This Irish Apple Crumble Cake is reminiscent of a coffee cake, filled with tender apples, and topped with crunchy cinnamon sugar crumbles! Just as good for breakfast as it is for dessert!

Did your lovely quarantine morning involve waking up to that awful retching sound that means your dog is about to yak on the snow white rug? Apple crumble cake is here for you.
Were you late to your virtual meeting, because it turns out that wiping down two hundred dollars worth of quarantine grocery delivery takes more than a hot minute? Apple crumble cake understands.
Did your husband relegate you to the basement for the duration of your quarantine work day, because your penchant for humming, clicking, and whistling while you work is apparently grounds for divorce? Apple crumble cake loves you anyway.
Did your quarantine morning run turn into a quarantine morning walk, because #quarantine? Apple crumble cake can make it better.
Did you spend several hours after midnight hanging out with (while maintaining six feet of distance from) the masked, gloved, emergency plumber, because your sewer backed up into your brand new basement gym? Apple crumble cake will make you forget.
Are you wearing yesterday’s sweat pants? Did you forget how to put on make-up? Apple crumble cake doesn’t judge.
Did you serve mac ‘n cheese with hot dogs for quarantine dinner . . . even though no children live in your house? Apple crumble cake goes with everything.
Did you hand your husband his morning tea in a Slytherin mug, because his quarantine attitude needed improvement? Apple crumble cake is house Hufflepuff.
Did you learn new quarantine skills? Like cutting your husband’s hair and grinding the dog’s nails? And rehydrating freeze-dried apples, because you were going to die if you didn’t have dessert right this minute? Apple crumble cake is flexible like that.
Did you slice yourself a piece of apple crumble cake for quarantine lunch, because you’re a responsible adult, uhthankyouverymuch? Apple crumble cake IS HERE FOR IT.



What is Irish Apple Crumble Cake?
Very similar to a coffee cake, this Irish apple crumble cake has a dense crumb and is sweet without being too overly sweet. This is not your traditional Irish apple cake recipe, since my understanding is that the Irish folk long ago did not feel the need to put cinnamon sugar crumbles on top of their cake. But I’ve taken more of a YOLO approach to baking.
What kind of apples should I use for Irish apple cake?
Anything you have on hand! I have tried this with both a tart apple (e.g., Granny Smith), as well as a sweet apple (e.g., Fuji). You can also make this with freeze-dried apples! Just make sure to fully rehydrate the apples and drain them of any excess liquid before tossing them with flour and folding them into the batter.

mikaela | wyldflour
One 8-inch cake
This Irish Apple Crumble Cake is reminiscent of a coffee cake, filled with tender apples, and topped with crunchy cinnamon sugar crumbles! Just as good for breakfast as it is for dessert!
15 minPrep Time
60 minCook Time
1 hr, 15 Total Time
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup white granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (+3 Tablespoons for the apples)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup whole milk
- 2 cups thinly sliced, peeled, cored apples (any variety, but I prefer granny smith) (~2 apples)
Instructions
- Prepare the apples. Peel, core, and thinly slice apples (~3/8" thick), toss with 3 tablespoons flour, and set aside.
- Prepare the pan. Generously butter an 8-inch cake pan that is 3-inches deep. (My preference, but you could also use a 9-inch pan or a spring-form pan.) Set aside.
- Prepare the crumble topping. Use a fork to toss all of the crumble ingredients together in a small bowl until they form clumps of sugary goodness. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Prepare the cake. In a medium-sized bowl, stir together flour, salt, baking powder, and spices. In a separate, large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar for 2-3 minutes until fluffy. Beat in eggs until just incorporated. Beat in vanilla. On low, beat in 1/3 of the flour mixture until just incorporated. Mix in half of the milk. Then beat in half of the remaining flour mixture (i.e., another third). Mix in the remaining milk. Beat in the remaining flour mixture until just incorporated. Use a spatula to fold the apples into the cake batter. Pour into the prepared pan and spread evenly into the pan. Sprinkle the crumble topping across the cake and bake for 55-60 minutes until a toothpick comes out with only a couple crumbs attached.
- Cool the cake 30 minutes in the pan if serving warm or cool completely before storing. Store leftovers in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in the pan at room temperature for up to 24 hours or in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
For the Apples: Any variety will work. Tart apples (Granny Smith) tend to hold their shape better while sweeter apples (Gala, Fuji) will meld a little more with the cake. I have also successfully used rehydrated freeze-dried apples--just rehydrate them before measuring!
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