Apple Streusel Coffee Cake: A Fall Baking Delight
Apple streusel coffee cake. The very words evoke feelings of warmth, comfort, and the delightful aromas of cinnamon and baked apples. This isn’t just a cake; it’s an experience, a tradition, a hug in dessert form. It’s the perfect centerpiece for a weekend brunch, a delightful accompaniment to an afternoon coffee break, or a sweet ending to a cozy autumn dinner. This recipe guides you through creating a truly exceptional apple streusel coffee cake, one that will impress your family and friends and have them begging for more.
**Why This Recipe Works**
What makes this apple streusel coffee cake stand out from the crowd? Several factors contribute to its irresistible appeal:
* **Moist and Tender Cake Base:** We use a combination of butter and sour cream in the cake batter, resulting in a supremely moist and tender crumb that stays fresh for days. The sour cream adds a subtle tang that balances the sweetness of the apples and streusel.
* **Perfectly Spiced Apples:** The apples are tossed with a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of ginger, creating a warm and inviting spice profile that complements the apples beautifully. We also add a bit of lemon juice to prevent browning and enhance the flavor.
* **Buttery and Crunchy Streusel:** The streusel topping is the star of the show, providing a delightful contrast in texture to the soft cake and tender apples. It’s made with a generous amount of butter, flour, brown sugar, and oats, creating a crumbly and golden-brown topping that is simply irresistible.
* **Easy to Make:** Despite its impressive appearance, this apple streusel coffee cake is surprisingly easy to make. The recipe is straightforward and requires no special equipment or techniques.
**Ingredients You’ll Need**
Before we dive into the recipe, let’s gather our ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
**For the Streusel Topping:**
* 1 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
* 1/2 cup rolled oats (old-fashioned or quick-cooking)
* 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* Pinch of salt
**For the Apple Filling:**
* 3 medium apples (such as Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Fuji), peeled, cored, and diced
* 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
* 1 tablespoon lemon juice
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
**For the Cake Batter:**
* 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
* 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 cup sour cream
**Equipment You’ll Need**
* 9×13 inch baking pan
* Mixing bowls
* Measuring cups and spoons
* Electric mixer (stand or hand-held)
* Rubber spatula
* Apple peeler and corer (optional)
**Step-by-Step Instructions**
Now that we have our ingredients and equipment ready, let’s get baking! Follow these step-by-step instructions to create a delicious apple streusel coffee cake:
**Step 1: Prepare the Streusel Topping**
1. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
2. Add the cold, cubed butter to the bowl. Using a pastry blender or your fingertips, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. You can also pulse the ingredients in a food processor until the desired consistency is achieved.
3. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the streusel topping while you prepare the apple filling and cake batter. This will help the butter stay cold and prevent the streusel from melting during baking.
**Step 2: Prepare the Apple Filling**
1. In a large bowl, combine the diced apples, granulated sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
2. Toss the apples to coat them evenly with the spices and sugar. Set aside while you prepare the cake batter.
**Step 3: Prepare the Cake Batter**
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan. Alternatively, you can line the pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This will take about 3-5 minutes using an electric mixer.
4. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the sour cream, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter, as this can result in a tough cake.
**Step 4: Assemble the Coffee Cake**
1. Pour half of the cake batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly.
2. Sprinkle the apple filling evenly over the batter.
3. Pour the remaining cake batter over the apple filling and spread it evenly.
4. Remove the streusel topping from the refrigerator and sprinkle it evenly over the cake batter.
**Step 5: Bake the Coffee Cake**
1. Bake in the preheated oven for 45-55 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. If the streusel topping starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely cover the cake with aluminum foil during the last 15-20 minutes of baking.
2. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before serving.
**Step 6: Serve and Enjoy!**
1. Cut the apple streusel coffee cake into squares and serve warm or at room temperature. You can dust the top with powdered sugar for an extra touch of sweetness, or serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
**Tips for Success**
* **Use Cold Butter for the Streusel:** Cold butter is essential for creating a crumbly and delicious streusel topping. Make sure to cut the butter into small cubes and keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to use it.
* **Don’t Overmix the Cake Batter:** Overmixing the cake batter can result in a tough cake. Mix the ingredients until just combined, and avoid overworking the gluten in the flour.
