In this Instructable, I will show you how to make an apple streusel coffee cake also commonly called an apple crumble coffee cake. This recipe for easy apple coffee cake with a yummy streusel or crumb topping is so yummy! Although there is no actual coffee in the cake, it is commonly called coffee cake because people over the years have enjoyed a slice with a cup of coffee. I don't drink coffee, but enjoy mine with milk. If you want a normal coffee cake, you can leave the apples out and don't put the crumble or streusel on the top. Either way, this cake recipe is super easy to make, if I can do it, you can do it. Let's get baking!

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Follow the easy steps below or watch the video tutorial or do both. :)

Step 1: Ingredients and Tools

You may print the recipe here if you like.

Ingredients:

1 large egg
1/2 cup buttermilk or use normal milk (120ml)
1/2 cup white granulated sugar (100g)
1/4 cup butter or oil (57g)
1 1/2 cups cake flour or all-purpose/plain flour (180g)
1/4 tsp. baking soda (1g) leave it out if using normal milk
1 tsp. baking powder (5g) double it if using normal milk
1/2 tsp. cinnamon (1g)
3 medium apples or 2 large apples (granny smith, fuji, gala, etc.)

Streusel/Crumble Topping

3 Tbsp. butter, softened (45g)
1/2 cup white granulated sugar (100g)
1/3 cup of all-purpose/plain flour (40g)
1 tsp. cinnamon (2g)

Tools:

Bowls
Whisk
Spatula
8x8 baking pan

Step 2: Mix Wet Ingredients

Begin by preheating the oven to 400 F/205 C. Peel, core, and slice the apples into little chunks. In a large bowl add the egg and whisk it. Then add the buttermilk, sugar, and melt the butter until just barely melted, not hot. Whisk all those ingredients together.

Note: You can take the milk and add 1 tsp. of lemon juice or white distilled vinegar and let it sit for 10 minutes to make a buttermilk substitute. Or you can just use regular milk.

Step 3: Mix in the Dry Ingredients

Now add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon to a sifter and sift the dry ingredients into the bowl. If you don't have a sifter, just whisk those dry ingredients together in a separate bowl then pour them into the main bowl. Mix everything together well until you are left with a nice cake batter. Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed.

Note: If you are using plain milk, don't add the baking soda, and double the amount of baking powder.

Step 4: Apple Time

Now add the apple chunks to the batter, use a spatula to stir them in. Then pour the batter into an 8x8 pan that has been greased with shortening and floured. You can also just spray it with cooking spray. Level off the top with a spatula.

If you want a round cake, you can use a springform pan, that has been sprayed with cooking spray.

Step 5: Make the Streusel/Crumble Topping

In a small bowl add the softened butter, sugar, flour, and cinnamon. If you forget to leave the butter out, you can soften it up in the microwave for a few seconds. Mix it all together with a fork. The mixture should resemble big chunks of damp sand.

Step 6: Bake That Cake

Now sprinkle the streusel topping on the cake evenly with a spoon. Bake the cake in the middle rack for 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. After the cake comes out of the oven, allow it to cool down in the pan completely, 30 minutes or so.

Step 7: Serve the Cake

Take a spatula and run it along the edges, to make sure the cake is loose. Then cut the cake into as many slices as you like. I normally do 6 to 8 slices. Serve it by itself, or some people like to serve it with vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!