Apple Coffee Cake

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Our easy Apple Coffee Cake recipe is packed with warm fall flavors, and has a surprise cream cheese layer and streusel crumb topping.

Apple Coffee Cake Will Be Your New Fall Baking Obsession

I love a good coffee cake, and this is the one I instantly turn to when the weather gets cooler. The streusel gets perfectly golden and crunchy on top, while that hidden layer of sweet cream cheese underneath is what really makes people go back for seconds (and ask for the recipe). It's rich enough to feel like a treat, but simple enough to whip up for a lazy weekend brunch.

Don't skip the cream cheese layer! It stays creamy and distinct after baking, giving every slice that extra-special richness. Just make sure your cream cheese is fully softened so it spreads evenly.

Try more apple recipes, like Apple Bundt Cake, Fresh Apple Cake, Apple Crisp, Apple Cobbler, and Apple Pie!

How to make Apple Coffee Cake:

Make the Streusel: Combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cold butter with a fork or your fingers until crumbly. Set aside.

Make Batter: Beat together butter and brown sugar with a hand mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg, sour cream, and vanilla then mix. Stir dry ingredients separately then add into wet ingredients and mix together. Fold in apples.

Cream Cheese Layer: Spread half the batter in a greased pan, then layer on the sweetened cream cheese filling, followed by the remaining batter.

Bake: Sprinkle the streusel generously over the top and bake at 350 degrees F for about 55-60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool before slicing.

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Apple Coffee Cake

Author: Lauren Allen

A delicious cinnamon Apple Coffee Cake recipe with a surprise layer of cream cheese filling, and a simple streusel crumb topping. Serve coffee cake with a side of coffee for breakfast, brunch, or as dessert!

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 35 minutes mins

Total: 50 minutes mins

Servings: 9 squares

Cost: 6

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Equipment

• Johnny Apple Slicer
• 8×8 dish
• Mixing bowl
• Hand mixer

Ingredients 

US CustomaryMetric

 

0.5x1x2x?

Cake:

• ▢ 1/4 cup butter, , softened
• ▢ 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• ▢ 1 large egg
• ▢ 1/2 cup sour cream, , or plain Greek yogurt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ▢ 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• ▢ dash of salt
• ▢ 1 1/2 cups diced, peeled Granny Smith apples

Cream Cheese Layer:

• ▢ 8 ounces cream cheese, , softened
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ 3 Tablespoons granulated sugar

Streusel Topping:

• ▢ 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold, diced
• ▢ 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• ▢ 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ▢ 1/4 cup chopped pecans, , optional

Instructions 

• Preheat oven to 350ºF and grease an 8×8 inch pan.
• Streusel Topping: Combine all the streusel topping ingredients in a small bowl. Mix with a fork (or your fingers) until the mixture resembles crumbs. Set aside.
  ¼ cup unsalted butter, ¼ cup all-purpose flour, ¼ cup old-fashioned rolled oats, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ¼ cup packed light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ cup chopped pecans
• Cream Cheese Layer: Use electric mixers to mix together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Set aside.
  8 ounces cream cheese, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 3 Tablespoons granulated sugar
• Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl beat together ¼ cup butter and ¾ cup brown sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg, sour cream, and vanilla and mix to combine.
  ¼ cup butter, ¾ cup light brown sugar, 1 large egg, ½ cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl stir together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
  1 cup all-purpose flour, ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon baking soda, dash of salt
• Combine: Add dry ingredients to the butter mixture and stir to combine. Stir in apples.
  1 ½ cups diced, peeled Granny Smith apples
• Assemble: Pour half of the batter into prepared baking dish and smooth into an even layer. Spread cream cheese layer on top. Top with remaining cake batter, and then streusel topping.
• Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes before serving.
• Serve with a cup of hot coffee (or tea), if desired.

Notes

Yield: 9 squares. Serving Size: 1 square. 

Freezing Instructions: Allow the cake to cool completely. Cover tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow to come to room temperature before serving. 

Nutrition

Calories: 409kcal, Carbohydrates: 48g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0.4g, Cholesterol: 74mg, Sodium: 224mg, Potassium: 157mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 32g, Vitamin A: 698IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 87mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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I originally shared this recipe September 2017. Updated October 2020, October 2023 and August 2026.