* **Use a Variety of Apples:** For a more complex flavor, try using a combination of different apple varieties, such as Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, and Fuji.
* **Adjust the Spices to Your Liking:** Feel free to adjust the amount of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger to suit your personal preferences. You can also add other spices, such as cloves or cardamom.
* **Store the Coffee Cake Properly:** To keep the coffee cake fresh, store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the cake for longer storage. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 2 months.
**Variations and Adaptations**
This apple streusel coffee cake recipe is a great starting point, but there are many ways to customize it to your liking. Here are a few variations and adaptations to try:
* **Add Nuts:** For extra crunch and flavor, add chopped nuts to the streusel topping or the cake batter. Pecans, walnuts, or almonds would all be delicious choices.
* **Use Different Fruits:** Instead of apples, try using other fruits, such as pears, peaches, or berries. Adjust the spices accordingly to complement the fruit you choose.
* **Add a Glaze:** For an extra touch of sweetness and shine, drizzle the coffee cake with a simple glaze made from powdered sugar and milk or lemon juice.
* **Make it Gluten-Free:** To make this recipe gluten-free, simply substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
* **Make it Dairy-Free:** To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute the butter with a dairy-free butter alternative and the sour cream with a dairy-free sour cream alternative.
**Serving Suggestions**
Apple streusel coffee cake is incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Here are a few serving suggestions:
* **Brunch:** Serve the coffee cake as part of a brunch spread, alongside other breakfast favorites such as eggs, bacon, and pancakes.
* **Afternoon Tea:** Enjoy a slice of coffee cake with a cup of tea or coffee for a relaxing afternoon treat.
* **Dessert:** Serve the coffee cake as a simple and satisfying dessert after dinner.
* **Holiday Gathering:** Bring the coffee cake to a holiday gathering or potluck. It’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
**Nutritional Information (Approximate)**
(Per Serving, based on 12 servings)
* Calories: 450-550
* Fat: 25-35g
* Saturated Fat: 15-20g
* Cholesterol: 75-100mg
* Sodium: 200-300mg
* Carbohydrates: 50-60g
* Sugar: 30-40g
* Protein: 5-7g
*Note: Nutritional information is approximate and may vary depending on the specific ingredients and portion sizes used.*
**Conclusion**
This apple streusel coffee cake recipe is a true winner. It’s easy to make, incredibly delicious, and perfect for any occasion. The combination of the moist and tender cake base, the perfectly spiced apples, and the buttery and crunchy streusel topping is simply irresistible. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to bake a cake that will impress your family and friends and have them begging for more. Enjoy!
**FAQs**
* **Can I use a different type of apple?** Yes, you can use any type of apple you like. Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, and Fuji are all good choices.
* **Can I make this cake ahead of time?** Yes, you can make the cake ahead of time. Store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze it for longer storage.
* **How do I prevent the streusel topping from burning?** If the streusel topping starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely cover the cake with aluminum foil during the last 15-20 minutes of baking.
* **Can I add nuts to the streusel topping?** Yes, you can add chopped nuts to the streusel topping. Pecans, walnuts, or almonds would all be delicious choices.
* **Can I make this recipe gluten-free?** Yes, you can make this recipe gluten-free by substituting the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
* **What is the best way to store leftover coffee cake?** Store leftover coffee cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also freeze it for longer storage. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 2 months.
* **My cake is sinking in the middle, what went wrong?** A sinking cake can be due to several factors: overmixing the batter (developing too much gluten), the oven temperature not being accurate, or opening the oven door too frequently during baking. Make sure to measure your ingredients accurately, avoid overmixing, and keep the oven door closed as much as possible during baking.
* **The streusel topping is too dry, what can I do?** If your streusel is too dry, try adding a tablespoon or two of melted butter to the mixture until it reaches a crumbly consistency. You can also add a splash of milk or cream.
* **Can I use quick-cooking oats instead of rolled oats in the streusel?** Yes, you can use quick-cooking oats, but the texture of the streusel will be slightly different. Rolled oats provide a chewier texture, while quick-cooking oats create a finer crumb.
* **Why is my coffee cake not rising properly?** Possible causes include using old baking powder or baking soda, not creaming the butter and sugar adequately, or not using enough leavening agents. Ensure your baking powder and soda are fresh and that you cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy for proper aeration.