Apple Pie Coffee Cake

If you love apple pie but you’re in the mood for a delicious coffee cake, one you would be happy to serve at a breakfast gathering or brunch, have I got a great new recipe for you! This “from scratch” cake is light and luscious and covered in a crisp streusel. 

The flavors in this luscious cake are perfect year round but they’re particularly great in the fall when the flavors of cinnamon and spice are so prevalent. Serve it on Thanksgiving morning while you’re cooking up that big holiday meal, or offer it as a dessert after your Christmas dinner. Either way, you’ll be so happy you gave it a try.

Apple Pie. . .in a Cake? 

This was the question I asked myself as I stared at a can of apple pie filling. I was in the mood for coffee cake with streusel, but the addition of canned pie filling? I wasn’t so sure that would work. 

If you know me, you know I’ve been on a kick working with canned pie filling. I’ve been adding it to all sorts of things, like my Strawberry Pie Filling Cake, my Apple Pie Cobbler with Crescent Rolls and my Easy Cake Mix Cherry Pies.

I just love the stuff. It’s so easy and delicious! (See the end of this post for a long list of my pie filling desserts.) 

I knew I wanted to use this in a cake that could be featured at a women’s brunch or fancy breakfast. But, could I pull it off? 

Apple Pie Coffee Cake Ingredients

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here’s a quick peek at what you’ll need. There are quite a few ingredients but most of them are simple ingredients you probably have on hand. 

CAKE INGREDIENTS

• Packed brown sugar
• room temperature butter
• room temperature egg
• Whole milk
• baking soda
• vanilla extract
• all-purpose flour
• apple pie filling (finely chopped)
• ground cinnamon
• apple pie spice

STREUSEL TOPPING INGREDIENTS

• butter (salted or unsalted, your choice)
• Packed brown sugar
• all purpose flour
• quick oats
• finely chopped walnuts (optional)
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

How to Make Apple Pie Coffee Cake

This apple cinnamon coffee cake came together easily. Making it is an enjoyable process! 

MAKE THE CAKE:

Start by preheating your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Prepare a 8 x 12-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. You can use a 9 x 13-inch pan but the baking time will likely have to be reduced slightly.

Empty apple filling onto a piece of waxed paper. Chop apple slices into small pieces. Set aside.

Place softened butter in large mixing bowl. Add brown sugar and mix well. You can mix by hand (as I did) or with an electric mixer at low speed.

Add egg and mix until incorporated. Add vanilla. 

In a separate small bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and apple pie spice. 

Add half of the flour to the wet ingredients. 

Add half of the milk. (Stir well.) 

Add the other half of the flour. 

Add the other half of the milk. (Stir well.) 

Work in the chopped apples and stir well. 

Pour batter into prepared pan and set aside. 

MAKE THE STREUSEL TOPPING

Combine brown sugar, flour, oats and cinnamon in a medium bowl. 

Add softened butter and mix well. 

Add chopped walnuts (optional)

Using your fingers, add the streusel topping to the top of the batter. You’ll want to pinch off pieces and drop it down until the top is mostly covered. 

Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle on top of the streusel. 

Place baking dish in preheated oven and bake for 55 minutes or until golden brown on top. (Baking times may vary, based on your baking dish size.)

Remove and place on a wire rack to cool. 

Slice and serve while warm.

Store in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap. Place in refrigerator. The coffee cake will stay good for 2-3 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.

What to Expect from this Apple Coffee Cake

If you’re a coffee cake lover you’re going to flip over this cake! It has a delicious fall flavor but I can easily see serving this one year ’round. It’s the perfect recipe, no matter the occasion.

The inside of this cake is exactly like an apple pie–rich with moist apples. The top has a lovely streusel like a Dutch apple pie. This is truly a pie in cake form. I was absolutely delighted with how it turned out!

I took it to a friend who said (and I quote) “That apple thing is going to be hard to beat.”

Thank you! I think?

Questions people are Asking about Apple Pie Coffee Cake

Can I turn this into a caramel apple cake?

Absolutely! I highly recommend the caramel topping above (Smuckers Simple Delight Salted Caramel Topping). If I can help it, I will never buy another brand. This stuff is just too good for words!

Can I use fresh apples in place of Apple Pie filling? 

Absolutely. You’ll want to coat them in cinnamon and sugar before adding them to the mix. Add a cup and a half. 

Can I omit the nuts or substitute with another nut?

For sure. Some people don’t like nuts with apples. I happen to love them. Pecans would pair well, too. 

Do I have to use apple pie filling? 

No, but. . .one of the things you’ll need to keep in mind is the amount of syrup in the pie filling. You need one that’s light on syrup and heavy on fruit. 

Can I use canned fruit? 

You could use something like canned peaches if you like, but pour off the water first. You definitely don’t need the liquid. 

I don’t have apple pie spice. Can I make my own? 

Absolutely. My Baking Addiction has a tutorial for that process. It’s just a matter of combining a few familiar spices. You can always use pumpkin spice, if you like.

Do I have to bake this in an 8 x 12-inch pan? 

You can use a 9 x 13-inch pan but will have to adjust the baking time. I suspect it will bake quicker in the larger pan because the cake won’t be as thick.

Can I use sour cream in place of milk?

Yes, but it will change the texture of the cake. You might need to add a splash of milk along with a cup of sour cream to thin it out. Also realize that sour cream has a tart taste that will affect the overall taste of the cake. In that regard it will be more like my Apple Kuchen cake.

Can I use cherry pie filling in this recipe in place of apple?

Absolutely! Cherry coffee cake sounds delicious! You could also consider peach pie filling.

Can I make this in a standard-sized loaf pan?

I haven’t tried it but would love to! I would probably pour half of the batter in the pan, add half of the streusel, then repeat.

Other Pie Filling Recipes

I hope you enjoy this apple pie coffee cake recipe. It’s a true fall favorite and perfect for a delicious breakfast breakfast! For that matter, pie filling desserts are perfect all year round!

I’m going to provide you with a full list of my recipes that include pie filling. For a description on each, just follow the link. 

• Old Fashioned Cobbler with Homemade Pie Crust
• No Bake Cherry Cheesecake Pie
• Apple Pie Monkey Bread Muffins
• Easy Peach Cobbler with Pie Crust
• Cherry Cream Cheese Cobbler
• Bisquick Cobbler
• Easy Pineapple Upside-Down Dump Cake
• Strawberry Pie Filling Cake
• Apple Pie Cobbler with Crescent Rolls
• Easy Cake Mix Cherry Pies

That’s it for this post, friends! I hope you enjoy this delicious Apple Pie Coffee Cake!

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About the Author

Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 150 books for the Christian market but particularly enjoys writing recipes and baking devotions. To learn more about Janice or to drop her a note, visit her About the Author page.