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.
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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!
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
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
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):
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.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 cups flour, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp baking soda and 1/2 tsp salt.
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).
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).
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.
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 Cake)
Ingredients
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:
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup milk, any kind
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch salt
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
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
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!
Can this be made ahead a day? If so how do you store it?
Hi Debbie, if it is just for a day, it would be safe at room temperature. Once it is at room temperature, cover loosely and store in a cool, dry place. If making farther ahead of time, you would want to refrigerate the cake.
Glad I read this, I had the same question 👍🏼
Thank you Natasha !! It is really delicious and easy to make. May God bless you and you family!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it!! 🙂
Hi Natasha! I was planning on baking this cake. Will a normal pan work or is it necessary to use a springform pan? 🙂
It needs to be a taller pan (about 3″ walls) which is why I recommend a springform. A bundt pan would work as well – it’s just more difficult to remove it from a bundt pan.
BTW, I think you did a wonderful job taking pictures of the cake. That was one of the reasons I decided to try making this.
Deeeeeeelish!! I had so many apples and this was such a tasty way of using a couple of them! Definitely worth buying more apples to make this again. I love the caramel infusion! 😍 Thank you for sharing the recipe!
You are very welcome Viktoriya, thank you for such a nice review on the recipe 😁.
Another amazing recipe! I dropped it off for the teachers at the school my husband works at and they all loved it! While mixing the batter it took a bit of arm strength 🙂 but turned out light and not at all too sweet. I really appreciate that incan always trust your pastries will be just the right sweetness. Delicious!!
Thank you Marta, I’m so happy to hear that 😁.
Omg apples and caramel mmmmm what could be better definitely gotta try thanx tons for always keeping all of it up to date luv cheers
Thanks Tzivia! 🙂
Delicious cake! Just made it today and everyone loved it,especially my husband. Except I used 2.5 cups of flour and 2 teaspoon of baking powder . This recipe is great, thank you Natasha!
I’m so glad you liked it! 🙂
Hi Natasha!
The name of this recipe is Apple Coffee Cake… But in the recipe it’s self there’s no coffee mentioned. Is the cake supposed to have a coffee flavor to it?
Hi Viktoria, it is meant to be enjoyed with coffee, I know the name is deceiving! I hope you love the recipe.
Thank you! I’ll definitely try it!
Wow this cake is bomb.com!! Love it! I will definitely be baking it again! Just wish it was a little more moist on the inside. Mine turned out a little dry, would using less flour like 2.5 cups solve the problem you think?
Hi Sveta, are you using regular US all-purpose flour or Canadian? I have found that when you use Canadian all-purpose flour, it typically requires using less flour in most baking recipes. This is why I use US all-purpose flour because it is more standard in measurements. If you are using Canadian, you might use less flour. Also, try baking it 5 -10 minutes less and you should see a big improvement. It’s done when a toothpick comes out clean. Over-baking will dry out the cake as well. I hope that helps!
This coffee cake looks amazing! I love that sauce you put on top and all of those nuts! Major yum!
Thank you Shelby 😁. It tastes as good as it looks!
Hi Natasha
This lovely cake pics look so yummy n good. Will be baking soon!
BTW, will you be sharing how to bake a moist liquor fruitcake as I hope to bake for coming Christmas!
Thank you for sharing your fantastic recipes.
I’m not sure if this is what you had in mind, but this cake is probably the closest I have to what you’re describing: https://natashaskitchen.com/2013/12/20/cranberry-apricot-loaf-a-keks-recipe/
Hi Natasha
Your apricot cranberry moist cake is really Superb ! I added some golden raisins as I do not have enough apricots!
Everyone loved it in my family even my friends.
Just wondering if I can add some rum to make it into a liquor fruitcake for Christmas.
Looking forward to your kind advice.
Thank you.
Hi there, I haven’t tried it with rum so I’m not sure how that would meld with the other ingredients. I wish I had a better answer but I just haven’t experimented with that. If you try it out, let me know how you like it 🙂
O-M-G! You got my attention! Can’t wait to try this!
