Moist, tender spiced apple crumb cake combines warm autumn spices with diced apples and a buttery crumb topping. It’s an ideal fall dessert or a cozy breakfast treat.
When the weather cools, apple desserts are the best comfort food. This spiced apple crumb cake is especially moist and full of cozy flavor. It pairs well with coffee or tea and makes a great addition to holiday brunch or an autumn dessert table.
What Is a Crumb Cake?
A crumb cake is a simple cake—often a tender yellow-style batter—finished with a generous buttery crumble on top that bakes until golden and crisp. Variations include New York–style crumb cakes that feature larger crumbs, cinnamon, and sometimes a dusting of powdered sugar.
Ingredients You Need To Make This Recipe
Cake Ingredients
All-purpose flour. Provides a sturdy, fluffy crumb; cake flour isn’t necessary here.
Baking powder and baking soda. Both leavening agents help the cake rise. Use fresh baking powder and baking soda (less than six months old) for best results.
Warm spices. Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom, and cloves build the cake’s cozy flavor profile.
Salt and granulated sugar. Salt enhances the spices and sugar sweetens the batter.
Vegetable oil. Keeps the cake very moist and tender compared with using butter alone.
Milk. Whole, 2%, or almond milk all work. If using thicker dairy like buttermilk, you may need to adjust liquid slightly.
Vanilla extract and eggs. Vanilla adds depth; eggs bind and structure the cake.
Granny Smith apples. Tart apples hold up well while baking and balance the sweetness. Peel, core, and dice two medium apples.
Crumb Topping Ingredients
- Dark brown sugar
- All-purpose flour
- Ground cinnamon
- Unsalted butter (melted)
How To Make This Cake
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray an 8×8-inch baking pan with baking spray or line it with parchment, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
For the crumb topping: in a small bowl combine brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and melted butter. Mix with a fork until all dry ingredients are moistened and small clumps form. Set aside.
In a large bowl whisk together the dry ingredients for the cake: flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom, cloves, salt, and sugar.
In a medium bowl whisk together oil, milk, vanilla, and beaten eggs. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet mixture. Stir gently with a rubber spatula until just combined and no dry flour remains; avoid overmixing.
Fold the chopped apples into the batter until evenly distributed. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, smooth the top, and gently press the crumb topping over the surface, breaking up any large clumps with your fingers.
Bake 40–50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with a few moist crumbs. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert onto parchment and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Once cooled, optionally drizzle a simple powdered sugar vanilla glaze over the cake: whisk 1 cup powdered sugar with 1–2 tablespoons milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla until smooth.
Variations of This Recipe
The base batter and crumb topping adapt well to many flavors. Try these additions or swaps:
- Canned pumpkin (for a pumpkin-spiced version)
- Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, or peaches
- Pears or bananas
- Chocolate chips or cranberries
Storing This Cake
Store wrapped at room temperature for 3–4 days. For longer storage, freeze tightly wrapped in plastic and foil inside a freezer bag for up to three months. Thaw before serving; you can warm individual slices briefly in the microwave.
Important Tips For Making This Apple Crumb Cake
- Use fresh baking powder and baking soda (preferably less than six months old) to ensure a light texture.
- Chop apples into small, even pieces so they distribute and bake evenly.
- Line the pan with parchment overhang for easy removal and cleaner slices.
Recommended Tools for This Recipe
Mixing bowls, a wire whisk, a rubber spatula, and an 8×8-inch baking pan will make the recipe simple and successful.
Check Out These Other Fall-Ready Recipes Before You Go!
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Cinnamon Swirl Banana Muffins
-
Crispy Hot Honey Garlic Chicken Bites
-
Cowboy Butter Steak Rigatoni
-
Maple Vanilla Cranberry Sauce
📖 Recipe
Spiced Apple Crumb Cake
Ashley Boyd
Ingredients
For The Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup milk (whole, 2%, or almond)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs (beaten)
- 2 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and chopped (about 2 medium apples)
For The Crumb Topping
- ½ cup dark brown sugar
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare an 8×8-inch pan with baking spray or parchment.
- Make the crumb topping by mixing brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and melted butter until the flour is moistened. Set aside.
- Whisk the dry cake ingredients together in a large bowl: flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, salt, and sugar.
- Whisk oil, milk, vanilla, and eggs in a separate bowl. Pour into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Fold in the chopped apples. Transfer batter to the pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle and press the crumble topping over the batter.
- Bake 40–50 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean with a few moist crumbs. Cool 10 minutes in the pan, then invert onto parchment and cool completely on a rack.
- Optionally, drizzle a powdered sugar vanilla glaze over the cooled cake and serve.
Notes
Check that baking powder and baking soda are fresh (under six months) to avoid a dense cake.
To make a simple glaze: combine 1 cup powdered sugar, 1–2 tablespoons milk or half-and-half, and ½ teaspoon vanilla until smooth.