Apple Butter Coffee Cake
Apple Butter Coffee Cake is a moist, spiced cake with swirls of sweet apple butter and a crunchy brown sugar topping. It combines warm cinnamon and nutmeg flavors with tender cake and sweet apples. Baking this cake creates a cozy atmosphere, making it perfect for a comforting treat any time. Preparing it is a delightful and rewarding experience.
Equipment
- Mixing bowls (large and medium)
- Hand mixer or stand mixer
- Rubber spatula or wooden spoon
- Measuring cups and spoons
- 9×9-inch baking pan (or 8×8-inch for thicker cake)
- Knife and cutting board
- Oven
Ingredients
For the Cake Batter:
- 2 cups 250 g all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ cup 1 stick salted butter, softened
- ¾ cup 150 g granulated sugar
- ¼ cup 50 g packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large apple peeled, cored, and finely diced
- 1 cup 240 g sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- ¾ cup 180 g apple butter (for swirling into the batter)
For the Cinnamon Streusel Topping:
- ½ cup 100 g packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup 30 g all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons cold butter cubed
Instructions
Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and lightly flour a 9×9-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
Prepare the Streusel Topping:
- In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter using a fork or pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.
Mix Dry Ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Cream the Butter and Sugars:
- In a large bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to cream the softened butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).
Add Wet Ingredients:
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
Combine Batter:
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the sour cream or yogurt. Fold in the diced apple gently using a spatula.
Layer and Swirl:
- Spread half the batter into the prepared pan. Dollop half of the apple butter over the batter and swirl lightly with a knife. Repeat with remaining batter and apple butter on top, swirling again.
Add Streusel and Bake:
- Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the cake. Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan before slicing and serving.
Notes
❖ Apple Butter: The star ingredient of this Apple Butter Coffee Cake , apple butter, provides a rich, spiced flavor that perfectly complements the sweetness of the cake. You can use store-bought apple butter, but homemade apple butter adds an extra layer of depth to the recipe.
❖ Variation: You can mix in chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans to the streusel topping for an added crunch, or even stir in some chopped apples into the batter for extra fruit flavor!
❖ Make ahead: You can prepare the cake ahead of time, as it stores well in an airtight container for up to 3 days. You can also freeze it for longer storage.