Welcome to the ultimate autumn indulgence: the **Caramel Apple Coffee Cake**. This isn’t just any dessert; it’s a celebration of fall, a harmonious blend of tender, moist cake, perfectly sautéed apples, a tantalizingly crunchy crumb topping, and a luxurious drizzle of homemade salted butter caramel sauce. Imagine a crisp autumn morning, a warm cup of coffee, and a slice of this magnificent cake – it’s pure comfort wrapped in irresistible flavor.
Caramel Apple Coffee Cake: Your Ultimate Fall Baking Delight
As the leaves begin to turn vibrant hues and a crispness fills the air, there’s an undeniable call to return to the kitchen for some comforting fall baking. It’s a season of cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice, and, for me, an abundance of apple-infused treats. Even if the weather outside hasn’t quite caught up with the calendar, the aroma of apples and cinnamon baking in the oven instantly transforms my home into an autumnal sanctuary. This Caramel Apple Coffee Cake is a shining example of everything I adore about this time of year – a true seasonal showstopper that effortlessly combines classic flavors with an extraordinary texture profile.
You might recall my Salted Butter Caramel Sauce – a recipe that truly captivated the internet. Its popularity comes as no surprise; it’s incredibly versatile and adds a gourmet touch to any dessert. It was an absolute non-negotiable for this apple coffee cake, as its rich, buttery, and slightly salty notes perfectly complement the sweet tartness of the apples and the warmth of the spices in the cake. This cake is not merely a recipe; it’s an experience, a delightful journey for your taste buds that will leave everyone asking for more.
The Irresistible Charm of Caramel Apple Coffee Cake
What makes this Caramel Apple Coffee Cake so utterly captivating? It’s the masterful interplay of textures and flavors. The cake base itself is remarkably moist and airy, providing a delicate foundation. Nestled within are tender, sautéed Granny Smith apples, which retain a slight bite and impart a lovely tartness that cuts through the sweetness. But the true magic happens with the two crowning glories: the generous layer of crunchy streusel topping and the luscious, homemade salted caramel sauce. Each bite offers a symphony of soft cake, chewy apples, crispy streusel, and the gooey richness of caramel. It’s a multi-dimensional dessert that is both sophisticated and wonderfully comforting.
This particular recipe comes with a fond story. It hails from a cherished issue of “Southern Living” magazine, which I eagerly await each month. There’s a certain thrill in flipping through its pages, knowing I’ll find culinary gems. The September issue, in particular, always sparks my fall baking enthusiasm, and this cake was an instant sensation in my kitchen. The moment I saw the photo and read the description, I knew I had to make it. And it did not disappoint. The batter whips up beautifully, creating a light and tender crumb. Layering the warm, caramelized apples and drizzling with that irresistible sauce before topping it all with the most delightful streusel I’ve ever tasted elevates this coffee cake far beyond the ordinary.
Crafting Perfection: The Components of This Masterpiece
The Moist Cake Base
The foundation of any great coffee cake is a perfectly tender and moist cake. This recipe delivers exactly that. It’s a classic butter cake batter, enriched with eggs and milk, creating a light yet substantial crumb. The key to its airy texture lies in creaming the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, incorporating air that will give the cake its lift. Alternating the dry ingredients with milk ensures the batter remains smooth and fully hydrated without overmixing, which can lead to a tough cake. The hint of vanilla extract further enhances the overall warmth of the flavor profile, making it a truly inviting base for the apple and caramel layers.
The Sautéed Apples
Granny Smith apples are the star here, and for good reason. Their firm texture holds up beautifully during sautéing and baking, preventing them from turning into mush. More importantly, their bright, tart flavor provides a crucial counterpoint to the sweetness of the cake and caramel. Sautéing the apples beforehand in butter softens them slightly and begins to caramelize their natural sugars, intensifying their apple flavor. This step is essential, as it ensures the apples are perfectly tender by the time the cake is baked, offering a delightful chewiness in every bite.
The Crunchy Streusel Topping
No coffee cake is complete without a glorious streusel topping, and this one is exceptional. A blend of all-purpose flour, chopped pecans, melted butter, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and a touch of salt creates a crumb that is both rich in flavor and wonderfully textural. The pecans add a nutty crunch, while the brown sugar lends a deep, molasses-like sweetness. When baked, this topping transforms into a golden-brown, irresistibly crisp layer that provides a fantastic contrast to the soft cake below. The crumble is mixed until just blended, allowing for variations in size, which contributes to its rustic charm and satisfying bite.
