Cinnamon Apple Crumble Cake.
Who’s up for cake today?
Cool, because I may just have the best cinnamon apple crumble cake in all the land. All you need to decide is whether to eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner? Because really, when is cake not the most perfect thing ever? Truth… it’s always perfect, any time of day! But especially this cake, it’s loaded with apples, is crazy buttery, and topped with the most cinnamony crumble ever.
I’m not sure if you guys know this or not, but it’s officially fall cookbook season, and well… there are just so many great new cookbooks being released!
SIDE NOTE: thinking about doing a Holiday Gift Guide for cookbooks, what do you think?
I’m really excited to share this recipe with you today because it comes from Meike Peters new cookbook, Eat in My Kitchen.
Ever since embarking on this journey of writing a cookbook, I’ve realized just how much work goes into writing a book. You guys, it’s no joke!! I am currently working through all the edits, and while I am so excited to be getting closer to sharing the book with you all, it’s also crazy scary…and well, my eyes are slightly tired. Basically I am just praying that when the book is released you guys will all love it to pieces!
It’s so awesome that I have the opportunity to help others celebrate their cookbook release by sharing a recipe from their book with you guys! It’s fun for me, and such a great way to let you all in on the books I am loving!
SO. Today we are talking about Eat in My Kitchen. Oh man, this book is just packed to the brim with recipes I love, so many great ones and so many that I know you will all love. But when I stumbled on this most perfect cinnamon fruit crumble cake, I knew that this was the recipe I needed to make and share with you all.
Let me just start off by saying that this cake is all kinds of incredible, AND that Meike made it really adaptable to all of the seasons by suggesting three types of fruit you can use – plums, rhubarb or apples.
Seeing as I am obsessed with all things fall, and all things honeycrisp apples, I went with apples as my fruit… so, so, so good!
What I love most about this cake is that while some fruit cakes can be on the dry side, this cake is anything but. It’s moist, buttery and almost even doughy in the center if you cook it for just under and hour…which I did…and it was perfection.
This cake is somewhat broken up into three layers. The base cake layer, the apple layer and then the crumble layer. All three layers are delicious, but together they truly make for the most perfect cake, and all of that cinnamon sugar crumble atop of those crisp apples… beyond amazing!
This is the perfect cake to serve warm, dusted lightly with powdered sugar.
And yes, I do think this cake is acceptable, not only for dessert, but also as a very special (i.e. something to look forward to) breakfast or mid-day snack. <–hey, apples qualify for both breakfast and a snack ?
Bottom line: cake like this is great anytime, and since Tuesdays are usually in need of a little pick me up, you should totally be making this cake after work…
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Cinnamon Apple Crumble Cake.
By halfbakedharvest
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apple crumble
This cake is loaded with apples, is crazy buttery, and topped with the most cinnamony crumble ever.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon unsalted butter at room temperature
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean seeds removed (or 1 vanilla)
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 4-5 baking apples halved, cored and sliced
Crumble
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup + 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean seeds removed (or 1 vanilla)
- 2 1/8 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 350 degree F. Butter a 10-inch springform pan.
-
To make the cake: in a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla seeds for a few minutes or until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, incorporating each egg in before adding the next. Beat for 2 to 3 minutes or until creamy.
-
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add this to the butter-sugar mixture and mix with an electric mixer for 1 minute or until well combined. Scrape the batter into the butter springform pan and arrange the apples on top, pushing the apples slices gently into the batter.
-
For the crumble, whisk together the flour, 2/3 cup sugar, vanilla seeds, and 2 teaspoons cinnamon in a large bowl. Add the melted butter and mix until crumbles form. Sprinkle the crumble over the fruit. Then in a small bowl, whisk together 2 teaspoons sugar and 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon, sprinkle over top of the crumble.
-
Transfer to the oven and bake for 50-60 minutes or until golden on top. If you insert a skewer in the center, it should come out almost clean. Let the cake cool for at least 15 minutes before taking it out of the pan.
Recipe Notes
*Adapted with permission from [Eat in My Kitchen | https://www.amazon.com/Eat-My-Kitchen-Cook-Treat/dp/3791382004/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1476066354&sr=1-1&keywords=eat+in+my+kitchen] by Meike Peters.
It’s the right thing to do – trust me.
Another great recipe! Also I’d love for you to do a holiday gift guide for cookbooks, especially because I’m currently working on an article for The Independent (UK national newspaper) about Best Christmas Cookbooks and i’d love to have some inspiration! Also good luck with your cookbook, I’m sure it’ll feel amazing and so rewarding when you see it on the shelves of a book store one day 😀
That is a great idea Rhian, I’ll look into it! ? Anyway thank you for the good luck, I am super excited and cannot wait for it to be out!
