Description

This Apple Crumb Cake with Cinnamon Apple Drizzle is the ultimate fall dessert—moist, buttery, and packed with fresh apples. It features a tender sour cream apple cake base, a generous layer of cinnamon-spiced crumb topping, and a warm, buttery cinnamon drizzle that ties it all together. Perfect for cozy weekends, potlucks, or holiday gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cake:

1½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup sour cream
2 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, diced

For the Crumb Topping:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
½ cup packed brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar

For the Cinnamon Apple Drizzle:

1 tbsp unsalted butter
½ cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp milk
Pinch of salt

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Instructions

Prep oven and pan: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×9-inch pan or line with parchment paper.
Make cake batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (2–3 minutes). Beat in eggs one at a time, then vanilla. Alternate adding the dry mixture and sour cream, starting and ending with the dry mixture. Fold in diced apples. Spread batter evenly into the pan.
Prepare crumb topping: Combine flour, cinnamon, salt, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a bowl. Cut in cold butter with a pastry cutter or fork until coarse crumbs form. Sprinkle evenly over the cake batter.
Bake: Bake for 55–65 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 15–20 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Make drizzle: In a small saucepan, melt butter. Stir in brown sugar, cinnamon, milk, and salt. Cook for 2–3 minutes until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cake.

Notes

Granny Smith apples provide a nice tart contrast, but other firm varieties like Honeycrisp or Pink Lady also work.

Don’t overmix the batter—this keeps the crumb tender.

Double the drizzle for extra indulgence.

Cake tastes even better the next day as flavors meld.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 55–65 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American