When you want something warm, sweet, and satisfying to pair with your morning coffee or to feed a group of hungry kids, a slice of fresh Cinnamon Applesauce Coffee Cake is the ultimate solution. This tasty coffee cake delivers a rich breakfast experience using simple ingredients you likely already have on hand in the pantry.
I have baked countless coffee cakes over the years; adding a cup of fruit puree like applesauce completely changes the game. This recipe is an absolute favorite in our household because it's so simple to make; even the kids can get involved, too. The natural properties of the applesauce allow the cake to get a light, tender crumb that stays perfectly tender and soft for days without any oil needed.
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Jump to:
- What is Cinnamon Applesauce Coffee Cake?
- Key Takeaways
- Ingredient Notes
- How to Make Cinnamon Applesauce Coffee Cake
- Pro Tips for Cinnamon Applesauce Coffee Cake
- Variations and Substitutions
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What to Serve with Cinnamon Applesauce Coffee Cake
- Storage and Reheating
- More Breakfast Recipes
- Cinnamon Applesauce Coffee Cake
What is Cinnamon Applesauce Coffee Cake?
Cinnamon Applesauce Coffee Cake is a moist breakfast snack cake made by combining a spiced, egg-enriched batter with unsweetened applesauce, topped with a crisp, buttery cinnamon sugar streusel. This delicious cake is loved because the applesauce replaces the need for oil, while creating a moist, soft cake that pairs wonderfully with the streusel topping.
Key Takeaways
- Only takes about 15 minutes of prep!
- Easy to make gluten-free with a simple swap of flour.
- Make with pantry staples like flour, sugar, cinnamon, and applesauce.
- Stays moist for days thanks to the applesauce!
- Perfect for a brunch or breakfast recipe.
Ingredient Notes
Granulated Sugar: Used to create the streusel topping, also used in the cake batter to lock in moisture and sweetness.
All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structure for the base of the coffee cake and is also used in the streusel. If making gluten-free, use a high-quality gluten-free all-purpose flour with a 1:1 ratio.
Ground Cinnamon: Infuses the streusel topping with aromatic flavor. Also used in the cake to add flavor and balance out the sweetness.
Butter: Used in the streusel to bind the sugar and flour together. Also used in the cake, beaten and combined with the sugar.
Baking Soda: This is the leavening agent that reacts to the acidity in the applesauce to help the cake rise and stay fluffy.
Salt: The salt balances out the sweetness of the cake.
Egg: One egg binds the ingredients together to establish the structure for the cake.
Unsweetened Applesauce: Provides the deep, moisture and subtle hint of fruit flavor without excess fat or oil.
How to Make Cinnamon Applesauce Coffee Cake
- Prep and Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease or spray an 8x8-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Make the Topping: In a small bowl, combine the sugar, flour, cinnamon, and melted butter for the crumb topping. Stir until crumbly and set aside.
- Make the Cake: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until smooth and well combined.
- Add the egg and applesauce and mix until smooth.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir just until combined.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the batter.
- Bake for 40–50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Pro Tips for Cinnamon Applesauce Coffee Cake
- If the crumb starts to brown too quickly, loosely cover the pan with foil during the last 10 minutes of baking time.
- Unsweetened applesauce works best for this recipe and keeps the cake moist.
- Do not overmix the batter, or it can become dense.
- This recipe can easily be doubled to a 9x13 pan. If doubled, increase the baking time to 55 to 60 minutes.
- It's best to let the butter naturally soften; this will help it to incorporate into the sugar. Melted butter changes the composition of the sugar and butter combination.
Variations and Substitutions
- Add in ½ cup of raisins, dried cranberries, walnuts, or chopped pecans for additional texture.
- Add in ground ginger, ground cloves, or ground nutmeg for a holiday flavor.
- Double the recipe to a 9x13 pan to feed a larger crowd.
- Make it gluten-free by using a high-quality gluten-free all-purpose flour such as King Arthur Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour.
Frequently Asked Questions
This can be baked the night before, covered tightly once cooled, and stored at room temperature on the counter. It will still taste soft and moist the next morning.
Wrap the cooled cake slices in plastic wrap, place them inside a freezer-safe storage bag, and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw the individual slices at room temperature or warm them briefly in the microwave before serving.
A dense coffee cake is typically caused by overmixing the batter after combining the wet and dry ingredients.
Make sure your cake batter is thick enough to support the weight of the streusel by measuring your flour accurately. Be sure to sprinkle the topping evenly without pressing down into the cake batter.
For deeper spice, you can use cinnamon-flavored applesauce; however, this recipe is made with unsweetened applesauce, so flavored applesauce can make the coffee cake too sweet.
The only swap needed is to use a gluten-free all-purpose flour. It needs to be 1:1 ratio with regular flour; use King Arthur, Cup 4 Cup, or Bob's Red Mill.
What to Serve with Cinnamon Applesauce Coffee Cake
Fresh Fruit
Storage and Reheating
Room Temperature
Store the leftovers in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Freezer
Once cooled, freeze individually wrapped cake slices in a freezer-safe storage bag for up to 3 months.
Reheating
Place a slice on a microwave-safe plate and heat for 15-20 seconds. If you want a crisp topping, place it in an oven or air fryer at 350°F for 4 to 5 minutes.
More Breakfast Recipes
This simple Cinnamon Applesauce Coffee Cake recipe is easy to make with your pantry staples and just a single cup of applesauce. It yields a wonderful, bakery-style treat with very little effort. This is the perfect recipe for a brunch or breakfast with friends and family.
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Cinnamon Applesauce Coffee Cake
Ingredients
Crumb Topping
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons butter (melted)
Cake
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup butter (softened)
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease or spray an 8x8-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
- In a small bowl, combine the sugar, flour, cinnamon, and melted butter for the crumb topping. Stir until crumbly and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until smooth and well combined.
- Add the egg and applesauce and mix until smooth.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir just until combined.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the batter.
- Bake for 40–50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- If the crumb topping starts browning too quickly, loosely cover the pan with foil during the last 10 minutes of baking.
- Unsweetened applesauce works best in this recipe and helps keep the cake extra moist.
- This recipe is very flexible and works well with additions like raisins, dried cranberries, chopped pecans, or walnuts.
- You can adjust the spices to your liking by adding a little nutmeg, ginger, or cloves for even more cozy fall flavor.
- Be careful not to overmix the batter or the cake can become dense instead of soft and tender.
- This recipe doubles easily for a 9x13-inch pan. Increase the baking time to around 55–60 minutes.
- Leftovers stay moist for several days when stored covered at room temperature.
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