Caramel Apple Coffee Cake

14555 minutes
Tessa Arias

Author:

Tessa Arias

Modified: October 10, 2024

Easy Caramel Apple Coffee Cake features a brown sugar cinnamon apple cake layered with sweet streusel and topped off with salted caramel. It's the perfect simple fall treat EVERYONE will love!

Tessa's Recipe Rundown

Taste: Sweet, tart, spiced, and wonderful. Like Autumn if it were a flavor!
Texture: The cake is ultra tender and moist which is perfectly balanced by the slightly crunchy streusel and gooey caramel sauce.
Ease: Super simple and easy.
Pros: One of those recipes you’ll make again and again!
Cons: None.
Would I make this again? Yes yes yes.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

I’ve been SO excited to share this Caramel Apple Coffee Cake recipe! It’s one of those delightful fall recipes that will be a hit with any group. And, bonus, it’s nice and easy to make.

caramel apple coffee cake on a plate with a slice taken out, so you can see how moist it is inside!

This coffee cake is perfect to make in the fall – especially after going apple picking with family or friends.

It stays moist and flavorful for days so you can make it ahead of time. Or hoard it for yourself to enjoy daily until it’s all gone. (I don’t know anything about that…)

Bob's Red Mill flour being used in my apple coffee cake.

I was excited to use Bob’s Red Mill Organic All-Purpose flour in this recipe to ensure show-stopping tender and moist results! I’ve worked with Bob’s Red Mill previously and I am so grateful to have them as a sponsor.

They’re an employee-owned company with incredible values woven in. Not to mention this flour is made without the use of chemical pesticides, which I personally greatly prefer.

graphic of Tessa Arias of Handle the Heat holding a whisk.

How to Make Easy Caramel Apple Coffee Cake

unbaked sour cream apple coffee cake, ready to pop in the oven.

How to Make Coffee Cake MOIST

  • Brown sugar, oil, and sour cream all help to create richness, tenderness, and moisture.
  • If you don’t have sour cream, you can also use plain full-fat yogurt.
  • I use oil here because it gives the sensation of moistness better than butter does. We don’t really need the flavor of butter here as much as other recipes, thanks to this coffee cake’s spices, brown sugar, apples, and caramel. Learn more about Butter vs. Oil In Baking here.

What Kind of Apples are Best For Baking?

I love Granny Smith apples in this recipe because they won’t get mushy or mealy during baking and their tartness complements the caramel perfectly. Alternatively, you can use Braeburn, Pink Lady, or Honeycrisp, if you prefer. A mix of apples also works well.

Can I Bake This in a Square Pan Instead?

Yes! If you don’t have a 9-inch springform pan you can use a 9-inch square baking pan. If you only have an 8-inch square pan then add 5 to 10 minutes to the baking time and keep an eye on it for doneness.

Can I Double This Recipe?

Yes! Double all ingredients and bake in a 9 by 13-inch pan and bake for 40 to 50 minutes.

Store-Bought or Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce?

I have an excellent (super easy!) recipe for Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce here. However, for this recipe, you can totally get away with using store-bought. I love Trader Joe’s salted caramel sauce!

fresh coffee cake, straight out of the oven and drizzled with caramel sauce.

How to Store Coffee Cake

This recipe stays SUPER moist for days after you bake it. I actually find the flavors intensify over time as well. Store covered at room temperature for up to 4 days. Serve at room temperature or reheat in the microwave if desired.

Can I Freeze Coffee Cake? 

Yes – but freeze before drizzling the caramel on top. Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Defrost at room temperature then refresh in a 300°F oven until warmed through before drizzling with caramel sauce and serving.

coffee cake on a plate next to a cake server, ready to serve.
a slice of caramel apple coffee cake on a plate with a fork and a napkin underneath
Yields: 9 servings

How To Make

Caramel Apple Coffee Cake

Yields: 9 servings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Review Recipe Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Review Recipe Print Recipe
Easy Caramel Apple Coffee Cake features a brown sugar cinnamon apple cake layered with sweet streusel and topped off with salted caramel. It's the perfect simple fall treat EVERYONE will love!

