This Apple Cake is a cozy, cinnamon-spiced dessert packed with fresh apples and a tender crumb. Topped with a buttery streusel or dusted with powdered sugar, it’s ideal for fall gatherings, afternoon tea, or holiday baking!
Ingredients (Serves 8-10):
For the Cake:
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (150g) brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup (120ml) buttermilk (or milk + 1½ tsp lemon juice)
- 2 cups (about 2 medium) diced apples (peeled)
For the Streusel Topping (Optional):
- ¼ cup (50g) brown sugar
- ¼ cup (30g) flour
- 2 tbsp cold butter, cubed
- ½ tsp cinnamon
For Serving:
- Powdered sugar or vanilla ice cream
Instructions:
1️⃣ Prep & Mix:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round or square pan.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
2️⃣ Assemble:
- Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk to the butter mixture.
- Fold in apples. Pour batter into pan.
3️⃣ Add Streusel (Optional):
- Mix streusel ingredients with fingers until crumbly. Sprinkle over batter.
4️⃣ Bake & Serve:
- Bake 40-45 mins until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool 15 mins, then dust with powdered sugar or serve warm with ice cream.
Baker’s Tip: Use tart apples (Granny Smith) for balance, or sweet (Honeycrisp) for extra sweetness!
