Apple-Studded Brown Butter Streusel Coffee Cake Recipe

Apple-Studded Brown Butter Streusel Coffee Cake Recipe provided by Amy Traverso. Watch the video demonstration for this recipe.

• Level: Easy
• Yield: 8 to 10 servings
• Nutritional Information Per Serving: Serving size: 1 of 10 servings; Calories: 419; Total Fat: 6 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 88 g; Dietary Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 53 g; Protein: 6 g; Cholesterol: 47 mg; Sodium: 317 mg
• Total Time: 1 hr 45 min
• Preparation Time: 30 min
• Resting Time: 20 min
• Cooking Time: 55 min

Imagine the irresistible aroma of nutty browned butter mingling with warm spices and fresh apples this coffee cake is your invitation to bake something truly special. With its tender buttermilk batter, crunchy streusel crown, and juicy apple bursts, every slice delivers cozy perfection that's easy to achieve at home.

Ingredients

For the Streusel Topping:

• 1/2 cup (115 g) packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (72 g) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons (57 g) butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes, plus extra for greasing the pan
• 8 slices of firm-sweet apples (see Cook's Note), unpeeled, for decorating

For the Cake:

• 10 2/3 tablespoons (2/3 cup; 151 g) salted butter
• 2 cups (290 g) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup (115 g) packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (105 g) granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon table salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 large egg, plus 1 egg yolk
• 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
• 2 medium tender-sweet apples (about 12 ounces total; see Cook's Note), peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

Special Equipment:

9-inch cake pan with removable sides

Directions

1. Grease the cake pan with butter and set it aside.
2. Prepare the topping: In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Scatter the 3 tablespoons of butter cubes over the mix and use your fingertips to blend them in, forming a crumbly texture. Chill this mixture in the refrigerator while you assemble the cake batter.
3. Preheat your oven to 350F (175C). To make the cake: In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it develops a medium brown color and a nutty aroma, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
4. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
5. In a separate bowl, beat together the egg and egg yolk. Stir in the browned butter and buttermilk. Pour this wet mixture into the dry ingredients, stirring just until combined.
6. Gently fold in the diced apples, then pour the batter into the prepared cake pan.
7. Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the cake batter. Arrange the apple slices on top, pressing them lightly into the streusel.
8. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the cake's surface turns golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
9. Let the cake cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Check the edges for any sticking; if needed, loosen the sides carefully with a thin knife.
10. Remove the cake sides, transfer to a serving plate, and enjoy warm or at room temperature.

Craving that melt-in-your-mouth tenderness? Choose tender-sweet apples like Fuji or Galathey add subtle sweetness without any crunch, making every bite pure bliss. Recipe adapted from The Apple Lover's Cookbook (c) 2011 by Amy Traverso, reprinted with permission from W. W. Norton & Company.