Description
Whipping up this apple crumb cake brings pure comfort straight from my kitchen to yours. Warm cinnamon and tender apples create a delightful treat that disappears faster than you can slice it.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 medium-sized apples
- 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1.5 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoon baking soda
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0.25 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 0.25 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Crumb and Drizzle Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 0.5 cup granulated sugar
- 0.5 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter
- 0.5 cup apple cider
- 0.25 cup granulated sugar
- 0.25 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Fire up your oven to 350°F and generously grease a 9×13 inch baking pan with butter, ensuring every corner is covered.
- Grab a medium bowl and whisk together 2.5 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 0.5 teaspoon baking soda, and 0.5 teaspoon salt until perfectly blended.
- In a large mixer bowl, cream 1 cup butter and 1.5 cups sugar for 3-4 minutes until the mixture looks light and fluffy.
- Crack 2 eggs into the butter mixture, adding them one at a time and mixing thoroughly after each addition.
- Pour in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and blend until just incorporated.
- Gradually mix dry flour mixture and 1 cup buttermilk into the butter mixture on low speed, stopping when just combined.
- Grab 3 medium apples and peel them, then dice into half-inch cubes.
- Toss apple cubes with 0.25 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, 0.5 teaspoon cinnamon, 0.25 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
- Gently fold seasoned apple pieces into your cake batter, distributing them evenly.
- Transfer batter to the prepared pan, spreading it smoothly across the surface.
- Create crumb topping by mixing 1 cup flour, 0.5 cup granulated sugar, 0.5 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 0.5 teaspoon salt in a bowl.
- Cut 0.5 cup cold butter into the crumb mixture until it resembles coarse, crumbly pieces.
- Scatter the entire crumb topping evenly over the cake batter, covering the surface completely.
- Slide the pan into the 350°F oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick inserted in the center.
- For the drizzle, combine 0.5 cup apple cider, 0.25 cup sugar, 0.25 teaspoon cinnamon, and a pinch of salt in a small saucepan.
- Simmer the mixture for 10 minutes, then remove from heat and stir in 1 tablespoon butter and 0.5 teaspoon vanilla.
- Allow the cake to cool for 20 minutes before drizzling the sauce generously over the top.
Notes
- Use room temperature butter and eggs for the smoothest, most even cake texture.
- Dice apples uniformly to ensure consistent baking and distribution throughout the cake.
- Avoid overmixing the batter, which can make your cake dense and tough instead of tender.
- Sprinkle crumb topping immediately before baking to keep the crumbs crisp and prevent them from sinking into the batter.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 55-60 minutes
- Category: Cakes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 418 kcal
- Sugar: 45 g
- Sodium: 203 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 59 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 62 mg