Top evenly with the apple filling., followed by the remaining cake batter. Use your fingers to scatter over the crumble topping.
- Bake the cake for 40-45 minutes, or until cooked through and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Allow the cake to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
- To make the vanilla glaze, add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract to a small mixing bowl along with 2 tablespoons of the milk. Mix until well combined, adding extra milk if necessary until the glaze reaches a pouring consistency. Drizzle over the cake before serving.
Notes
- Start with the right ingredients: Use baking apples like Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, or Granny Smith, keep ingredients at room temperature, and don't skip the sour cream for the moistest cake.
- Prepare and layer carefully: Dice the apples evenly, mix the batter just until combined, and spread the apple filling evenly throughout the cake for the best texture and flavor.
- Bake with confidence: Line the pan with parchment paper for easy removal and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Finish properly: Allow the cake to cool before adding the glaze so it stays beautifully drizzled on top instead of melting into the cake.
- Store for freshness: Keep the cake tightly covered to maintain its soft texture and delicious flavor for several days.
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