Are you looking for a super easy applesauce crumb cake recipe? This super simple applesauce coffee cake comes together with simple ingredients that you likely already have in your fridge and pantry. Topped with a delicious cinnamon streusel topping and creamy frosting glaze, this apple coffee cake can’t be beat!
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If you’re looking for an easy apple coffee cake for your next brunch or breakfast treat, you’ve come to the right place. Sharing a coffee cake with your friends, family or coworkers is fantastic as a fun fall treat.
Baked with a delicious cinnamon streusel topping, this coffee cake offers a moist and flavorful cake with a crunchy topping. Made with applesauce and just a few other fridge and pantry staples, this coffee cake comes together quickly and easily.
In this post I’ll show you what you need to make an apple coffee cake, how to make it, what tools you’ll need and how to serve and store the cake.
What do I need to make applesauce coffee cake?
Here’s a quick reference check list of the ingredients you’ll need before getting started:
- Applesauce – Just a simple, jarred applesauce from the grocery store works great for this recipe. If you have a homemade applesauce recipe that you love, feel free to use that as well.
- Granulated sugar – simple white, granulated sugar is what sweetens this recipe. If you’re looking to cut calories and refined sugar, go with a granular monk fruit sweetener, like Whole Earth which I use in baking often.
- Vegetable oil – using vegetable oil is what keeps this coffee cake recipe super moist. Some like butter, however, in my testing, oil renders a much more moist cake.
- Egg – egg is the binding for the cake batter and is necessary in helping the cake slices to hold their shape.
- Vanilla extract – vanilla extract adds a great flavor to the cake.
- All purpose flour – necessary for adding volume to the cake.
- Baking powder – the necessary leavening that will help the cake rise when baked.
- Salt – will help balance the sweetness and flavor of the cake.
- Cinnamon – a great flavorful spice that goes perfectly with the applesauce.
Streusel Topping and Glaze Ingredients:
- All purpose flour
- Brown sugar
- Butter
- Cinnamon
- Powdered sugar
- Milk
For exact ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post for the recipe. Thanks!
How do I make applesauce crumb cake?
To make a coffee cake, start by mixing the dry ingredients and wet ingredients in separate bowls. For the dry ingredients combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. For the wet ingredients, combine the applesauce, sugar, oil, egg and vanilla exract.
To create the batter gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients by whisking together. The batter will be thick and smooth.
Pour the batter in a prepared square 8 x 8″ pan and smooth out evenly with a rubber scraper.
How do I make cinnamon streusel topping for a coffee cake?
To make a streusel topping, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and butter. Mix together until all ingredients are combine and mixture resembles gravel.
Sprinkle the streusel topping over the top of the coffee cake batter, making sure the crumble is evenly distributed. Once the crumble topping has been added, it can then go into the oven to bake.
Ingredient Substitutions and Recommendations:
- Apple chunks – want a little more volume to your crumb cake? Peel and dice a medium apple into the batter to go alongside the applesauce. This will add some great texture and flavor to the cake.
- Nuts – feel free to mix in chopped pecans or walnuts to the batter. This will add a nice crunch to every bite of the cake.
- Other spices – adding spices like nutmeg, ginger, allspice or pumpkin pie spice will create a great flavor profile. Keep the spices to a total of two teaspoons total.
For exact ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions be sure to scroll down to the recipe at the bottom of the post. Thanks!
When do I add a glaze to a coffee cake?
Add a frosting glaze/drizzle to the top of a coffee cake after it has baked, and has cooled. The can can still be slightly warm, but you don’t want it to be piping hot right out of the oven.
What is in a frosting glaze?
A glaze is created by stirring together powdered sugar and a small amount of milk or cream. You can also add spices like cinnamon, or flavoring extracts like vanilla, almond, maple or lemon extract to enhance the flavor.
To create the glaze, add the powdered sugar to a bowl, stir in the milk until the mixture is smooth and slightly thick. The glaze should coat the back of a spoon. Drizzle this over the top of your cooled coffee cake.
Frequently asked questions about making applesauce coffee cake:
Many recipes vary, but any number of pans can be used for making a crumb cake, including a square pan (8 x 8″ or 9 x 9″), round spring form pan or even a Bundt pan. Because a crumb cake includes a crumb topping, I recommend using a square or round pan so the crumb topping can bake and brown appropriately.
For most recipes a crumb cake will need to bake at 350 degrees. Depending on the size of the pan, the time will vary from 35-45 minutes.
A traditional crumb or coffee cake can be stored at room temperature and doesn’t need to be refrigerated.
When stored in an airtight container, a crumb cake will last 3-4 days at room temperature.
Love baking with apples? Here are our top must-try apple recipes:
- Snickers Apple Salad
- Dutch Apple Pie Bars
- Microwave Apple Crisp
- Apple Danish Braid
- Apple Scones
- Pumpkin Apple Streusel Muffins
- Cinnamon Apple Bread
- Healthy Apple Muffins
- Apple Cobbler with Cake Mix
- Healthy Apple Crumble
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Applesauce Crumb Cake
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls These stainless steel mixing bowls are an essential cooking tool for every kitchen.
- Large Whisk Great for mixing batters!
- Rubber Scrapers These Cuisinart rubber scraper spatulas are fantastic for fillings, batters, and so much more!
- 8 x 8 Pan This non-stick 8 x 8 pan is fantastic for coffee cakes, brownies, bars and blondies.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup applesauce
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Cinnamon Streusel Crumble Topping:
- 2/3 cup all purpose flour
- 2/3 cup light brown sugar
- 3 Tablespoons butter melted
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Glaze:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 Tablespoon milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 8 x 8" square pan with non-stick spray. Set aside.
- Mix the wet and dry ingredients in separate bowls. For the wet ingredients, whisk together the applesauce, sugar, oil, egg and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients a few spoonful's at a time, using a large whisk to combine. Once all ingredients are combined, the batter will be thick and smooth. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Set aside.
For the streusel topping:
- To a bowl, add the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Pour in the melted butter. Using a fork mix together until all ingredients are combined. Mixture will be crumbly and resemble gravel.
- Sprinkle the streusel crumble topping evenly over the top of the batter using your hands. Bake the coffee cake at 350 degrees for 38-42 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean and crumb-free. Remove from the oven to let the cake cool.
For Glaze:
- While the cake cools, mix the glaze. Mix together the powdered sugar and milk in a small bowl. Stir together until smooth and slightly thick. The glaze should coat the back of a spoon. Drizzle the glaze over the top of the cooled cake.
- Slice the cake into squares and enjoy.
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