Gluten Free Apple Crumb Cake

This Gluten Free Apple Crumb Cake Apple is a delightful baked treat that captures the essence of autumn in every bite. Picture it: a soft buttery cake base, a layer of apples tossed with warm spices, and a generous sprinkling of crumb topping. Apfelstreuselkuchen is the perfect breakfast cake or a little something-something to serve for "Kaffee & Kuchen" (Mid Afternoon Coffee Break). If you love Apple Season as much as I do, this apple crumble cake is for you!

Recipe Ingredient Notes

Gluten Free Flour: To test this Apple Crumb Cake recipe I have used my own gluten-free flour blend and Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1. Both of these blends yielded a tender, moist crumb and provided an outstanding flavor. It's worth noting that while I haven't tried other brands of flour in this recipe, it doesn't necessarily mean that they won't work. The flour blends used to create this exceptional recipe do include xanthan gum.

Almond Flour: The almond flour gives this soft buttery cake its beautiful structure and moist crumb. If you prefer to keep this recipe nut-free, please substitute the almond flour with the same amount of gluten-free flour. You can even substitute the almond flour with hazelnut flour or walnut flour.

Sour Cream: Sour Cream not only provides flavor to this gluten free apple crumb cake but also fat. I have tested this recipe with plain greek yogurt and sour cream and both products work interchangeably. If you don't have any sour cream or greek yogurt on hand, you may use full fat buttermilk or even kefir. Please be aware the cake's taste and texture may be slightly different.

Apples: For an apple crumb cake, it's best to choose apples that are firm, slightly tart, and can hold their shape during baking. Personally I love using Honeycrisp or Granny Smith Apples.

What is Apple Pie Spice?

Apple pie spice is a blend of ground spices that is commonly used to season apple pie and other apple-based desserts like this Gluten Free Apple Crumb Cake. It typically includes a combination of warm, sweet, and aromatic spices that complement the flavor of apples. While the exact ingredients in apple pie spice can vary, a typical blend may include:

Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a key component of apple pie spice, and it provides a warm, sweet, and slightly spicy flavor.

Nutmeg: Nutmeg adds a nutty and slightly sweet flavor to the mix, as well as a hint of earthiness.

Allspice: Allspice contributes a complex flavor profile that combines notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

Cardamom: Cardamom has a distinctive, slightly citrusy and floral flavor that can complement the warm and sweet notes of other traditional apple pie spices.

Ginger: While ginger is not a traditional component of apple pie spice, it can be a delightful addition for those who enjoy a hint of spiciness and complexity in their desserts.

Apple Pie Spice is available at grocery stores or spice shops but a small container can come with a hefty price tag. And often it can be tricky to locate therefore I choose to make my own blend at home. It is very similar to my Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix. Feel free to tweak and adjust your spice blend to meet your personal preferences. Store the spice blend in an airtight container.

Homemade Apple Pie Spice
2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
¾ teaspoon ground cardamon
¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground allspice

Which Apples are the best for Apple Crumb Cake?

For an apple crumb cake, you'll want to choose apples that have a good balance of sweet and tart flavors and that hold their shape well during baking. Here are some apple varieties that work well for apple crumb cake:

Granny Smith: Granny Smith apples are a classic choice for baking because of their tartness and firm texture. They add a nice contrast to the sweet cake and crumb topping.

Honeycrisp: Honeycrisp apples are known for their sweet and crisp flesh. They are great for baking because they hold their shape and provide a pleasing sweetness to the cake.

Jonagold: Jonagold apples are a cross between Jonathan and Golden Delicious apples. They have a sweet-tart flavor and a firm texture, making them suitable for baking.

Fuji: Fuji apples are sweet and juicy, making them a good choice for adding natural sweetness to your apple cake.

Braeburn: Braeburn apples have a nice balance of sweet and tart flavors and hold up well in baking.

Crispin (Mutsu): Crispin apples are known for their crisp and juicy flesh. They have a mildly sweet flavor and work well in baked goods.

Empire: Empire apples are a cross between McIntosh and Red Delicious apples. They have a good blend of sweet and tart flavors and maintain their shape when baked.

When selecting apples for your apple crumb cake, consider your personal preference for sweetness and tartness. You can also mix and match apple varieties to create a more complex flavor profile. Regardless of the specific apple variety you choose, be sure to peel, core, and slice the apples uniformly so that they cook evenly and contribute to the overall texture and taste of the cake.

How to make the Crumb Topping

The crumb topping can be made with just melted butter or if you like you may use brown butter instead. If you never made brown butter before, you can find detailed instructions how to make brown butter in this blog post: How to make Brown Butter.

Step 1: Melt the butter in a small pot on the stove or a microwave safe bowl. Allow to cool for a few minutes.

Step 2: In the meantime combine the Gluten Free Flour, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon and kosher salt in a mixing bowl and whisk together.

Step 3: Using a fork or a small spatula, lightly mix the dry ingredients and the melted butter together until crumbles form. Don’t overmix.

Step 4: Place the crumble topping in the fridge while you prepare the gluten free cake batter for the Apple Crumb Cake. At this point you may even freeze the crumb topping up to 3 months. It makes a great addition to muffins, coffee cakes and even cheesecakes.

How to make a Gluten Free Apple Crumb Cake Batter

I like to use a 9″ spring pan to make this crumb cake. I understand spring form pans are not something everyone has on hand. You can also use a 9×9 rectangular pan or 9" round cake pan.