Email This Recipe

Enter your email, and we’ll send it to your inbox.

GDPR Consent

Ingredients

For the Streusel:

  • 1/4 cup (50 grams) light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup (64 grams) Bob’s Red Mill Organic All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 tablespoons (43 grams) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons (56 grams) salted caramel sauce

For the Coffee Cake:

  • 2 cups (254 grams) Bob’s Red Mill Organic All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 cup (200 grams) light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup (100 grams) vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 8 ounces (227 grams) sour cream or plain yogurt, at room temperature
  • 2 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces (200 grams)
  • 2 tablespoons (56 grams) salted caramel sauce, for drizzling

Instructions

Make the streusel:

  • In a small bowl, combine all of the streusel ingredients except caramel with a fork until crumbly. Set aside.

Make the cake:

  • In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and brown sugar. In a small bowl, stir together the oil, sour cream, and eggs. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, then pour in the wet ingredients. Gently stir until a few streaks of flour remain. Gently fold in the apples.
  • Spoon half of the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with half of the streusel and drizzle with caramel sauce. Spread the remaining batter over the streusel. Sprinkle with the remaining streusel.
  • Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes. Drizzle with salted caramel sauce before serving.
  • Cut into slices and serve. Store leftovers, covered, at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Notes

Don’t have a 9-inch springform pan? No problem! Use a 9-inch square baking pan, no modifications needed. If you only have an 8-inch square pan, add 5 to 10 minutes to the baking time and keep an eye on it for doneness.
To double this recipe, double all ingredients, bake in a 9 by 13-inch pan, and bake for 40 to 50 minutes.

This post was published in 2019 and has been updated with additional recipe tips and information. Photos by Ashley McLaughlin.

0 0 votes
Recipe Rating
guest
Recipe Rating




145 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Rebecca Small
Rebecca Small
6 years ago

This was fairly easy to make and such a great fall recipe! I’ll be making it again!

Andreia De Freitas
Andreia De Freitas
6 years ago

This is a great recipe! I don’t know if it’s because of my oven or what, but I had to adjust the baking time quit significantly to make sure this super moist cake was cooked all the way through! Still a perfect cake!

Sonya Simpson
Sonya Simpson
6 years ago

What a very tasty coffee cake, and so moist. So good while it’s still warm. Such a beautiful golden color. Will definitely add to my favorites.

chrysta hiser
chrysta hiser
6 years ago

This is such a wonderful fall recipe! Quick, easy and everyone loved it! Will be making this again.

Brenda Spicer
Brenda Spicer
6 years ago

I made this for Canadian Thanksgiving dinner yesterday and it was a huge hit!!!! I also made the homemade salted caramel sauce from Tessa’s website and it was absolutely amazing and easy to make!

Sevde
Sevde
6 years ago

The only downside is even while people are eating, they want me to bake another cake. Love it thanks for sharing 🙂

Ocean Lee
Ocean Lee
6 years ago

Great recipe, moist cake and super easy to make. Did a double batch in a 9.5×13.5 glass pan. Baked at 325 for about 65 mins.

Julia Duarte
Julia Duarte
6 years ago

This was so good, I added cinnamon cider caramel on top and added more apples in the cake

Julia Duarte
Julia Duarte
6 years ago

This was so good, I added cinnamon cider caramel drizzle top and more apples in the cake

Jewel
Jewel
6 years ago

Easy and delicious recipe!!

Erin
Erin
6 years ago

I’ve never made coffee cake before. This came out insanely good! I used Pink Lady apples, which were really good. I think green apples would be even better. Also thinking about making an apple cider caramel sauce next time. Yummy!

Emily Leishman
Emily Leishman
6 years ago

Amazing! Replaced some of the sour cream with vanilla yogurt, turned out great!