This Apple Coffee Cake Recipe is everything you want in a fall-inspired treat: a moist, tender crumb, juicy bites of apple, and a buttery cinnamon streusel on top. It comes together with basic pantry staples and a couple of crisp apples, making it perfect for a cozy Sunday morning or a holiday brunch spread. Baked in a springform pan for easy serving, it slices beautifully and holds together with just the right balance of lightness and density.
Whether you're enjoying it with a hot cup of coffee or sharing it with family over breakfast, this apple coffee cake delivers on flavor, texture, and nostalgia. It's one of those go-to coffee cake recipes you’ll want to make time and time again—especially in the heart of apple season.
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love This Coffee Cake Recipe with Apples
- Ingredients
- Substitutions and Variations
- How to Make our Apple Coffee Cake Recipe
- More Recipes You Will Love
- How to Store Coffee Cake Recipe with Apples
- What to Serve with our Apple Coffee Cake Recipe
- Top Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions About Coffee Cake Recipe with Apples
- More Recipes You Will Love
- Apple Coffee Cake Recipe
As you may already know, I am a huge fan of apple desserts, so there will be more coming. Here are a few others that you may also enjoy: Apple Pie a la Mode, Apple Dumplings using Crescent Rolls and my Slow Cooker Apple Butter can be used in breads or muffins.
Why You Will Love This Coffee Cake Recipe with Apples
- Moist Texture: Greek yogurt and milk create a rich crumb without making it too dense.
- Fresh Flavor: Made with real chopped apples for pockets of sweet, soft fruit in every bite.
- Crispy Topping: A generous crumb topping adds cinnamon crunch to balance the tender cake.
- Versatile Serving: Great for brunch, dessert, or snacking with your morning coffee.
- Seasonal Feel: Perfect for the fall season, holidays, or any time you're craving warm, spiced baked goods.
- Perfect for Gatherings: Whether it is a casual get together or Thanksgiving morning, this
Ingredients
Basic ingredients, big flavor. This is one of those recipes where a little goes a long way.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- All-Purpose Flour: Forms the base structure of the cake for a soft but sturdy crumb.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the batter without overpowering the apple and cinnamon flavors.
- Brown Sugar: Adds deeper sweetness and helps create a caramelized crumb topping.
- Unsalted Butter: Provides richness to the batter and streusel topping.
- Eggs: Bind the ingredients and contribute to the cake’s tender texture.
- Greek Yogurt: Keeps the cake moist and gives a slight tang that balances the sweetness.
- Milk: Lightens the batter and ensures a tender crumb.
- Fresh Apples: Adds juicy bites of sweet and tart flavor throughout the cake.
- Ground Cinnamon: Infuses the batter and topping with warm, cozy spice.
- Baking Powder: Provides rise in the cake and helps keeps it fluffy.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Rounds out the flavor.
- Sea Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor.
For this easy coffee cake recipe, you'll want to have on hand 9” springform pan, measuring cups and spoons, hand mixer, spatula, mixing bowls, small saucepan and a whisk.
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few easy variations to fit your taste or the season.
- Apple Choice: Swap in Honeycrisp apples or Granny Smith apples depending on your sweet-tart preference.
- Dairy Options: Sour cream works well in place of Greek yogurt for a slightly tangier flavor.
- Add Texture: Stir chopped pecans or walnuts into the crumb topping for extra crunch.
- More Spice: Add a pinch of nutmeg or use apple pie spice for deeper fall flavor.
- Pan Alternative: Use a parchment-lined square pan if you don’t have a springform pan on hand.
How to Make our Apple Coffee Cake Recipe
This apple coffee cake comes together easily and bakes up with a tender crumb and crisp streusel topping — perfect for cozy mornings or holiday brunch.
Lower oven rack 1 from center and preheat to 350F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan and set aside.
Whisk dry ingredient in a medium mixing bowl, set aside.
Put chopped apples in another bowl and toss with 2-2 ½ tablespoon flour. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar for about 3 minutes.
Beat in eggs and vanilla for about 1 minute.
Add whole milk and Greek yogurt, beat on low until combined.
Incorporate flour mixture with a spatula until combined.
Fold in ⅔ apples, then pour batter into prepared pan in an even layer. Add remaining apples to the top.
In a separate bowl add topping ingredients and mix until combined with a spatula.
Crumble it over the top of the batter and bake for 50-60 minutes until top is golden brown and the cake is cooked through.
Allow to cool in pan for about an hour before releasing the springform pan.
Cut into 12 slices.
Hint: Be sure to soften your butter, it creams better and helps create a softer batter.
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How to Store Coffee Cake Recipe with Apples
Fridge or freezer? Here’s how to store your leftovers the right way.
