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Easy Rustic Apple Crisp Cake with Cinnamon Streusel Topping

By Beginnerbakes Editorial TeamPublished Apr 24, 2026 | Updated Oct 4, 2026
American 75 mins Beginner-friendlyEasyStep By StepQuick

Diced apples and buttermilk form the cake beneath a cinnamon and brown-sugar streusel. Prepare the apples, batter and topping separately, then bake and cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes before slicing.

Easy Rustic Apple Crisp Cake with Cinnamon Streusel Topping
Prep 15 min
Cook 45 min
Total 75 min
Servings 8
Difficulty easy
Cuisine American

Recipe Details

Prep15 min
Cook45 min
Total75 min
Servings8
Difficultyeasy
CuisineAmerican
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Ingredients

Servings 8
  • For the apples and batter
  • 2 large apples (such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and diced
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 cups (190g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup (50g) packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) vegetable oil
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) buttermilk (or milk with 1/2 teaspoon vinegar, let sit 5 mins)
  • For the cinnamon streusel
  • 1/3 cup (40g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup (50g) packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 tablespoons (43g) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8-inch (20cm) square or round cake pan, or line it with parchment paper.
  2. Toss diced apples with lemon juice in a medium bowl to prevent browning. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, granulated sugar, and brown sugar.
  4. Add vegetable oil, egg, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Pour in the buttermilk.
  5. Gently mix with a wooden spoon or spatula until just combined; small lumps are okay. Avoid overmixing.
  6. Fold diced apples evenly into the batter.
  7. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top.
  8. To make streusel, combine flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Add cold butter pieces.
  9. Use fingers or pastry cutter to rub butter into dry ingredients until coarse crumbs form.
  10. Sprinkle streusel topping evenly over batter in the pan.
  11. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean and topping is golden.
  12. Let cake cool in pan on wire rack for at least 15 minutes before slicing.
  13. Serve warm or at room temperature with tea or coffee for a cozy, comforting treat.
Easy Rustic Apple Crisp Cake with Cinnamon Streusel Topping
Easy Rustic Apple Crisp Cake with Cinnamon Streusel Topping

Preparation and timing notes

The total includes the written 15-minute rest after baking. The batter uses one bowl, but the apples and streusel are prepared separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I know before starting?
The total includes the written 15-minute rest after baking. The batter uses one bowl, but the apples and streusel are prepared separately.
Can I freely substitute ingredients?
Follow the listed quantities and preparation. Substitutions can change texture and timing; only the options explicitly described in this recipe are suggested, without a claim of kitchen testing.

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