There’s something magical about the aroma of apples and cinnamon wafting through the kitchen. It instantly transports me back to my childhood, where fall afternoons meant baking with my family. My Apple Pie Cake with Crumble Top captures that nostalgic feeling in every bite. Imagine all the best parts of an apple pie—the tender, spiced apples and buttery crumble—combined with the soft, moist texture of a cake. It’s the perfect dessert for those days when you can’t decide between cake and pie, offering the best of both worlds. I love serving this cake warm, fresh out of the oven, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting over the top. Each bite brings a comforting blend of sweet apples and cinnamon with a satisfying crunch from the crumble. It’s a dessert that warms the soul and brings people together around the table, just like it did in my family all those years ago. This cake is my go-to for family gatherings, holidays, or just a cozy evening at home. I hope it becomes a beloved favorite in your home too, filling your kitchen with warmth, joy, and delicious memories.
Step-by-step: Moist apple pie cake
Apple pie filling
Peel, core, and chop apples into small pieces about 1/8 inch. Add brown sugar, cornstarch, and spices. Set asidePro tip – Large chunks will cause the cake slices to break easily. Use a bowl of water with lemon juice and drop each peeled apple into it. This will prevent them from oxidizing and give you enough working time.
Crumble
In a bowl, combine brown sugar, salt, spices, and flour. Grate in the chilled butter – combine well. Place in the fridge to keep chilled.Pro tip – if you do not want to grate the butter you can also cut the chilled butter into the flour using a pastry blender or fork. Of course, alternatively, you could also use a food processor.
Cake batter
Preheat oven at 325°F/165°C/ Gas Mark 3 Grease and flour well in an 8-inch tube pan or 12-cup bundt pan Dry ingredients – Combine the flour with baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices – set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment cream together the butter and cream cheese. Add brown sugar and continue to cream until light and fluffy. Next, add the eggs one at a time followed by the flour mixture and buttermilk in three additions. Finally, add the vanilla extract.Pro tip – we do not want to activate the gluten in our flour so do not overmix.
Assemble
Pour half the batter into the prepared baking pan, followed by half the apple pie filling, then the remaining cake batter followed by the remaining apple pie filling.Pro tip – try to spread the batter and apple pie filling as evenly as you can so each and every slice has a good combination of both.
Remove the chilled crumble from the fridge and sprinkle it all over the apple pie cake.Pro tip – this cake is delicious with or without the crumble on top. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. When baked cool in the pan for ten minutes then invert onto a cooling rack and cool completely. Dust with confectioners sugar before serving
Frequently asked questions
Creative ways to serve or use leftover cake
Deconstructed Apple Pie Cake: Serve a slice of the apple pie cake alongside a scoop of apple compote, a dollop of whipped cream, and a sprinkling of extra crumble on the side. This way, guests can customize each bite. Caramel Drizzle: Warm up some caramel sauce and drizzle it artistically over the plate before placing a slice of cake on top. The caramel not only adds flavor but makes the plate look gourmet. With Ice Cream: Serve warm slices of apple pie cake with a scoop of vanilla, cinnamon, or caramel ice cream. The juxtaposition of the warm cake with the ice cream is always a hit. Crumble Parfait: In a tall glass, layer pieces of the apple pie cake, then a layer of whipped cream or vanilla yogurt, and repeat. Top with additional crumble for texture. Apple Pie Cake Sundae: Dice up the cake into cubes and place them in a bowl, then top with ice cream, caramel sauce, whipped cream, and a cherry on top.
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