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This Apple Cider Coffee Cake is perfect for Fall and is topped with a sweet apple cider glaze. The cake is ultra soft, fluffy, and is filled with an apple spice filling that compliments the buttery streusel topping!
This apple cider cake is inspired by my all-time favorite cinnamon coffee cake, but features the warm spices of Fall. Instead of milk, reduced apple cider is mixed straight into the batter and a ribbon of apple spice filling is flowing straight through the middle of the cake.
What really brings this coffee cake over-the-top is the apple cider glaze that is drizzled over the spiced streusel topping.
Looking for more Fall recipes? Then check out these: apple cider cupcakes, maple rice krispie treats, and apple cinnamon muffins.
Why You'll Love This Apple Coffee Cake:
- The streusel topping is crunchy and sweet.
- Apple cider is tasted in both the cake and the glaze.
- The warm flavors of Fall is tasted in every bite.
- The cake is so soft and fluffy!
Having a slice of warm coffee cake for breakfast is such a treat, isn't it? And although there's not actually coffee in the cake, it does go well with your morning cup of coffee.
Apple cider is one of my favorite hot drinks to have in the Fall and now being able to have it inside of this coffee cake makes me very happy (and hopefully you too!).
Baking Tips:
- Baking Pan: This recipe is baked in an 8x8-inch baking pan. To prepare the pan, line it with parchment paper and then non-stick spray. This will make it extremely easy to remove the cake once it’s cooled.
- Measuring Flour: To help ensure you don’t add extra flour, follow these three simple steps: 1) Fluff up the flour using a fork. 2) Spoon the flour into your measuring cup. 3) Scrape a knife across the top of the measuring cup to level out the flour.
- Apple Cider: Reducing the apple cider on the stovetop is very important in order to bring out that stong cider flavor. Please do not skip this step! Your cake will not taste the same.
- Apple Pie Spice: If you don't have your own, you can easily make it: combine 1 1/2 tablespoons of cinnamon, 1 1/2 tablespoons of nutmeg, and 1 tsp of allspice. Now you have your own apple pie spice.
- Cake Batter: Unlike other cakes, this batter is thick so you’ll need to use a silicone spatula to help spread it out in the pan. Be careful not to overmix the batter! Overmixing will result in a dense cake.
Ingredients Needed:
Let’s take a look at some of the ingredients we’ll need.
- All-Purpose Flour: Be sure to properly measure your flour (check out my tip above under “baking tips”). We do not want a dry and dense cake.
- Brown Sugar: Feel free to use either light or dark brown sugar.
- Apple Pie Spice: To make your own apple pie spice (or you can buy it here) combine 1 1/2 tablespoons of cinnamon, 1 1/2 tablespoons of nutmeg, and 1 tsp of allspice. This will give you a little over 3 tablespoons.
- Butter: Unsalted butter will be used in both the cake and the streusel.
- Yogurt: I add vanilla yogurt (you can also use plain) to the cake batter to help add moisture. If you don't have yogurt, you could also use sour cream.
- Apple Cider: You can typically find fresh apple cider jugs in your local grocery stores. Definitely use that. I do not recommend substituting the cider for apple juice. The cider will need to be reduced before baking.
How To Make Coffee Cake:
Here are the step by step instructions.
- Apple Cider Reduction: In a small saucepan, reduce 1 1/2 cups of apple cider over medium heat, mixing occasionally until it starts to boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and allow the cider to cook for another 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and place the cider into the refrigerator until later.
- Apple Spice Filling: In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, apple pie spice, and salt. Set aside.
- Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
- Wet Ingredients: Beat together the butter and brown sugar on med-high speed until combined and creamy. Add the egg on med-speed and mix until incorporated. Then mix in the yogurt, vanilla extract, and 1/2 cup of the reduced apple cider. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and mix on low speed just until combined.
- Assemble: Scrape about half of the batter into the baking pan. Sprinkle the apple spice filling over the top and then scrape on the rest of the cake batter.
- Streusel Topping: In a medium bowl, use a fork to combine the brown sugar, apple pie spice, and salt. Add the melted butter and mix until combined. Then mix in the flour. Top the cake batter with your streusel topping (use your fingers because the topping will be slightly wet).
- Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes, or just until the cake is set. Use a toothpick to check the center of the cake.
- Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and 1 tbsp of apple cider. Once the cake has cooled for 30 minutes, drizzle the glaze over the top.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do I Have To Reduce The Apple Cider?
Reducing the apple cider creates a stronger flavor within the cake. So it's totally worth it to reduce the cider for about 20 minutes before baking.
Can I Use Apple Juice Instead Of Apple Cider?
I do not recommend it because apple juice when compared to cider is just weaker in flavor. So I’m not sure how the coffee cake would taste with apple juice.
How Long Does Coffee Cake Last?
Keep any leftover pieces in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
How Do You Reheat This Cake?
I simply place a piece of the cake on a plate and reheat it in the microwave for about 25 seconds. You can eat the cake cold, but I prefer it warm.
If you made this recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below. I love hearing from you!
Also, please share a photo with me of your creation on either Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. It brings me so much joy to see you make my recipes. 🙂
More Breakfast Ideas:
Apple Cider Coffee Cake
This Apple Cider Coffee Cake is perfect for Fall and is topped with a sweet apple cider glaze. The cake is ultra soft, fluffy, and is filled with an apple spice filling that compliments the buttery streusel topping!
Equipment
- 8x8 inch baking pan
- Mixing Bowls
- Electric Stand Mixer
Ingredients:
Apple Spice Filling:
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple pie spice (see note below)
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Apple Cider Cake:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1/2 cup yogurt (plain or vanilla), room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups apple cider, reduced to 1/2 cup (see note below)
Streusel Topping:
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
Apple Cider Glaze:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider
Instructions:
- In a small saucepan, reduce 1 1/2 cups of apple cider over medium heat, mixing occasionally until it starts to boil (about 10 minutes). Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and allow the cider to cook for another 10 minutes. Once reduced, you will have a little more than 1/2 cup of apple cider. Place the reduced cider in the refrigerator until later.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, creating a "handle" over the sides, and then non-stick spray.
Apple Spice Filling:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, apple pie spice, and salt. Set aside.
Apple Cider Cake:
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer using the paddle attachment, beat together the butter and brown sugar on med-high speed until combined and creamy (1-2 minutes). Add the egg on med-speed and mix until incorporated. Then mix in the yogurt, vanilla extract, and 1/2 cup of the reduced apple cider. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and mix on low speed just until combined (do not over mix). Scrape about half of the batter into the baking pan. Sprinkle the apple spice filling over the top and then scrape on the rest of the cake batter.The cake batter will be thick. Use a silicone spatula to spread out the batter in the pan.
Streusel Topping:
- In a medium bowl (you can use the same bowl that you mixed the flour in) use a fork to combine the brown sugar, apple pie spice, and salt. Add the melted butter and mix until combined. Then mix in the flour. Top the cake batter with your streusel topping (use your fingers because the topping will be slightly wet).
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or just until the cake is set. Use a toothpick to check the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is done. Cool on the counter for 10 minutes, then move the baking pan over to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Apple Cider Glaze:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and 1 tbsp of apple cider. Once the cake has cooled for 30 minutes, drizzle the glaze over the top or use a sandwhich bag with a hole cut in one of the corners.
- Keep any leftover cake slices in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Feel free to reheat a slice of cake in the microwave for about 25 seconds.
Notes:
Baking Pan: This recipe is baked in an 8x8-inch baking pan. To prepare the pan, line it with parchment paper and then non-stick spray. This will make it extremely easy to remove the cake once it’s cooled.
Measuring Flour: To help ensure you don’t add extra flour, follow these three simple steps: 1) Fluff up the flour using a fork. 2) Spoon the flour into your measuring cup. 3) Scrape a knife across the top of the measuring cup to level out the flour.
Apple Cider: Reducing the apple cider on the stovetop is very important in order to bring out that stong cider flavor. Please do not skip this step! Your cake will not taste the same.
Apple Pie Spice: If you don't have your own, you can easily make it: combine 1 1/2 tablespoons of cinnamon, 1 1/2 tablespoons of nutmeg, and 1 tsp of allspice. Now you have your own apple pie spice.
Cake Batter: Unlike other cakes, this batter is thick so you’ll need to use a silicone spatula to help spread it out in the pan. Be careful not to overmix the batter! Overmixing will result in a dense cake.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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