This recipe bridges the gap between a moist, spiced coffee cake and a traditional apple pie. Requiring just 10 minutes of active prep time and utilizing exactly three fresh apples, this dish features a tender cake base loaded with sweet cinnamon apples and finished with a distinct, sugary streusel crust.
Ingredients
Fruit Component: 3 medium apples (such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
Cake Batter: 1.5 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 cup milk, 1 large egg, 1/4 cup melted butter
Cinnamon Spiced Layer: 1/3 cup packed brown sugar, 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Streusel Topping: 1/3 cup all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 3 tbsp cold butter (cubed)
Instructions
Step 1: Prep and Preheat
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an oval or rectangular glass baking dish with butter or non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
Step 2: Toss the Apples
Place the sliced apples into a bowl. Sprinkle the brown sugar and ground cinnamon over them, tossing thoroughly until every apple slice is evenly coated in the spice mixture.
Step 3: Mix the Cake Batter
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and baking powder. In a separate small bowl, beat the egg with the milk and melted butter. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just until a thick batter forms.
Step 4: Assemble the Dessert
Spread the cake batter evenly across the bottom of the prepared glass baking dish. Arrange the cinnamon-coated apple slices uniformly over the top of the batter.
Step 5: Add the Streusel Top
In a small bowl, combine the flour and sugar for the streusel. Use your fingers or a pastry cutter to work the cold, cubed butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Scatter this crumble evenly over the apple layer.
Step 6: Bake and Serve
Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the topping is golden brown. Allow the dish to cool slightly. Serve hot directly from the baking dish, showcasing the gooey apple ribbons and soft crumb structure displayed in image_7.png.