The Vicars Favourite Classic Spiced Apple Streusel Coffee Cake

Apple Streusel Coffee Cake

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Preparation time:35 Mins

Cooking time:60 Mins

Servings:10-12 slices

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan thoroughly.
• Make the Streusel: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in the cold butter using your fingers or a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Place in the refrigerator to chill.
• Prepare Apples: Toss the sliced apples with lemon juice, granulated sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Combine Dry Ingredients (Cake): Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg in a separate bowl. Set aside.
• Cream Butter & Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy (about 3–4 minutes).
• Add Eggs & Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is incorporated before adding the next. Mix in the vanilla extract. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• Alternate Wet & Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients mixture to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk. Begin and end with the dry ingredients (e.g., Dry, Milk, Dry, Milk, Dry). Mix only until just combined—do not overmix!
• Assemble the Layers: Spread half of the cake batter evenly into the prepared pan. Arrange the spiced apple slices evenly over the batter. Spoon the remaining batter over the apples. Sprinkle the chilled streusel topping evenly over the top layer.
• Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. If the streusel browns too quickly, loosely tent with foil for the last 15 minutes.
• Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving warm or at room temperature.

Nutrition Facts

Calories:400 calories

Fat:22g

Fiber:2g

Recipe Info

Category:Dessert, Breakfast

Cuisine:American

Why This Apple Streusel Coffee Cake Deserves Your Weekend

There are certain bakes that transcend the ordinary, transforming a regular Saturday morning into something genuinely special. Our featured recipe, "The Vicar’s Favourite": Classic Spiced Apple Streusel Coffee Cake , falls squarely into that category. This isn't just an everyday treat; it’s a fragrant centerpiece, promising a textural symphony of tender, buttery sponge, yielding baked apples, and a crisp, spicy crown. When the aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg begins to waft from your oven, you’ll understand why this cake is the perfect antidote to a long week. It’s comforting, impressive, and yet surprisingly straightforward to execute, making it the ideal weekend project.

Unlocking the Perfect Crumb: A Baker's Promise

The journey to mastering this baked delight hinges on understanding the synergy between its three distinct elements: the structure of the cake, the flavour depth of the fruit, and the crunch of the topping. Achieving a truly exceptional result requires attention to detail in each step, culminating in what I confidently assert is the Best Apple Coffee Cake you will encounter.

Setting the Scene: Comfort Baking Defined

Comfort baking, at its heart, is about patience and quality ingredients. We are aiming for a Moist Apple Coffee Cake , which means temperature control and mixing technique are paramount. For this undertaking, you’ll need a substantial 9x13 inch pan or, if you prefer a more decorative presentation, a 10-inch Apple Streusel Bundt Cake pan. Ensure you have your eggs, butter, and milk at room temperature; this critical step allows them to emufy properly, trapping air for a lighter final product.

The Secret to a Truly Moist Vanilla Sponge

The foundation of this incredible cake lies in its rich vanilla batter. We rely on a combination of both granulated and light brown sugar; the brown sugar brings molasses notes and essential moisture, contributing significantly to the cake’s overall dampness. When creaming the softened butter and sugars, whip them until they are genuinely light and fluffy—this incorporates the necessary air before we introduce the liquids. If you’re looking for a slight tang that beautifully complements the spice, consider using buttermilk instead of whole milk in the batter for an elevated Apple Coffee Cake with Sour Cream profile, even though our recipe calls for milk.

Aromatic Spices That Define Autumnal Flavour

While the apples provide the fruit base, the warming spices elevate this from a simple fruit cake to a true Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake . We are layering flavour here. The cake batter itself is delicately seasoned with ground nutmeg, providing an earthy background note. This is amplified in the Homemade Streusel Recipe and the apple filling, where generous amounts of cinnamon take centre stage. This layered approach ensures that every bite—whether you hit a piece of cake, apple, or crumble—is saturated with that iconic autumnal fragrance.

Charting Your Course: Necessities for Baking Success

Before we dive into the mixing bowls, gathering your tools and ingredients is crucial. Since this recipe involves creating three separate components, efficient mise en place will save you considerable time and stress. You will need a good electric mixer (stand or handheld are both excellent choices), a rubber spatula for gentle folding, and your preferred baking vessel. Having your apples peeled, cored, and sliced—about ¼ inch thick—before you start the batter ensures they are ready to be tossed with their light coating of sugar and lemon juice without delaying the process.

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The Essential Components of This Signature Bake

Success in this bake hinges on preparing three distinct mixtures that will harmonize during the baking process. We’ll tackle the topping first, as it needs to be cold when it hits the oven, followed by the apples, and finally the rich cake matrix itself.

