Soft, tender, and wonderfully moist, this applesauce crumb cake is full of warm apple spice flavor and finished with a crisp oat streusel topping. It tastes like something from a bakery case, but it is simple enough to make at home whenever the craving hits. Serve it with hot coffee, tea, or apple cider for a cozy breakfast, brunch, or afternoon treat.
Equipment Checklist
This applesauce coffee cake is made with basic kitchen tools. You do not need a stand mixer, hand mixer, or food processor. A few mixing bowls, a whisk, a spatula, and a sturdy 9×13-inch pan are enough to bring the batter and crumb topping together.
For the softest bakery-style texture, this recipe uses Instant Clearjel. It helps absorb extra moisture during baking, which keeps the cake tender without turning soggy. If you do not have it, vanilla instant pudding mix may be used as noted in the recipe.
Instant Clearjel
Instant Clearjel is a modified cornstarch that improves the crumb of moist cakes. It helps the applesauce cake stay soft, flavorful, and stable after baking.
9×13 Metal Cake Pan
A straight-sided metal cake pan gives the best results for even baking. This recipe makes a generous 9×13-inch cake, making it ideal for sharing.
Mixing Bowls
Use one large bowl for the dry ingredients, another bowl for the wet ingredients, and a medium bowl for the crumb topping.
Offset Spatula
An offset spatula makes it easy to spread the cake batter evenly into the pan before baking.
Why you’ll love this Applesauce Crumb Cake Recipe
- Soft cake with a crunchy topping – The base is buttery, moist, and full of applesauce flavor, while the oat crumb topping adds the perfect crisp contrast.
- Ready in about an hour – This homemade applesauce crumb cake uses simple ingredients and comes together quickly, making it a practical recipe for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.
- Warm fall flavor – Applesauce, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, butter, and oats create a cozy spiced cake that is especially delicious during apple season.
Ingredients
This easy applesauce coffee cake has three main parts: the dry ingredients, the wet ingredients, and the crumb topping. Each one plays an important role in the final texture and flavor.
Important Note
The cake base is partially baked before the crumb topping is added. This keeps the streusel from sinking into the batter. While the cake bakes the first time, you can quickly prepare the topping so it is ready to sprinkle on as soon as the timer goes off.
Dry Ingredients
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Instant Clearjel or vanilla instant pudding mix
- Brown sugar
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
Wet Ingredients
The wet ingredients help make this applesauce crumb cake especially moist. Buttermilk, applesauce, vegetable oil, and melted butter all work together to create a tender, flavorful crumb.
- Eggs
- Buttermilk
- Unsweetened applesauce
- Vegetable oil
- Vanilla extract
- Melted salted butter
Crumb Topping
- All-purpose flour
- Old-fashioned oats
- Ground cinnamon
- Light brown sugar
- Salted butter
Video
Watch how this easy applesauce crumb cake comes together in the video below.
Variations
- Use homemade applesauce. Store-bought unsweetened applesauce works well, but homemade applesauce can add a fresher apple flavor.
- Try apple butter. Apple butter has a similar texture to applesauce and gives the cake a richer, sweeter apple flavor.
- Add a glaze. After the cake cools, drizzle it with the optional cinnamon glaze included in the recipe. A caramel drizzle or simple powdered sugar icing also pairs nicely with the spiced apple flavor.
- Adjust the spices. Cinnamon and nutmeg are classic here, but apple pie spice or chai spice can also be used for a slightly different flavor.
Storage
Once the applesauce crumb cake has cooled completely, cover leftovers tightly with plastic wrap or transfer slices to an airtight container. Store at room temperature for 2 to 3 days.
This cake is also a good make-ahead option. If you want to bake it in advance, wrap the cooled cake pan tightly with plastic wrap and freeze it. Let the cake thaw to room temperature before serving for the best texture.
Key Recipe Notes
- You can make the crumb topping while the cake bakes for the first 25 minutes. If you expect interruptions, prepare the topping before the cake goes into the oven so it is ready when needed.