Beautiful!!! Love the classic combo of apples and cinnamon, it just screams Fall and new season all over it!!! And I absolutely can’t wait for your cookbook to come out! Plus, I agree with Rhian, the idea of Christmas gift guide for cookbooks sounds ace! x
Awesome! I will definitely look into that! ? Thanks so much Anna!
This looks amazing! Particularly loving that photo of the apple slices prepressed into the uncooked dough – nomnomnom! Very excited for your cookbook!
Rebecca
xx
http://www.peppermintdolly.com
YAY! Thanks so much Rebecca!
Loving all the apple recipes!!! I made your cider yesterday…holy moly. We couldn’t stop drinking it!! I’ll have to give this a try. xoxo
That is so awesome to hear! So happy you loved the apple cider Rebecca, I hope you love this as well!?
This looks incredible, I love apple and cinnamon as an autumnal combination.
Lisa ~ Not Quite Enough
Yay thank you so much Lisa!
The cake looks wonderful.
The idea of a cookbook list for gift giving sounds interesting.
When might we see you listed on Amazon??
Thanks so much Nancy! The book should be listed around the start of June!
Can’t wait for the fragrances of this recipe to fill my house later on today! Thanks for sharing this recipe, Tieghan. I’m sure other bloggers will be doing the same with recipes from your book once it’s released! I look forward to holding it in my hands.
Thank you so much Jean! I hope you enjoy this one!
Dear god. The crumb on that cake is so serious! I love it!
Can’t wait for your cookbook to come out! i’ll be first in line!
https://www.searedandshameless.com
YAY! So happy to hear that Jessica, thanks so much!
Well, you know, every time I come to “your place”, I’m amazed to see your tempo, ideas, quality of dishes and photos you set going that often ! Bravo !
Thank you so much!
Yes, a cookbook gift guide is a great idea — and more than that I’m looking fwd to your cookbook!
Thank you Bethany!
Wow! So yea I need to make this soon – I have some fresh picked apples waiting for an invite to this cake!
Awesome! I hope you love it Kathy!
You know I’m loving this one Tieghan! All girls from Jersey love their crumb cake! All those apples and all that crumb = perfection!
Perfect! I hope you love it when you try it!
This cake is soo gorgeous and I just love that it’s loaded with apples!
Thank you Andrea!
I don’t have a 10″ springform pan. It looks like you used a tart pan instead? I’ll use that! Looks delicious !
Let me know if it’s easy to get this cake out of a tart pan! I want this for breakfast! Thx!
Hi! I recommend using a 9×13 inch baking dish. That will work great! Let me know if you have questions. Thank you! 🙂
Hey Debi! I actually used a spring form pan and recommend that you used something with higher sides. How about a 9×13 inch baking dish? it will make a square cake, but that will be great! A tart pan doe snot have high enough walls. Let me know if you have questions. Thanks!
Hi! If I bake this in a 9 by 13 inch pan, how long do I bake it for and would it be best to bake it in a glass baking dish instead of cast iron?
Looking forward to trying this cake!!!
Hey Abby! I am not sure on the baking time since I have never baked this in a 9×13 inch pan, but I would think the baking times would be similar. I would use a glass dish. Hope you love the cake!
Aiaiaiiii this one looks right up my alley!!! Gotta try it soon!
https://bloglairdutemps.blogspot.pt/
Perfect! Thanks Ruth!
What if you don’t have a tart or springform pan? Could you bake it in a glass baking dish?
Hey Courtney! Yes, a 9×13 inch baking dish will be great! Let me know if you have questions. Thank you and I hope you love the cake! 🙂
That crumble topping looks out of this world!
Thank you Sara!
This cake looks incredible! It looks pretty easy to make too! Nothing beats a good fall dessert where you can combine honey crisp and cinnamon! Can’t wait to try it!
Yes! I hope you love it, thank you Caitlin!
Hi, One of my most favorite apple crumble cake! Very delicious you know 😛 Loved the Recipe very much! But, it seems i might did some wrong 😀 Now, it will be right on making such kind of cake 😛
Anyway, love your blog always very much!
Keep sharing new things!
Cheers!
So happy you love my blog, thank you so much Aysha!
This looks and sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Anika | anikamay.co.uk
Thank you so much Anika!
This cake looks like everything that dreams are made of. Seriously it looks so good!
I cannot wait to make this one day!
http://www.justbeingbrooklyn.com
Thanks Brooklyn, I hope you enjoy it!
This looks so yummy! Can’t wait to try making it with one of my friends.
Abigail Alice x
That sounds so fun, I hope you two love it!!
Hi,
‘Mine is in the oven. It smells great but it’s a bit hard to tell if it’s baked because of the crumble on top 🙁 the batter wasn’t runny either. I hope it’s not a fail x
Hi Laurene, so happy you are making this cake! Let me know how it is when you take it out/ if you have any questions! Thanks!
