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Apple Coffee Cake (Classic Apple Dapple)

This apple dapple cake is crumbly, crunchy, and loaded with sweet/tart bites of apple and an insane caramel sauce that sinks deep into the cake, creating a moist and buttery center. Do I have your attention yet? I sure hope so! The next thing you should know: this cake is easy!

The name coffee cake in this case, just means that the cake is great served with coffee, but doesn’t actually have any coffee in the batter. It’s a wonderful after-breakfast or brunch treat.

Apple coffee cake (classic apple dapple cake) is loaded with apple and walnuts. The caramel sauce creates a moist, buttery center. Easy apple coffee cake! | natashaskitchen.com

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It comes together quickly and your oven does the rest. it really is as simple as combing the wet ingredients, combining the dry ingredients, mixing them together, add nuts, add apples, fold and voila! You have a cake! This is perfect for company and makes a wonderful apple coffee cake. It tastes like a wildly delicious breakfast muffin, but made ultra decadent with the caramel sauce. Mmm yum!

This recipe is based on the apple dapple recipe shared by one of my readers, Emma. I looked over the simple ingredients and knew I had to try it when she said “It is a hit among my family and friends.” Emma, it was the same for me! Thank you so much for sharing your version of this Southern classic Apple Dapple Cake!

Apple coffee cake (classic apple dapple cake) is loaded with apple and walnuts. The caramel sauce creates a moist, buttery center. Easy apple coffee cake! | natashaskitchen.com

P.S. Apple dapple cake is traditionally baked in a bundt pan. Sure bundt pans look nice, but I find them so annoying to flip and deal with so I used a springform pan. #keepingitreal

Ingredients for Apple Coffee Cake (Apple Dapple):

3 large eggs, room temp
1 cup oil (extra light olive oil or vegetable oil)
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour *measured correctly
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/3 cups walnuts or pecans, toasted and chopped
3 cups (1 lb or 2 large) granny smith apples

*Watch our easy video tutorial on how to measure correctly

Apple coffee cake (classic apple dapple cake) is loaded with apple and walnuts. The caramel sauce creates a moist, buttery center. Easy apple coffee cake! | natashaskitchen.com

Ingredients for Caramel Sauce:

1 cup light brown sugar
6 Tbsp unsalted butter
1/4 cup milk (any kind)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt

apple-coffee-cake-classic-apple-dapple

Prep for Apple Coffee Cake:

*Toast and chop walnuts (you want them to cool to room temp before adding to the batter).

*Preheat Oven to 350˚F and grease base and sides of a 9″ springform pan with oil or butter.

*Peel, core, and slice apples into 1/2″ thick pieces

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How to Make Apple Coffee Cake (Apple Dapple):

1. In the bowl of a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, mix together: 3 eggs, 1 cup oil, 1 cup granulated sugar and 2 tsp vanilla extract on medium speed 1 minute until blended.

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2. In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 cups flour, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp baking soda and 1/2 tsp salt.

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3. With the mixer on, stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until well incorporated. Mix in 1 cup chopped nuts then mix in 3 cups sliced apples (if needed, use a stiff spatula to blend them in well).

Apple coffee cake (classic apple dapple cake) is loaded with apple and walnuts. The caramel sauce creates a moist, buttery center. Easy apple coffee cake!

4. Transfer to greased springform pan and bake in the center of the oven at 350˚F for 50-55 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Start making the sauce 10 minutes before the cake is out of the oven (see instructions below).

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5. Once the cake is done, poke it all over with a meat fork or large skewer. While still hot and in the baking pan, pour glaze evenly over the surface of the cake. Sprinkle remaining 1/3 cup chopped nuts over the top and give the cake a few minutes to absorb the syrup. Transfer cake to a cake platter (I love these ones from Fiesta) and serve.

Apple coffee cake (classic apple dapple cake) is loaded with apple and walnuts. The caramel sauce creates a moist, buttery center. Easy apple coffee cake! | natashaskitchen.com

Apple coffee cake (classic apple dapple cake) is loaded with apple and walnuts. The caramel sauce creates a moist, buttery center. Easy apple coffee cake! | natashaskitchen.com

Apple coffee cake (classic apple dapple cake) is loaded with apple and walnuts. The caramel sauce creates a moist, buttery center. Easy apple coffee cake! | natashaskitchen.com

How to Make the Easy Caramel Sauce:

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk together 1 cup brown sugar, 6 Tbsp butter, 1/4 cup milk, 1/2 tsp vanilla and a pinch of salt. Bring to a low boil and continue to cook stirring gently for 4 minutes. It should be loose and will lightly coat a spoon, since you want most of it to absorb into the cake.

apple-coffee-cake-classic-apple-dapple-12

Apple Coffee Cake (Classic Apple Dapple Cake)

4.88 from 78 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Apple coffee cake (classic apple dapple cake) is loaded with apple and walnuts. The caramel sauce creates a moist, buttery center. Easy apple coffee cake! | natashaskitchen.com
Apple coffee cake (classic apple dapple cake) is loaded with apple and walnuts. The caramel sauce creates a moist, buttery center. Easy apple coffee cake!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 9 " Cake

For the Apple Dapple Cake:

