Best Ever Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake: Your New Favorite Brunch Recipe!

Deliciously Moist Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Recipe

Craving a coffee cake that’s incredibly easy, irresistibly moist, and bursting with warm spices and fresh apples? Look no further—this Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake is the cozy treat your brunch (and taste buds!) have been waiting for.

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Why You’ll Fall in Love with This Apple Coffee Cake

Is there anything better than the scent of fresh-baked cinnamon and apples wafting through your home? I don’t think so.

As a chef with over 30 years of experience, I’ve baked my fair share of coffee cakes—but nothing gets people running to the kitchen faster than this Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake.

Picture yourself curled up with a steaming mug of coffee, slicing into a cake that’s tender, loaded with fresh apples, and topped with that perfect crumb topping—it’s bakery-quality goodness right at home.

Whether you’re hosting brunch, treating your family to a sweet breakfast, or looking for a dessert everyone will love, this is the recipe to bookmark.

It’s foolproof, packed with fresh ingredients, and guaranteed to win hearts (and requests for second helpings).

🥧 Key Ingredients That Make This Cake Special

🍎 Fresh Apples

• What they do: Add natural sweetness, moisture, and gentle texture throughout the cake
• Health perks:
  • High in fiber (especially pectin), which supports digestion
  • Loaded with antioxidants like quercetin and vitamin C
  • Naturally low in calories and help regulate blood sugar thanks to their soluble fiber

🧈 Unsalted Butter

• What it does: Creates that classic, rich buttery flavor and tender crumb structure
• Health perks (in moderation):
  • Contains fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K
  • A source of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which may help reduce inflammation

🍶 Sour Cream

• What it does: Adds tang and moisture, creating an ultra-soft, tender crumb
• Health perks:
  • Full-fat sour cream contains healthy fats for satiety
  • A fermented food, it can support gut health when made with live cultures
  • Offers a boost of calcium and phosphorus

🥚 Eggs

• What they do: Bind the batter, add structure, richness, and help the cake rise
• Health perks:
  • One of the best sources of complete protein
  • Rich in choline, crucial for brain and liver health
  • Contain B vitamins and eye-protecting antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin

🌾 All-Purpose Flour

• What it does: Forms the cake’s foundation and structure
• Health perks:
  • While not as nutrient-dense as whole grains, enriched flour provides iron and B vitamins
  • Easily digestible and acts as a neutral base for flavor-packed ingredients

Brown Sugar & Cinnamon (Swirl + Topping)

• What they do: Deliver warm spice, a gooey middle swirl, and that dreamy golden crumb topping
• Health perks (again, in moderation!):
  • Cinnamon can help stabilize blood sugar and has powerful anti-inflammatory properties
  • Brown sugar contains trace minerals like calcium, potassium, and iron (though not a major source)

While this is still a dessert (yes, with butter and sugar), it’s made with real, whole ingredients—many of which offer natural benefits when used mindfully.

Fresh apples, eggs, and fermented dairy all make this coffee cake a little more nourishing than your average slice from the store.

What Are The Best Apples for Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake?

Not all apples are created equal—especially when it comes to baking! The right apple can make your coffee cake moist, flavorful, and perfectly balanced.

You want apples that hold their shape, add natural sweetness, and maybe a touch of tartness to round it all out.

Here are the top apple varieties I recommend, and why they shine in this recipe:

✅ Honeycrisp

• Juicy, crisp, and the perfect balance of sweet and tart
• Holds up beautifully during baking
• Adds a bright, fresh flavor that complements the cinnamon and crumble topping

✅ Gala

• Naturally sweet and aromatic with a mellow flavor
• Softens a bit while baking but still keeps its structure
• Ideal if you’re going for a more sweet-forward coffee cake

✅ Granny Smith

• Tart, firm, and bold in flavor
• Offers contrast to the rich, buttery crumb topping
• Best when paired with a sweeter apple like Gala or Fuji for flavor balance

✅ Fuji

• Super sweet and very crisp
• Stays firm even after baking, giving a juicy bite
• Great if you love a cake that’s apple-forward and moist

Mix your apples. Try a combo like Honeycrisp + Granny Smith to hit that perfect sweet-tart balance. One adds that cozy apple pie sweetness, the other brings the zing. It’s a little trick that takes your coffee cake from good to unforgettable.

🌟 Why This Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake is Better Than the Others

• Ultra-Moist Texture: Thanks to sour cream and juicy fresh apples, this cake stays moist and tender long after baking.
• Perfect Cinnamon Swirl: Each slice boasts a ribbon of warm, spiced cinnamon that makes every bite irresistible.
• Real Ingredients Only: I stick to fresh, wholesome ingredients, steering clear of processed additives—so it tastes amazing and feels great.
• Easy to Customize: The straightforward recipe is incredibly flexible, making it easy to adapt to your family’s tastes or dietary needs.
• Professional Chef Approved: With 30 years of culinary experience, I crafted this recipe to perfection—it’s tried, tested, and delicious every single time.

