Apple Maple Walnut Streusel Cake

I admit it. I’m really not much of a baker. But then, COVID came – and I surrendered to the sweet (pardon the pun) arms of the banana bread hype. I jumped on board the comfort baking boat and the rest, as they say, is history. This time around apples are ample, so I developed a recipe for a fall apple maple walnut streusel cake. It’s the perfect coffee cake: It’s spicy, it’s moist inside, crispy outside – thanks to the walnut streusel on top – and full on flavorful.

Ingredients

Batter

3-4 apples, peeled, cubed

3/4 cup butter

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup maple syrup

2/3 cup buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 + 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1 + 1/2 cup AP flour

Streusel

1/2 cup AP flour

1/2 cup walnuts

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 tbsp maple syrup

4 tbsp butter

Instructions

Step 1

Line a 9 x 9 inch square baking pan with parchment paper or use non-stick. Prepare the streusel by pulsing all the streusel ingredients in the food processor until they are incorporated and set aside.

Step 2

Mix your dry ingredients in a bowl – flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and spices.

Step 3

In a separate bowl, mix your wet ingredients. Start by creaming together butter and sugar, scraping the bowl when needed. Proceed adding the eggs one at a time, followed by maple syrup, buttermilk and vanilla extract. Lastly, toss dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix until you have a smooth batter.

Step 4

Now you have two options. Either fold apples in the batter – which will result in apple pockets throughout the cake – or (my preferred method) spread the batter in the baking pan and then cover it with the apples. If you do so, sprinkle the apples with some more cinnamon.

Step 5

Spread streusel evenly on top, pressing with your fingers to create bigger chunks here and there. Bake in a preheated oven at 350^oF for 50’-55’ or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Let it cool completely. Now you can enjoy the freshly baked apple maple walnut streusel cake along with your favorite warm fall beverage!