This buttery, spiced apple coffee cake with a brown sugar crumb topping is at its best when apples are in season, but you’ll find yourself craving it year-round. The cake is packed with tender, fragrant apple pieces and a generous crumb topping for a comforting treat any time of day.
Apple Coffee Cake Recipe
If you prefer moist, spiced coffee cakes over tall frosted layer cakes, this recipe will become a favorite. It’s loaded with real apple chunks that stay tender and juicy after baking, offering a burst of flavor in every bite.
This is a cake for apple lovers — it evokes crisp autumn mornings and cozy evenings curled up with a warm drink. It’s substantial enough to serve as a satisfying snack or a weekend breakfast when paired with coffee or tea.
The recipe uses Greek yogurt and eggs for a tender crumb and a bit of tang, and the cake is rich enough that a generous slice feels like a full treat. I usually cut the pan into 9 large squares, but you can divide it into 12 smaller pieces if you prefer.
Apple Coffee Cake
This cake is easy to put together and fills the kitchen with a wonderful aroma while it bakes. The bake time is roughly 45 minutes for an 8-inch square pan, but the prep comes together quickly so you can relax while it finishes in the oven.
The cake keeps well: store it at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to a week or wrap individual portions in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months for easy serving later.
If you enjoy nuts in your coffee cake, fold in 3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans with the apples before transferring the batter to the pan.
Coffee Cake with Apples Recipe
Choosing the right apples makes a difference. For baking, select tart, firm varieties that hold their shape and convert to sweet, tender bites when cooked. Good choices include Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Crispin, Jazz, Jonagold, or Ida Red. You can mix varieties to balance flavor and texture.
How Many Apples Do I Need?
For this recipe you’ll need about 4 cups of diced apple, which is roughly 1 pound or about 3 medium apples. If using different sizes, plan for about 5–6 medium apples, 4 large apples, or 8 small apples to reach the same volume.
Apple Coffee Cake
Rebecca Lindamood
5
40
45
Cut into 9 generous servings or 12 smaller slices to suit your gathering.
Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary with ingredient choices and portion sizes.
Equipment
- cutting board
- chef’s knife
- mixing bowl
- medium bowl
- hand mixer or stand mixer
- 8-inch square baking pan
- silicone scraper or rubber spatula
Ingredients
- butter and all-purpose flour for the pan
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom (optional)
- 1 1/3 cups brown sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup Greek yogurt (preferably whole milk)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
- 4 cups peeled, diced apple
- 3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
For the Crumb Topping:
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup butter, cut into small pieces
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease and flour an 8-inch square baking pan or spray with baking spray. Set aside.
- In a bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl or stand mixer, beat the brown sugar and softened butter until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and mix until combined. Beat in the Greek yogurt and vanilla until smooth.
- Add the dry ingredients gradually and mix gently. Fold in the diced apples (and nuts, if using). Scrape the batter into the prepared pan.
Make the Crumb Topping:
- Use a fork to combine the topping brown sugar, flour, butter, and cinnamon until crumbly. Sprinkle the crumbs evenly over the batter.
To Bake the Apple Coffee Cake:
- Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pan on a wire rack.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, refrigerate for up to a week, or freeze individual portions wrapped tightly for up to 3 months.
Notes
Nutrition
Calories: 487kcal
Carbohydrates: 77 g
Protein: 8 g
Fat: 17 g
Nutritional information is an estimate. Calculate nutrition based on the exact ingredients you use.