🍽 Essential Equipment & Tools

Having the right gear makes baking this coffee cake effortless:

• 8×8-inch square baking pan (or 9×9 for slightly thinner cake)
• Parchment paper (for easy lift and clean-up)
• Mixing bowls (at least 3: large, medium, and small)
• Electric hand mixer or stand mixer (or a whisk + elbow grease!)
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Rubber spatula (for folding and scraping batter)
• Whisk
• Fork (for making the crumb topping)
• Peeler (to peel the apples)
• Sharp knife & cutting board (to chop apples)
• Toothpick or cake tester (to check for doneness)
• Cooling rack (for setting the pan after baking)

📋 The Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Recipe

Get ready to make your kitchen smell like pure heaven! This Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake is the kind of treat that turns an ordinary morning into something extra.

With tender bites of fresh apple, a buttery cinnamon swirl, and that irresistible crumb topping, it’s everything you crave in one cozy slice.

Whether you’re baking for brunch, a holiday, or just because, it’s the kind of recipe that gets devoured fast and requested even quicker.

Best Ever Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Recipe by Chef Cory G

5.0 from 1 vote

Course: DessertsCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

9

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Cooking time

45

minutes

Calories

325

kcal

This Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake is soft, buttery, and packed with cozy flavor. Fresh chopped apples, warm cinnamon, and a rich sour cream batter come together under a golden brown sugar crumb topping—perfect for breakfast, brunch, or your favorite mug of coffee.

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Ingredients

• For the Cake:

• 2 Cups all-purpose flour

• 1 ½ tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp baking soda

• ½ tsp sea salt

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

• ½ tsp ground nutmeg

• ½ Cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

• ¾ Cup granulated sugar

• 2 Large eggs

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• ¾ Cup sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt)

• 1 ½ Cups peeled and chopped fresh apples

• For the Cinnamon Swirl:

• ⅓ Cup light brown sugar, packed

• 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon

• For the Crumb Topping:

• ½ Cup all-purpose flour

• ¼ Cup light brown sugar

• ½ tsp ground cinnamon

• ¼ Cup melted unsalted butter

• Optional Vanilla Glaze:

• ½ Cup powdered sugar

• 1 tsp milk

• ¼ vanilla extract

Directions

• Prep:
  Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper and lightly grease.
• Make the Crumb Topping:
  In a small bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stir in melted butter until crumbly. Set aside.
• Make the Cinnamon Swirl:
  Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside.
• Mix Dry Ingredients:
  In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
• Make the Batter:
  In a large bowl, beat softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes). Add eggs one at a time, mixing well. Stir in vanilla and sour cream until smooth.
  Add the dry ingredients in two parts, mixing just until combined. Gently fold in chopped apples.
• Assemble the Cake:
  Spread half the batter into the pan.
  Sprinkle the cinnamon swirl mixture evenly over the batter.
  Spoon the remaining batter on top and gently spread.
  Top with crumb topping, pressing it slightly into the surface.
• Bake:
  Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for at least 20 minutes.
• Optional Glaze:
  Whisk glaze ingredients until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cake.
• If you tried this recipe and loved it, I’d appreciate it if you could give it a 5-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a comment below! It really helps more people find the recipe, and I’d love to hear how it turned out for you!

Notes

• Use freshly chopped apples for best texture.
  Don’t overmix the batter—gentle folding = tender crumb.
  Serve warm with a latte or reheat in the oven the next day.

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🍴 Perfect Serving Suggestions

Pair your coffee cake with:

• Hot Coffee or Latte: The bitterness balances the sweet cinnamon flavors beautifully.
• Fresh Whipped Cream or Vanilla Ice Cream: A scoop adds decadence, making it perfect for dessert.

Serve slightly warm, ideally at brunch gatherings, family breakfasts, or holiday mornings.

For a creative twist, drizzle lightly with a caramel or maple glaze to elevate your cake to gourmet status.

🔄 Easy Ingredient Substitutions

• Dairy-free Swap: Use coconut yogurt or almond-based sour cream to keep the same creamy texture without dairy.
• Gluten-free Swap: Substitute gluten-free baking flour (1-to-1 blend) to create the same fluffy cake texture.
• Pantry-friendly Variation: Don’t have sour cream? Greek yogurt or buttermilk works perfectly as substitutes.
• Kid-friendly Variation: Swap the crumb topping with mini chocolate chips and watch the smiles multiply.
• Egg Substitute: Applesauce or flaxseed eggs are great vegan-friendly options for binding and moisture.

🌟 Wrapping Up & Connecting With You

I truly hope you enjoy baking this Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake as much as I loved creating it.

Don’t forget to share your baking adventures and tag @Dealiciousness on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube—I love seeing your creations!

If you loved this recipe (and I know you will!), please take a moment to leave a 5-star review.

Thank you so much for supporting my recipes and Dealiciousness!

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🌟 Before You Go! More Recipes to Love:

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  Traditional Apple Butter Recipe

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💬 FAQs

Can I make this Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake ahead?

Absolutely! Bake it a day ahead, store it covered at room temperature, and gently warm slices before serving.

What if I don’t have sour cream?

Plain Greek yogurt or buttermilk works equally well as delicious alternatives.

Can I freeze the Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake?

Definitely! Freeze slices individually wrapped for up to three months and reheat gently before serving.

Do I have to peel the apples?

I recommend peeling for the best texture, but you can leave them unpeeled if you prefer more rustic bites.