Ingredients:

  • 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups (300g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) buttermilk
  • 3 cups (approximately 3 medium) peeled and diced apples (e.g., Honeycrisp, Gala, or Granny Smith)
  • 1/2 cup (65g) all-purpose flour (for streusel, optional)
  • 1/4 cup (50g) packed light brown sugar (for streusel, optional)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for streusel, optional)
  • 4 tablespoons (57g) unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces (for streusel, optional)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour the cake pan.
  2. Whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl.
  3. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  4. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Don't overmix.
  6. Gently fold in the diced apples.
  7. Combine flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon for the streusel in a small bowl. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  8. Pour batter into the prepared cake pan. Sprinkle the streusel topping (if using) evenly over the top.
  9. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
  10. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely.