Ingredients

For the streusel:

3 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
½ cup flour
¼ cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon

For the coffee cake:

1 ¼ cups apple cider, reduced to ½ cup (see instructions below)
1 ½ cups flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ginger, pumpkin pie spice, or allspice
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
¼ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
½ cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
1 ¼ cups chopped apples, preferably Granny Smith

For the apple cider glaze:

1 tablespoon plus ½ teaspoon apple cider
¼ teaspoon vanilla
¾ cup powdered sugar (or more as needed)
1 pinch of salt

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the streusel by combining melted butter, flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Chill in the fridge while you make the batter.

Step 2: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a small pot, bring the apple cider to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until it reduces to ½ cup. Set aside to cool.

Step 3: Butter and line an 8-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving a two-inch overhang on the sides.

Step 4: In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger or substitute).

Step 5: In a large bowl or electric mixer, beat butter and sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy. Scrape down sides, then add vanilla and egg. Mix well.

Step 6: Add the reduced apple cider and sour cream to the wet ingredients, then stir in the dry flour mixture until just combined. Fold in the chopped apples.

Step 7: Spoon batter into prepared pan. Use a spatula to spread evenly and tap the pan sharply to remove air bubbles.

Step 8: Sprinkle ½ cup of chilled streusel evenly over the batter.

Step 9: Bake for 25–32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for at least 1 hour.

Step 10: To make the glaze, whisk powdered sugar, apple cider, vanilla, and a pinch of salt together until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cake before serving.

Tips & Variations

Use tart apples like Granny Smith for a nice balance of sweetness and acidity.

You can substitute pumpkin pie spice for the ginger for a different flavor profile.

Chilling the streusel helps it hold its shape and adds a nice crunchy texture on top.

If you don’t have apple cider on hand, apple juice reduced in the same way works as a substitute.

FAQs

Can I make this coffee cake vegan?

You can substitute the butter with vegan margarine or coconut oil, use a flax egg or commercial egg replacer, and swap Greek yogurt for a plant-based yogurt. Keep in mind the texture may vary slightly.

How do I reduce apple cider for the recipe?

Simply heat the apple cider in a small pot over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer gently until the liquid reduces to half the original volume. Let it cool completely before using.