Whether you call it a Crumb Cake or a Crumble Cake, this recipe for Apple Double Crumb Cake is beckoning and unabashedly the best! Using sweet-tart apples, sprinkled with cinnamon and nutmeg, layered between a buttery cake with two layers of brown sugar oat crumb streusel!
What is it about fall that drives us all to our ovens? Perhaps it’s the smell of warm fall spices wafting through our home, mixed with autumn crisp apples is almost too much to resist!
We love coffee cakes in our house, this apple crumb cake is the perfect addition, you might also try our Blueberry Crumble Cake, the “You Can’t Mess it Up” Coffee Cake, or our Starbucks Copycat Coffee Cake.
What’s the Difference between a Crumb & Crumble Cake?
Crumble is a derived term of crumb. As verbs the difference between crumble and crumb is that crumble is to fall apart; to disintegrate while crumb is to cover with crumbs. As nouns the difference between crumble and crumb is a derived term of crumb. A crumble is a dessert of british origin containing stewed fruit topped with a crumbly mixture of fat, flour, and sugar while crumb is a small piece which breaks off from baked food (such as cake, biscuit or bread).
Source
Is Coffee Cake the Same as a Crumb Cake?
My understanding is that any cake that goes well with coffee (hello, all cakes, scones, quickbreads and muffins) is officially a coffee cake!
Ingredients for Apple Crumb Cake
While the list might seem long, this cake comes together so quickly and is so simple to make! You can do it!!
For the Crumb Topping
- All-purpose Flour | I typically use organic AP Unbleached flour, but regular is fine, I also added oat flour to add a bit of chewy-nutty factor
- Brown Sugar | light or dark, your preference, I used a bit of both!
- Granulated Sugar | I always use all natural cane sugar.
- Ground Cinnamon | Salt | Nutmeg | Can you smell them now!
- Vanilla Extract | again, I’m going to go with real, not imitation here
- Real Butter | remember my mantra, if it is soft coming out of the fridge, it’s not real butter!
For the Crumble Cake
- Apples | a sweet-tart apple is best for this, like a Granny Smith, but I used a Honeycrisp, because that’s what I had on hand!
- Butter | More of the real stuff.
- Granulated Sugar | up all natural for me, but regular is fine.
- Egg | I bake with large eggs, the Goldilocks philosophy, “medium is too small, Jumbo is a bit too large and Large is just right!“
- Vanilla Extract | read all about how to make your own and never run out again for just pennies a month!
- Greek Yogurt | or sour cream, either is delicious, I make mine with yogurt.
- All-purpose flour | In recipes like this, you can usually do ½ white and ½ whole wheat flour. I used Light Whole Wheat.
- Baking Soda, baking Powder, salt | make sure it’s fresh!
- (Optional) Milk or Buttermilk | sometimes depending on the type of whole wheat flour you use if you choose to use it, it can soak up a lot more liquid, so counter that by adding a touch of milk or buttermilk.
Add Butter to Dry Crumb Ingredients 
Stir well to mix 
Cake batter with Greek yogurt 
Adding flour mixture to wet ingredients
HOW TO MAKE APPLE CRUMB CAKE
- Make your Crumb Topping First! | Mix together crumb ingredients; flour, brown sugar granulated sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg. Whisk or use fork to combine, then pour in melted butter and vanilla extract and mix until a wet crumb forms. Place in fridge while making cake.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease 8 or 9 inch springform pan (see notes below) plus place round of parchment for easy removal.
- In a large mixing bowl (my favorite) cream together butter, sugar until light and creamy, add egg and beat one minute. Add Greek yogurt (or sour cream) and vanilla extract, beat until just combined.
- In a smaller bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt, use a whisk or fork to combine. With mixer on low slowly add flour into creamed butter mixture just until combined.
