Enjoy this moist Applesauce Coffee Cake with a sweet cinnamon streusel crumb topping. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or as an anytime treat. Ready in under an hour with ingredients you likely have on hand!
There's nothing better than starting the day with a warm cup of coffee and a slice of moist applesauce coffee cake! This easy recipe uses simple ingredients you likely already have and is a perfect way to use homemade applesauce. With both applesauce and sour cream, the cake stays tender and flavorful every time. For a quick bread alternative, see my Cinnamon Applesauce Bread.
Quick Look: Applesauce Coffee Cake Recipe
- 🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🍳 Cook Time: 35 minutes
- ⏱️ Total Time: 45 minutes
- 🍴 Servings: 12
- 🔥 Calories: 387 calories per slice (may vary)
- ✨ Optional Add In’s: Raisins, diced apples, Apple Spice Quinoa Granola, extra fall spices
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick & Simple– Uses pantry staples like applesauce, flour, and butter just like in my Applesauce Cinnamon Oat Muffins recipe.
- Moist & tender: Combination of applesauce and sour cream ensures perfect texture.
- Flavor-packed: Cinnamon streusel, nuts, and optional spices make it a fall favorite.
- Versatile: Breakfast, brunch, snack, or dessert.
- Reheats well: Microwave leftovers for a fresh taste.
Ingredient Notes
For exact ingredient amounts and step by step directions, see printable recipe card below.
- Flour & Leavening: All-purpose or gluten-free 1:1 blend.
- Butter & Applesauce: Adds moisture; vegan alternatives work.
- Sugars & Cinnamon: Brown sugar adds depth, cinnamon adds classic flavor.
- Nuts: Optional; pecans or walnuts add crunch.
Optional Add In’s
- 1 cup raisins or diced apples
- Extra fall spices: nutmeg, cloves, pumpkin pie spice
- Swap nuts or omit for nut-free version
How to Make Applesauce Coffee Cake
Step 1. Make streusel by whisking flour, white sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Cut in butter until coarse crumbs form. Stir in pecans; set aside.
Step 2. Preheat oven to 350°F; grease a 9×13 pan with cooking spray. In a small bowl, mix applesauce, sour cream, and vanilla; set aside.
Step 3. In a separate small bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Step 4. Cream butter and sugar in a medium bowl; add eggs, mix until combined. Slowly add in the dry ingredients mixture and applesauce mixture, stirring until just combined.
Step 5. Pour half the coffee cake batter into prepared pan.
Step 6. Sprinkle ⅓ of the streusel mixture on top of the cake batter.
Step 7. Pour remaining batter on top followed by remaining streusel.
Step 8. Bake 35-40 mins until toothpick comes out clean once inserted in middle of the cake. Cool slightly before serving.
Expert Baking Tips
- Use a food processor for faster streusel prep.
- Bring ingredients to room temperature for smooth mixing.
- Unsweetened applesauce gives better control over sweetness; cinnamon applesauce is delicious too.
- Half whole wheat flour can be used for a slightly healthier cake.
Serving Suggestions
This cake is moist, buttery, and goes perfectly with a cup of coffee or tea. We love serving this as a morning treat and pairing it with my Biscuits and Gravy Breakfast Casserole! You can also serve as a dessert when friends or family come over. If serving as a dessert, you can drizzle warm caramel on top of each piece, or serve with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream!
Storage
- Room Temp: Covered with plastic wrap, up to 4 days
- Refrigerator: Airtight container, up to 5 days; microwave to serve
- Freezer: Fully cool, up to 3 months; thaw before microwaving
- When reheating, add a smear of butter to the top so the melted butter adds a savory addition.
Applesauce Coffee Cake Recipe FAQs
No, it only adds moisture – flavor is dominated by applesauce and cinnamon.
Yes! Swap the butter for vegan butter or coconut oil, use a flax or chia egg in place of each egg (1 tablespoon ground flax + 3 tablespoon water, let sit 5 mins), and replace the sour cream with plant-based yogurt. The cake will remain moist and full of flavor, with the same cinnamon streusel topping. Tip: Add 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar to the plant-based yogurt to mimic the tang of sour cream and enhance the cake's rise.
