Soft and ultra moist with spiced apple flavor and a crunchy streusel topping, this applesauce crumb cake tastes like you splurged at the bakery but is easy enough to throw together on a whim. There's nothing better with a hot cup of coffee or apple cider!
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Equipment Checklist
This applesauce coffee cake comes together with simple, everyday kitchen tools. You don't need an electric mixer or food processor-just a few bowls, a whisk, and a spatula.
You will want to make sure you have our favorite bakery ingredients, Instant Clearjel (which we typically order online). Trust us - it is essential to the best texture!
Instant Clearjel
This is modified cornstarch and it absorbs excess moisture when baking so you can get the softest, most flavorful crumb without it becoming soggy.
9x13 Metal Cake Pan
You always want to use metal baking pans with straight sides for cakes. This recipe makes enough for the whole crew since it's in a 9x13!
Mixing Bowls
Break out your favorite mixing bowls to prepare the batter and topping.
Offset Spatula
So handy for spreading the cake batter evenly throughout the whole pan.
Why you'll love this Applesauce Crumb Cake Recipe
- Perfect balance of soft and crunchy - Tender, buttery, ultra-moist applesauce cake on the bottom and crunchy, oat crumble on top. There's nothing better!
- Ready in about an hour - This delicious cake recipe is a cinch to whip together, relies on super simple ingredients, and will be ready to serve in just about an hour. As a bonus, it will make your house smell incredible!
- The coziest fall flavors - Anytime you combine applesauce, cinnamon, nutmeg, butter, and oats, you know you're going to have a good time. This applesauce coffee cake is peak fall deliciousness. Perfect for apple season!
Ingredients
This easy coffee cake recipe has three basic components: the dry ingredients, the wet ingredients, and the streusel topping.
Important Note
You will need to bake the cake base first, before you add the crumb topping on top of the batter and put it back in the oven. The crumb topping is easy to whip together while the cake batter is baking!
Dry Ingredients
- All purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Instant Clearjel (or vanilla instant pudding mix)
- Brown sugar
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
Wet Ingredients
There are several ingredients here that guarantee your cake will turn out super soft and moist every time, like buttermilk, applesauce, oil, and butter!
- Eggs
- Buttermilk
- 1 cup applesauce (unsweetened)
- Vegetable oil
- Vanilla extract
- Melted salted butter
Crumb Topping
- Flour
- Old-fashioned oats
- Ground Cinnamon
- Light brown sugar
- Salted butter
Video
Watch me make this easy fall cake in the video below.
Variations
- I make this with store-bought, unsweetened applesauce, but you can also use homemade applesauce! The perfect way to add that fresh-picked apple flavor.
- Try apple butter. Apple butter has a similar consistency to applesauce but with maximum flavor. Try replacing the applesauce with apple butter for a richer, sweeter flavor.
- Drizzle with glaze. After baking, drizzle our caramel drizzle or a caramel sauce on top for a caramel apple flavor profile. So good! You can also use a simple powdered sugar icing, similar to our famous cinnamon rolls.
- Play with the spices. You definitely want those warm spices, like cinnamon and nutmeg, but you could certainly use apple pie spice or even chai spice.
Storage
Once fully cooled, cover any leftover cake with plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.
I usually bake this cake the day before serving, but it also freezes beautifully if you'd like to bake ahead. Just wrap the entire cake pan tightly with plastic wrap to keep it fresh. Allow it to thaw to room temperature before serving.
Key Recipe Notes
- You can prepare the crumb topping while the cake bakes the first time, but if you think you may be interrupted while baking, we recommend preparing the topping first to have it ready to go.
- Use salted butter. We know that most baking recipes call for unsalted butter but after years of testing and developing recipes in the bakery, we swear by salted butter. You get the very best flavor every time!
More Great Recipes for Fall
Wouldn't this applesauce coffee cake make the perfect breakfast or afternoon snack? We love making it for holiday brunches, too. It's one of those recipes that almost seems too simple, but the flavors and textures are spot on.
If you want more bakery-tested recipes, be sure to subscribe and follow along on social media! We share all of our latest and greatest so you'll find plenty more baking inspiration and know-how. Happy Baking!
