Easy Sour Cream Apple Cake Recipe

Apple sour cream cake makes an enjoyable treat for apple season, with a soft cloud of coffee cake filled with a surprise layer of apples, topped with a crunchy almond cinnamon sugar topping.

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A breakfast of Sour Cream Coffee Cake with Apples will start your day right! This easy coffee cake is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or any time you want to indulge in something sweet. Adding apples to this coffee cake gives it the perfect amount of sweetness, while the streusel topping adds an extra layer of deliciousness. This recipe is also my go-to when we have guests. It’s a delicious treat that everyone loves!

Sour Cream Coffee Cake with Apples is just what you need to make when its apple season! A fluffy and soft coffee cake with a surprise layer of apples and a crunchy almond cinnamon sugar topping.

Everyone should be totally adjusted to back-to-school days and it's totally time for a slice of sour cream coffee cake with apples. Yes! You all deserve a coffee break and a generous slice of this delightful cake!

💖 Why you'll love Sour Cream Apple Cake:

1. Perfect for fall: Fresh apples and warm cinnamon make this the perfect the autumn season dessert.
2. Easy to make: Whether you're a novice or expert baker, you have to try this cake! It comes together with pantry ingredients and easy to follow instructions.
3. Deliciously soft: The combination of sour cream and eggs in this recipe creates a very soft and tender cake.
4. Versatile: Make this Italian coffee cake for any occasion, whether it's for a special event or a casual family dinner.
5. Customizable: You could use a different variety of apples and adjust the cinnamon sugar to your preference. Since it's easy to make, you could even put it together last minute!

Why is a coffee cake called a coffee cake?

I've been asked that by some Italian friends and even a relative or two, when it doesn't have to necessarily have coffee in it. A coffee cake is a cake to enjoy with your friends (or family)with a cup of your favorite coffee. It's so much fun to make a coffee cake or something a little different than a typical Italian cake when we stay in Italy.

My sister-in-law has  such a sweet tooth and as soon as we arrive in Italy she wants to know what is new and different that I'll bake for them. And let me tell you, it's not easy getting into my mother-in-law's kitchen to bake something. This Sour Cream Coffee Cake with Apples is a cake you'll make all fall!

It's sort of a challenge at first to convince her we will be baking something without her help. Then once she's convinced, it's the matter of gathering the ingredients. Sometimes she's out of butter or eggs and she sends one of the grandkids down to the local shop to get what I need.  Flour runs out pretty quickly there and she sends my father-in-law down to the cantina to get a bag.

There are often times the mixer is being used by her for something she's making and I have to wait my turn. I'm telling you, I have often lost my desire by the time we get every thing lined up to make the dessert. Or we have every thing ready to go, but we have to to the store to get something for dinner. It's always an adventure baking in Italy at my in-laws, and once in a while, we do get baking!!

🍽️ How to make an easy apple sour cream coffee cake?

Here are the steps (full printable recipe card is below).

Gather all the ingredients to make baking the cake easier.

Step 1: Heat the oven to 350°F and prep your cake pan.

Step 2: In medium bowl sift four, salt, baking powder and baking soda.

Step 3: In a small bowl, stir chopped almonds, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and sugar and set aside.

Step 4: With a hand mixer (or you could mix by hand)beat the butter with 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy.

Step 5: Add in eggs 1 at a time and the vanilla extract.

Step 6: Add flour mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with sour cream. Begin and end adding in the flour mixture.

Step 7: Spread 1/2 of cake batter into prepped pan.

Step 8: Layer on apples and sprinkle on cinnamon sugar.

Step 9: Spread the rest of the batter on top and sprinkle on the rest of the cinnamon sugar and almonds.

Step 10: Bake for 40-45 minutes. Let cool before slicing and serving.

