Apple Cider Coffee Cake

This Apple Cider Coffee Cake is the perfect cozy treat for a crisp autumn morning. It’s wonderfully moist, full of warm spice, and topped with a buttery cinnamon crumble that’s simply irresistible.

My sister Jennifer first baked this cake on a Sunday morning. The house filled with the warm scent of apples and cinnamon, a smell that always reminds me of her laughter. We’d all sneak bits of the crumb topping before she even sliced it, a simple, joyful memory baked inside.

The Heart of the Cake: Our Ingredients

For the Cake:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup apple cider
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the Crumble Topping:

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

For the Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2–3 tablespoons apple cider

A Few of My Family’s Tips

Before we begin, I wanted to share a few little secrets we’ve learned over the years to make sure this cake comes out perfectly every time.

• A Gentle Hand is Key: When you fold in the flour, be careful not to overmix. A few little lumps in the batter are a good thing! This keeps the cake wonderfully tender and light.
• The Magic of Room Temperature: Let your butter, eggs, and sour cream sit on the counter for a bit before you start. Warm ingredients blend together so much more smoothly, giving you a beautiful, even crumb.
• Patience with the Glaze: I know it’s tempting to drizzle the glaze on right away, but let the cake cool for at least 15 minutes. This little bit of patience ensures the glaze sets into a lovely, sweet crust instead of melting away.

Bringing It All Together, Step by Step

Warming Up the Kitchen

First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). There’s nothing like the warmth of a preheating oven to make the kitchen feel cozy. Grease and line a 9-inch springform pan so your cake will slide out beautifully later.

The Creamy, Sweet Beginning

In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until it’s light and fluffy. This is where the magic starts! Beat in your eggs one by one, then gently stir in the apple cider, sour cream, and vanilla.

Folding in the Spices and Flour

In a separate bowl, give the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt a quick whisk. This makes sure those warm spices are in every single bite. Now, gently fold this dry mix into your wet ingredients until they’re just acquainted.

Pouring the Heart of the Cake

Carefully pour your thick, fragrant batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly from edge to edge.

Crafting That Irresistible Crumble

Now for my favorite part! In a small bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon for the crumble. Pour in the melted butter and stir with a fork until you have wonderful, buttery clumps. Sprinkle them generously all over the top of the batter.

The Long Wait: Baking to Golden Perfection

Place your cake in the center of the oven and let it bake for 40–45 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when a toothpick poked into the middle comes out clean. The whole house will smell absolutely heavenly!

The Finishing Touch: A Sweet Cider Drizzle

Once the cake has cooled in the pan for about 15 minutes, whisk the powdered sugar and apple cider together until it’s perfectly smooth. Drizzle it all over the top, letting it drip down the sides.

A Note From My Kitchen on Nutrition

Please remember that these nutritional values are just an estimate. The final count will always vary a little depending on the specific ingredients you use in your own kitchen.

If You’d Like a Lighter Slice

• A Touch Less Sugar: You can easily reduce the sugar in the cake by about a quarter, and I promise it will still be delightfully sweet.
• A Bit of Whole Wheat: For a heartier texture, try swapping half of the all-purpose flour for white whole wheat flour.
• Wonderful Greek Yogurt: Plain Greek yogurt makes a wonderful substitute for sour cream if you’d like to add a little extra protein.

How to Make It an Occasion

• Warm with a Scoop: There is nothing better than a warm slice of this cake with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream melting on top.
• The Perfect Coffee Companion: It is a coffee cake, after all! It’s just right alongside a steaming mug of coffee or tea to start the morning.
• A Drizzle of Caramel: For a truly decadent treat, a little drizzle of warm caramel sauce takes this cake to a whole new level.

A Little Baker’s Wisdom

To ensure your cake is always a success, remember not to overmix the batter for the tenderest crumb, always let it cool before adding the glaze, and start with room temperature ingredients for the smoothest batter. These small things make all the difference!

Saving a Slice for Later

This cake keeps wonderfully. Just store it in an airtight container on your counter for up to 3 days. If you’d like to save it for longer, it will stay fresh in the fridge for a week, or you can freeze individual slices for a future treat.

From My Kitchen to Yours

I hope this Apple Cider Coffee Cake recipe brings as much warmth and joy to your home as it does to mine. It’s more than just a dessert; it’s a chance to create your own sweet memories with the people you love. So, put on an apron, fill your kitchen with the scent of autumn, and enjoy every single crumb.

A Few Questions You Might Have

Can I add fresh apples to this recipe?

Absolutely! Adding one cup of finely diced tart apples, like Granny Smith, to the batter would give this apple coffee cake extra moisture and a lovely texture.

What’s the difference between apple cider and apple juice?

Apple cider is typically unfiltered and unsweetened, giving it a more robust and tangy apple flavor that really shines in this recipe. Apple juice is filtered and clearer, with a milder flavor. While you could use it in a pinch, cider is highly recommended for the best taste.

How do I get a thick, bakery-style crumb topping?

The secret is to not overmix the crumble ingredients. You want to see clumps of various sizes. After mixing, you can even squeeze handfuls of the topping together to create larger crumbles before sprinkling them over the cake.

Apple Cider Coffee Cake

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• Author: Sarah
• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 8–10 servings 1x
• Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

This Apple Cider Coffee Cake is the perfect cozy treat for a crisp autumn morning. Wonderfully moist, spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, topped with a buttery crumble, and finished with a sweet apple cider glaze.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup apple cider
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• For the Crumble Topping:
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• For the Glaze:
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2–3 tablespoons apple cider

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9-inch springform pan.
2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in apple cider, sour cream, and vanilla.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Gently fold into wet ingredients until just combined.
4. Spread batter evenly into prepared pan.
5. For the crumble topping, mix flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stir in melted butter until clumps form. Sprinkle over batter.
6. Bake 40–45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Cool cake for 15 minutes. Whisk powdered sugar with apple cider until smooth, then drizzle over cooled cake.

Notes

For best results, use room-temperature butter, eggs, and sour cream. Avoid overmixing for a tender crumb. Let the cake cool before glazing to ensure the drizzle sets beautifully.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 slice
• Calories: 360
• Sugar: 28g
• Sodium: 220mg
• Fat: 15g
• Saturated Fat: 9g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 52g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 4g
• Cholesterol: 65mg

Keywords: apple cider coffee cake, fall dessert, autumn baking, cinnamon crumble cake