Apple Crumb Cake with Spiced Apples and Cream Cheese Maple Drizzle Recipe

Introduction

This Apple Crumb Cake is a delightful treat bursting with warm spices and tender apples, topped with a crunchy crumb topping. Perfect for cozy mornings or afternoon tea, it offers a wonderful balance of moist cake and sweet, spiced fruit.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (112 g) unsalted butter, softened (for crumble)
• 1 cup (220 g) brown sugar, packed (for crumble)
• 1 cup (125 g) all purpose flour, spooned and leveled (for crumble)
• 2 1/2 tsp cinnamon (for crumble)
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg (for crumble)
• 1/8 tsp allspice (for crumble)
• Pinch of salt (for crumble)
• 2 cups (268 g) apples peeled and diced into ½ inch pieces, about 2 apples
• 1 tsp cinnamon (for spiced apples)
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg (for spiced apples)
• Pinch of allspice (for spiced apples)
• 2 tbsp (28 g) brown sugar (for spiced apples)
• 1 3/4 cups (219 g) all purpose flour, spooned and leveled (for cake)
• 1 tbsp cinnamon (for cake)
• 1 tsp nutmeg (for cake)
• 1/4 tsp allspice (for cake)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup (112 g) unsalted butter, softened (for cake)
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated white sugar
• 2 eggs, at room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup (244 g) unsweetened apple butter
• 3/4 cup (180 ml) buttermilk, at room temperature
• 2 oz (56 g) cream cheese, softened (for frosting drizzle)
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) pure maple syrup (for frosting drizzle)
• 3-4 tbsp (25-32 g) powdered sugar (for frosting drizzle, adjust sweetness)
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) whole milk (for frosting drizzle)

Instructions

1. Step 1: For the crumble topping, combine butter, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt in a medium bowl. Mix until thick, coarse crumbs form. Chill in the fridge while preparing the rest.
2. Step 2: For the spiced apples, add diced apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and brown sugar to a medium pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes until juices thicken and apples soften. Remove from heat and let cool.
3. Step 3: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×9 inch light metal baking pan and line it with parchment paper.
4. Step 4: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
5. Step 5: In a large bowl, cream softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on high speed for 2 minutes.
6. Step 6: Add eggs and vanilla, mixing on medium speed until pale and smooth, about 1 minute.
7. Step 7: Add apple butter and buttermilk, mixing on medium-low until combined. The batter may appear curdled but will come together with the dry ingredients.
8. Step 8: Incorporate the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing on medium-low just until combined. Scrape bowl sides as needed.
9. Step 9: Pour batter into prepared pan. Evenly sprinkle the cooled spiced apples on top, then cover with the chilled crumble topping.
10. Step 10: Bake for 65-80 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with a few moist crumbs. If top browns too much, loosely cover with foil.
11. Step 11: Cool cake in pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes, then lift out using parchment paper. Cool completely on rack.
12. Step 12: For the cream cheese drizzle, beat cream cheese and maple syrup with a mixer on medium-high until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar on low speed until combined. Stir in milk last.
13. Step 13: Once cooled, slice cake into 16 pieces and drizzle with cream cheese frosting before serving.

Tips & Variations

• Use tart apples like Granny Smith for a nice balance of sweetness and acidity.
• Chilling the crumble topping before baking helps it stay crunchy.
• Swap apple butter for pumpkin butter or pear butter for a seasonal twist.
• If you don’t have buttermilk, add 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar to 3/4 cup milk and let sit for 5 minutes.

Storage

Store the cooled cake loosely covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days. Reheat individual slices gently in the microwave for 15-20 seconds before serving. The cream cheese drizzle may firm up when chilled, so you can add extra drizzle if desired after reheating.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use frozen apples for this recipe?

Fresh apples are best for texture and flavor, but if using frozen, thaw and drain them well to avoid excess moisture in the cake.

How do I know when the cake is done?

Insert a toothpick into the center of the cake; it should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached. If it’s wet with batter, continue baking and check again in 5-10 minutes.

Apple Crumb Cake with Spiced Apples and Cream Cheese Maple Drizzle Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 115 reviews

This Apple Crumb Cake is a deliciously spiced dessert featuring tender apple pieces, a moist apple butter-infused cake, and a buttery crumb topping. Finished with a smooth cream cheese frosting drizzle, it’s perfect for autumn or any time you crave a cozy, flavorful treat.

• Author: lina
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
• Yield: 16 servings 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Crumble Topping

• 1/2 cup (112 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (220 g) brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup (125 g) all purpose flour, spooned and leveled
• 2 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp allspice
• Pinch of salt

Spiced Apples

• 2 cups (268 g) apples, peeled and diced into ½ inch pieces (about 2 apples)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• Pinch of allspice
• 2 tbsp (28 g) brown sugar

Apple Cake

• 1 3/4 cups (219 g) all purpose flour, spooned and leveled
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp allspice
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup (112 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated white sugar
• 2 eggs, at room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup (244 g) unsweetened apple butter
• 3/4 cup (180 ml) buttermilk, at room temperature

Cream Cheese Frosting Drizzle

• 2 oz (56 g) cream cheese, softened
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) pure maple syrup
• 3–4 tbsp (25–32 g) powdered sugar (adjust sweetness to preference)
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) whole milk

Instructions

1. Prepare the Crumble Topping: In a medium bowl, combine softened butter, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and a pinch of salt. Mix until a thick, coarse crumb forms. Chill the crumble in the refrigerator while preparing the rest of the cake.
2. Cook the Spiced Apples: Add diced apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and brown sugar to a medium pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes until the apples are tender and the juices thicken. Remove from heat and let cool.
3. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×9 inch light metal baking pan and line with parchment paper.
4. Mix Dry Ingredients for Cake: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
5. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer on high speed to cream softened butter and granulated sugar for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
6. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Mix in eggs and vanilla on medium speed until the batter is pale and smooth, approximately 1 minute.
7. Combine Wet Ingredients: Mix unsweetened apple butter and buttermilk into the batter on medium-low speed until combined; the mixture may appear curdled which is normal.
8. Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix on medium-low speed just until combined, scraping down the bowl as needed.
9. Assemble the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Evenly sprinkle the cooked spiced apples over the batter, then evenly layer the chilled crumble topping on top.
10. Bake the Cake: Bake for 65-80 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. If the top browns too quickly, cover loosely with aluminum foil.
11. Cool the Cake: Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Then, lift the cake out by the parchment paper and let it cool completely on the rack.
12. Make the Cream Cheese Frosting Drizzle: In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and maple syrup on medium-high speed until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar while mixing on low until fully combined, then mix in the milk until smooth and drizzle-ready.
13. Serve: Once the cake is completely cooled, cut into 16 slices. Drizzle the cream cheese frosting evenly over the slices before serving.

Notes

• Use firm baking apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for best texture in the apple pieces.
• Ensure all dairy ingredients are at room temperature for easier mixing and better texture.
• If you don’t have buttermilk, you can substitute by adding 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar to 3/4 cup milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes.
• Store leftover cake covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerated for up to 5 days.
• The cream cheese drizzle can be adjusted in sweetness to your preference by varying the powdered sugar amount.

Keywords: Apple Crumb Cake, Spiced Apple Cake, Autumn Dessert, Cream Cheese Frosting, Homemade Cake