This tender apple-filled buttermilk cake is loaded with apples and the cinnamon crunchy topping is so addicting it's great any time of day.
This slice and eat cake is wonderful plain or for company dressed with a dollop of whipped cream to look elegant when served.
The cake is all made with fresh ingredients and certainly, a winner made with buttermilk for that homemade Old-fashioned Coffee Cake flavor, however, this one has no sour cream in our recipe we do make a Banana Sour Cream Streusel Bar that has sour cream in them.
Simple pantry ingredients make this coffee cake super easy to whip up in no time and one bite of this cake and you'll be hooked.
Whenever I make this the whole house smells fantastic and it sure is the perfect cake to bake if you're showcasing a home for sale or having guests this will surely make their mouths water.
I must warn you, our cake is dense and heavy all made from scratch like our Blueberry Pound Cake, and we love our simple all-in-one bowl apple cake also.
If you love apples, and streusel, you will love this buttermilk version.
Please read our tips before starting and scroll down to the bottom for this printable recipe.
Making Coffee Cakes From Scratch
It's important to remember, old fashioned vintage cake recipes like this one, need to be all done by hand.
Coffee cakes are denser cake than regular cakes so their texture is much different than a regular frosted birthday cake you may be accustomed to.
Folding the ingredients together and not overworking the batter is key to the success of this recipe.
Step-By-Step Apple Streusel Cake
- preheat the oven and prepare a 13 x 9 sheet pan to be greased and set aside
- in a medium-sized bowl add the dry ingredients and whisk together
- in another bowl combine the wet ingredients and apple and stir together
- gently fold the two together
- pour into the prepared pan
- sprinkle with the streusel topping
- bake until the middle is set using the toothpick method
Tips
- preheat the oven to 350 degrees
- place all the dry ingredients in one bowl and all the wet in another bowl
- combine by folding the dry ingredients into the wet with a spatula and do not overwork the batter this must be done by hand
- sprinkle the crumb topping evenly and bake until the center is firm and a toothpick comes clean when inserted in the middle
- Here are tips on apples to use
Ingredients You Will Need
- diced apples
- buttermilk
- flour
- egg
- cinnamon
- baking soda
- baking powder
- canola or vegetable oil
- salt
- brown sugar
- butter
- vanilla
Other Chopped Fruit Substitutions
- blueberries
- pears
- peaches
- mango
- papaya
- pineapple
- fresh pitted cherries
- red or black fresh berries
Serving Suggestions
- this cake is perfect served as is
- whipped cream
- drizzled with caramel ice cream topping
- a dusting of powdered sugar
- a light drizzle of powdered sugar and water icing
- or your favorite scoop of ice cream
Tool Needed
- parchment paper
- spatula
- two mixing bowls
- 13 x9 sheet pan
- toothpick
- serving knife
- fork for mixing the crumb topping
More Apple Recipes
Apple Crumb Cake
Apple Blueberry Slab Pie
Pork Chop with Apple Stuffing
Country Apples
Apple Fried Donuts
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Simple Apple Cake
The recipe seems long and has lots of ingredients but really it's step by step directions, easy and the best way to kick off fall with this taste Buttermilk Apple Streusel Cake.
It's really been a family favorite for over 100 years and the recipe is passed down from the 1940s and mom had it written on what she called back then scratch paper!
Buttermilk Apple Streusel Cake
Yield: 20
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 50 MinTotal time: 1 Hour
This cake is all made by hand from scratch with old-fashioned ingredients is tender and delicious one of the best apple cakes ever!
Ingredients
- Streusel Topping:
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons softened butter
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- Apple Cake Batter:
- 2 1/2 cups of flour
- 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 - 1/2 cups brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 cup buttermilk (I used powdered with water however you can use 1 cup of milk add 1 tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice and let stand 5 minutes or until it looks curdled)
- 1/3 cup canola oil or vegetable
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 medium apples diced peeled cleaned ( use McIntosh, Cortland, Rome, Empire or any other tart apple available)
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease a 13 x 9 baking cake pan or a 12-cup muffin
- Make the streusel and set it aside.
- Flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, and whisk in a small bowl.
- In a large clean bowl add the buttermilk, sugar, egg, and oil, vanilla, and whisk together
- Peel and dice the apples add the cinnamon and toss them together in another bowl.
- Place the apples in the wet ingredients bowl and toss to coat.
- Fold the flour mixture into the apple's wet ingredients and blend together gently and evenly.
- Pour the blended apple mixture into the prepared pan.
- Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the top.
- Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean in the middle.
- Cool completely before cutting.
Notes
Tips
- preheat the oven to 350 degrees
- place all the dry ingredients in one bowl and all the wet in another bowl
- combine by folding the dry ingredients into the wet with a spatula and do not overwork the batter this must be done by hand
- sprinkle the crumb topping evenly and bake until the center is firm and a toothpick comes clean when inserted in the middle
Other Chopped Fruit Substitutions
- blueberries
- pears
- peaches
- mango
- papaya
- pineapple
- fresh pitted cherries
- red or black fresh berries
Serving Suggestions
- this cake is perfect served as is
- whipped cream
- drizzled with caramel ice cream topping
- a dusting of powdered sugar
- a light drizzle of powdered sugar and water icing
- or your favorite scoop of ice cream
Nutrition Facts
Calories
153.22Fat (grams)
6.24Sat. Fat (grams)
1.67Carbs (grams)
22.02Fiber (grams)
1.12Net carbs
20.91Sugar (grams)
7.89Protein (grams)
2.54Sodium (milligrams)
146.42Cholesterol (grams)
14.01
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Apple Cinnamon Buns
Apple Pie
Country Baked or Fried Apples
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