Apple Breakfast Cake Recipe

45 Comments

5 from 11 votes
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Happy New Year! Did you have a good New Year’s Eve and Day? We were absolute homebodies. We stayed home all day both days and while it was rainy and yucky outside decided to have a Downton Abbey marathon. It was absolutely heaven.

I made this apple breakfast cake for new year’s day morning and I have to tell you, my family is a bit obsessed with it.

I had been testing a new breakfast cake recipe and then decided to make one that I knew Mama would be able to eat easily.

She has to be careful with eating eggs and I like to make recipes that the whole family can enjoy, especially for special occasions.

Instead of using eggs, I amped up the apple flavor and the moist texture of this breakfast cake with applesauce.

Did you know you can substitute applesauce in many baked goods without losing a soft crumb?

It works well in pancakes, muffins, waffles, and also in cookies.

It really shines in this recipe, too!

This recipe is so simple to whip together.

You mix it all together with a spoon in one big bowl.

It’s nice not to have to worry about turning on a mixer early in the morning so that you can let other folks in the house sleep in a bit on a holiday or weekend.

The smell of it baking is sure to wake them up though. It made my entire house smell so warm and delicious that it was hard to wait on it to finish baking!

Here’s the recipe to my Apple Breakfast Cake. I added a streusel topping for even more flavor, but this cake is amazing without it. It gets gobbled up quickly either way, I promise.

Apple Breakfast Cake Recipe

5 from 11 votes
Apple Breakfast Cake makes a warm, comforting treat anytime of the day. An apple coffee cake topping with streusel and filled with fresh apples.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 16

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon (12 g) baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon (2.6 g) kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup (49.5 g) granulated sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon (0.33 g) ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup (198 g) packed brown sugar
  • 2 (218 g) apples, peeled and diced
  • 3/4 cup (191.25 g) applesauce
  • 1 cup (227 g) milk
  • 8 tablespoons (113 g) butter, melted
  • Streusel Topping
  • 1/2 cup (60 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup (53.25 g) packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon (2.6 g) ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup (22.25 g) oats
  • 4 tablespoons (61.5 g) butter, diced

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350ยบ F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick baking spray or brush with homemade cake release. Set aside.
  • Add all dry ingredients through brown sugar to a large bowl. Whisk together until well-combined. Add in diced apples, applesauce, milk, and melted butter. Stir until well-combined. Pour batter into prepared 9×13 baking dish.
  • In a small dish, combine all of the ingredients for streusel topping, mixing together with a pastry blender, a fork or even with your fingers. Add to the top of the apple breakfast cake batter.
  • Bake cake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. You can follow my tips forย how to tell when your cake is done. Allow to cool for about 15 minutes before serving.
  • Cover cake slices tightly with plastic wrap or store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 256kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 233mg | Potassium: 180mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 303IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Enjoy!
Robyn xo

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About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

5 from 11 votes

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Recipe Review




45 Comments

  1. Pamela says:

    5 stars
    I added an extra cup of apples, used monk fruit and brown sugar and half whole wheat flour and drizzled cinnamon cream cheese frosting on it (which wasnโ€™t needed but boy did it take it to the next level!). I baked for about 20 minutes longer because the bottom of the cake was gooey even though the toothpick came out clean.

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      The extra apples could have made the bottom gooey and require a longer baking time, Pamela. So glad you enjoyed the cake.

  2. Dee Brown says:

    5 stars
    Absolutely easy and delicious. I love the no eggs as my grandson is allergic to eggs. So tasty and moist. I only baked it for 35 min and it was perfect.

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      Thanks, Dee. I’m.so glad your grandson can eat this cake.

  3. Ann says:

    If I want to use eggs instead of applesauce, how many do I need?

  4. Jessie says:

    5 stars
    Recipe so easy…. and cooking with applesauce is my fav! ย  ย Turned out great… especially with picky eaters in the house. ย  ย Didnโ€™t have to worry about leftovers, they ate every bite. ๐Ÿ’•

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      Wonderful to hear, Jessie! Thanks!

  5. Tina Frappucina says:

    5 stars
    My 9 y/o daughter proclaimed that this โ€œsmells like autumn in a pan!โ€ This easy-to-make cake is delectable. Will def make again!ย 

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      I am so happy you enjoyed this, Tina! Thanks so much! xo

  6. Melissa says:

    5 stars
    This recipe was a hit for breakfast on Thanksgiving weekend (in October in Canada). It was very moist and stayed that way even a few days later when just left in the pan and covered in plastic wrap. The light sweetness was perfect for a breakfast food and the cinnamon was not overpowering. We wouldn’t change a thing with this recipe and will put it in our favourites list. Thank you!

  7. Melissa says:

    5 stars
    I was browsing the Internet looking for something I can make for breakfast for my large family. ..using apples…and I had no eggs.
    Wow!!! I made this easily in 20 min and put it in the refrigerator for the morning.
    I waited until the morning to put the topping on.
    This is seriously amazing. It’s just enough sweet but not top sweet for breakfast…yet crunchy, warm. ..moist. delicious. My husband can be hard to impress with food, he gave it a 10.
    I followed it exactly as written except I used almond milk.
    Thank you!!!!!

  8. ray says:

    I would like to make an apple breakfast cake, but don’t have applesauce. What do I substitute it with? Thanks

  9. Maria says:

    5 stars
    I fell on your website searching for a “breakfast apple cake recipe” This recipe was simple – i had everything on hand and it is simply delicious!! What a great cake to bring to brunches/potlucks. Thank you for sharing!

    1. Debbie Graham says:

      I made this and used no sugar apple butter instead of applesauce. Raw sugar instead of brown sugar too.
      Delicious!

    2. Robyn Stone says:

      Debbie, I’m glad you liked this breakfast cake. Thanks for your tips.