- Room Temperature: Store covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container on the counter for 2–3 days.
- Fridge: Once cooled, store in an airtight container for about 5 days.
- Freezer: Wrap slices individually and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
What to Serve with our Apple Coffee Cake Recipe
We love recipes that work as a breakfast/brunch or even dessert item. And while, this can be enjoyed on its own, here are some other recipes that might add some inspiration to your menu.
- Hot Beverages: Enjoy this coffee cake recipe with our caramel mocha, hot chocolate, Bailey’s hot chocolate, old fashioned hot toddy, Irish coffee with Baileys, espresso Irish coffee or our spiked apple cider made in a crock pot (you can also omit the boozy at the end for a non-alcoholic version).
- Breakfast/Brunch Items: Crispy fluffy pancakes, banana sheet pan pancakes, gluten free buttermilk waffles, eggnog French toast bake, banana chocolate French toast bake, pumpkin scones, maple brown sugar oatmeal, bacon and spinach quiche and spinach and ham quiche Lorraine.
- Dessert Items: Pumpkin pie, carrot sheet cake, double chocolate chunk muffins, or a cozy slow cooker cinnamon roll casserole.
- Apple Flavored Treats: Apple pie, apple dumplings, apple fritters, apple crisp and apple cider donuts.
Top Tips
Use these helpful hints to take your recipe to the next level.
- Toss the Apples in Flour: Coating the apples in flour first helps to keep them suspended in the batter so they don't all sink to the bottom.
- Don’t Overmix: Gently combine the wet and dry ingredients to maintain a tender texture.
- Test for Doneness: Look for a golden brown top and a clean toothpick after about 50-55 minutes.
- Cool Completely: Letting the cake rest in the pan helps it firm up for cleaner, easier slicing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Coffee Cake Recipe with Apples
Do you have questions about making our apple coffee cake recipe, maybe we can help!?
Yes, it’s a great make-ahead recipe. Bake it the day before and store well covered at room temperature.
Using a springform pan helps with an easy release, but if you don't have one, you can also use a parchment-lined square or round cake pan.
For the best texture and taste, be sure to choose firm, flavorful apples like Granny Smith (more on the tart side) or Honeycrisp (slightly sweeter).
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Check out some more of our recipes you will want to try!
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Apple Coffee Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 250 grams all-purpose flour about 2 cups, plus a extra for fruit
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ tablespoon sea salt
- 1 ½ stick unsalted butter softened
- 150 grams granulated sugar about ¾ cup
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup whole milk
- ⅓ cup Greek yogurt
- 2 apples peeled and chopped
TOPPING:
- 125 grams all-purpose flour about 1 cup
- 50 grams granulated sugar about ¼ cup
- 50 grams light brown sugar about ¼ cup
- 56.5 grams old fashioned oats about ⅔ cup
- 1 stick unsalted butter melted
- ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Lower oven rack 1 from center and preheat to 350F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan and set aside.
- Whisk dry ingredient in a medium mixing bowl, set aside.
- Put chopped apples in another bowl and toss with 2-2 ½ tablespoon flour. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar for about 3 minutes.
- Beat in eggs and vanilla for about 1 minute.
- Add whole milk and Greek yogurt, beat on low until combined.
- Incorporate flour mixture with a spatula until combined.
- Fold in ⅔ apples, then pour batter into prepared pan. Add remaining apples to the top.
- In another mixing bowl add topping ingredients and mix until combined with a spatula.
- Crumble it over the top of the batter and bake for 50-60 minutes until top is golden brown and the cake is cooked through.
- Allow to cool in pan for about an hour before releasing the springform pan.
- Cut into 12 slices.
Notes
- Be sure to soften your butter, it creams better and helps create a softer batter.
- Coating the apples in flour first helps to keep them suspended in the batter so they don't all sink to the bottom.
- Gently combine the wet and dry ingredients to maintain a tender texture.
- Look for a golden brown top and a clean toothpick after about 50-55 minutes.
- Letting the cake rest in the pan helps it firm up for cleaner, easier slicing.
Nutrition
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Courtney says
Love this autumnal update on the classic coffee cake! Perfect tender texture with pockets of delicious apple.
Eva Filer says
Thanks for the review! We love coffee cake over here of all kinds, so glad you enjoyed it!
Risa says
This recipe is getting me excited for Fall, and I can't wait to make it! It looks so good, and I love apple desserts. Thanks for the great recipe!
Eva Filer says
Thanks, they are one of my favorite type to make too. I hope you enjoy it!
Tina M Frank says
This coffee cake is perfect for Sunday brunch! Can't wait to try it!
Eva Filer says
Happy you think so too, we agree! Enjoy it.