Curating Your Crumble: Streusel Composition Checklist

The topping is arguably the defining characteristic of this Apple Crumble Coffee Cake . For the crunchiest result, the butter must be rock cold, cut into small cubes. You are combining 1 cup of all-purpose flour, ½ cup of packed light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Using your fingertips or a pastry blender, work the cold butter into the dry ingredients until you achieve a mixture resembling coarse breadcrumbs. It should not look greasy or uniform; those little pockets of cold butter are what create that glorious, irregular crunch as they melt. This mixture must return to the refrigerator immediately.

Selecting Apples That Hold Their Shape and Tartness

Choosing the right apple variety is non-negotiable for textural integrity. We recommend using apples that maintain some firmness during baking, such as Honeycrisp or Granny Smith, or a blend of both for perfect sweet-tart balance. These slices are briefly seasoned with 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. The acid in the lemon brightens the flavour and helps prevent too much browning while you prepare the rest of the components.

Gathering the Pantry Staples for the Cake Batter

The structure requires 2 cups of all-purpose flour, leavened with 1 tablespoon of baking powder and seasoned with salt and that crucial ½ teaspoon of nutmeg. The richness comes from 1 cup (two full sticks) of softened unsalted butter, creamed thoroughly with 1 cup of granulated sugar and ½ cup of brown sugar. Three room-temperature large eggs and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract bind this richness together, with the final liquid element being ¾ cup of room-temperature whole milk, added alternately with the dry ingredients.

The Step-by-Step Journey to Flawless Apple Streusel Coffee Cake

With all your prepared elements waiting patiently, the assembly phase is quick and exciting.

Crafting the Signature Spiced Streusel Topping First

As established, your streusel mixture should already be chilling. Keep it in the fridge while you work through steps 4 through 7 of the batter preparation. This temperature difference between the cold topping and the warm batter is essential for that appealing separation and crunch on the surface.

Mixing Techniques for an Airy, Tender Batter

Begin by creaming the butter and sugars for a good three to four minutes until the texture is noticeably paler and airier. Incorporate the eggs one by one, ensuring full amalgamation after each addition, followed by the vanilla. When introducing the dry mixture and the milk, adhere strictly to the alternating method: begin with one-third of the dry ingredients, mix until just combined, add half the milk, mix briefly, repeat, and finish with the final third of the dry ingredients. Stop the mixer the moment no dry streaks remain; overmixing at this stage guarantees a tough cake.

Layering Strategy: Apples Nestled in Vanilla Gold

Preheat your oven to 350° F ( 175° C). Spread half of your beautiful vanilla batter evenly into the greased and floured pan. Next, arrange the spiced apple slices in a relatively even layer across this base—they will sink slightly during baking, which is exactly what we want. Spoon the remaining batter gently over the apples, using a spatula to cover them as best you can. Finally, retrieve your chilled streusel from the fridge and scatter it generously and evenly across the very top layer.

Baking Times and Visual Cues for Perfection

Bake for 50 to 60 minutes. You are looking for a deep golden-brown colour on the streusel and a skewer inserted into the cake portion (avoiding the apple slices if possible) coming out clean. If the topping begins to darken significantly before the internal temperature is set, fashion a loose tent of aluminum foil over the cake for the final 10 to 15 minutes of baking time.

Maximising Enjoyment: Serving and Storage Secrets

This Apple Streusel Coffee Cake Recipe truly shines when allowed to rest for a moment. Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for a minimum of 15 minutes. This allows the structure to set properly without the cake collapsing when sliced, while still retaining some internal warmth.

Baker’s Notes: Troubleshooting and Next-Level Twists

While the recipe is robust, knowing how to adapt or troubleshoot ensures consistent results every time you bake this glorious creation.

Optimal Pairing Suggestions Beyond the Morning Coffee

While perfect with coffee, this cake shines equally well with strong black tea or even a chilled glass of sparkling cider, especially if you are serving it as an afternoon treat. For an added dessert flair, a light dusting of powdered sugar just before serving adds elegance.

Ensuring Freshness: Storing Your Coffee Cake Properly

To maintain that desirable moisture, store leftovers covered tightly at room temperature for up to three days. If you need longer storage, this cake freezes beautifully. Wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap, then foil, and freeze for up to two months. Thaw overnight on the counter.

Flavor Variations: Introducing Unique Fruit Swaps

Don't limit yourself strictly to apples. This template works wonderfully with firm pears (perhaps substituting the cinnamon for cardamom in the apple mixture) or even firm stone fruits like plums when they are in season. The method for preparing the fruit filling remains the same regardless of the fruit chosen.

Temperature Control: When to Serve Your Cake Warm vs. Cooled

While it is lovely cooled to room temperature, the ultimate way to enjoy this cake is slightly warm. Reheat individual slices briefly in a microwave (about 15 seconds) or in a low oven. The warmth revitalizes the butter in the streusel and softens the cake crumb to its peak tenderness.