If you want something that has both the comforts and flavors of fall, this apple coffee cake recipe will be your new go-to fall recipe! With tons of apple flavor thanks to the addition of applesauce, apple pie spice, and fresh apples, this is the perfect thing to bring to your next fall party to share!
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Applesauce Coffee Cake
I’ve been wanting to make another coffee cake recipe ever since sharing our cinnamon streusel coffee cake a few years back and with fall finally here, I thought an apple coffee cake would be perfect!
I’m not normally the biggest fan of hot apples, but the combination of the warm cooked apples in the filling and the applesauce in the batter make this cake super moist, unlike so many coffee cakes out there.
We made it for one of our recent fall parties, and it was the first thing gone. I think the combination of it being a comfort dish like coffee cake with the fall apple flavor just made this one a huge hit with everyone! It would also be perfect to take to an apple party!
Why People Love This
- Feeds a crowd – perfect for a brunch or baby shower.
- Twist on a classic – just as good as your grandma’s coffee cake but with a delicious apple flavor.
- Super moist – the apple sauce adds moisture and flavor, so you get the perfect cake every time.
Ingredients in coffee cake with apples
Ingredient Notes + Substitutions
- Apple sauce – make sure to get the unsweetened, smooth kind. Chunky will make the batter too chunky, not something you want.
- Apple pie spice – if you can’t find it, you can combine 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg, a pinch of cloves, and a pinch of allspice instead.
- Diced apples – the cooked apple layer is the best part in my opinion, but if you don’t like cooked apples, they can be omitted.
How to make this easy apple coffee cake
There are a few steps that go into making this mouth watering fall coffee cake, but don’t let that stop you. All the steps are simple and totally worth the effort to make this delicious cake.
1 – Make the batter
- Combine the wet ingredients and sugars together in a medium bowl until they’re well mixed.
- Combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry mixture, and stir together until combined. There will likely be some small clumps because of the applesauce, that’s totally okay.
Tip to keep it Moist
Adding apple sauce can make mixing tricky because the batter will never be smooth. It can be really easy to overmix in an attempt to rid your batter of those pesky lumps. Overmixed batter means dried-out cake.
Here’s my foolproof method: once you see the last flour streak, do three more laps around the bowl, then stop! Those lumps are so tempting to keep stirring, but resist the urge and put the spatula down.
2 – Make the Filling
- Toss all the ingredients other than the apples into a bowl and mix well.
- Add the diced apples and mix until they are all well coated in the sugar mixture.
- Set the apples aside while you make the top layer.
3 – Make the coffee cake Topping
- Melt the butter in a microwave safe bowl.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the butter and stir with a fork until it starts to clump.
4 – Assemble the coffee cake
- Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper and preheat the oven.
- Pour half of the batter into parchment paper lined pan.
- Add the entire bowl of filling and it spread evenly over the batter, trying not to mix the two layers as much as possible.
- Add the remaining batter on top of the filling layer, again spreading gently.
- Top it all off with an even layer of crumbled topping.
5 – Bake and serve
Toss it in the oven to bake, then allow it to cool slightly before enjoying. This is delicious served warm, at room temperature, or even slightly chilled.
How to Store apple coffee cake
This coffee cake is best eaten fresh, but it’s still tasty after a couple days when stored properly.
The key to storing the cake is making sure it is airtight. A tight layer of plastic wrap is always the best, even if you are doing a lid on top.
You can keep it at room temperature for up to five days or until it dries out.
Reheat it slightly in the oven if you want it warm again or enjoy it at room temperature. Either way, you are enjoying cake for breakfast, so it’ll be delicious.
You can also tightly wrap each piece and then freeze it for up to three months. Allow it to thaw naturally before eating for the best results.
Recipe FAQs
Can I use sweetened apple sauce?
Yes, but it will make the cake even sweeter, so unsweetened is best. If that’s all you have, reduce the brown sugar by 1/4 cup.
Can I add mix-ins?
You can add nuts to both the filling and topping layer if you want. I recommend 1/4 cup chopped pecans for the filling and 1/4 cup chopped pecans for the topping or just go for one or the other.
Can I freeze the cake?
You can, just make sure to seal it really well and thaw at room temperature before eating. It can last for up to three months.
More Apple Recipes
If you like apples, you have to try these other apple recipes next! They’re a great way to use up all those fresh fall apples!
- Apple pie cups – two-ingredient treats that anyone who likes apple will love!
- Caramel apple bark – a super easy way to enjoy all the flavors of caramel apples!
- Caramel apple monkey bread – another delicious brunch recipe that uses fresh apples and filling!
- Crescent roll apple turnovers – a super simple apple snack with a store-bought shortcut!
- Apple cheddar bundles – little bites of fall goodness that are so easy to make!
Easy Apple Coffee Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- ½ cup butter softened
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 TBSP cinnamon
- 1 tsp apple pie spice
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 2 ½ cups flour
Filling
- 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¾ tsp apple pie spice
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup flour
- 2 medium apples diced
Topping
- ½ cup flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp apple pie spice
- ¼ cup butter
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, sour cream, and applesauce. Mix until thoroughly combined.½ cup butter, ½ cup sugar, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 eggs, ½ cup sour cream, 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and apple pie spice. Stir until combined.1 TBSP cinnamon, 1 tsp apple pie spice, 1 tsp salt, 1 ½ tsp baking powder, ½ tsp baking soda, 2 ½ cups flour
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined. (It won’t be smooth because of the applesauce and that’s okay.)
- Pour half of the cake batter into the pan and spread into an even layer.
- Pour filling over batter in an even layer.
- Gently spread remaining cake batter over the filling layer, try to not disturb filling layer as much as possible.
- Top cake with an even layer of the streusel topping.
- Bake in the oven for 50-55 minutes until a toothpick poked into the center comes out cleanly.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool before eating.
Filling
- Combine all filling ingredients into a small bowl and mix until combined.1 ½ tsp cinnamon, ¾ tsp apple pie spice, ¾ cup brown sugar, ½ cup sugar, ½ cup flour
- If adding apples, toss into the filling ingredients to coat the apples. Set aside.2 medium apples
Topping
- Melt butter in a small microwave safe bowl in the microwave.¼ cup butter
- Add remaining topping ingredients and stir with a fork until it begins to clump.½ cup flour, ½ cup brown sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp apple pie spice
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