Spread ½ batter in pan 
Add apples, cinnamon and 1 cup crumbs 
Add rest of batter and smooth 
Pour remaining crumbs on top
- Spread ½ the batter in bottom of pan, it will be a thin layer. Layer apple chunks evenly over batter and sprinkle with cinnamon, then sprinkle 1 cup cinnamon streusel crumbs over apples. Finishing by spreading remaining batter over the crumbs, spreading to mostly cover. Add rest of cinnamon crumb topping on top of batter.
- Bake 35-40 minutes until toothpick or tester come out clean when inserted in center of cake. Allow to cool 15-20 minutes on wire cooling rack.
- Run a knife around the ring of the springform, then remove the collar.
- For the glaze, whisk together powdered sugar and maple syrup (or apple cider) and drizzle over cake or by the slice.
Can I Make Apple Cinnamon Crumble Gluten Free?
While I have not tried it, my experience has been that subbing out the all purpose flour for gluten free all-purpose flour in a recipe such as this, (almost) always works great! So give it a try, let me know how it goes!
Can I Freeze my Cinnamon Crumb Cake?
You betcha! Be sure to wrap or store in an airtight container, use within 3-6 months. To warm, remove from packaging, cover with foil and place in 300 degree oven for 30 minutes (frozen) or 15-20 minutes thawed.
Can I Substitute Other Fruit for the Apples?
Absolutely! Try these replacements:
Use pears, nectarines, plums or peaches in place of apples. Cup for cup! You may also add berries of any kind, you can even mix and match. Keep the total amount to about 1-½ cups.
Can I use a Cake Pan in place of a Springform pan?
- Use a 9″ cake pan (deep is better) or an 8-9 inch square pan and cut into squares instead of slices.
- You may also use two small 6 or 7″ springform pans, eat a crumb cake and freeze one, or eat one and give to a neighbor!
Crisps, Strudels, Cobblers – oh my!
There are also Crisps, Brown Betty’s, Strudels and Cobbler’s; all delicious and the one thing they all have in common is fruit! Here are a few of my favorite bloggers recipes!
Cobblers, Crisps, Brown Betty's & Strudels
Blackberry Cobbler with Brown Sugar Pecan Biscuits
Can I tell you how much I love these individual cobblers! They turn out so pretty and are perfect for that extra special dessert to serve Mom on her special day!
Apfelstrudel Recipe (German Apple Strudel) - House of Nash Eats
This Apfelstrudel recipe (German Apple Strudel recipe) might sound daunting, but it’s much easier than it seems and so much fun to make. And the resulting apple strudel is a delicious, festive dessert filled with sweet, spiced apples and raisins in a flaky crust that everyone will love.
The Best Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Bars + GF option
The Best Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Bars have a buttery oatmeal shortbread crust and crumb topping with a sweet-tart ribbon of strawberry rhubarb compote layered between. The ideal springtime treat!
Easy Homemade Cherry Crisp
There is perhaps nothing quite so delightful as a serving of warm Cherry Crisp with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream melting on top! The fruity filling is sweet and tart with the warm taste and crunchy texture of the oat crisp topping to balance every spoonful!
Apple Brown Betty
This delicious Apple Brown Betty recipe brings crisp sweet apples with a touch of lemon together with a crunchy cinnamon nutmeg topping. For the ultimate in comfort food top with all natural vanilla ice cream or warm caramel sauce.
Apple Crisp in a Mug - Microwaved with Fresh Apples. Dessert for One.
Make an apple crisp in a mug, in minutes, right in your microwave, using simple ingredients like oatmeal, fresh apple, butter and sugar. Serve warm from the mug topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Dessert for one. Anytime you want a little something sweet.
Alaskan Mixed Berry Cobbler with Buttermilk Biscuits
Berry cobbler is an unpretentious, homey dessert and is made even more rustic when presented in a cast iron skillet! Alaskan Mixed Berry Cobbler with Buttermilk Biscuits is an homage to the plentiful wild berries that abound in Alaska each summer!
Like it? PIN IT to your Fall Baking Board.
