German

Apple Crumb Cake

A German-style sheet cake (Apfelstreuselkuchen) with a thin layer of buttery yellow cake, a single layer of crisp apple slices, and a generous golden streusel topping. Unlike US apple desserts, the flavor is delicate — mostly egg and butter with a hint of vanilla and minimal cinnamon. Bakes in about 40 minutes and can be made a day ahead, making it ideal for picnics and large gatherings.

⏱️ 70 min🍽️ 24 servings

Ingredients

24 servings

butter — 0.75 cup (cold, cut into pats; for streusel)
White sugar — 0.75 cup (for streusel (or same volume of brown sugar))
all-purpose flour — 2.3 cup (for streusel)
Ground cinnamon — 0.50 tsp (for streusel)
butter — 1.3 cup (slightly softened; for cake batter)
White sugar — 1 cup (for cake batter (up to half may be replaced with a sugar substitute))
egg — 4 ea
vanilla extract — 1 tsp
baking powder — 2 tsp
all-purpose flour — 4 cup (for cake batter (up to 25% may be replaced with almond flour))
apple — 6 ea (peeled, cored, and thinly sliced; use crisp varieties (Braeburn, Royal Gala, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Newtown Pippin); enough to form a single layer)

Instructions

Make the streusel: combine the white sugar, cinnamon, and flour in a mixing bowl and stir briefly to mix. Add the cold butter (cut into pats) and toss until the flour mixture has coated the butter pieces. Use a pastry blender or two dinner knives held side-by-side to cut the butter into the dry ingredients. Stop when all butter is smaller than a green pea (about 1 cm) but lumps are still visible. Set aside — this mixture can be covered and refrigerated for several days if needed.
Prepare the apple layer: peel and core the apples. Cut each into quarters, then slice each quarter thinly. It is fine if the slices begin to brown while you prepare the cake batter, as they will be covered by the streusel.
Make the cake batter: beat the softened butter and white sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla extract. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition and scraping the bottom of the bowl. Stir in the baking powder and flour until just combined.
Optionally line the pan with parchment baking paper. Do not grease or flour the pan. Spread the cake batter evenly into a half-sheet pan (or a 9×13 pan for a half-recipe).
Arrange a single layer of apple slices over the cake batter, covering it as much as possible and out to the edges. A slight overlap is fine if you want more apple in each bite.
Sprinkle the streusel mixture generously over the apples so all the apple slices are covered.
Bake at 350°F (190°C) for approximately 40 minutes, until the apples are soft, the cake is cooked through, and the streusel is golden brown.
Cut into squares and serve warm or at room temperature with coffee or hot tea. Optionally serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Comments

Apple Crumb Cake

⏱️ 70 min🍽️ 24 servings

Instructions

Make the streusel: combine the white sugar, cinnamon, and flour in a mixing bowl and stir briefly to mix. Add the cold butter (cut into pats) and toss until the flour mixture has coated the butter pieces. Use a pastry blender or two dinner knives held side-by-side to cut the butter into the dry ingredients. Stop when all butter is smaller than a green pea (about 1 cm) but lumps are still visible. Set aside — this mixture can be covered and refrigerated for several days if needed.

Prepare the apple layer: peel and core the apples. Cut each into quarters, then slice each quarter thinly. It is fine if the slices begin to brown while you prepare the cake batter, as they will be covered by the streusel.

Make the cake batter: beat the softened butter and white sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla extract. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition and scraping the bottom of the bowl. Stir in the baking powder and flour until just combined.

Optionally line the pan with parchment baking paper. Do not grease or flour the pan. Spread the cake batter evenly into a half-sheet pan (or a 9×13 pan for a half-recipe).

Arrange a single layer of apple slices over the cake batter, covering it as much as possible and out to the edges. A slight overlap is fine if you want more apple in each bite.

Sprinkle the streusel mixture generously over the apples so all the apple slices are covered.

Bake at 350°F (190°C) for approximately 40 minutes, until the apples are soft, the cake is cooked through, and the streusel is golden brown.

Cut into squares and serve warm or at room temperature with coffee or hot tea. Optionally serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.