This delicious Apple Pecan Coffee Cake is perfect for breakfast or dessert. With a moist, buttery cake layer and a crunchy pecan crumble topping, it’s sure to please!
There’s almost nothing that can top a cozy fall weekend morning when the leaves are changing color and a cool breeze is blowing. One of my favorite things to cook on those mornings is this Apple Pecan Coffee Cake.
This is a delicious and easy recipe that always leaves an impression on family and guests. Plus, it makes your whole house smell amazing while it’s baking!
If you’re looking for a fall-inspired breakfast recipe, this is one that is definitely worth trying. I promise you won’t be disappointed!
This delicious coffee cake has a moist, buttery cake layer that is topped with a layer of apple slices that have been tossed with brown sugar and cinnamon. Then the apple slices are topped off with a decadent, crunchy streusel layer full of more brown sugar, pecans, cinnamon, and raisins. This is definitely a favorite treat at our house!
Recipe Snapshot: Apple Pecan Coffee Cake
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 12
Cuisine: American
Cooking Method: Oven
Primary Ingredients: Sugar, flour, butter, eggs, apples, pecans, cinnamon, raisins
Skill Level: Easy
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WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING …
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Delicious and beautiful! Just taste tested and the cake is light and fluffy and the topping is scrumptious – the apple really makes it special.”
— Jeanne
Ingredient Notes
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- Sour Cream – The sour cream in the layer not only adds a wonderfully tangy background flavor, but it also helps create a light and tender cake layer.
- Apple – You’ll need one large cooking apple. Granny Smith apples, Fuji, and Honeycrisp are all good choices.
- Light Brown Sugar – The molasses in brown sugar adds a caramel note to the coffee cake layer.
- Cinnamon – Because cinnamon is one of the predominant flavors in this recipe, I suggest using a high-quality brand like McCormick Saigon Cinnamon.
- Dark Brown Sugar – Contains more molasses than light brown sugar and is used in the topping for an even deeper caramel taste.
- Cold Butter – Cold butter is much easier to cut in for creating the topping.
- Pecans – A perfect pairing with the apple and caramel flavors in this recipe. Fisher brand pecans are always dependable.
- Raisins – Apples, pecans, and raisins are a classic combination. If you don’t like raisins, simply leave them out.
- Confectioner’s Sugar – For the optional glaze. It’s also called powdered sugar or 10X sugar.
The complete ingredient list with detailed measurements is included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Apple Pecan Coffee Cake
Make the Cake Layer
STEP 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease a 9-inch springform pan (or 9-inch cake pan or square pan) with butter or spray with cooking spray. Set aside for now.
Pro Tip
I highly recommend using a springform pan for this recipe. It will make removing and serving the coffee cake much easier. However, if needed, you can also use a square or round 9-inch pan.
If using an alternate pan, don’t try to turn the cake out, since flipping it will dump the streusel. Cool it in the pan on a rack for 30 minutes, then cut it into squares or wedges and serve straight from the pan. Or, in order to remove it whole for serving, line the pan with a parchment sling (two strips crisscrossed, with the ends hanging over the sides) before adding the batter. Once cooled, lift the whole cake out by the parchment strips.
STEP 2. Use an electric mixer to cream the sugar and softened butter in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
STEP 3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after adding each.
STEP 4. Stir in the vanilla.
STEP 5. Add the flour and sour cream alternately, beating well after each addition.
STEP 6. Spread the cake batter into the prepared pan.
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STEP 7. Core the apple and slice it into 1/4-inch thick slices. Put the slices in a bowl and sprinkle them with the lemon juice, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Toss the apple slices to coat.
STEP 8. Arrange the slices around the top of the batter.
Make the Topping
STEP 9. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, dark brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon using a pastry cutter or two forks until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
STEP 10. Stir in the pecan pieces and raisins.
STEP 11. Sprinkle the topping mixture evenly over the layer of apple slices.
STEP 12. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Start checking for doneness around 45 minutes. If you feel that the topping is getting too brown, tent the pan with foil to prevent burning.
STEP 13. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan on a rack for 30 minutes.
STEP 14. When the cake is cool, remove the side of the springform pan and place it on a serving plate.
Make the Glaze (Optional)
STEP 15. Mix the confectioner’s sugar, milk, and vanilla in a small bowl. Drizzle the top with the glaze.
How to Store the Coffee Cake
Leftover coffee cake keeps in an airtight container at room temperature for about 3 days. The completely cooled cake may be well-wrapped and frozen in a freezer-safe container for about 2 months.
How to Serve
I often serve coffee cake as an ending to breakfast (a breakfast dessert, if you will) or as a sweet option during brunch. This recipe would be the perfect ending to a breakfast of steak and eggs or ham and red-eye gravy.
Questions and Answers: Apple Pecan Coffee Cake
- Why is it called “coffee cake?”
Coffee cakes are typically one-layer, simple cakes without any icing or frosting. The name came about because people enjoyed sharing them with a cup of coffee. - Does coffee cake have coffee in it?
No. It’s only called coffee cake because it’s typically served at breakfast or as a snack with coffee.
Have a question or thought to share?
If you have a question about the recipe or if you’ve made it and want to share how it turned out, I would truly enjoy hearing from you. Just scroll down to leave a comment or add your star rating.
