Apple Streusel Coffee Cake

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Apple Streusel Coffee Cake with sweet apples on the inside and a brown sugar topping on top is the perfect addition to your morning routine. A delicious and moist coffee cake breakfast recipe that is easy to make and great for brunch!

slice of coffee cake on white plate. — Soft and delicious apple streusel coffee cake.

Do you enjoy a good breakfast or brunch recipe? I certainly do. Coffee cake, to be real, is like eating dessert for breakfast. I know, donuts are too as well as cinnamon rolls.

However, there is something about biting into a piece of a coffee cake like the Apple Streusel Coffee Cake that just improves your day. Pair it with a cup of coffee or tea, orange or apple juice. It will make your morning.

Ingredients

4 cups flour (I use unbleached)
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter (or margarine)
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons milk (can use almond milk)
2 medium/large apples, peeled and chopped
Brown sugar
Flour
Cinnamon
Butter (margarine)

The brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and butter are for the streusel topping.

Milk can easily be switched out for almond milk. It is okay to use the almond milk with vanilla as there is vanilla in the ingredients and one can't have too much vanilla, right?

Gluten free option

Using gluten free flour in the recipe works well. I like to use the King Arthur's measure for measure flour. If you can find it in bulk somewhere, the price is much better.

The gluten free flour substitute can be used in place of the flour for the batter and for the topping. With using margarine in place of butter and almond milk in place of regular cow's milk, it can also be dairy free.

Coating the apples

flour mixture in a red bowl — Mix up the flour mixture in a large bowl.

Start by adding the dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl. The mixture will need to be stirred well until all ingredients are incorporated.

Then you will stir in your apples. The apples need to be stirred into the flour mixture to keep them from sinking to the bottom while baking. It isn't horrible if the apples sink to the bottom of the coffee cake but, if it can be prevented, why not?

apples mixed into a dry flour mixture. — Mix the apples well into the flour mixture.

The flour helps the apples to "stick" to the other batter therefore preventing them from sinking.

Mixing up the batter

The rest of the ingredients, the wet ingredients, will be mixed together in a separate bowl. In this case, the batters need to be mixed separately then brought together at the end.

The apples shouldn't be overmixed.

softened butter being stirred into sugar and eggs. — Stir the eggs and other ingredients thoroughly.

coffee cake batter in a red bowl. — Mix the batter well.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well. If your batter seems a little dry, it is okay to add a little more milk, 1 tablespoon at a time.

Spread in the bottom of a greased 9x13 cake pan and set aside.

Mixing the brown sugar streusel topping

The topping can be mixed in a small bowl. It is best to not melt the butter but have it be softened. Then either use two knives to incorporate the butter or do what I do: use your hands!

Spread on the top of the coffee cake batter.

This apple brunch coffee cake recipe will bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes. Be sure to keep a watch on it as all ovens vary.

Storage

Store any leftovers in the original pan, covered, on the countertop. Alternatively, the remainder of the apple streusel coffee cake can be transferred and stored in an airtight container.

FAQ

Can I make this the night before?

Yes! Make up this coffee cake the night before, cover it in the refrigerator and bake the next day. It may take longer to bake so adjust accordingly.

Can I use applesauce in place of the butter?

I don't recommend it.

Pin for later!

apple coffee cake on a white plate with an apple besides.

📖 Recipe