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Classic German Apple Streusel Cake: Best Easy Recipe

German apple streusel cake - featured image
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This Classic German Apple Streusel Cake (Apfelkuchen) is a simple, deeply satisfying dessert with a tender butter base, a layer of spiced apples, and a thick, buttery streusel topping. It’s the perfect comfort cake for any occasion, made with pantry-friendly ingredients and no mixer required.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups (190g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup (80ml) milk, at room temperature
  • 3 medium apples (about 400g), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup (50g) light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • Pinch of salt
  • Butter or non-stick spray for greasing

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch springform pan or 8×8-inch square pan with butter or non-stick spray.
  2. Make the streusel: In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Add cold cubed butter and work it into the flour mixture using a pastry cutter, forks, or your fingers until coarse crumbs form with some larger clumps. Refrigerate streusel while preparing the rest.
  3. Prepare the apples: In a bowl, toss sliced apples with lemon juice, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Set aside.
  4. Make the cake batter: In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and 3/4 cup granulated sugar until light and fluffy (3-4 minutes). Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in vanilla extract.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture in three additions, alternating with milk, starting and ending with flour. Mix until just combined after each addition. Do not overmix.
  6. Spread batter evenly into prepared pan. Arrange apple slices on top in a single, slightly overlapping layer. Sprinkle cold streusel generously over apples, covering completely. Do not press down.
  7. Bake on middle rack for 45-55 minutes, until streusel is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center (not through an apple) comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. If browning too quickly after 30 minutes, tent with foil.
  8. Remove from oven and cool in pan on a rack for at least 20 minutes before removing springform ring or lifting out. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

For best results, use room temperature ingredients. Keep streusel cold for crunchy clumps. Check doneness by testing the cake part, not an apple slice. Cake tastes even better on day two. Freezes well for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: German apple cake, apple streusel cake, Apfelkuchen, easy apple cake, streusel cake, German dessert, apple dessert, fall baking

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