Simple Apple Crumb Cake with Cinnamon Apple Drizzle

This apple crumb cake is the one I turn to when I want comfort baking without fuss. Soft, cinnamon scented cake layers, juicy apple pieces, and crunchy streusel topping come together in a recipe that’s easy but feels special. Adding a warm apple and cinnamon drizzle on top brings the whole thing to life. It’s the kind of treat that gets friends asking for seconds and parents giving a nod of approval.

My Experience with This Recipe
When I first made it, I underestimated how much crumble topping it needed. My husband gobbled it up before I even got a slice! I’ve since tweaked it layering the apples and pressing crumbs gently so every bite has balance. On school mornings, it smells great when the kids head to the bus, making rushed days feel a bit sweeter.

Ingredients You’ll Need
Cake:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup sour cream (or full fat yogurt)
• 2 cups peeled, chopped apples (Granny Smith or Gala)

Streusel Crumb Topping:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup light brown sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and diced

Cinnamon Apple Drizzle:

• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 2–3 Tbsp apple cider or milk
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• Pinch of salt

Detailed Cooking Process with Tips and Tricks

1. Prep:
   Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch pan or line with parchment.
2. Make the crumb topping:
   In a bowl, whisk flour, sugars, cinnamon, and salt. Add cold butter pieces. Use your fingers or a fork to blend until it forms coarse crumbs. Let it chill while you make the cake this helps hold its shape during baking.
3. Mix dry cake ingredients:
   Whisk flour, baking powder, soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
4. Cream butter and sugars:
   In a large bowl, beat softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes. This gives your cake structure and sweetness.
5. Add eggs, vanilla, sour cream:
   Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla, then fold in sour cream. Batter will look thick and slightly curdled that’s normal.
6. Combine dry and wet batter:
   Gently fold in the flour mixture just until combined. Over mixing makes cake dense.
7. Add apples:
   Stir in chopped apples. Tossing them in a little flour before adding helps them stay suspended in the batter.
8. Assemble:
   Spread half the batter into your pan. Sprinkle with half the crumb mixture. Top that with remaining batter, then finish with the rest of the crumbs, pressing lightly so they adhere.
9. Bake:
   Bake for 40–45 minutes, testing center with a toothpick it should come out mostly clean, maybe with a few crumbs. If the top browns too fast, loosely tent with foil after 30 minutes.
10. Make the drizzle:
    While the cake bakes, whisk powdered sugar, cider (or milk), cinnamon, and salt until smooth. It should flow but stay thick.
11. Finish cake:
    Cool cake 10 minutes in the pan. Use a fork to poke small holes. Pour warm drizzle over top so it seeps in. Let cool another 10 minutes before cutting.

Tips & Tricks

• Apples: Soft tart apples like Granny Smith add brightness. Gala or Fuji are milder. Chill peeled apples briefly they hold shape better.
• Crumb: Bigger clumps in your crumble give texture; too fine and it melts into the cake.
• Spices: Feel free to add a pinch of nutmeg for extra warmth.

Serving Suggestions and Presentation Ideas

• Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for dessert.
• For brunch, pair slices with hot coffee or chai tea make latte art while it bakes.
• Dress up the presentation by garnishing with a thin apple fan or a dusting of cinnamon. Serve on simple white plates to highlight the golden crumb and drizzle.

Recipe FAQ
Can I substitute oil for butter in the cake?
Butter adds flavor and helps the crumb structure. You can replace half the butter with oil (like canola), but the cake will be softer and less rich.

Can I prep this ahead?
Yes. Assemble in the pan, cover, refrigerate overnight, bake next morning (add 5 more minutes). Drizzle while warm.

How do I store leftovers?
Cover loosely and keep at room temperature up to 3 days. Save the drizzle separate in the fridge and reheat before serving.

Can I freeze it?
Sure. Freeze uncut or slice pieces in airtight freezer bags up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat and add drizzle fresh.

Can I skip sour cream?
You can use plain full‑fat yogurt or a cream-cheese mixture. Low‑fat yogurt won’t give the same moist texture.

Want a gluten‑free version?
Use a 1:1 gluten free flour blend. Let batter rest 10 minutes before baking.

Extra Add On
Servings: 12
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 45 minutes
Total time: 1 hour 5 minutes

I hope this apple crumb cake brings the same comfort to your kitchen that it does to mine. Whenever I bake it, laughter and smell fill the house just the cozy moment I need. It’s simple, honest, and heartfelt. Let me know how it turns out!