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Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️star rating in the recipe below!
Apple Crumb Cake
Apples and cinnamon, a light, buttery cake, with not one but two layers of crumb streusel topping! Perfect for a fall or chilly morning, delicious with a cup of coffee or tea.
Ingredients
Crumb Topping
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (I subbed out ½ cup flour for oat flour)
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed (light or dark)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (I use all natural cane sugar)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup butter, melted
For the Cake
- 1 large or 2 small tart apples, peeled and chopped (I used Honeycrisp)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons (½ stick) butter
- ½ cup granulated sugar (I used cane sugar)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup sour cream, or Greek yogurt (I used Greek yogurt)
- 1 cup all purpose flour (I used ½ cup light whole wheat and ½ regular)
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2-3 tablespoons milk or buttermilk (OPTIONAL if using whole wheat flour and it's too thick)
Maple Glaze
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 ½ - 2 tablespoons maple syrup or apple cider (I used maple syrup)
Instructions
- Grease an 8-9 inch springform pan* and line the bottom with parchment paper round, or grease really well. Preheat oven to 350°.
- Make your cinnamon crumb topping by whisking together all the dry ingredients, then add the melted butter and vanilla, stirring with a fork or spoon until mixture is evenly moist and presses together when squeezed in hand. Place in fridge while making the cake.
- In a mixing bowl, cream together butter with sugar until light and creamy, add egg, beating well for about 1 minute. Add vanilla and sour cream, beat until incorporated.
- In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add to the creamed butter mixture, just until combined.
- Spread half the batter on the bottom of the pan, it will be thin. Spread the apples evenly over the batter, sprinkle with cinnamon. Sprinkle one cup cinnamon crumb mixture over the apples. Spread remaining batter over the crumbs, it doesn't have to be perfect! Spread remaining crumb mixture evenly over the top.
- Bake on middle rack of oven, for 35-40 minutes, checking at 35 minutes using a cake tester or toothpick. If it comes out clean it's done. Remove from oven, cooling 15-20 minutes on wire rack.
- Before removing the springform sleeve, run a knife around the edges of the cake.
- If desired, whisk together powdered sugar and maple syrup (or apple cider) and drizzle over cake.
Notes
If you do not have a springform pan, you can certainly make this cake in a 8-9" square pan or round cake pan.
Apple Crumb Cake keeps best in fridge in airtight container for 3-5 days, may be frozen up to 3 months.
Adapted from OMG Chocolate Desserts
Recommended Products
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New Star Foodservice 42917 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons and Measuring Cups Combo, Set of 8 -
Prepworks by Progressive Magnetic Measuring Spoons, Set of 5 -
Anchor Hocking 2 Quart Glass Batter Bowl With Lid -
Silicone Spatula Set - Heat Resistant BPA FREE -
7-Speed Digital Hand Mixer with Turbo Beater II Accessories and Pro Whisk - Contour Silver -
JAMIE OLIVER Round Springform Cake Tin, 9 Inches, Nonstick
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12 servingsServing Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 324Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 283mgCarbohydrates: 50gFiber: 1gSugar: 29gProtein: 4g
The nutritional information is estimated and may not be entirely accurate, at times it pulls information for suggestions and options which may increase calories, etc. Nutritional information will change based on used ingredients, quantities used, etc.
Cookie Little
Monday 14th of September 2020
I made the Apple Crumb Cake. It was absolutely delicious. I used Jonathan apples in this recipe. Last week I made the Bourbon Vanilla Caramel Sauce. It is a 5 star for sure. I used it over Brownie bites and vanilla ice cream. I used a tablespoon and half of the sauce and a little milk in the glaze for the Apple Crumb Cake instead of Maple syrup.
Kathleen
Tuesday 15th of September 2020
Thank you so much for sharing this Cookie! Makes my heart sing to know you loved it! And I love your modifications, that's my motto, "make it yours!" Have a fabulous week! Kathleen