Apple Crumb Cake: My Go-To Cozy Dessert Recipe (Print Version)

Learn my favorite Apple Crumb Cake recipe! This warm, buttery cake with a cinnamon drizzle is pure comfort. Perfect for any cozy moment.

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 25 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 60 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 85 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Difficulty: Intermediate
Cuisine: American
Dietary: Vegetarian

# Ingredients:

→ Cake Batter Essentials

01 - 2 ½ cups (300g) all-purpose flour
02 - 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
03 - 2 tsp baking powder
04 - ½ tsp baking soda
05 - ½ tsp salt
06 - ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
07 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 1 cup (240ml) whole milk

→ Apple Filling Stars

09 - 4 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
10 - ¼ cup (50g) brown sugar, packed
11 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon

→ Crumb Topping Magic

12 - 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
13 - ½ cup (100g) brown sugar, packed
14 - ½ tsp ground cinnamon
15 - ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed

→ Cinnamon Drizzle Sweetness

16 - 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
17 - 2-3 tbsp milk
18 - ¼ tsp ground cinnamon

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, preheat that oven to 350°F (175°C), because nobody likes waiting for a cold oven. Grab a 9-inch springform pan – honestly, this is where I always make sure it's properly greased and floured, or lined with parchment paper. I once skipped this step and had a minor cake-sticking disaster; it wasn't pretty, but it still tasted good! You want that cake to slide out like a dream, not stick to the sides. The kitchen should already start smelling faintly of anticipation.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together your flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Just give it a good mix to combine everything. In another bowl, cream together the softened butter and eggs until they're light and fluffy. This is where you really want to get some air in there. Then, slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet, alternating with the milk, starting and ending with the dry. Don't overmix! Just until combined. I always tell myself, "Less is more," when it comes to mixing cake batter. Lumps are okay, honest!
03 - Peel, core, and slice your Granny Smith apples. Try to keep them relatively uniform in thickness so they cook evenly. In a medium bowl, toss the apple slices with brown sugar and ground cinnamon. This step smells incredible, like autumn in a bowl, truly. Make sure every slice is coated. I always taste a piece of the seasoned apple here; it's a little ritual. This simple step makes your Apple Crumb Cake sing!
04 - Pour about half of your cake batter into the prepared springform pan, spreading it evenly. Then, arrange the seasoned apple slices over the batter in a single layer. Don't overcrowd them, but make sure they're spread out. Spoon the remaining cake batter over the apples. It might seem tricky to spread it over the apples, but just gently dot it around and spread as best you can. It doesn't have to be perfect, trust me, the crumble will cover any imperfections.
05 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon for the crumble. Now, this is important: cut in the *cold* butter using a pastry blender or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. This is where my earlier "oops" moment happened; cold butter is key for that perfect crumbly texture. You want distinct little pea-sized bits, not a paste. Sprinkle this glorious crumb mixture evenly over the top of the cake batter and apples. This will be the golden crown of your Apple Crumb Cake!
06 - Pop your cake into the preheated oven and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. The top should be a beautiful golden brown, and your kitchen will smell like heaven! Once it's done, let it cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 15-20 minutes before releasing the springform sides. Let it cool completely before drizzling, if you can wait! The waiting is the hardest part, honestly. This Apple Crumb Cake is worth every second.

# Notes:

01 - Always use cold butter for the crumb topping; it’s the secret to those perfect, distinct crumbs – I learned this the hard way!
02 - Don't overmix your cake batter; a few lumps are totally fine and help keep the cake tender.
03 - Let the cake cool a bit in the pan before releasing it; it helps prevent cracks and keeps your Apple Crumb Cake intact.
04 - Serving it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream makes this dish extra special.

# Equipment Needed:

01 - 9-inch springform pan
02 - large mixing bowls
03 - whisk
04 - pastry blender (optional)
05 - wire rack

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 450-500
Total Fat: 20-25g
Total Carbohydrate: 60-70g
Protein: 5-7g

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