Thank you for stopping by. It means a lot to have you here.
Recipe
Apple Pecan Coffee Cake
Ingredients
For the layer:
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup butter softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups self-rising flour
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 large cooking apple (Granny Smith, Fuji, Honeycrisp, etc.)
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the topping:
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ cup dark brown sugar
- ¼ cup butter cold
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 ½ cups pecan pieces
- ½ cup raisins
For the optional glaze:
- ½ cup confectioner’s sugar
- 4 teaspoons milk
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Make the batter for the cake layer:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease a 9-inch springform pan (or 9-inch square or round pan) with butter or spray with cooking spray. Set aside for now.
- Cream the sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy.1 cup sugar, ½ cup butter
- Beat in the eggs one at a time.2 large eggs
- Stir in the vanilla.1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Add the flour and sour cream alternately beating well after each addition.2 cups self-rising flour, 1 cup sour cream
- Spread the batter in the prepared pan.
- Core the apple and slice it into 1/4-inch thick slices. Put the slices in a bowl and sprinkle them with the lemon juice, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Toss apple slices to coat.1 large cooking apple, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, ¼ cup light brown sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Arrange the slices around the top of the batter.
Make the topping:
- Mix together the flour, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon using a pastry cutter, two forks, or a food processor until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, ½ cup dark brown sugar, ¼ cup butter, 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- Stir in the pecan pieces and raisins.1 ½ cups pecan pieces, ½ cup raisins
- Sprinkle topping evenly on top of the layer of apple slices.
- Bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Start checking for doneness after about 45 minutes. If you feel that the topping is getting too brown, tent the top of the pan with foil to prevent burning.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan on a rack for 30 minutes. When the cake is cool, remove the side of the springform pan and place it on a serving plate.
Make the glaze (optional):
- Mix the confectioner’s sugar, milk, and vanilla in a small bowl. Drizzle the coffee cake with the glaze.½ cup confectioner’s sugar, 4 teaspoons milk, ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Cut into wedges to serve.
Notes
- A 9-inch springform pan makes removing and serving the coffee cake much easier. If you use a square or round 9-inch pan, don’t turn the cake out, since the streusel will fall off. Serve it straight from the pan, or line the pan with a parchment sling so you can lift the cooled cake out whole.
- Start checking for doneness at 45 minutes, but it may need up to 70 minutes. Insert the toothpick through the topping and apples all the way into the cake layer.
- If the topping browns too quickly, tent the pan loosely with foil.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for about 3 days. The completely cooled cake can be well wrapped and frozen for about 2 months.
- I rarely use the icing on this coffee cake because it’s just so delicious without it. But if you really want to “gild the lily,” then go for it!
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
Success!
Delicious and Beautiful! Just taste tested and the cake is light and fluffy and the topping is scrumptious – the apple really makes it special.
After reading all the comments, I did bake the cake and topping together. I covered the top at 45 min. – the topping is pretty dark anyway, but I didn’t want to chance it.
At 1 hour, I wasn’t sure it was done, so gave it an extra 10 min. Perfection! Well, it’ll be more perfect later when I add the icing!
Thank you, Lana 😘
I’m so glad it worked out and you enjoyed it!
I agree with sam! My batter cooked through the top layer with
The result that you can’t see teh cruchy layer! Will defnitely cook
The batter for sometime before adding the layer. Its still in the oven
But can’t wait to try it out!!
That’s interesting. I’ve never had that happen with this coffee cake. I’m sorry yours didn’t turn out perfectly.
Hi Lana! I can assure you that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the taste and everybody loved it!!! Thanks for sharing this recipe. I think the problem was the self-raising flour I used. The last couple of times I used self-raising flour I found that the cake raised much higher than usual as if there were more baking powder or soda in the mix!!
Made this cake at the weekend and it was amazing, I cooked it for longer than an hour and cake base was still a bit soggy as it was hard to tell if skewer was clean due to the caramel apple layer. Next time I may bake the cake batter on its own for 15 mins then add apple and topping.
My goodness, that is mouth-watering GORGEOUS Lana!!
Thanks so much, Mary! It’s a really delicious recipe.
looks so good, I will be baling this for sure! Thanks for sharing
You’re welcome, Andrea. Hope you enjoy it!
What a gorgeous looking coffee cake!!
this looks DE-licious!
This looks perfect for Easter morning Lana! I LOVE coffee cake – will definitely be trying this one very soon – apples, cinnamon and pecans? Oh yeaah…….
Oh my glorious goodness! This looks delicious. Pinning!! xo
This is coffee cake taken to a whole new level! And I love it!!
You’re right – this coffee cake is certainly on a different level!
I need a piece!
Doesn’t that look like a really good buddy for vanilla ice cream?
Miss P
Oh, yes. Most definitely!
Oh Lana, that looks grand! Can’t wait to try it ;)
“Grand” is a great word for this coffee cake, Amanda :-)
What a luscious coffee cake. Love the apple layer.
Thanks so much, Barbara.
Ohhh this looks good! Wish I had some now.
I wish you did, too. It’s really delicious!
I have a soft spot for coffee cake plus apple and pecan, sign me up!
Apples, pecan, butter, and brown sugar are always a great combination, aren’t they?