Moist Apple Coffee Cake with Streusel Topping

This delicious and moist Apple Coffee Cake is loaded with fresh apples and topped with a buttery, cinnamon-streusel crumb topping. It’s perfect alongside a hot cup of coffee for breakfast, an afternoon treat, or even a glass of cold milk for a late-night snack.

Ingredients

For the Cake

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup sour cream
• ¼ cup milk
• 2 cups peeled, cored, and diced apples

For the Streusel Topping

• ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Instructions

1. Prepare the Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch square baking pan and line the bottom with parchment paper if desired.
2. Make the Streusel: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Pour in the melted butter and mix with a fork until coarse crumbs form. Set aside.
3. Mix the Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
4. Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
5. Add the Wet Ingredients: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla extract. Add the sour cream and milk and mix until combined.
6. Combine: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until no dry streaks remain. Avoid overmixing.
7. Add the Apples: Gently fold the diced apples into the batter.
8. Assemble: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the streusel topping generously over the surface.
9. Bake: Bake for 40–50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
10. Cool: Let the cake cool in the pan for about 15–20 minutes before slicing.

Tips

• Use firm apples such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady for the best texture.
• Dice the apples into small, even pieces so they distribute throughout the cake.
• Don’t overmix the batter after adding the flour; this helps keep the cake tender.
• For extra flavor, add ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts to the streusel topping.
• Store leftovers covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for longer storage.

Serving

Serve warm or at room temperature with a cup of hot coffee, tea, or a cold glass of milk. A scoop of vanilla ice cream also makes a delicious dessert-style serving.