A delicious cinnamon Apple Coffee Cake with a surprise layer of cream cheese filling, and a simple streusel crumb topping. Serve the cake with a side of coffee for breakfast, brunch, or even dessert.
There are three layers to love with this apple coffee cake: a tender, moist, homemade apple cake, cream cheese filling, and cinnamon streusel topping! It’s extra moist, thanks to the addition of sour cream in the batter–just like my favorite Sour Cream Coffee Cake.
You’ll notice the cake ingredients don’t actually include “coffee”! A “coffee cake” is a pastry that is served alongside a cup of coffee. So grab a warm beverage and cozy up with this delicious sweet treat!
How to make Apple Coffee Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350ºF and grease an 8×8 inch pan. (You could double the recipe and bake in a 9×13 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.
- Cake: 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.
- Stir flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl. Add to the butter mixture and stir to combine.
- Prepare apples and fold into the batter. (I peel my apples using a johnny apple peeler to peel and slice all at once, but you can leave the peels on, if preferred.) Pour batter into prepared baking dish and smooth into an even layer.
- Cream cheese filling: Use electric mixers to mix together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Spread over the cake batter in the pan.
- Sprinkle streusel topping over the cream cheese mixture.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Allow the cake to cool for at least 10 minutes before cutting and serving. That will give the cake and cream cheese layer some time to set up so that when you cut into the cake you’ll have those three gorgeous layers: apple cake, cream cheese filling and streusel topping.
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.
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Recipe
Apple Coffee Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
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 Granny Smith apples , peeled and diced
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 light brown sugar , packed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans , optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF and grease an 8x8 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.
- Cake: 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.
- Stir flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl. Add to the butter mixture and stir to combine.
- Fold apples into the batter. Pour batter into prepared baking dish and smooth into an even layer.
- Cream cheese filling: Use electric mixers to mix together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Spread over the cake batter in the pan.
- Sprinkle streusel topping over the cream cheese mixture.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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Have you tried this recipe?!
RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience!
I originally shared this recipe September 2017. Updated October 2020.
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Best cake in the world people bake it
What a delicious dessert! I will definitely make this again.
What is the purpose of the BAKING POWDER in the Streusel Topping in your Apple Coffee Cake recipe??
Helps give the crumble a fuller texture, puff. I do the same thing in my apple crisp toppings.
This recipe is so scrumptious. Enjoyed every bite.
My new favorite coffee cake!
Came out perfectly though I did add a splash of boiling water to the cream cheese mixture to get a smoother consistency
I knew it was going to be good when I couldn’t stop taste testing the batter. Came out excellent. I actually moved recently and vanilla didn’t make it so I splashed in a smidge of Bailey’s & Kahlua.
So amazing! I love every recipe but this one is so delicious!
Really enjoyed your site. Thank you for posting. You’ve got a new fan.
Delicious! Used 1/2 cup of applesauce as sub for apples. Came out great.
Can canned apples be used in this recipe? Also is gala apples ok to use instead of granny smith apples?
Thank you!
Yes, those would both be fine.
I baked it for an additional 5 minutes because it didn’t look set in the middle. I should’ve baked it for probably 10 to 15 more minutes. I ate a slice in the morning and it was raw in the middle. Some tips on how to tell if is baked completely before taking it out of the oven would be helpful.
Just made it. Delicious!!!
Refrigerator or counter top storage? Will freezing work? If so, how should it be rejuvenated
Store it covered tightly in the fridge. It can be frozen up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and bring to room temperature before serving.
Excellent made it twice in the last two weekends took it to some coworkers and they were amazed
Where is the coffee?
No coffee 🙂 . It’s called coffee cake because people like to enjoy it with a cup of coffee.
Does this recipe work well if made a day ahead?
I’ve found that it really tastes best the day of, but one day later would be ok.
This was delicious! I doubled the recipe for a 9 x 13 pan and baked an e xtra 8 minutes or so. Worth the time to try it.
So happy you enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing Judy!
Is there any way the Apple Coffee Cake can be doubled and put into a 13×9″ pan? If so, how long should it bake for?
Hi Ann,
I think you can definitely double the recipe and cook it in a 9×13 pan. I would recommend baking it for 35-40, checking it, and possibly baking it a few extra minutes.
I doubled the recipe and baked in 9×13 but cake didn’t set despite 10 mins extra baking. Next time I may just make two smaller instead. It smells delicious!
Oh dear ! Perfect , just perfect; autum’s comfort food at its best ! Thank you !