Step 1: Start by peeling and dicing the apples into small cubes. I like to cut them around 1cm dice (roughly ½ inch?). Place them in a small bowl and toss them with apple spice mixture. Set aside until ready to assemble the cake. You should have 350 grams of diced apples for this cake. I used 3 medium apples for this (around 600 grams before peeling and coring)

Step 2: Preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly spray the spring form with nonstick cooking spray and line the bottom with parchment paper. Set aside.

Step 3: Combine the gluten-free multi-purpose flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda and kosher salt. Make sure to sift or stir it together.

Step 4: Add the room temperature butter, light brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla extract to the bowl of the stand mixer or large mixing bowl. Mix at medium speed for about 3 minutes until lighter in color and smooth. Make sure to stop the electric mixer halfway through and scrape the sides of the bowl with a flexible spatula.

Step 5: Add the room temperature eggs, one by one, allowing 30 seconds between each addition. The batter will look curdled but once you add the dry ingredients, it will come back together.

Step 6: With the mixer on low speed, mix in the dry ingredients until smooth. Add the room temperature sour cream and mix until incorporated. Do not overmix. The batter will be thick. Make sure to scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl to make sure everything is combined.

How to bake an Apple Crumb Cake

The oven should be preheated at this point to 350F as well as the cake pan should be ready to use.

Step 1: Transfer the gluten-free apple crumb cake batter to the prepared spring form and with a small offset knife, spread it out evenly. If you also want to have small chunks of apples in the cake, make sure to fold them into the cake batter before transferring them to the spring form.

Step 2: Retrieve the bowl with the diced apples and top the cake batter evenly with the spiced apples.

Step 3: Top the apples with the crumb topping. Make sure to gently press down the streusel topping with the back of a spoon or clean hands to make sure it sticks to the apples.

Step 4: Place the apple coffee cake in the preheated oven and bake at 350F for 40-45 minutes. The crumb top of the cake will be golden brown and a cake tester insert in the center of the cake comes out clean. If you prefer using a digital thermometer make sure the internal temperature in the center of the cake is above 200F.

Step 5: Remove the gluten free crumb cake from the oven and place it on a cooling rack. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing the ring of the springform pan. To do so, run a knife around the edges (right between the cake and the ring). Then open the latch of the spring form and remove it. Allow the cake to cool for at least- 45-60 minutes before slicing and serving it.

Serving Ideas for Apple Crumb Cake

Here are some popular ways to serve apple crumb cake:

Warm with a Dollop of Whipped Cream: Serving apple crumb cake warm from the oven enhances its flavors and aromas. Top each slice with a generous dollop of freshly whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a comforting and indulgent dessert.

Plain and Simple: Sometimes, the best way to enjoy apple crumb cake is in its pure form. Serve a slice on its own, perhaps with a cup of hot coffee or tea. The combination of moist cake, sweet apple filling, and crumbly topping can be satisfying without any additional adornments.

Drizzled with Caramel Sauce: Elevate your apple crumb cake with a drizzle of warm caramel sauce. The rich and buttery caramel complements the apple and cinnamon flavors beautifully, adding an extra layer of sweetness and decadence.

With a Dusting of Powdered Sugar: Before serving, sprinkle a light layer of powdered sugar over the top of the cake for an elegant touch. This not only adds a hint of sweetness but also gives the cake a beautiful presentation.

Storage & Freezing

While this Apple Crumb Cake is delicious the day it has been made, it's even better the next day. Which is great news if you plan on making it ahead of time. To store leftover gluten-free apple crumb cake, keep it in an airtight container at room temperature. If your home is very warm and humid, I recommend storing it in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Allow it to come to room temperature before serving.

To freeze the gluten-free apple crumb cake, make sure it is completely cool. Wrap the entire uncut cake in plastic wrap and place it in an airtight container or large ziplock bag. You can also freeze individual pieces this way. To thaw, transfer the cake from the freezer to the fridge and allow it to thaw overnight.

Note about Salt in my Recipes

I use Diamond Kosher Crystal Salt in all of my recipes unless otherwise stated. If use use a different brand or kind of salt in your kitchen please adjust accordingly since some salts can be saltier. If you use Morton’s Kosher Salt please be aware that their salt granules are smaller in size, denser, and crunchier and twice as salty.

Baking in grams

I share my recipes in grams and by weight since baking by weight is the most accurate way to bake. Digital Scales are very affordable and easy to use. You can purchase them on Amazon for less than a set of measuring cups. For small amounts under 10 grams, I like to use this Precision Pocket Scale. Measuring cups are very inaccurate which can cause significant errors when it comes to gluten-free baking or baking in general. Especially since I bake with gluten-free flours which weigh differently than “regular” flours. I do provide some ingredients like spices and leavening agents in measuring spoons. To learn more about Baking with a digital scale, make sure to check out my post about Baking by weight.

Note about Ovens and Oven Temperatures

All my recipes are tested and developed with a conventional oven. I always bake my baked goods on the rack placed in the MIDDLE of my oven. This way the heat coming from the bottom will not burn my baked goods.

If you are baking with convection (fan-forced), please adjust the recipes accordingly. Convection oven can cause baked goods to dry out quickly and still be raw inside. Since takes at least 15-20 minutes for a standard American Oven to be fully preheated. I highly recommend investing in an Oven Thermometer.

Substitutions and Modifications

Any dietary or ingredient modifications/substitutions to this recipe may alter the end result in appearance and taste. I test my recipes several times as published in this post and The Gluten Free Austrian Blog is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe you find on our website.