Expert tips for Sour Cream and Apple Cake

• Make sure to use room temperature ingredients, as it will help the batter mix together smoothly.
• Be careful not to overmix the batter, as this can result in a tough and dense cake.
• Use a springform pan for easy removal of the cake after baking.
• To ensure an even layer of sliced apples on top, arrange them in a concentric circle.
• To prevent the apples from sinking to the bottom of the cake, toss them in a bit of flour before layering them on top of the batter.
• For added flavor and texture, try using different types of apples or adding nuts to the cinnamon sugar mixture.
• Don't skip the step of cooling on a wire rack - it helps prevent sogginess and allows the cake to set properly.

📃 Variations and Substitutions

• For a gluten-free option, substitute the flour with your favorite gluten-free 1-1 baking mix.
• If you don't have any sour cream on hand, plain Greek yogurt or buttermilk could be used in its place.
• Chopped hazelnuts or walnuts could be substituted for the chopped almonds
• Pears or peaches could be used in place of the apples.
• For a vegan version, use a plant-based butter and substitute the eggs with flax or chia eggs.
• Lemon zest from one lemon would add a nice citrus touch to the cake.
• To make it more indulgent, drizzle caramel sauce over the top before baking.
• Use brown sugar or coconut sugar instead of granulated sugar for a deeper flavor.

What to serve with Sour Cream Apple Bread

• A sprinkle of powdered sugar for a touch of sweetness
• A scoop of vanilla ice cream
• Homemade or store-bought whipped cream
• Homemade caramel sauce
• Fresh berries or sliced fruit for a refreshing accompaniment
• A spoonful of Greek yogurt
• For something a little decadent, a drizzle of Nutella or chocolate hazelnut spread

Originally published October 2019 and updated for content on September 2024.

🫙 Storing Leftover Cake

Keep this coffee cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. It will stay fine refrigerated for up to a week.

❓ FAQ'S

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Apple Sour Cream Cake

Apple Sour Cream Cake is just what you need to make when its apple season! A fluffy and soft coffee cake with a surprise layer of apples and a crunchy almond cinnamon sugar topping.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time45 minutes mins

Total Time55 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apples, coffee cake

Servings: 10 slices

Calories: 229kcal

Author: Lora

Equipment

• Springform Pan
• Small Bowl
• whisk

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1 cups plus 2 Tablespoons sugar divided
• 2 large eggs at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup sour cream at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 apple peeled, cored and sliced in thin pieces
• ½ cup chopped almonds or pecans

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a springform pan and line the bottom with a circle of parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
• Mix together in a small bowl 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1 Tablespoon sugar (you could use less sugar), set aside.
• Mix together in another small bowl the almonds, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon of the sugar in a bowl and set aside.
• Beat butter and 1 cup sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Beat in the vanilla.
• Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition.
• Pour 1/2 of batter into pan. Smooth out with a rubber spatula.
• Layer on the sliced apples in a concentric circle making sure the apples don’t touch the edge of the pan and toss on the first cinnamon sugar mixture.
• Spread remaining batter on top and smooth out with a rubber spatula; sprinkle with remaining cinnamon sugar and almonds.
• Bake until a skewer inserted in center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack 15 minutes. Invert onto wire rack; let cool completely.

Nutrition Disclaimer

Please keep in mind that the nutritional information presented below is an approximation and may vary depending on the exact ingredients used.

Notes

Expert tips for Sour Cream and Apple Cake

• Make sure to use room temperature ingredients, as it will help the batter mix together smoothly.
• Be careful not to overmix the batter, as this can result in a tough and dense cake.
• Use a springform pan for easy removal of the cake after baking.
• To ensure an even layer of sliced apples on top, arrange them in a concentric circle.
• To prevent the apples from sinking to the bottom of the cake, toss them in a bit of flour before layering them on top of the batter.
• For added flavor and texture, try using different types of apples or adding nuts to the cinnamon sugar mixture.
• Don't skip the step of cooling on a wire rack - it helps prevent sogginess and allows the cake to set properly.

Nutrition

Serving: 10slices | Calories: 229kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 277mg | Potassium: 80mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 434IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 1mg

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