Such a beautiful rustic cake! I love all the three main components in it. I like the marriage between a cake and a crumble. I can see myself eating this with vanilla ice cream on top while the cake is still warm! Sounds good to me! And yes to gift guide. I love collecting cookbooks! I went to the store the other day and they have a bargain aisle filled with $6 cookbooks! Anyways, I can hardly wait for yours! 😉
Wow that ice cream on top sounds AMAZING!! Thanks so much Sheila!
This looks heavenly!! And I love the idea of a cookbook gift guide. I have too many to count, but I love gifting cookbooks to others since cooking is something I’m really passionate about – plus, who doesn’t like to make or even just ogle at good food?! Looking forward to seeing yours!
Haha right?! Love cookbooks, thanks so much Christine!
Looks absolutely perfect as always and you know I can’t wait for your cookbook!
Thank you so much Matt!
This is seriously the most gorgeous fall cake ever!
Thank you Gina!
OMG I’m obsessed with that crumble!!!!!
Thanks Jennifer!
Congratulations on making the absolute most photogenic crumble topping ever!!! How beautiful!!! Wowsas! Also, anything hybrid of apple and coffee cake is perfectly up my alley. We have been enjoying so many of your recipes lately!! Thank you for such creative posts!!
Thank you so much Maria, so happy you are enjoying my blog!(:
Yes on the cookbook guide! That cake is looking mighty fine as well!
Thank you Taylor!
I just went apple picking! This will definitely be on my baking list for this weekend. Thank you for this Tieghan!!
Thank you Sabrina!! I hope you love it!
Thank you soooo much, Tieghan! This cake is a beloved family recipe and your post touches me so much. It’s beautiful! I can’t wait to see your book!
Lots of love, Meike xx
WOW, thank you so much!! I’m so happy you like it!! (:
OMG this looks amazing! I’ll definitely making this over the weekend, but I’m wondering – what apple would you recommend as a sub if I can’t find honeycrisps at my local grocery store?
Thanks in advance for your opinion!
Brie
Hey Brie! Use any apple that you personally love. granny smiths would be great! ? Let me know if you have questions. Thanks!
Such a gorgeous cake, that crumble topping is everything!
So happy you are loving it! Thanks Laura!
Good luck on the cookbook! I can’t wait to pick up a copy, your recipes are brilliant!
Thank you so much, really happy you are enjoying my recipes! And I hope you love my book just as much, I am super excited for it to come out!
I think this cake has just bumped pumpkin spice out of first for my favorite Fall flavor. Just made the recipe tonight – used a GF flour blend and added cardamom to the crumble. Holy cow. I could take a bath in that stuff.
Always love your recipes, Tieghan! I’d love to see you do a cookbook gift guide for the holidays. Can’t wait for your cookbook, too!
So happy you loved this so much! Thank you Rachel!
I like to include some type of apple dessert for Thanksgiving, along with the traditional pumpkin and pecan pies. I think this will the be the one this year. Thank you!
Awesome! I hope you love it, thanks Jann!
Hi! Just finished making the cake as a test run for Thanksgiving. I was wondering how you get the crumble to get so dark? The cake part on mine is cooked through but the topping is very light. Do you have any tips? Thanks!
Hey Lindsey! Hmmm, I am not really sure. You could try adding a little more cinnamon to the crumble. Pretty sure this will darken it up for you and the extra cinnamon will be delish! Hope that helps. Thank you! 🙂
I just made this for a trial run for Thanksgiving and wasn’t that happy with the final outcome – mostly because of the cake part, which came out pretty dry. I only baked it for 50 minutes, I wonder if it overbaked a bit somehow.
HI Michconnors, it sounds like it was over baked. What was the oven temp at? Is it possible that your oven cooks things higher than it reads? Hope I can help more. Let me know if you have other questions. Thanks!
It sounds like it did but I’m not sure how, I had it at 350. I wonder if it’s because I had a dark (nonstick) springform? I read recently in another recipe site that there is a cooking time difference between regular aluminum springforms and the dark ones?
HI! Dark pans can cook things at a faster pace. I use a non-stick spring form pan. Let me know if you have questions.
Gorgeous cake! How far in advance can the cake be made?
About a day in advance. Thank you!
I had this bag of apples i didn’t know what to do with. Made this yesterday & it’s really great. The presentation is gorgeous! I wanted it to look like your pictures & I have a deeper dish glass pie plate. Worked perfectly. The kids loved it.
Thank you!!!
We just made this cake with pears instead of apples since that is what I have in the fridge. It came out great and the house smell AMAZIN!! Good Luck with your cookbook! We are working on ours and it is soooo much work.
This was OUTSTANDING! So easy to make and unbelievably delicious! My kitchen smelled divine. When can we preorder your book?
Thank you! Pre orders should start this spring! 🙂 Happy Holidays!
