Caramel Apple Coffee Cake is a tender cinnamon apple cake with a streusel topping and caramel drizzle. An easy coffee cake recipe with fall flavor in every bite!
I have a favorite coffee cake recipe for every season and occasion. From Lemon Crumb Coffee Cake Recipe in the spring to Pumpkin Coffee Cake in the autumn.
Why This Coffee Cake is Best
Today’s coffee cake is another fall favorite: Caramel Apple Coffee Cake!
- Moist coffee cake – This apple breakfast cake stays moist even days after baking.
- Fall flavors – Tart apple, cinnamon spice and sweet caramel are a to-die-for flavor combo!
- Easy to make – It’s ready in about an hour with just a few minutes of prep time.
- Crisp streusel topping – The slightly crunchy crumble pairs wonderfully with the smooth, creamy caramel drizzled on top.
Is there anything better than the smell of baking apples and cinnamon on a crisp fall day? While apple pie is one of my favorite desserts, this coffee cake is a close runner up. Especially since you can enjoy it for breakfast!
Ingredient Notes
- Apples – Peeled, cored and sliced. I like to use firm, tart apples in coffee cake. Granny smith, golden delicious and pink lady varieties are all delicious options.
- Spices- We use a combination of cinnamon AND nutmeg to give the streusel a robust aroma and that classic fall flavor.
- Butter – Unsalted butter is our preference because it allows you to control the saltiness of the finished cake. If you only have unsalted butter, leave out the added kosher salt in the recipe.
- Kosher salt – We use this coarse salt in all our baked goods and cooking. Here’s why it’s best.
- Caramel sauce – You can use any bottle of ice cream sundae topping. It’s combined with powdered sugar and a splash of milk to create the caramel apple glaze drizzled over the baked coffee cake.
Tips and Tricks
- Grease and flour your baking dish first to prevent your cake from sticking. Baking spray works too!
- Arrange the apples evenly over the batter. It’s okay if the slices touch or slightly overlap.
- Pour the caramel glaze over the cake while it’s still warm from the oven.
- Let cool completely before serving. The glaze settles onto the cake for a pretty appearance and perfect consistency!
- Serve caramel apple coffee cake with hot coffee, tee, apple cider or a brown sugar latte!
Recipe FAQs
We make this caramel coffee cake in a 9 x 13 baking dish. You can use other shapes and sizes like a bundt pan or square dish but will need to adjust the baking time accordingly.
Store the cooled coffee cake tightly covered in the refrigerator. It’s delicious chilled or served room temperature!
We haven’t tested the recipe with homemade caramel sauce. If you do try it with homemade sauce, make sure to sauce is completely cooled before blending it with the other glaze ingredients.
More Apple Treats
- Apple Shortbread bars: delicious shortbread cookie bar topped with a wonderful cinnamon apple topping and cinnamon glaze!
- Apple Pie Poke Cake: one of my favorite sweet apple recipes on the blog!
- Caramel Apple Sugar Cookie Pizza: this is such an easy weekday dessert idea that feeds a crowd!
- Applesauce Cake
- Apple Crisp
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Ingredients
For the cake:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup milk
- 3 cup sliced peeled apples
For the streusel:
- ¾ cup light brown sugar packed
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
For the glaze:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup caramel ice cream topping
- 2 Tablespoons milk
Instructions
For the cake:
- Grease and flour (or use baking spray) a 13×9 baking dish and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, beat flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt on low until blended. Beat in softened butter until crumbly.
- Add in eggs, vanilla and milk and beat for several minutes until fluffy and fully combined. Pour batter into prepared baking dish. Top batter with sliced apples.
For the streusel:
- Combine sugar with cinnamon and salt.
- Mix in melted butter, flour and nutmeg with a large fork until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over apple layer. Bake cake in a preheated 325 degree F oven for 45-50 minutes.
For the glaze:
- Whisk the sugar, caramel and milk together until smooth.
- When cake is removed from oven, pour glaze over warm cake. Allow cake to cool before serving.
- Store cake covered in refrigerator for up to 5 days. ENJOY.
Notes
- Grease and flour your baking dish first to prevent your cake from sticking. Baking spray works too!
- Arrange the apples evenly over the batter. It’s okay if the slices touch or slightly overlap.
- Pour the caramel glaze over the cake while it’s still warm from the oven.
- Let cool completely before serving. The glaze settles onto the cake for a pretty appearance and perfect consistency!
- Serve caramel apple coffee cake with hot coffee, tee, apple cideror a brown sugar latte!
Nutrition
Apple coffee cake with cinnamon streusel topping and a caramel glaze is the perfect easy breakfast cake to enjoy with your coffee!
I LOVE coffee cake, especially with apples and caramel. This is such a yummy recipe!
This was a huge hit with my boys! They almost devoured the whole thing and are already asking me to make another one for tomorrow. Loved it!
This is the perfect fall coffee cake! the apples are so good in it!