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.
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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.
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…)
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.
Sprinkle of Science
How to Make Easy Caramel Apple Coffee Cake
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!
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.
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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
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Spray the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray.
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
This post was published in 2019 and has been updated with additional recipe tips and information. Photos by Ashley McLaughlin.
Delicious! Most coffee cakes are on the dry side, but this one is so moist
This was a huge hit – absolutely fantastic & went straight into my keeper recipes! SO GOOD! Can’t wait to make this again. I also love that Trader Joe’s salted caramel sauce when wanting a quick go-to!
I’m just getting in to baking and decided to make this coffee cake. It was so easy and fast and turned out so delicious! Even with the limited kitchen supplies I have. Thanks for sharing!!
This was DELICIOUS!!! The cake was so moist and had just the right amount of spice. I had never made caramel sauce before, this was so easy and it came out great, especially with the addition of the salt.
My family raved about this and it is already gone and they are asking when I will make it again!
This will definitely be added to my recipe collection.
This is DELICIOUS!!!!! My whole family went crazy for this. I had never made caramel sauce before and this recipe was so easy and so tasty. The cake was moist and had just the right amount of spice. The directions were easy to follow and the cake came together very quickly! This will definitely be added to my recipe collection.
The perfect fall treat, especially with a cup of coffee or tea!! My family absolutely loved it!
The perfect fall treat! Especially with a cup of coffee!! My family absolutely loved it!
Tasty and easy to make recipe. I used honeycrisp instead of granny smith apples and it was still good. Cake is not sweet at all even with caramel drizzle
Some spice/apple cakes can be a little dry, but this was perfect! I love streusel in anything, and the caramel added just the right amount of flavor. It was also super easy to make!
A lot of spice/apple cakes can be dry, but this one was perfect t! I love the streusel, and the caramel sauce added just the perfect amount of flavor. It was also super easy to make!
I love the layer of streusel in the middle, and the homemade caramel sauce was amazing. Mine needed an extra 10 minutes or so in the oven, and next time I would add more cinnamon – we enjoyed it though!
This cake was quite easy to make, and very delicious. I don’t know if it was my oven or my pan, but I did have to cook it for a bit longer to get the middle cooked all the way.