Applesauce Crumb Cake

This applesauce crumb cake is soft and full of cozy flavors from cinnamon, nutmeg, and our favorite buttery streusel topping. It works just as well for breakfast with coffee as it does for dessert.

The Best Apple Crumb Cake 

Similar to a coffee cake, but without the extra cinnamon ribbon layer in the center, this easy crumb cake is nothing short of divine. It’s never a surprise when it disappears as fast as it does. We love it lightly warmed with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Like my applesauce cake with cream cheese frosting, the applesauce keeps the cake so tender and the streusel topping is just the best! Feel free to add some chopped walnuts or pecans for a little extra crunch.

For a little fancier look, I have even sprinkled powdered sugar over the top of the cake after I let it cool completely.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The complete list of ingredients with amounts are listed in the full recipe card below.

For the Cake

• Light brown sugar 
• Canola oil –  This can be swapped with melted butter, greek yogurt or another neutral oil like vegetable oil.
• Eggs – I use large eggs at room temperature. 
• Vanilla extract – Use either clear (like I did) or regular. Just make sure it’s pure vanilla extract.
• All-purpose flour – Be careful not to overmeasure or the cake will be more dense. I use my food scale for all baked goods.  I have used Bob’s Red Mill gluten free one-to-one flour
• Baking soda – make sure it’s not expired so you get the best rise.
• Cinnamon and Nutmeg
• Unsweetened applesauce – You can use either smooth or chunky applesauce just make sure it’s unsweetened so the cake doesn’t turn out way to sweet.

For the Crumb Topping

• Quick oats – Make your own by running pulsing old fashioned oats in a food processor a few times or in a  blender for a few seconds.
• All-purpose flour – I have used the gluten free one-to-one flour here too.
• Light brown sugar – white granulated sugar can be used as well but I love the caramelized flavor brown sugar gives it.
• Unsalted butter, melted
• Cinnamon

How to Make Our Applesauce Crumb Cake Recipe

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350° F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, add the brown sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth. 

Step 3: Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix until just barely combined. Be careful not to over-mix. The batter will be thick.

Step 4: Add the applesauce and mix just until barely mixed in. (scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as you go).

Step 5: Pour the batter into the baking pan and spread it out evenly.

Step 6: Make the crumb topping. In a medium mixing bowl, add the oats, flour, brown sugar, melted butter, and cinnamon and mix until crumbly. (I like to use my hands to get everything coated well with the butter).

Step 7: Sprinkle the crumb topping all over the cake batter.

Step 8: Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

Store leftovers covered with foil or plastic wrap or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

You can also refrigerate it to last a little longer. Warm slices slightly in the microwave for a few seconds.

I like to freeze individual slices by wrapping slices in plastic wrap and placing them in an airtight container or freezer bag. Then thaw at room temperature.

If you love this applesauce crumb cake, make these other easy cake recipes next:

• Pumpkin Spice Cake
• French Apple Cake
• Pumpkin Coffee Cake
• Apple Dump Cake
• Pumpkin Crunch Cake

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