Fall is in the air, and what better way to celebrate than with a warm and comforting dessert?
This Apple Crumble Cake is bursting with the season’s flavors, featuring a moist and tender cake base studded with freshly grated apples, a hint of tartness balanced by the sweetness of light brown sugar, and a sprinkle of aromatic cinnamon.
But the real star of the show is the buttery crumble topping – a delightful textural contrast that adds a satisfying crunch to every bite.
Simple Ingredients, Heavenly Results
The beauty of this Apple Crumble Cake lies in its ease. No fancy ingredients or complicated techniques are required.
With pantry staples like all-purpose flour, sugar, milk, and a touch of vegetable oil, you can whip up the cake base in a flash.
Grated apples, a combination of Granny Smith and Pink Lady varieties for a dynamic flavor and texture experience, add bursts of freshness and subtle tartness.
The crumble topping, a masterpiece of simplicity, utilizes cold butter, flour, and light brown sugar to create that signature crumbly goodness.
Step-by-Step to Apple Crumble Cake Bliss
Prepare the Crumble Topping:
- In a mixing bowl, combine cold, cubed butter (90g), all-purpose flour (90g), light brown sugar (112g), and a pinch of salt.
- Using a pastry cutter, your fingertips, or an electric mixer, work the ingredients together until a coarse, crumbly mixture forms. Chill this crumble topping in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Grate and Prepare the Apples:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Wash, core, and grate both the Granny Smith and Pink Lady apples. Reserve a quarter of each apple, thinly sliced, for decoration. Squeeze out any excess juice from the grated apples.
Mix the Dry Ingredients:
- In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients for the cake base: all-purpose flour (330g), light brown sugar (185g), baking powder (3 tsp), cinnamon (1 tsp), and a pinch of salt.
Combine the Wet Ingredients:
- In another bowl, whisk together milk (245g), white vinegar (15g), vegetable oil (80g), melted butter (40g), and vanilla extract (2 tsp).
Unite the Batter:
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. A thick batter will form. Gently fold in the grated apples, ensuring they are evenly distributed.
Assemble and Bake:
- Pour or scoop the cake batter into a greased 9-inch round cake pan. Smooth the top with a spatula.
- Arrange the reserved apple slices decoratively on top of the batter.
- Generously sprinkle the chilled crumble topping over the apples.
Baking Magic:
- Bake the Apple Crumble Cake for 40-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool Completely and Enjoy:
- Allow the cake to cool completely on a wire rack before indulging.
- For an extra touch of autumnal decadence, drizzle the cooled cake with a maple syrup glaze (simply warm some maple syrup in a saucepan until slightly runny).
- Serve warm or at room temperature, accompanied by a dollop of whipped cream for the ultimate flavor and texture experience.
Tips and Variations for a Personalized Apple Crumble Cake
- Spice it Up: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different spices! A pinch of nutmeg or a touch of cardamom can add a unique twist to the flavor profile.
- Nutty Delights: For an extra crunch, incorporate chopped walnuts or pecans into the crumble topping.
- Gluten-Free Twist: Substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend for a delicious gluten-free option.
- Topping Variations: Explore different drizzles beyond maple syrup! Try a caramel sauce for a richer flavor, or a simple dusting of powdered sugar for a touch of sweetness.
This Apple Crumble Cake is a testament to the power of simple ingredients and a touch of love in the kitchen.
It’s the perfect dessert to share with loved ones, a delightful addition to potlucks and bake sales, or simply a warm and comforting treat to enjoy on a cozy fall evening.
So grab your mixing bowls, preheat your oven, and get ready to
Crumble Topping Recipe
Ingredients
- 90 g Butter cold, cut in small cubes
- 90 g All Purpose Flour
- 112 g Light Brown Sugar
- 1/4 tsp Salt
Apple Cake Recipe
- 245g Milk
- 15 g White Vinegar
- 80 g Vegetable Oil
- 40 g Butter melted
- 2 tsps. Vanilla Extract
- 160 g Grated Apple 1 Granny Smith & 1 Pink Lady Red, reserve one 1/4 of both apple for decoration
- 330 g All Purpose flour
- 185 g Light Brown Sugar
- 3 tsp Baking Powder
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp Salt
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl combined all the ingredients
- and mix on low speed using a paddle
- attachment or an electric whisk. Continue to
- mix until it is clumpy, no longer dry and the
- flour is absorbed.
- Chill this crumble topping until ready to use.
Apple Cake Recipe
- Preheat oven to 350f
- Grate both apple and squeeze out excess juice from grated apples
- Combine all the dry ingredients to a mixing bowl and mix
- Combine all the wet ingredients in a separate bowl and mix until just combined. Mix wet ingredients into dry
- ingredients. Fold in the grated apples, the cake batter should be thick. Scoop or pour the batter into the cake
- pan and smooth the top with a spoon or spatula.
- Decorate with sliced apple and generous sprinkle of crumble topping.
- Bake for 40 – 50 minutes until cake is firm to touch. Cool it completely on wire rack and brush with apples
- topping with maple syrup. Serve with some whipped cream on the side.
Notes
- This recipe highlights the use of specific apple varieties (Granny Smith and Pink Lady) to create a unique flavor and texture experience.
- It emphasizes the textural contrast between the moist cake and the crumbly topping.
- The keywords target readers searching for apple desserts, crumb cakes, fall baking, and easy recipes.
