Apple Crumb Cake Recipe

Edited by Lydia Boubendir

With the autumn chill right around the corner, now is the perfect time to consult your favorite apple recipes and go apple-picking at beautiful local orchards.

One of my favorite orchards is Hillview Farms, only a 15 minute drive from Summit! When my son was in preschool, he had a field trip there, and I’ve been going there every year since. Hillview Farms is family owned and operated in Gillette, NJ. They sell farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, and have the cutest country-esque store where they sell all kinds of homemade pies, doughnuts, and fresh honey. It’s especially great for the kids: they can see the cute baby chicks, see how the apples are pressed to make cider, and get to tour the farm on a fun hayride. 

Now, onto what to do with those apples once you get them home… apple crumb cake!

It’s great in the morning for breakfast, as an afternoon snack, or as a sweet treat after dinner. Sally’s Baking Addiction is my go-to for baking recipes, and her apple crumb cake recipe is just plain yummy! If you end up trying this recipe – which I highly recommend – let me know if you liked it.

Ingredients

CRUMB TOPPING

• 1 cup (200g) packed light or dark brown sugar

• 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar

• 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup (2 sticks; 230g) unsalted butter, melted

• 2 and 1/2 cups (310g) all purpose flour (spoon & leveled)

CAKE

• 2 and 1/2 cups (310g) all purpose flour (spoon & leveled)

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 3/4 cup (1.5 sticks; 170g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

• 1 and 1/4 cups (250g) granulated sugar

• 3 large eggs, at room temperature

• 1 cup (240g) full-fat sour cream, at room temperature*

• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

• 1 and 1/2 cups peeled chopped apples (about 1 and 1/2 medium apples)

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and grease a 9×13 baking pan or line with parchment paper. Set aside.

2. Make the crumb topping: Mix the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt together in a medium bowl. Stir in the melted butter using a fork, then add the flour. Mix and crumble with a fork. Set aside.

3. Make the cake: Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together. Set aside.

4. Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and granulated sugar together on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Add the eggs, sour cream, and the vanilla. Beat on medium-high speed until combined. The mixture may look curdled; that’s ok. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl as needed. With the mixer on low speed, mix in the dry ingredients until smooth. Do not overmix. The batter will be thick.

5. Toss the chopped apples and cinnamon together.

6. Spread the batter evenly into prepared baking pan. Top evenly with cinnamon apples. Top with crumb topping. Using a rubber spatula or the back of a large spoon, press the crumb topping tightly down into the cake so it sticks.

7. Bake for 45-55 minutes. Baking times vary, so keep an eye on yours. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If you find the top or edges of the cake is/are browning too quickly in the oven, loosely cover it with aluminum foil.

8. Remove the cake from the oven and set on a wire rack. Allow to slightly cool for at least 30-45 minutes before slicing and serving.

Enjoy!