Applesauce Crumb Cake

This applesauce crumb cake is an easy fall bake with a soft, moist cake and a generous buttery crumb topping. Made with applesauce, apple cider, and warm spices, it has plenty of fall flavor, and no mixer is needed.
Serve it plain, with a dusting of powdered sugar, or drizzle it with homemade caramel sauce or cream cheese glaze for dessert.
This recipe has been kitchen-tested to ensure consistent, reliable results.

What Makes This Applesauce Crumb Cake Different?

This version uses apple two ways: unsweetened applesauce keeps the cake soft and moist, while apple cider adds another layer of apple flavor. A generous cinnamon-spiced crumb topping gives every square plenty of buttery crunch.

Why You’ll Love This Applesauce Crumb Cake

• No mixer needed: The cake batter and crumb topping both come together easily by hand.
• Apple two ways: Applesauce and apple cider give the cake plenty of apple flavor while keeping the crumb soft and moist.
• Crunchy crumb topping: A generous layer of buttery, spiced crumbs adds plenty of texture.
• Easy to customize: Enjoy it plain, dusted with powdered sugar, drizzled with homemade caramel sauce, or a sweet cream cheese glaze.
• Perfect anytime: A simple cake for brunch, coffee, or dessert.

Ingredients

Refer to the printable recipe card below for ingredient quantities and detailed instructions.

• Unsweetened Applesauce: Adds apple flavor and moisture. Use only unsweetened applesauce to control the cake’s sweetness.
• Apple Cider: Adds moisture while bringing another layer of apple flavor.
• All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structure for the cake while keeping the crumb soft and tender.
• Brown Sugar: Adds moisture, sweetness, and a subtle caramel-like flavor that complements the apple and warm spice flavors.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness while helping keep the cake’s texture light.
• Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and buttery flavor; melting it also keeps the batter simple to mix.
• Egg + Egg Yolk: The whole egg provides structure, while the extra yolk adds richness and tenderness.
• Sour Cream: Adds moisture and richness for a soft, tender crumb.
• Vanilla Extract: Rounds out the apple and warm spice flavors.
• Baking Soda: Provides the leavening needed to help the cake rise.
• Ground Cinnamon, Nutmeg & Ginger: Warm spices that pair naturally with applesauce and cider, balanced so they enhance rather than overpower the apple flavor.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness and brings out the apple, butter, and spice flavors.

How To Make Applesauce Crumb Cake

Refer to the printable recipe card below for ingredient quantities and detailed instructions.

1. Whisk the crumb topping dry ingredients together
2. Stir in the melted butter until crumbles form, then chill while you prepare the batter.

3. Whisk the cake dry ingredients together.
4. Add the wet ingredients and stir until just combined.

5. Fold in the sour cream.
6. Gently sprinkle the chilled crumbs over the batter, making sure to get into the corners.

7. Bake at 350°F for 35 minutes.
8. Cool the cake in the pan before cutting it into either nine larger squares or 16 snack-size squares.

Substitutions & Variations

• Feed a larger crowd: Multiply the recipe by 1 1/2 and bake in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
• Turn it into a dessert: Drizzle with homemade caramel sauce or sweet cream cheese glaze for a richer finish.
• Add nuts: Fold ½ cup chopped pecans or toasted walnuts into the batter along with the sour cream.

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Why Chill the Crumb Topping?

Chilling the crumb topping firms up the butter, so it melts more slowly in the oven and helps the crumbs hold their shape. Working with the colder crumb mixture also makes it easier to press smaller crumbs together for a chunkier topping.

Recipe Testing Notes (What Worked Best)

I made a few versions of this cake along the way (all of which my family and neighbors happily devoured). The first batch needed more flavor, so I increased the spices in both the cake batter and crumb topping, keeping them balanced so they enhance rather than overpower the apple.

For my first test, I reduced the apple cider to concentrate the apple flavor. After comparing the results, I found that the extra step and time didn’t make a noticeable difference in flavor. In the next test, I added the apple cider directly to the batter instead. That version needed 5 extra minutes in the oven, but the apple flavor was just as good, so I chose the simpler method.

Make Ahead and Storage Info

Make Ahead: The cake can be baked a day ahead. Once completely cooled, keep it well covered at room temperature and add any powdered sugar, caramel sauce, or glaze just before serving.
Room Temperature: This cake is best stored at room temperature. Once completely cooled, keep the cake well covered for up to 2–3 days. This helps preserve the soft cake texture.
Freezer: If keeping leftovers longer than 3 days, wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe container or resealable bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw the apple crumb cake at room temperature before serving.

Recipe FAQs

Applesauce Crumb Cake

This applesauce crumb cake is soft, moist, and full of warm fall flavor from applesauce, apple cider, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. A thick buttery crumb topping adds plenty of texture, and the simple no-mixer batter makes it an easy cake for brunch, snacking, or dessert.

*Quick Note Before You Dive In: This recipe card covers the basics, but if you want to know how to get a crunchy crumb topping or how to store and freeze the cake, scroll back up! Everything you need for foolproof results is in the post.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Cooling Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 16

Calories 314 kcal

Ingredients

  

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For Crumb Topping:

• 1 ½ cups (180g) all-purpose flour
• ⅔ cup (142g) brown sugar
• ⅓ cup (66g) granulated sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ginger
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted

For cake:

• 1½ cups (180g) all-purpose flour
• ⅔ cup (142g) brown sugar
• ⅓ cup (66g) granulated sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup (248g) unsweetened applesauce
• ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted
• ¼ cup (60g) apple cider
• 1 large egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ cup (57g) sour cream

Equipment

• oven thermometer
• 9×9-inch baking pan

Instructions

 

Prepare the baking pan & crumb topping:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F and line an 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
• In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and salt.
• Add the melted butter and stir with a fork until the mixture forms crumbles. Place the crumbs in the freezer while you prepare the cake batter.

Make the cake batter:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, both sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, baking soda, and salt.
• Add the applesauce, melted butter, apple cider, egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. Stir until just combined.
• Fold in the sour cream. Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan and spread into an even layer.
• Gently sprinkle the chilled crumb topping evenly over the batter. Avoid dropping the crumbs from too high so they don’t sink into the batter.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs but no wet batter.
• Let the cake cool in the pan for 30 minutes before slicing.
• Dust with powdered sugar just before serving, if desired.

Notes:

You can use an 8×8-inch pan if you don’t have a 9-inch square pan. The cake will be thicker and take longer to bake. Begin checking for doneness around 40 minutes and continue baking as needed. If the crumb topping browns too quickly, loosely cover with foil.

A note on kosher salt: This recipe uses Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt. If you’re using Morton’s Kosher Salt or table salt, use half the amount. Diamond Crystal kosher salt has larger, airier crystals that take up more space, so a teaspoon of kosher salt actually contains less salt by weight than other types of salt.

Baking in grams: I provide both gram measurements and cup equivalents, but weighing ingredients is always the most accurate. Depending on whether you scoop, pack, or level flour, the amount can vary dramatically when using a measuring cup (leading to dry or inconsistent results). A small digital scale removes the guesswork and gives you better results every time.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and provided as an estimate. It is not intended as a substitute for professional dietary advice

Nutrition

Serving: 82gCalories: 314kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 3gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 191mgPotassium: 82mgFiber: 1gSugar: 28gVitamin A: 414IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 34mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Apple Cider, applesauce cake, applesauce recipes, brunch ideas, Crumb Topping, fall baking, snack cake

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Enjoy it plain for an easy applesauce breakfast cake on slow Sunday mornings, or add homemade caramel sauce or cream cheese glaze to turn this humble applesauce coffee cake into a decadent dessert.