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Easy Moist Apple Crumb Cake with Buttery Streusel

Close-up of a moist slice of apple crumb cake showing the tender cake base and thick cinnamon streusel topping.
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A simple recipe for a moist apple cake topped with a thick, buttery cinnamon crumb topping, perfect for breakfast or dessert.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces (for topping)
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar (for topping)
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (for topping)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for topping)
  • Optional Drizzle: 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9-inch square baking pan.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 3/4 cups flour, baking powder, salt, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
  4. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry mixture. Mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
  6. Fold in the diced apples gently. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
  7. Prepare the crumb topping: In a separate bowl, combine the cold butter pieces, brown sugar, 1 1/2 cups flour, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Use your fingers or a pastry blender to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until coarse, pea-sized crumbs form.
  8. Sprinkle the crumb mixture evenly over the cake batter.
  9. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted into the center of the cake (avoiding the thickest part of the topping) comes out clean.
  10. Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
  11. If using the drizzle, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and cinnamon until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cake before serving.

Notes

  • For a moister cake, use Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples.
  • You can substitute sour cream for the milk for an even richer texture.
  • If you prefer a thicker topping, increase the topping flour to 1 3/4 cups.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://tastetaught.com/apple-crumb-cake-recipe-moist-easy/