Apple Cinnamon Crunch Cake

Updated: Oct 9, 2025 by christina.marsigliese · 39 Comments

This easy Cinnamon Apple Cake recipe features one of most beloved and classic flavor combinations in a simple one layer cake that comes together in just about 30 minutes. It is supremely soft, tender and moist with a sour cream cake base and a buttery cinnamon sugar topping. The topping has a crunchy layer after it bakes and cools which is a delicious contrast to the soft cake beneath. It packs so much cinnamon flavor with fresh juicy apples. Although this cake is great any time of the year, it is especially lovely during Fall in the cooler months as cinnamon warms up the house. Serve it for brunch or enjoy it alongside a cup of coffee or tea in the morning or afternoon. If you love baking with apples, try my Apple Cinnamon Muffins, Brown Butter Caramel Apple Crumb Cake and my Cinnamon Apple Fritter Cake too!

cinnamon apple cake sliced on cutting board showing cross section

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

Easy to make - this simple one-bowl recipe comes together in just 30 minutes without any special equipment. You can use a bowl, a whisk and a spatula.
Moist sour cream cake - the sour cream cake batter makes a very moist, soft and tender crumb that melts in your mouth. You won't believe how moist it is!
Fresh apples - fresh sweet and tart diced apples have a perfectly soft texture as they bake into the cake.
Cinnamon sugar topping - the buttery cinnamon sugar sprinkle on top brings so much spicy cinnamon flavor and also adds crunch.
Vanilla glaze - a quick 3 ingredient icing is the finishing touch that almost makes this cake taste like a glazed donut.

top view of sliced apple cinnamon crunch cake on cutting board

INGREDIENTS FOR CINNAMON APPLE CAKE

Oil - this is an oil-based cake unlike my equally delicious Apple Fritter Cake that uses butter. The oil in this recipe creates a very soft and spongy texture and helps this cake rise taller even with all the apples weighing it down.
Granulated sugar - simple granulated sugar keeps this cake soft and doesn't interfere with the clean apple cinnamon flavor. You'll also need granulated sugar for the cinnamon sugar topping.
Eggs - one large egg will add nice structure for the soft sour cream cake.
Pure vanilla extract - vanilla is essential to make this delicious cake. I like this Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla extract.

apple cinnamon crunch cake slice on a plate with fork

Sour cream - full fat sour cream adds richness in the absence of butter and also creates a wonderful moist texture. If you don't have sour cream where you live, read down below in my FAQ section for my substitution recommendations.
Milk - any type of milk will do. I prefer whole milk for baking. It should be at room temperature so measure it out of the fridge about 30 minutes before baking.
All purpose flour - unbleached all-purpose flour works great for this cake.
Apples- you must use fresh apples for this recipe. It really works with any kind of apple, but I prefer tart apples such as Granny Smith or Red Prince, which is what I used here.

cinnamon apple cake in baking pan fresh from the oven

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1). Blend dry ingredients. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl and whisk very well until evenly blended.
STEP 2). Mix in apples. Add chopped apples and toss them through the dry ingredients so they are evenly coated.
STEP 3). Combine wet ingredients. Combine egg, oil, sour cream, milk and vanilla extract in a medium bowl and whisk until completely smooth and well blended.
STEP 4). Combine wet and dry ingredients. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. Fold it all together gently with a spatula being sure to get down to the bottom and bring up any dry pockets. Stop right when the batter is fully combined and be careful not to over mix.
STEP 5). Bake. Spread the batter evenly into your prepared pan using an offset spatula.
STEP 6). Make the cinnamon topping. Combine cinnamon topping ingredients in a small bowl until evenly blended and sprinkle it randomly over the batter.
STEP 7). Bake for 35-40 minutes until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool for 20 minutes in the pan, then run a knife or offset spatula around the edges to release the cake and transfer it to a cooling rack to finish cooling.
STEP 8). Make the glaze. Combine powdered sugar, milk and cinnamon in a medium bowl and whisk until completely smooth. Place the cake on a wire rack and set the rack over parchment-lined tray. Pour the glaze over the cake letting it drip over the edges. Scrape up the glaze that drips off the cake onto the parchment and spoon it back over the cake.

EXPERT BAKING TIPS FOR CINNAMON APPLE CAKE

Use room temperature ingredients. Since this is a simple one bowl mixing method, it is important to have all ingredients at the same temperature (not cold!) in order to help them blend evenly together. Make sure the egg and sour cream are at room temperature.
Sift the dry ingredients. This is optional, but it will minimize the amount of mixing needed to combine the ingredients evenly so that you do not over-mix the batter. It will give you the best results for a finer texture crumb as well since the sieve will break up all the flour particles and help disperse the baking powder.
Do not over-mix the batter. It is important that the batter is smooth, but stop as soon as you get to that point. Over-mixing can lead to a gummy cake, although this particular recipe is pretty foolproof.

cinnamon apple cake slice on a plate with bite

RECIPE FAQ

Can I make this cinnamon apple cake in advance?

You can make this cake the day before you plan to serve it and keep it covered overnight after it cools. If it is not too hot where you live, then you can store it at room temperature, but otherwise you can refrigerate it. It is still soft even after days in the fridge!

What makes cake soft?

This cake is so soft because it uses oil in the batter. Oil is a liquid fat which means that the cake will have a softer crumb even when refrigerated.

What causes cake to be dry and dense?

Too much flour and not enough sugar is the main reason why cake can turn out dry and dense. It is important to have the right proportions of liquid to dry ingredients for successful baking.

What can I use as a substitute for sour cream?

If you can't find sour cream where you live, you can also make this cake with full fat Greek yogurt or crème fraiche.

What type of apples are best for cinnamon apple cake?

This recipe works well with any type of apple, but my preference is for tart apples such as Granny Smith, Idared, Red Prince or Cortland.

Can I make this in a square cake pan?

Yes, you can make this cake in an 8-inch square cake pan. The cake will be slightly thinner and the baking time will be a few minutes less.

How to serve cinnamon apple cake?

This cake is so delicious that I serve it with nothing else! It is best served warm, yet still absolutely soft and delicious at room temperature. If you want to jazz it up, I'd suggest some lightly sweetened whipped cream or vanilla bean ice cream.

cinnamon apple cake slice on a plate with fork

STORING AND FREEZING

How to store cinnamon apple cake?

This cake will keep well in an airtight container for 1 day at room temperature, and then keep it refrigerated for up to 5 days. To serve, pull it from the fridge about 20 minutes in advance.

Can I freeze cinnamon apple cake?

I do not recommend freezing this cake as the texture of the apples will be compromised - they will get quite mushy. This cake keeps well in the fridge, even if you choose to store it for 1 week.

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