Get your hot cup of coffee ready, because this delicious apple cinnamon coffee cake is everything you're looking for in a coffee time treat. This tender, moist gluten free coffee cake has a layer of apple cinnamon filling in the middle of the cake and it's finished off with a crunchy streusel topping.
It's the perfect treat for a fall breakfast or afternoon snack. The flavors of fresh apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon really shine through in this easy apple season bake!
If you have more apples to use, I recommend my gluten free apple bread or these tasty gluten free apple muffins.
Ingredient Notes
This apple coffee cake recipe uses a handful of simple ingredients that can be found in most grocery stores. (Even though it looks like a lot in the photo, many ingredients are duplicates). The recipe is both gluten free and dairy free as written.
- Gluten-Free Flour Blend - I use Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 Flour Blend for this recipe. You can use the gluten free flour blend of your choice, but ensure it contains xanthan gum or a similar binder. I don't recommend a single flour replacement, like almond flour.
- Vegan Butter - I used Country Crock plant butter in this recipe, but any stick type vegan butter should work fine. If you're not dairy free, use unsalted butter in the same measure.
- Apple - I recommend using Granny Smith Apples for this recipe because they hold their shape well in cooking and the tart flavor compliments the cinnamon and sugar nicely. You will need 1-2 apples depending on the size. I do think it's important to peel the apples, since the peels are noticeable in the cake if you don't.
- Vegan Sour Cream - Forager sour cream is my favorite dairy free brand, but any brand should work fine here. Again, if you're not dairy free just use regular sour cream in place of the vegan ingredient.
See recipe card for full list of ingredients with quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Not Dairy Free - use unsalted butter and regular sour cream in place of the vegan ingredients.
- Use Apple Pie Filling - If you want a short cut, you can replace the apple filling with about 2 ½ cups of apple pie filling.
- Add Nuts - Add ½ cup of chopped walnuts or pecans to the crumble topping for extra crunch!
- No Sour Cream - Swap it for an equal measure of Greek yogurt.
How to Make a Cinnamon Apple Coffee Cake
There's a bit of a challenge in making a coffee cake with apples, since the apples release so much moisture during cooking. To avoid soggy spots in the cake, we will cook the apple filling first (very similar to preparing an apple pie filling).
You will need a 9-inch square baking dish for this recipe. I recommend you line it with parchment paper before you begin mixing the cake batter.
- STEP 1: Prepare the apple filling. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium low heat. Add the apple slices, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg and stir well.
- STEP 2: Continue to cook and stir occasionally until the apples are fork tender and the syrup is rapidly bubbling. Remove the pan from heat and set it aside to cool while you make the cake.
- STEP 3: Combine the crumble ingredients in a small bowl and work together until it's clumpy. Place the bowl in the refrigerator while you mix the cake batter.
- STEP 4: Make the cake batter. Combine the gluten free flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl. Whisk together to mix well.
- STEP 5: Add the sugar and room temperature butter to the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes until the mixture is well creamed and fluffy.
- STEP 6: Add the vanilla extract. Then add the eggs, one at a time, mixing for 60 seconds between each addition.
- STEP 7: Add the sour cream and mix a little more until it's incorporated.
- STEP 8: Turn the mixer to low speed and slowly add in the dry ingredients and stir until they are incorporated. The batter will be very thick.
- STEP 9: Spread ⅔ of the coffee cake batter in the prepared baking pan.
- STEP 10: Spoon the cooked apples over the bottom layer of cake batter. Pour the sauce over the apples. Then sprinkle half of the crumb topping over the apples.
- STEP 11: Dollop the remaining cake batter over the top of the filling. It's okay if it doesn't completely cover the fruit.
- STEP 12: Sprinkle the remaining crumble topping over the cake. Now you're ready to bake it!
Expert Tip
Make sure all of your cake ingredients are at room temperature prior to mixing to achieve the perfect emulsification in the batter.
Storage
Store leftover coffee cake in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days or up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
More coffee cake recipes to try:
If you try this recipe, please leave a 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 star rating and let me know how you liked it in the comments below.
Recipe
Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Equipment
- 9x9 Baking Pan
Ingredients
Apple Filling:
Crumble:
- ⅔ Cup Gluten Free 1-to-1 Flour Blend I use Bob's Red Mill
- 2 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Sugar
- ½ teaspoon Cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ Cup Vegan Butter
For the cake:
- 1 ½ Cups Gluten Free 1-to-1 Flour Blend I use Bob's Red Mill
- 1 ½ teaspoon Baking Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Baking Soda
- ¼ teaspoon Cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ⅔ Cup Sugar
- ½ Cup Vegan Butter room temperature
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla
- 2 large Eggs room temperature
- ½ Cup Vegan Sour Cream room temperature
Instructions
For the apple filling:
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan or skillet over medium low heat.3 Tablespoons Vegan Butter
- Add the diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir to mix well.2 Cups Granny Smith Apples, 6 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar, ¾ teaspoon Cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon Nutmeg
- Cook until the sauce is bubbling and the apples are fork tender, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool while you prepare the cake.
For the crumble:
- Combine the gluten free flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, salt and butter in a small bowl. Work together with your fingers or a fork until it's crumbly and well combined. Place in the refrigerator while you mix the cake batter.⅔ Cup Gluten Free 1-to-1 Flour Blend, 2 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar, 2 Tablespoons Sugar, ½ teaspoon Cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon Salt, ¼ Cup Vegan Butter
For the cake:
- Preheat the oven to 350 °F (177 °C). Line a 9x9 baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Combine the gluten free flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl. Whisk to mix well and set aside.1 ½ Cups Gluten Free 1-to-1 Flour Blend, 1 ½ teaspoon Baking Powder, ¼ teaspoon Baking Soda, ¼ teaspoon Cinnamon, ½ teaspoon Salt
- Add the sugar and butter to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.⅔ Cup Sugar, ½ Cup Vegan Butter
- Add the vanilla extract.2 teaspoons Vanilla
- Then add the eggs, one at a time, mixing for 30-60 seconds between each addition. Scrape down the bowl again.2 large Eggs
- Add in the sour cream and mix again until combined.½ Cup Vegan Sour Cream
- With the mixer on low speed, slowly add in the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. The batter will be pretty thick.
- Spread ⅔ of the cake batter in the bottom of your prepared pan. Use an offset spatula to spread it into an even layer.
- Spoon the apples on top of the bottom layer of cake batter. Then pour any leftover liquid over the apples.
- Sprinkle half of the crumble topping over the apples.
- Dollop the remaining cake batter over the apple filling and spread it out - it's kind of hard to spread, so it's okay if it's not a solid layer.
- Sprinkle the remaining crumble topping over the cake.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the top springs back when gently poked. Remove from the oven and cool for 10-15 minutes in the pan. Use the flaps of the parchment paper to remove the cake from the pan and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Tiffany is the recipe developer, stylist and food photographer behind Well Fed Baker. As a lifelong baker who had to go gluten free and dairy free in 2016, Tiffany strives to share allergen friendly recipes that never feel like they are free from anything.
Leave a Comment