The Signature Salted Caramel Sauce
While the other components are stellar, the homemade salted butter caramel sauce is what truly elevates this coffee cake into a gourmet experience. Its deep, complex sweetness, balanced by a hint of salt, perfectly marries with the apples and the cake. A generous drizzle of this sticky, golden elixir permeates the cake as it bakes, creating pockets of rich, buttery flavor that are simply divine. Making your own caramel might sound daunting, but it’s incredibly rewarding, and the depth of flavor it provides cannot be replicated by store-bought versions. If you haven’t tried making my Salted Butter Caramel Sauce yet, this cake is the perfect reason to do so!
Baking Tips for Success
- **Apples Matter:** Choose firm, tart apples like Granny Smith for the best results. Other good options include Honeycrisp or Braeburn if you prefer a slightly sweeter apple.
- **Room Temperature Ingredients:** Ensure your butter and eggs for the cake batter are at room temperature. This allows them to emulsify properly, creating a smoother batter and a more tender cake.
- **Don’t Overmix:** When adding the dry and wet ingredients alternately, mix only until just combined after each addition. Overmixing develops gluten, leading to a tough cake.
- **Evenly Distribute Topping:** When sprinkling the streusel and drizzling the caramel, try to distribute them as evenly as possible over the apple layer. This ensures every slice gets a delicious portion of each element.
- **Prevent Excessive Browning:** The recipe smartly suggests loosely covering the cake with aluminum foil during the latter part of baking. This prevents the streusel from becoming too dark while the cake finishes cooking through.
- **Test for Doneness:** A toothpick inserted into the center of the cake (avoiding the apple layer if possible) should come out with moist crumbs, but not wet batter. The center should feel set.
- **Cool Completely:** While tempting, letting the cake cool completely in the pan before removing the springform sides is crucial. This allows the cake to set fully and makes slicing much easier.
Serving and Storing Your Caramel Apple Coffee Cake
This Caramel Apple Coffee Cake is absolutely perfect served slightly warm with a cup of coffee or tea. For an even more decadent treat, consider adding a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of freshly whipped cream. The contrast of the cold creaminess with the warm cake is simply heavenly. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can gently warm individual slices in the microwave for a few seconds to bring back that freshly baked aroma and texture.
Beyond the Basics: Customization & Variations
Feel free to experiment with this recipe to make it your own! You could try adding a pinch of nutmeg or allspice to the cake batter for extra warmth. If pecans aren’t your preference, walnuts or even sliced almonds would make a delightful addition to the streusel topping. For an extra touch of caramel, warm up some additional salted caramel sauce and drizzle it over individual slices just before serving. You could also try different apple varieties or a mix of two for a more complex apple flavor.
More Coffee Cake Recipes for Every Season:
If you’re a fan of comforting coffee cakes, be sure to explore these other fantastic recipes from my collection:
- The Best Pumpkin Coffee Cake
- Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake
- Cinnamon Coffee Cake Muffins
Caramel Apple Coffee Cake Recipe
This Caramel Apple Coffee Cake is a must-try dessert for fall! It’s tender cake with sautéed apples, a crunchy crumb topping, and homemade salted butter caramel sauce!
Author: Anna
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 cup of sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the Topping:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- ½ cup butter, melted
- ½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Caramel sauce (homemade or store-bought, about ½ cup for drizzling)
Instructions
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced apples and sauté for 5 minutes or until they begin to soften. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
- **Prepare Streusel Topping:** In a medium bowl, stir together 1 ½ cups flour, chopped pecans, ½ cup melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon salt until well blended and crumbly. Set aside.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large mixing bowl, beat ½ cup softened butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add 1 cup of sugar, beating well after each addition, until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the 2 large eggs, one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition until fully incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt.
- Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Beat at low speed until just blended after each addition. Stir in the 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.
- Pour the cake batter into a greased and floured 9-inch springform pan, spreading it evenly. Arrange the cooled sautéed apples over the batter. Drizzle about ½ cup of caramel sauce over the apples. Sprinkle the prepared streusel topping evenly over the caramel and apples.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 45 minutes. If the topping starts to brown too quickly, loosely cover the cake with aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning. Continue to bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes, or until the center of the cake is set. A toothpick inserted into the cake (avoiding the apples and caramel layer) should come out with moist crumbs attached, but no wet batter.
- Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Carefully remove the sides of the springform pan. Allow the cake to cool completely before slicing and serving for the best results and ease of handling.
Nutrition Information (per serving)
- Calories: 559 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 66g
- Protein: 7g
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Cholesterol: 89mg
- Sodium: 378mg
- Potassium: 246mg
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 30g
- Vitamin A: 735IU
- Vitamin C: 1.8mg
- Calcium: 83mg
- Iron: 2.6mg
We hope you love this Caramel Apple Coffee Cake as much as we do! Your feedback helps us grow. If you’ve tried this recipe, we encourage you to leave a comment and rating below!