- Use salted butter. Salted butter adds excellent flavor to both the cake and crumb topping.
- Add the crumb topping gently. Do not press it into the cake, because the partially baked cake is still delicate.
- The crumb topping may look soft when the cake comes out of the oven, but it will firm up as the cake cools.
More Great Recipes for Fall
- Super Moist Pumpkin Spice Layer Cake
- Moist Mini Carrot Cakes
- Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream
- Deliciously Moist Carrot Cake
This applesauce coffee cake is just right for breakfast, a holiday brunch, or a sweet afternoon snack. The recipe is straightforward, but the flavor and texture make it feel special. The soft spiced cake, crunchy oat crumb topping, and optional cinnamon glaze make every slice cozy and satisfying.
If you enjoy bakery-style cakes that are simple enough to make at home, this applesauce crumb cake is a recipe worth keeping. It is comforting, easy to serve, and full of the warm flavors that make fall baking so inviting.
Thanks for reading. ❤️
📖 Recipe & Step-by-Step Instructions
Applesauce Crumb Cake
For the most accurate baking results, use the gram measurements with a kitchen scale.
Equipment
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 240 grams (1 ¾ cup + 1 Tablespoon) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 16 grams (2 Tablespoons) Instant Clearjel
- 226 grams (1 cup packed) brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
Wet Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 182 grams (¾ cup) buttermilk
- 250 grams (1 cup) unsweetened applesauce
- 50 grams (¼ cup) vegetable oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Other Cake Ingredients
- 85 grams (¾ stick) salted butter, melted
Crumb Topping
- 100 grams (¾ cup) all-purpose flour
- 67 grams (¾ cup) old-fashioned oats
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 170 grams (¾ cup packed) light brown sugar
- 113 grams (1 stick) salted butter, soft to the touch
Simple Glaze (optional)
- 98 grams (½ cup + 2 Tablespoons) powdered sugar
- 1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon water
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
Make the Applesauce Crumb Cake
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a straight-edge 9×13-inch cake pan with parchment paper. Avoid sloped-edge pans, which may bake unevenly and can cause the center of the cake to sink.
- Sift the dry ingredients into a large bowl using a sifter or fine mesh strainer. Whisk until everything is evenly combined. In a separate bowl, whisk the wet ingredients until smooth. Make sure the Clearjel is labeled “instant,” and whisk it thoroughly into the dry mixture.
- Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and whisk just until combined. Slowly add the melted salted butter and whisk until the batter is smooth and well blended.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly with an offset spatula.
- Bake on the middle or top rack of the preheated oven for 25 minutes. While the cake bakes, prepare the crumb topping.
Make the Crumb Topping
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, salt, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Add the softened butter.
- Use a fork, pastry cutter, or your hands to work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture becomes soft and crumbly. Break it into small crumbs with your fingers, creating a mix of different crumb sizes.
Top the Applesauce Cake and Finish Baking
- After 25 minutes, carefully remove the partially baked cake from the oven, leaving the oven on. Gently sprinkle the crumb topping over the surface in an even layer. Do not press it down or drop it in heavy clumps. A light touch helps the cake keep its rise.
- Return the cake to the oven and bake for 10 to 15 more minutes, or until a toothpick or paring knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Test between the crumbs to avoid overbaking. Let the cake cool completely before slicing.
Make the Glaze
- Whisk the powdered sugar, water, and cinnamon together until thick and smooth. Adjust with a little more water or powdered sugar if needed. Drizzle over the cooled applesauce coffee cake, then cut and serve.
Notes
The crumb topping is added after the cake bakes for 25 minutes so it stays on top instead of sinking into the batter.
Instant pudding mix and Instant Clearjel both help stabilize the batter and create a softer, moister cake. If using either one, make sure it is labeled “instant.” Cook-type pudding and original Clearjel do not work the same way in this recipe.