I would love to hear the review from you Greg once you’ll make it 😁.
Wow, this looks so yummy and in time for apple season.
Thank you Dee Marie 😁.
I am making this cake today,the caramel looks dreamy!! thank you for another delicious cake perfect for this weather 😉
I hope you LOVE it! 🙂
Wow, I’ve been craving an apple treat lately. Guess I need to make this today!
I hope you love it!! I’ve been craving apples all month as well and they are so amazing for baking 🙂
That is a very yummy looking cake! And I’m with you about bundt pan, I have had more fails of them turning out perfectly than successes…I love the chunks of apple in that cake. I was wondering if I could make this sugar-free because my in-laws have been wanting me to make some coffee cake for them. hhmmm…
Hi Sheila, I haven’t experimented with it being sugar free but I did cut the sugar down to half of what the original recipe called for (using 1 cup instead of 2) and it was plenty sweet. If you test it out that way, let me know how it goes 🙂
Oh ok…I thought it’s the same amount. I will have to give it a try and let you know thanks a bunch Natasha!
p.s. I have just made a Filipino chicken congee (Filipino chicken and rice soup). I know I told you I’d let you know. Oh and 2 coconut desserts/native delicacies as well! 😉
Natasha, I was wondering why it is called coffee cake when there is no coffee ingredients..🤔?
Also, would it work with red apples, like gala?
Hi Ksusha, Coffee Cake usually just references that it is meant to be served with coffee 🙂
FYI: I have seen another “similar” recipe that was on tv & a small amount of coffee was added….reviews were “meh”
Thank you for sharing that with us.
I am making this right now!! we have so many apples. I noticed in the recipe you wrote 6TB of butter but in the directions on the bottom it says 4TB.
Oh goodness, sorry, I forgot to update that from my draft. It should say 6 Tbsp everywhere. It does work with 4 Tbsp and I have tested it that way though, so even if you used 4 Tbsp, you would be ok 🙂
Wow I love how good it looks and making it seems so easy.
Thanks Vicki! It really is a simple cake and I hope you love it! 🙂
Natasha great recipe! Looking forward to making it soon. I have a recipe request for you if possible. I have been looking for a recipe on how to make macaroni poflotskiy and didn’t find a recipe of your blog. Could you post one if you have one? My kids ask for it all the time and only my mommy in law makes it for them. Would be nice to have a good recipe especially since it’s a comfort food and now is the perfect time to indulge on some! Thanks! 😍
We make something similar. I’ll add it to my list to experiment! Thank you for the suggestion!! Does your mother-in-law bake it as a casserole or just stir together on the stovetop and serve?
That would be interesting to hear how you make makaroni posted flotski:)) I usually cook pasta, and brown sausage separately then combine with whatever pasta sauce I have on hand. Always a 15min meal or less;) would love to hear your version!
Thanks for sharing!! 🙂
She said that she makes tyshonka for the meat part (ground pork, salt, pepper placed in glass jars and baked in the oven.) I can’t tell you the exact time of baking the meat but I would assume somewhere between 1-4hours? Maybe more maybe less?! Once the meat has been baked she cooks pasta on the stovetop. Afterwards she adds the tyshonka to the cooked pasta. It’s scrumptious but I don’t know how to make anything like it. How does your mommy make macaroni poflotskiy?
I love making poflitski to use up any cooked/baked chicken we have. I cook the elbow macaroni per directions. While that is cooking, I shred the cooked chicken by knife (or traditional way is to grind it up in meat grinder). Heat up deep skillet with oil/butter, saute onions until transluscent, add the ground cooked chicken, salt and pepper. Once macaroni cooked, drain them, and add to the skillet with chicken and onions. Heat through. Sometimes I add more water if meat was too dry. I love it with pickles or pickled tomatoes. On occasion I even used canned chicken. It’s such an easy way to make a meal. I hope this is helpful
Yes, that is helpful and thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
OMG This looks just heavenly! Thanks for sharing =)
You are welcome Sara 😁. You must give it a try!