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This easy apple coffee cake never disappoints! Don’t take it from me, just read the comments below!
Made with yellow cake mix, fresh apples and lots of cinnamon-sugar swirled in, this irresistible apple coffee cake will be ready in under an hour and make your house smell like Cinnabon!
This is one of THE best coffee cakes I’ve ever made and by far the easiest.
-Kathleen
A friend brought me lots of apples, so this was a good chance to try this recipe. It came together beautifully and is absolutely delicious. The recipe is now in my tried and true file. Thank you.
-Pauline
Delicious Fresh Apple Cake made with Cake Mix
- starts with a box of yellow cake mix
- bake in a 9×13 inch pan
- has chopped apples inside
- will make your house smell like fall!
I was initially concerned that I couldn’t call this a “coffee cake.” But google says that a coffee cake is a cake, often cinnamon flavored, with drizzled white icing – this cake definitely fits that description!
There are so many names you could call this cake – doctored up apple cinnamon cake, easy apple cinnamon crumb cake, apple coffee cake.
So let’s break it down.
Does Coffee Cake have coffee in it?
Despite its name, traditional coffee cake usually does not contain actual coffee as an ingredient. Coffee cake is a type of cake that is intended to be served with coffee, hence the name.
Best Apples for Apple Cake
For apple cake, choose apples with a balance of sweetness and tartness, like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji, Braeburn, Gala, Jonathan, or Cortland. These varieties hold their shape during baking, offering a satisfying texture to the cake.
Apple Coffee Cake Recipe Ingredients
- apples, diced into small pieces
- brown sugar
- cinnamon
- sour cream
- vegetable oil
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- yellow cake mix (can use a gluten free mix!)
How to Make Apple Cake with Cake Mix
- Preheat the oven to 350º F. Spray a 9×13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Dice the apples into small pieces. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon, mix with a spoon to combine. Remove 3 tbsp and sprinkle over the apples. Set aside the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture. And set aside the apples.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the sour cream, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract, beat with an electric mixer for 1 minute or until combined. Add in the cake mix, gently mixing with the beater. Add in the apples and mix by hand until incorporated. Pour the cake mixture into the 9×13 inch pan, smooth with a spatula.
- Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture all over the cake. Use a butter knife or spatula to swirl this mixture into the cake batter.
- Bake for 32-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool while you make the glaze.
- In a mixing bowl combine the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract. Use a whisk to stir the mixture until it’s smooth. YOUR CHOICE: pour the glaze over the warm cake or let the cake cool completely then add the glaze. Serve right away or cover the cake pan with a lid and store on the counter until serving.
This is for sure the easiest way to make apple coffee cake!
Making Apple Coffee Cake Ahead of Time
You can make this apple coffee cake with sour cream the day before you serve it and store it on the counter in an airtight container. However, I recommend waiting to add the glaze until the day of, otherwise the glaze can make the cake soggy.
How to Store Sour Cream Apple Coffee Cake
The cake can be kept on the counter in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Apple Coffee Cake Substitutions and Variations
- You can replace the 15.25 oz box of yellow cake mix with another 15.25 oz cake mix. Other flavors I recommend are white, butter golden, spice, and french vanilla!
- I tested this recipe with a gluten free yellow cake mix and it turned out SO good!
Want Cream Cheese Icing Instead?
Beat 4 oz softened cream cheese with 2 cups powdered sugar and 1/4 cup milk until thick. If too thick, beat in more milk (1 tsp at a time).
Apple Coffee Cake Recipe Tips for Success
- Be sure to dice the apples into small pieces so they soften during baking. If the apple pieces are too large, they won’t become fully soft.
- Don’t be afraid to really swirl in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Use a butter knife or small spatula.
- Recommended apples include: granny smith, honey crisp, or gala.
More Favorite Recipes
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Fresh Apple Cake with Cake Mix
Ingredients
- 2 apples, diced into small pieces (I recommend granny smith, honey crisp, or gala)
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 ½ tbsp cinnamon
- 1 cup sour cream
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 box yellow cake mix, 15.25 oz (can use a gluten free mix!)
GLAZE
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp milk or more in needed
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350º F. Spray a 9×13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Dice the apples into small pieces. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon, mix with a spoon to combine. Remove 3 tbsp and sprinkle over the apples. Set aside the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture. And set aside the apples.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the sour cream, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract, beat with an electric mixer for 1 minute or until combined. Add in the cake mix, gently mixing with the beater. Add in the apples and mix by hand until incorporated. Pour the cake mixture into the 9×13 inch pan, smooth with a spatula.
- Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture all over the cake. Use a butter knife or spatula to swirl this mixture into the cake batter.
- Bake for 32-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool while you make the glaze.
- In a mixing bowl combine the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract. Use a whisk to stir the mixture until it’s smooth.
- YOUR CHOICE: pour the glaze over the warm cake or let the cake cool completely then add the glaze. Serve right away or cover the cake pan with a lid and store on the counter until serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclosure
All nutritional values are approximate and provided to the reader as a courtesy. Changing ingredients and/or quantities will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
Made this cake tonight for my boyfriend’s birthday. Used 3 apples instead of 2 (needed to use them up) and also used 1/2 cup whole-fat plain yogurt and half cup sour cream. I went with Pillsbury’s traditional yellow cake mix since it’s what I had on hand. Wound up taking several minutes longer in the oven to cook through, but it tasted great. :) Also went with a simple caramel glaze instead, which paired nicely.
Can I add more apples to the recipe?
Yes!
The very best moist cake we have ever eaten. So easy. I commend you. Have made your apple cake several times–love it. Have made your cake recipe without apples and added half can of drained crushed pineapple to mixture. Wow!
Thanks for sharing the apple coffe cake recipe.I will try to make this at home
Yay! Let me know how it turns out!
Can you put chopped walnuts into the batter?
Definitely, that sounds delicious!
I’m thinking of using this recipe. Can I use nuts in it? Have you tried it with chopped walnuts?
Nuts would be a great addition!
I’m going to make this today bu forgot to get powdered sugar, will it be too dry without it?
Hi Heide! Powdered sugar is a critical ingredient for the glaze – but you could skip the glaze and the cake will still be delicious!
You can blend regular sugar in a blender and it will turn into powdered sugar
Hi! I actually changed this recipe up today and instead of apples, I used a can of whole cranberry sauce and swirled it in along with the cinnamon mix. It was so delicious and moist. I’ve received so many compliments already and was told it tasted like a bakery made it! Thank you for such a great, versatile recipe. Definitely will make this again!
If you use a Bundt pan, how long should it bake?
I don’t have fresh apples. Can I use a can of apple pie filling? And do I need to make other changes to the recipe because of canned apple pie filling?
I think apple pie filling would work great! Report back if you make it with pie filling.