The combination of sweet and tart apples, plus cinnamon spice, gives this classic German Apple Streusel Cake cake a delicious flavor. The apples also add moisture to this rustic fall dessert. It’s perfect for your morning coffee or tea and holiday entertaining!
Yay for apple season! It’s only just October but since last month I’ve probably baked several apple cakes already! That’s how much I love baking with apples!
I guess it’s the dawn of cooler weather too that makes it the perfect time to turn on the oven without having to turn your entire house into one!
That truly motivates me to bake. Plus, the kids always want some snacks once they get home after a long day at school, so I feel obliged to give them something delicious! Those famished tummies need filling!
Also, as far as I am concerned anything baked with apples is delicious! My kids agree, too!
Case in point: My boy loved this apple cake so much that he pretty much ate it all by himself! Thankfully, not in one sitting!
He also loved the fruity flavors of the apples and the spices that enhanced the cake’s flavors.
Thus, whether as a breakfast cake or an afternoon snack, they heartily enjoyed each slice of this Classic German Apple Streusel Cake!
I love a good coffee cake because I enjoy having something a little sweet with my favorite morning beverage! Having fresh apples adds such yummy fruity goodness to this lovely cake.
INGREDIENTS FOR Classic German Apple Streusel Cake!
For the Apple Cake
- 4 Granny Smith or Cox apples (or a combo), peeled, cored and diced and sliced (divided – sliced 2 apples and diced the other 2)
- 2 tbsp lemon juice, divided
- 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 3/4 cup or 12 tbsp unsalted butter, softened to room temperature plus extra for greasing
- 3 eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Streusel (crumb) Topping
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup or 6 tbsp salted butter, softened
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
HOW TO MAKE Classic German Apple Streusel Cake!
Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease the bottom and side of a 9-inch round springform pan (preferably light-colored).
Drizzle the lemon juice over the sliced and diced apples. Stir to ensure everything is coated with lemon juice. Set aside.
Make the crumb topping and set it aside.
For the Streusel (crumb) Topping
Mix the flour, sugar, ground cinnamon and chilled butter until crumbly. You may do this by hand using a pastry cutter or simply pulse a few times in a food processor.
For the Apple Cake
In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg plus the salt.
With an electric mixer, beat the sugar with the butter until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and mix until well blended.
Add the flour slowly and continue to mix just until combined. Do not overmix; the batter will be thick.
Fold in the diced apples and any remaining juice into the batter ensuring the apples are well distributed. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. Use a spatula to even the surface. Place the remaining sliced apples on top in a circular pattern. Sprinkle with the crumb topping.
Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes or until the top is nicely browned and firm (springs back when pressed slightly). You may also use a cake tester and insert it in the middle of the cake; when it comes out clean, the cake is done. If the top is browning faster before the cake is done, cover the top loosely with foil and continue to bake the cake until it’s done. Allow to cool in the springform pan for 10 minutes then transfer onto a wire rack to cool completely. Make sure to cool completely before slicing. This can be made a day ahead.
What are you waiting for? Make this soon and you won’t be disappointed!
Classic German Apple Streusel Cake
Ingredients
- 4 Granny Smith or Cox apples or a combo peeled, cored and diced and sliced (divided – sliced 2 apples and diced the other 2)
- 2 tbsp lemon juice,
- 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1½ tsps baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon (may replace 1/2 tsp with ground nutmeg for stronger spice flavor)
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 3/4 cup or 12 tbsp unsalted butter, softened to room temperature plus extra for greasing
- 3 eggs, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Streusel (Crumb) Topping
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup or 6 tbsp regular butter, chilled
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ½ tsp grund cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease the bottom and side of a 9-inch round springform pan (preferably light-colored).
- Drizzle the lemon juice over the sliced and diced apples. Stir to ensure everything is coated with lemon juice. Set aside.
- Make the crumb topping and set it aside.
For the Streusel (Crumb) Topping
- Mix the flour, sugar, ground cinnamon and chilled butter until crumbly. You may do this by hand using a pastry cutter or simply pulse a few times in a food processor.
For the Apple Cake
- In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg plus the salt.
- With an electric mixer, beat the sugar with the butter until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and mix until well blended. Add the flour slowly and continue to mix just until combined. Do not overmix. Batter would be thick.
- Fold in the diced apples and any remaining juice into the batter ensuring the apples are well distributed. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. Use a spatula to even the surface.
- Place the remaining sliced apples on top in a circular pattern. Sprinkle with the crumb topping.
- Bake in the preheated over for 50-60 minutes or until the top is nicely browned and firm (springs back when pressed slightly). You may also use a cake tester and insert it in the middle of the cake and when it comes out clean then the cake is done. If the top is browning faster before the cake is done, cover the top loosely with foil and continue to bake the cake until it’s done.
- Allow to cool in the springform pan for 10 minutes then transfer onto a wire rack to cool completely. Make sure to cool completely before slicing. This can be made a day ahead.
Nutrition
Last updated on September 24th, 2024 at 09:09 pm
This German apple streusel cake looks great and so yummy! I’m so excited to give this a try! My family and I are going to love this recipe!
Wow! This streusel cake turned out perfectly! Loved all the apple flavors happening in this.
This is so easy and fun! Apple streusel cake has always intimidated me and for no reason lol. Thanks for sharing
I just love the fresh fruit in this apple streusel cake. The recipe is so easy to follow. Thanks for sharing.
I love any kind of apple dessert, and this cake looks amazing. So comforting.
This looks fantastic! I MUST try it!