The Best Apple Crumb Cake - the apple crumb cake of your dreams, with tons of apples and the best crumb topping ever!
If you are a fan of crumb topping like me, you will love this cake! Just as much as my Cinnamon Coffee Cake Muffins, Cherry Pie Crumb Bars or the Best Pumpkin Coffee Cake.
APPLE CRUMB CAKE
What is the best part of a crumb cake? Crumb topping! So often you have a crumb cake and just wish there was less cake in it and more (much, much more!) of the crumb topping.I set out to make it all happen! My goal: make a crumb cake with good amount of cake but the best amount of crumb topping. The BEST crumb cake in the world!
It took me three tries to get this cake just like I wanted. And it is glorious! You can actually taste the apples and the cake doesn't overwhelm. Before arranging the apple slices over the batter, I toss them gently in sugar, cinnamon and apple cider vinegar. It helps them cook perfectly between the layers of the cake and the topping. Next, layer the apple slices over the cake batter. Sprinkle crumb topping on top and bake!
How to make Apple Crumb Cake?
- Start by making the crumb topping. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir with a fork until it resembles crumbs. Set aside.
- Prepare the apple layer, by slicing apples and tossing them with lemon juice (to prevent browning) and spices.
- Make the cake batter and pour into a cake pan. Arrange apple slices on top of cake batter.
- Sprinkle crumb topping over apple layer.
- Bake cake until the topping is golden brown.
How to make the best crumb topping?
If you look at my recipe, you will notice that I use melted butter in making my crumb topping. It may sound strange since most recipes for desserts with crumb topping call for very cold butter that gets cut into the flour-sugar mixture. In that case, if your butter is not perfectly cold, it can melt the whole topping over your cake or muffins. Using melted butter prevents this possibility. This recipe if foolproof! I always make crumb topping with melted butter, in bars or muffins, and it always works. The crumb topping here is really shining!
Would you like to save this recipe?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Tools you need to make this crumb cake:
- 2 mixing bowls
- whisk
- fork
- springform cake pan
Tips for making the best apple crumb cake:
- use granny smith or gala apples
- make sure the melted butter is cooled completely before mixing with topping ingredients
- if the topping is browning too fast, cover it loosely with aluminum foil
- cool cake completely before slicing into perfect triangles
- serve with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream
More Recipes for Desserts with Apples:
If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment! 😀
BEST APPLE CRUMB CAKE RECIPE:
The Best Apple Crumb Cake Recipe
Ingredients
for the cake:
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup + 2 Tablespoons of milk
- ¾ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ cup + 2 teaspoons vegetable or canola oil
- 1 large egg
- 2 to 3 medium apples washed, peeled, cored and sliced ( I used Red Delicious and Golden Delicious)
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
for the topping:
- ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted and cooled
- 1 and ½ cup all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Grease and flour an 8" round springform pan. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
to make the topping:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together both sugars, cinnamon, salt and flour. Add melted butter and fluff with fork until mixtures creates crumbs. Set aside.
to make the cake:
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. In a large measuring cup, mix together milk, vanilla, oil and egg. Whisk until smooth.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon. Do not over mix. Few lumps in the batter are okay.
- Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan.
- In a medium bowl, toss together apple slices with two tablespoons of sugar, ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and the apple cider vinegar. Set aside.
- Arrange apple slices over the batter.
- Sprinkle crumb topping over the apples covering completely.
- Bake the cake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the topping is golden brown.
- Let cool completely in the pan.
- Transfer onto a serving plate or stand. Slice and serve.
- Keep in a covered container for up to 4 days.
Notes
Nutrition
Nat says
Hi, Such a beautiful cake. Could I use an olive oil spread instead of butter? I want to serve this to vegans.
Thank you,
Nat x
Anna says
Hi Nat! I have not tested this recipe with olive oil spread so I cannot guarantee the result. Especially the crumb topping can be a problem without a real butter. If you try it, let me know!
Sarah says
Made this twice now and it’s so good!! I halved the crumb topping this time and I didn’t have brown sugar so I just used white and it turned out great still. Yum! ☺️
Anna says
Thank you so much for making my recipe, Sarah! I'm so glad the cake was a success!
Gideon says
Thanks for the recipe! It never fails to impress.
Kathleen says
Great recipe!!! I served it with a drizzle of warmed dulce de leche mixed with Kentucky bourbon and toasted pecans. Fabulous!
Anna says
Thank you so much, Kathleen! Your serving idea sounds absolutely amazing! Thank you for making my recipe and for the review!
Kathleen says
I have also made this recipe with fresh pitted cherries…. Absolutely wonderful
Lauren Moggach says
Can I freeze before,? If so how do I reheat
Mary says
Can I make this cake with gluten free flour? Would I need to add xanthan gum?
Ginny says
This was fabulous! I followed the recipe although I only had 2 apples. The cake was moist and the crumb topping was off the charts. Will make this again and again.
Jessica says
I never leave comments but I had to for this recipe. It’s SO good! I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out amazing. Brought it to a brunch and everyone loved it. The ratio of cake to apples to crumb topping is perfection!
Anna says
Thank you so much, Jessica! I am so glad the cake was such a hit! Thank you for giving my recipe a try!
Oona says
AMAZING cake! I baked it in a 2lb loaf tin for 40 mins and it came out perfect.
Anna says
That's absolutely fantastic! Thank you so much for making my recipe!
Ani says
Hi there!
I have made this 3 times & always with compliments. TQ! But need your advise, if its possible to make the cake a day or two in advance.
Katherine Kochis says
So easy and so delicious. I didn’t have a 8in springform pan i used a 8in cake pan lined with parchment. It was a good substitute. I just topped with powdered sugar. Will be making this again.
Anna says
That's wonderful! Thank you so much, Katherine!
Anna says
This cake was very fast and easy to make. I did use parchment on the bottom of my springform pan. I doubled the recipe and made it in a leger springform pan. Took Doble time to bake. Tastes delicious and loved the crumble top. Added powdered sugar to the top and serves with vanilla ice cream. Delicious. Will make again!
Anna says
Thank you so much, Anna! I am so glad the cake was a success!
Madeline says
Such a great recipe! The cake turned out moist, the apples sweet and soft and the crumble was lovely. The melted butter really did the trick. Thank you so much Anna, I'll be trying further recipes from you!
Maureen says
Made the apple crumb cake several times for our village community warden, he and his partner adore it
Sue says
I made the apple crunch cake and it was very easy and came out absolutely fantastic thank you for this recipe
Anna says
Thank you so much, Sue!
H says
Just yum