Thanks for Reading. ❤️
📖 Recipe & Step-by-Step Instructions
Applesauce Crumb Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 240 grams ( 1 ¾ cup + 1 Tablespoon) All-Purpose Flour (I use Gold Medal)
- 1 ½ teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1 teaspoons Baking Soda
- ¾ teaspoon Salt
- 16 grams (2 T) instant clearjel (see note section)
- 226 grams (1 cups packed) Brown Sugar
- 2 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Nutmeg
Wet Ingredients
- 2 large Eggs
- 182 grams (¾ cup) Buttermilk
- 250 grams (1 cup) Unsweetened Applesauce
- 50 grams (¼ cup) Vegetable Oil
- 1 ½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Other Cake Ingredients
- 85 grams (¾ stick) grams Salted Butter (melted)
Crumb Topping
- 100 grams (¾ cups) all-purpose flour
- 67 grams (¾ cup) Old-Fashioned Oats
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 170 grams (¾ cup packed) Light Brown Sugar
- 113 grams (1 stick) Salted Butter (soft to the touch)
Simple Glaze (optional)
- 98 grams (½ c + 2 T) powdered sugar
- 1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon water
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
Make the Applesauce Crumb Cake
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a straight edge 9x13 cake pan with parchment paper. (Tip: Avoid sloped-edge pans, which don't bake as evenly and can cause cakes to sink in the center.)
- Using a sifter or fine mesh strainer, sift the Dry Ingredients* into a large bowl, then whisk until well blended. Combine Wet Ingredients in a separate bowl and whisk until smooth and well-blended.(*REMINDER-when using instant clearjel, please make sure it is labeled as "instant" and whisk it thoroughly with dry ingredients)240 grams ( 1 ¾ cup + 1 Tablespoon) All-Purpose Flour, 1 ½ teaspoon Baking Powder, 1 teaspoons Baking Soda, ¾ teaspoon Salt, 16 grams (2 T) instant clearjel, 226 grams (1 cups packed) Brown Sugar, 2 teaspoon Cinnamon , 1 teaspoon Nutmeg, 2 large Eggs, 182 grams (¾ cup) Buttermilk, 250 grams (1 cup) Unsweetened Applesauce, 50 grams (¼ cup) Vegetable Oil, 1 ½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- Pour Wet Ingredients over the Dry Ingredients and whisk until combined. Carefully pour the melted Butter into the batter and whisk until well blended.85 grams (¾ stick) grams Salted Butter
- Pour the applesauce crumb cake batter into the prepared pan and smooth out the batter until evenly distributed (an offset icing spatula works well for this).
- Bake in the middle or top rack of the preheated oven for 25 minutes. In the meantime, make the crumb topping* (*Tip: I usually make the crumb topping during this first bake. If you think you'll get interrupted, go ahead and make the topping before putting the cake in the oven.)
Make the Crumb Topping
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, salt, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Cut the softened butter into the dry mixture.100 grams (¾ cups) all-purpose flour, 67 grams (¾ cup) Old-Fashioned Oats, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon salt, 170 grams (¾ cup packed) Light Brown Sugar
- Mix the butter into the dry ingredients with a fork, a pie cutter, or your hands until well blended. The butter should be fully incorporated into a soft dough-like mixture. Use your fingers to break it apart the dough into many small crumbs-aim for a variety of small crumb sizes.113 grams (1 stick) Salted Butter
Top the Applesauce Cake and Finish Baking
- When the 25-minute timer goes off, carefully remove the cake from the oven (leave the oven on). The cake is par baked at this point. Quickly but gently sprinkle the crumb topping over the top of the cake in a light, even layer. Avoid pressing down or dumping in big clumps. Instead, treat it like delicately dusting sugar over the top so the cake keeps its rise.
- Return the cake to the oven and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until a toothpick or paring knife inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. To avoid accidentally overcooking the cake, try to poke the cake in between the crumb topping. The crumb topping will look soft and underdone, but it will firm up into a crisp topping as the cake cools. Let the cake cool completely before serving.
Make the Glaze
- Whisk the powdered sugar, water, and cinnamon together, until it turns into a thick cinnamon glaze. If desired, you can add more water or powdered sugar to get your desired thickness. Drizzle the glaze over the applesauce coffee cake. Cut and serve. Enjoy!
Becki Sue Kugler says
Moist and delicious! Strong apple flavor. I found it too sweet with the streusel and glaze, but the 5 other members of my family think it is perfect as is!
Sara says
We can't stop eating this- so moist! I was a little nervous when adding the streusel but it turned out great!