  • 3 large eggs, room temp
  • 1 cup oil, extra light olive oil or vegetable oil
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour, measured correctly*
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/3 cups walnuts or pecans, toasted and chopped
  • 1 lb granny smith apples, 2 large apples (cut into 3 cups)

Ingredients for Caramel Sauce:

Instructions

Prep for Apple Coffee Cake:

  • Toast and chop walnuts (you want them to cool to room temp before adding to the batter).
  • Preheat Oven to 350˚F and grease base and sides of a 9" springform pan with oil or butter.
  • Peel, core, and slice apples into 1/2" thick pieces

How to Make Apple Coffee Cake (Apple Dapple):

  • In the bowl of a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, mix together: 3 eggs, 1 cup oil, 1 cup sugar and 2 tsp vanilla on medium speed 1 min until blended.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 cups flour, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp baking soda and 1/2 tsp salt.
  • With mixer on, stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until well incorporated. Mix in 1 cup chopped nuts then mix in 3 cups sliced apples (if needed, use a stiff spatula to blend them in well).
  • Transfer to greased springform pan and bake in center of oven at 350˚F for 50-55 min, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Start making the sauce 10 min before the cake is out of the oven (see below).
  • Once the cake is done, poke it all over with a meat fork or large skewer. While still hot and in the baking pan, pour glaze evenly over cake. Sprinkle remaining 1/3 cup nuts over the top and give the cake a few minutes to absorb the syrup. Transfer cake to a platter and serve.

How to Make the Easy Caramel Sauce:

  • In a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk together 1 cup brown sugar, 6 Tbsp butter, 1/4 cup milk, 1/2 tsp vanilla and a pinch of salt. Bring to a low boil and continue to cook stirring gently for 4 minutes. It should be loose and will lightly coat a spoon, since you want most of it to absorb into the cake.

Notes

*To measure flour correctly, spoon flour into dry ingredients measuring cup and level off the top. If you push your measuring cup into your flour bin to fill it, you will get substantially more flour.
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Apple Coffee Cake, Apple Dapple
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

Apple coffee cake (classic apple dapple cake) is loaded with apple and walnuts. The caramel sauce creates a moist, buttery center. Easy apple coffee cake! | natashaskitchen.com

This cake was not easy to photograph – it’s not very photogenic so I had to make it two days in a row because I loathed the first set of pictures. I hope these photos do it justice because it really is a very delicious apple coffee cake (A.K.T.S.A – a made up acronym meaning “also known to Southerners as”) Apple Dapple Cake!

Explore More Apple Recipes Here

Apple coffee cake (classic apple dapple cake) is loaded with apple and walnuts. The caramel sauce creates a moist, buttery center. Easy apple coffee cake! | natashaskitchen.com

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the creator behind Natasha's Kitchen (established in 2009), and I share family-friendly, authentic recipes. I am a New York Times Best-Selling cookbook author and a trusted video personality in the culinary world. My husband, Vadim, and I run this blog together, ensuring every recipe we share is thoroughly tested and approved. Our mission is to provide you with delicious, reliable recipes you can count on. Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy you are here.

Read more posts by Natasha

4.88 from 78 votes (35 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  • Emma Long
    September 5, 2024

    Hi Natasha! Can I bake this in muffin pans instead? Thank you.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      September 5, 2024

      Hi Emma! I imagine that will work, but you have to make some adjustments like for the baking time as muffins will bake faster.

      Reply

  • Shilo Crommett
    March 22, 2024

    O goodness, I just finished my cake, it’s simply delish ❤️
    I roasted almonds, bc I don’t have any walnuts.
    It has a sweet and savory flavor 😋
    Now I have to figure out who to give it to, it’s just me at home, I got my slice of cake!!❤️💯💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻

    Reply

  • Ursila
    March 20, 2024

    Hi Natasha, can I make this cake 1 day ahead of time and leave it in a cake container to enjoy the next day.. Sounds delicious.. Will definitely try it..

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 20, 2024

      Hi Ursila! Yes, that would be fine. I hope you love the recipe!

      Reply

    • Charul
      March 21, 2024

      Hi Natasha,

      I made this cake in the past and it was a huge hit👏🏻👏🏻! Is it okay to replace to all purpose flour with oat flour instead?

      Reply

      • NatashasKitchen.com
        March 21, 2024

        Hi Charul! I’m so glad you love the recipe. Unfortunately I have not tested that substitution to advise.

        Reply

        • Shilo Crommett
          March 22, 2024

          I subbed using bread flour, I am out of APF, it is delicious 💯😋💃🏻

          Reply

  • Liya
    March 9, 2024

    So so so delicious. Perfectly moist! I had to keep mine in the oven for about 1hr 20min though since the toothpick in the middle part wouldnt come out clean around 55 min. The caramel sauce in the poked holes make it so perfect and moist! Tastes amazing!! Thank you for your recipes, Natasha!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 9, 2024

      Hi Liya! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe. I’m surprised by the length of time you needed to bake it. Did you use a smaller pan by chance, which was deeper? Every oven bakes differently but that seems like a quite a drastic time difference. This recipe is written for a conventional oven on regular bake mode.
      Also- be sure to fully preheat the oven before you start baking. I recommend using an Internal oven thermometer (Amazon affiliate link) to ensure your oven is calibrated and heating correctly. I hope that helps for next time.

      Reply

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