Applesauce acts as a fat substitute, keeping the cake moist and fluffy without making it dense or greasy. It's a great way to add natural sweetness and tender crumb.
Absolutely! Substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend. Make sure your baking powder is gluten-free as well. The texture will still be moist and tender thanks to the applesauce and sour cream (or a dairy-free alternative).
More Apple Recipes to Try
This old-fashioned Applesauce Coffee Cake is moist, tender, and full of comforting cinnamon flavor. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an anytime treat-let it fill your kitchen with warmth and nostalgia!
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Applesauce Coffee Cake Recipe
Ingredients
Streusel
- ¾ cup flour all-purpose
- ¾ cup white sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 cup pecans chopped, optional
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter cut into cubes, cold
Coffee Cake
- 1 cup applesauce unsweetened
- 1 ½ cups sour cream or plant-based yogurt for vegan
- 2 large eggs or flax/chia eggs for vegan
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened, or vegan butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 ¼ cup flour all-purpose or gluten-free blend
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Make Streusel:
- Whisk flour, white sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cut in butter using a pastry blender until coarse crumbs form. Stir in pecans; set aside.
Prepare Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F; grease 9×13 pan.
- In a small bowl, combine the applesauce, sour cream, and vanilla. Set aside.
- Using another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt.
- In a medium mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until smooth. Add eggs; mix until combined.
- Slowly add in the dry ingredients mixture and applesauce mixture stirring until just combined.
- Pour half batter into pan, sprinkle ⅓ streusel. Add remaining batter and top with remaining streusel.
- Bake 35-40 mins, toothpick comes out clean. Cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Bring ingredients to room temp for easier mixing.
- Use a food processor for fast streusel prep.
- Unsweetened applesauce keeps sweetness balanced; cinnamon applesauce works too.
- Optional: Half whole wheat flour for a slightly healthier cake.
- Room temp: up to 4 days
- Fridge: up to 5 days, microwave to serve
- Freezer: up to 3 months, thaw before microwaving
Kristin H. says
A family favorite!!
Deanna says
Absolutely the best coffee cake I’ve had in awhile. I have a bountiful amount of applesauce and came across this recipe. One thing I did differently but I’ve always done this with any streusel toppings is put thin slices of butter all over the top. It just gives it the perfect finish. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I’m actually back to make it for a second time.
Kristin Hayes says
Yay!! Love hearing this and so glad you enjoyed! Thanks for the great feedback Deanna!
Tim D says
Can I add fresh apples to the batter?
Kristin Hayes says
Absolutely! That is a great addition! Just chop them finely and toss them in!
Brittany says
I made this yesterday- it was VERY MOIST. I added an extra 2 tablespoons of butter in the streusel after I mixed the first 2 as it looked dry. It was a thick batter which made it difficult to spread the second layer on but going in one direction helps. I also sprinkled some cinnamon/sugar on top after baking. It had a good flavor, very moist almost seem underbaked even though it was not. I will make it again though!
Kristin says
It definitely is moist, but shouldn’t be too moist. Glad you enjoyed! It is definitely a favorite in my house, especially during apple season when we have fresh apples to make homemade applesauce!!
Mary says
I just put this in the oven and I’m keeping my fingers crossed. It smells delicious. Even though I followed the recipe to the letter, my batter was so thick, not only could I not pour it, I had a very hard time even spreading it, especially on top of that very dry struesel. Peeking in the oven, it also looks very dry on top. I will update in a bit, but did want to find out if the batter is supposed to be that thick.
Mary says
Here’s my update: the cake part was pretty good, but the struesel was very dry. It really needs twice the butter.
Kristin says
Sorry to hear the streusel was dry! I haven’t found that when I make it, but twice the butter should work too!
LuAnn says
can a person add apple pie spice to this cake? if so, how much exactly? TIA
Kristin says
Absolutely! I would start with about 1-2 tsp and adjust from there once you try it! Since it has other spices, you don’t want it to be too overwhelming, but it is a great addition for sure! Enjoy!