There’s one thing totally comforting a few heat slice of apple crumble cake – delicate, cinnamon‑spiced sponge, tart apple chunks, a crackly buttery crumble and topped with a vanilla drizzle. In my years of recipe testing, this model at all times steals the present at within the autumn/fall or everytime you simply NEED cake.
Nicky’s Recipe Notes
I developed this apple crumble cake over many Sunday bakes in my kitchen. I needed a cake that felt like crumble however with that lightness of sponge — and the trick was to make use of a mixture of cooking and consuming apples (like Bramley + Jazz) so that you get each physique and sweetness.
What makes this apple crumble cake so good:
- Delicate, evenly spiced sponge melts in your mouth,
- with juicy morsels of apple,
- the crumble topping provides satisfying crunch,
- and the drizzle provides a creamy sweetness that ties all of it collectively.
📋 Substances
***Full recipe with detailed portions within the recipe card beneath***
For the Apple Cake
Be aware on the apples
I like to make use of a combine of tart cooking apples (like Bramley) and candy consuming apples (resembling Jazz, Honeycrisp, Braeburn or Pink Woman) on this cake. The cooking apples break down a bit and add softness, whereas the consuming apples maintain their form and provides little juicy bites. It’s the perfect of each textures — and makes the flavour extra fascinating too!
For the Crumble Topping
For the glaze
🍎 The right way to make Apple Crumble Cake
***Full recipe with detailed steps within the recipe card beneath***
Make the Crumble Topping
The crumble topping is a combination of butter, flour, sugar and cinnamon. Combine all of it collectively till you get a beautiful lumpy combination. I like small lumps and massive lumps in there for plenty of crunchy texture.
Put together the apples
Peel and chop your apples. I like to make use of a combination of cooking apples (Bramley) and candy consuming apples such because the Jazz apple selection. Toss them with a bit lemon juice to cease them turning brown, then sprinkle them with flour (this can assist cease them sinking within the cake combination because it’s baking).
Make the apple cake
Subsequent make the sponge by mixing melted butter, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and eggs. Then stir in flour and baking powder. Lastly fold in these floured apples.
Switch to a baking tin and sprinkle on the crumble combination earlier than baking within the oven.
As soon as cooked, take away from the oven, go away to chill, then drizzle on that creamy vanilla icing.
Recipe Suggestions
- Toss the apples with a bit lemon juice to cease them turning brown, then sprinkle them with flour (this can assist cease them sinking within the cake combination because it’s baking).
Now how about an excessive close-up of that crunchy crumble and people oh-so-sweet chunks of apple?
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🍽️ What to serve it with
Now the massive query is.. Ought to I eat it as it’s?
Or with ice-cream?
Or some creamy, heat custard?
Mmmmm give me the custard!! Maybe I’m breaching some etiquette rule by placing custard on it when it’s already received a vanilla glaze however I don’t care!
In fact this cake by itself is fairly wonderful too. I’ll have had two slices for my lunch… It appeared a waste to begin making one thing else when this had simply come out of the oven and I needed it a lot!
📺 Watch how one can make it
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First, make your crumble by mixing the sugar, butter and cinnamon in a big bowl. Add the flour and blend with a spoon till you could have a crumbly combination. Put aside.
180 g (1 cup) delicate gentle brown sugar, 150 g (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, 1 tsp floor cinnamon, 210 g (1 3/4 cups) plain (all-purpose) flour
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Preheat the oven to 180C/350F (fan). Line a 24cmx24cm (9 1/2 inch x 9 1/2 inch) sq. baking tin with baking parchment. Be aware – the perimeters of the tin have to be a minimum of 8cm/3.1 inches excessive because the cake will spill over if the perimeters aren’t excessive sufficient.
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Peel and core the apples and chop them into bite-sized chunks. Combine the apples with the lemon juice to cease them turning brown. Then combine with the two tbsp of flour.
550 g (19.5 oz) cooking apples, 175 g (6 oz) consuming apples – which is about 1 apple, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp plain (all-purpose) flour
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In a big bowl, combine the melted butter with the caster sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Combine within the eggs after which fold within the flour, baking powder and salt. Gently stir the apples into the cake combination.
230 g (1 cup) unsalted butter, 2 cups (360g) golden caster sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tsp cinnamon, 4 giant eggs, 350 g (3 cups minus 1 tbsp) plain(all-purpose) flour, 4 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt
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Spoon the combination into the ready baking tin.
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Sprinkle the crumble combination excessive (I prefer to have a mixture of small and enormous chunks) after which sprinkle over the demerara sugar.
2 tbsp demerara course sugar
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Place within the oven and cook dinner for 45-55 minutes – till an inserted skewer comes out clear. Cowl with foil for the final 10-Quarter-hour if it is beginning to look too brown.
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Take out of the oven and go away to chill within the tray for 10 minutes, then take away from the tray and go away to chill fully on a cooling rack.
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As soon as cool, whisk collectively the icing sugar, half of the cream and the vanilla extract. If it appears drizzle-able cease there. If not, proceed so as to add extra cream till you get a thick however pourable combination. Drizzle excessive of the cake utilizing a spoon, or you should use a piping bag (like I did) to get the neat strains of drizzle.
90 g (2/3 cup) icing/confectioner’s sugar, 6 tbsp double/heavy cream, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
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Lower into 16 items and serve.
Make forward & Freezer Directions
As soon as baked this apple cake ought to final 3-4 days in a sealed container at room temperature.
It’s also possible to freeze the cake by wrapping in clingfilm/plastic wrap, then foil. Defrost at room temperature. The crumb topping received’t be as crispy after freezing, however you possibly can heat the cake by way of within the oven at 160C/320F for 20-25 minutes (till heat within the centre) and this could assist the topping turn out to be crispy once more.
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Dietary Info is per serving.
Energy: 519kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 5g | Fats: 22g | Saturated Fats: 13g | Ldl cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 126mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 45g
Diet data is robotically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.
This apple crumble cake recipe was first posted in March 2025. Republished in October 2018 with new images, step-by-step images and extra ideas. Up to date since with recipe enhancements and for housekeeping causes.
? Steadily Requested Questions
It’s also possible to freeze the cake by wrapping in clingfilm/plastic wrap, then foil. Defrost at room temperature. The crumb topping received’t be as crispy after freezing, however you possibly can heat the cake by way of within the oven at 160C/320F for 20-25 minutes (till heat within the centre) and this could assist the topping turn out to be crispy once more.
Sure, this cake ought to final 3-4 days in a sealed container at room temperature.
Sure, nevertheless it’s greatest to interchange the fruit with one which isn’t too juicy. Plums or pears are an ideal possibility.
I haven’t tried making this gluten free but, but when I did, I’d use my gluten-free White Chocolate and Pistachio Blondies recipe as a base (including the apples into the combination). Then i’d prime with the crumble combination – however would substitute the flour with half gluten-free plain/all-purpose flour, quarter floor almonds and quarter gluten free oats.
🍂 Extra Autumn/Fall Bakes
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