Apple Coffee Cake With Cream Cheese Filling

Apple Coffee Cake with Cream Cheese Filling is a cozy, decadent dessert (or breakfast!) that features a tender cinnamon-spiced apple cake layered with a creamy cheesecake-style filling and topped with a buttery crumble. This comforting bake is perfect for crisp fall mornings, brunch gatherings, or whenever you’re craving a slice of something sweet, soft, and full of apple flavor.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Moist, tender cake loaded with cinnamon and fresh apples
• Cream cheese filling adds a luscious, tangy surprise in every bite
• Buttery streusel topping for irresistible texture
• Ideal for breakfast, brunch, or dessert
• Perfect make-ahead option for holiday mornings
• Uses simple pantry ingredients
• Lovely served warm or chilled
• Great balance of sweet, spiced, and creamy flavors
• Customizable with nuts or caramel drizzle
• Crowd-pleaser for family, guests, or potlucks

ingredients

(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

For the apple coffee cake:

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Ground cinnamon
• Granulated sugar
• Brown sugar
• Eggs
• Vegetable oil or melted butter
• Vanilla extract
• Sour cream or Greek yogurt
• Diced apples (such as Honeycrisp or Granny Smith)

For the cream cheese filling:

• Cream cheese (softened)
• Granulated sugar
• Egg
• Vanilla extract

For the streusel topping:

• All-purpose flour
• Brown sugar
• Ground cinnamon
• Cold unsalted butter (cubed)

directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×9-inch or 9×13-inch baking pan, or line with parchment paper.
2. Make the cream cheese filling: In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth. Set aside.
3. Prepare the streusel topping: Mix flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cut in cold butter until crumbly. Chill while preparing the cake.
4. Make the cake batter: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and sugars.
5. In another bowl, whisk eggs, oil, vanilla, and sour cream. Stir wet ingredients into dry just until combined. Fold in diced apples.
6. Spread half of the cake batter into the prepared pan. Carefully spoon the cream cheese filling over it, then gently spread the remaining batter on top.
7. Sprinkle the chilled streusel evenly over the top.
8. Bake for 4555 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
9. Cool completely in the pan before slicing. Serve warm, at room temp, or chilled.

Servings and timing

• Yield: 1216 servings
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Bake Time: 4555 minutes
• Total Time: About 1 hour 15 minutes

Variations

• Nutty Crunch: Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the streusel topping.
• Caramel Swirl: Drizzle caramel over the cream cheese layer before topping with batter.
• Apple Variety: Mix tart and sweet apples for flavor depth.
• Spiced Up: Add nutmeg or allspice to the cake and streusel.
• Gluten-Free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
• Mini Cakes: Bake in muffin tins for individual servings—reduce bake time to 2025 minutes.

storage/reheating

Store the cake tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It can also be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before serving. Reheat slices in the microwave for 1520 seconds for a warm treat.

FAQs

What apples are best for this cake?

Firm varieties like Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Fuji hold up well and offer great flavor.

Can I use apple pie filling instead of fresh apples?

Fresh apples are best for texture and freshness, but finely chopped pie filling can be used in a pinch.

Do I have to use sour cream?

Sour cream adds richness and moisture. You can substitute with Greek yogurt or buttermilk.

Can I skip the cream cheese filling?

Yes, but the filling adds a delicious creamy layer. The cake will still be tasty without it.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Absolutely—this cake tastes great the next day and stores well in the fridge.

How do I keep the streusel from sinking?

Make sure the butter is cold and the topping is crumbly. Chilling it before adding helps it stay on top.

Can I use oil instead of butter?

Yes, oil makes the cake extra moist. Butter adds flavor—use whichever you prefer.

Can I make this as a bundt cake?

It’s best baked as a layered sheet-style cake, but you can try it in a bundt pan with adjusted bake time.

Can I add raisins or dried cranberries?

Yes! Stir them into the batter or layer them in with the apples.

Is this cake very sweet?

It’s sweet but balanced, especially with the tangy cream cheese layer and cinnamon-spiced apples.

Conclusion

Apple Coffee Cake with Cream Cheese Filling is the perfect fusion of fall flavors and comforting textures. With its spiced apple cake, creamy cheesecake center, and buttery streusel topping, every slice is packed with indulgent, cozy goodness. Whether you’re enjoying it for breakfast, dessert, or a holiday treat, this cake is a must-bake favorite you’ll want on repeat all season long.

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