This looks so amazing! Just decided I’m going to bring this for Christmas dessert. Wondering how far ahead I can make it? Keep up the good work! Love so many of your recipes.
Trick question. EVERYBODY is up for cake! In particular, I would absolutely fall weak in my knees for anything with a sweet, crunchy and aromatic cinnamon crumble! What a perfect recipe for the fall and winter season!
Just made this for my boss’s birthday tomorrow and it smells AMAZING!!!!!
AH! Hope you guys love it! Let me know how it goes!
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I am making this Friday for my friends! This will be so delicious! Can I come stay with you for a few weeks! Haha seriously your food looks amazing, I want to dive in and cook everything. I love cooking but I think I have to step up my game! I am going to get your cook book asap!
I hope this turns out amazing for you and your friends! Lol I would totally love to have all of you guys over if I could! Thank you so much Jill, & I hope you love the cookbook when you get it!
Hi! This looks incredible and i cant wait to try it, but what would be the equivalent of fresh vanilla seeds compared to vanilla extract? Extract is all I have on hand!
Hi Jessica! I would use 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love the this. thanks! 🙂
can I sub oil for the butter?
I think canola oil would be ok, but I do recommend using the butter. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
My husband’s family owns a 4 generation dairy farm. Their Christmas tradition is to celebrate on Christmas Eve as they always allowed their farm workers to have Christmas Day off. So our tradition now is to stay all night Christmas Eve (we live out of state) and my husband will go out on the farm Christmas morning and I stay back to help make breakfast for when they are done with chores. This year I made the Cinnamon Apple Crumble Cake and it was a hit! Everyone loved it! It’s a great cake to pair with coffee or tea or milk. I think next time I make it I’ll try and add a cinnamon swirl through the cake for a little extra surprise. I would highly recommend this!
That sounds like such a sweet tradition! I am so glad you and your family enjoyed this as well Brittany! Thank you!
This recipe looks absolutely gorgeous. Just wondering could I freeze this Apple cake
HI! I have not tried freezing the cake, but I would think it would work just fine. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! xTieghan
Your recipes never fail me! Having family to dinner last night I wanted to make a cake with apple and cinnamon (such a perfect combination). I always head straight to your blog before any other et voila! This little gem popped up and it couldn’t have been more perfect. My sister-in-law thought I was joking when I said I’d made it!! Oh and I also made your brown butter and sage mash to go with the Bourguignon I served! So glad you do what you do! And finally; like you – I love to cook, bake and take photographs. Your blog is a daily inspiration, Thank you so much!
Wow that is so amazing Maxine! I am so glad this turned out perfectly for you and you’re enjoying my recipes! Thank you so much!
Apple crumble
YES!
Hey, do you use white or brown sugar?
White sugar is used in this recipe. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
I made this for a post-holiday brunch yesterday and everyone loved it. I did not have the money for vanilla beans (I’m sure it would taste even better if used) so used 2 tsp vanilla extract instead to replace. The cake has a lovely texture and the crumble was insanely good.
Thank you so much! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Recipe says 1 vanilla????
Hi Gayle! Sorry about that! The recipe calls for 1/4 teaspoon! I hope you love this! xTieghan
Do you think this would also work with Gluten Free Flour?
Hi Charlotte,
Yes that will work! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Can’t wait to try this during apple season! Question – the recipe reads “1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean seeds removed (or 1 vanilla)” — what is the unit there for vanilla extract?
Hi Laurie,
It should read or 1 teaspoon of vanilla. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Can you use vanilla extract instead of vanilla bean/seeds?
Hey Erika,
Yes that will work! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Have you tried this with coconut sugar??
Hey Olivia,
I have not tested this with coconut sugar. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I just made this! It’s really good. The perfect amount of sweetness. I made it in a 9″ pan because I don’t own anything larger. This made the cake part puff up more in the middle, so I’d say it’s a little cakier than I’d prefer, but the apples and the crumble still help. I think I would put the apples more straight down into the batter, rather than resting them on top to kind of help with this. My other recommendation would be to use almond extract in the cake part–I feel like this flavoring is what my mouth almost expects, and it would be really good with it. Lastly I think I could have benefited from using parchment on the bottom, since the bottom got a little too crispy.
This looks delicious and I can’t wait to make it for thanksgiving! Can I use vanilla extract instead of vanilla bean?
Hey Gabrielle,
Yes that will be fine. I hope you love the recipe, Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
Unable to find vanilla beans. Can I use vanilla extract? If so how much?
Hey Nancy,
I would use a 1 teaspoon. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
Hi! If I substitute vanilla extract, what quantities should I use?
Hey Alexandra,
You can use 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Second time making – this one is for my family. The last I gave as a gift. So excited to get to eat it! Easy delicious recipe!
Hey Susan,
I am so thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for trying it out!! xTieghan