One-Bowl Apple Streusel Coffee Cake

It’s been a lonnnng time since I’ve stepped into a classroom. And I really miss it sometimes. It occasionally hits me like a brick in the head that it’s been a long 8 years since I {temporarily} closed the door on The Teaching Years.

Since then, I’ve frequented my own Littles’ classrooms on a regular basis as they’ve grown up. I love to tiptoe into my boys’ classrooms to volunteer or read to a crowd of bright-eyed kiddos.

Today was one of those days. My first grader was beyond excited when he saw me sitting in his classroom after they trekked in from lunch. One boy stared at me and asked if my hair was red when I was born. I didn’t answer. He asked again. I said it was L’oreal. Another boy announced he “used to dye his hair, too.”

Um, when you were 3? [Really, does it get any cuter than that?]

Yeah, I miss so many things about teaching. I laughed everyday at all the silly and funny stuff kids say.

I definitely miss classroom fun days like Apple Day. After reading silly stories to my son’s class this morning, they informed me that today was Apple Day. There were green ones, red ones, yellow ones, and pinkish ones just waiting for them to taste.

It automatically brought me back to those days when I’d slice apples, make applesauce, and do apple tasting with my students eagerly surrounding me in complete silence and awe. [Why they don’t act that way at home, who knows.]

At least the apples are still happening in my kitchen. Sans mass of kiddos. But it’s still Apple Day around here.

Ok, I wasn’t sure if it was legit to call this a One-Bowl cake, since the streusel obviously has to be separate. After mind-whirling, twirling, and overthinking, I decided it’s totally legit.

The cake part uses only one bowl… no messing with dry ingredients vs. wet ingredients separately. It all gets to be dumped into one big bowl at the same time. Sort of, since you only have two hands, but you get it. That by itself is worthy of a one-bowl title. 

Not that the streusel is much work, though. You get to toss 4 little ingredients into a bowl and play with it like a kid with sand. Super easy and craaazzzy yummy.

This entire apple cake is ridiculously moist, buttery, apple-y, and just what everyone craves for fall!

Here’s to fun days like Apple Day. And cakes to celebrate such a day.

Whether you’re 6 or 96.

Enjoy.

One-Bowl Apple Streusel Coffee Cake

Be the first to rate!

Print Pin SaveSaved

This Apple Streusel Coffee Cake only uses one bowl. You get to dump all the cake ingredients together, without the fuss of wet/dry ingredients separately! The streusel topping (separate) is absolutely scrumptious...definitely don't skip it!

Prep Time: 30 mins

Cook Time: 40 mins

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins

Servings: 15 -20

Ingredients  

1x2x3x

For the Cake:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup whole plain Greek yogurt
• ½ cup salted butter
• ¼ cup whole milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp vanilla
• ¼ tsp table salt
• 3 large granny smith apples, peeled and diced small

Topping:

• 1 cup chopped pecans
• ½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• ½ cup all purpose flour
• ¼ cup salted cold butter, cut into cubes and chilled
• 3 tsp ground cinnamon

Optional Drizzle:

• ½ cup powder sugar
• 1 TB milk, more or less, depending on thickness desired

Instructions

• Make the Topping ahead of time: Combine all topping ingredients in a bowl. Use fingers to work mixture into the texture of clumpy wet sand. Cover and keep chilled.
• Butter a 13x9 in baking pan and preheat oven to 350F, with rack on lower middle position.
• Combine all cake ingredients except apples in the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the paddle attachment, mix at medium speed, stopping to scrape a few times, just until mixture is combined. Don't over mix. Use a rubber spatula to fold in apples. Batter will be thick. Spread batter into prepared baking pan, evening out the top and corners. Sprinkle topping over the batter evenly.
• Bake 40-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake portion (not crumble/cracked portions, which will remain wet due to melted butter) comes out clean. A few tender crumbs attached to toothpick is perfect. Do not over-bake. (If topping browns too quickly during baking, cover loosely with foil.)
• If desired, make drizzle by combining powder sugar with milk and whisking until combined. Add more sugar or milk as needed to reach desired consistency. Drizzle over cooled cake.

Click here to add your own private notes.

Course: Breakfast, brunch

Cuisine: American

Source: Chew Out Loud, inspired by Land O’ Lakes

We’re all apple-happy over here! Check these yumalicious recipes out:

1. Upside Down Apple French Toast Bake. Because it tastes amazing. And because it’s make-ahead.

2. Hawaiian Apple Bread Pudding. Because it uses tons of apples and Hawaiian sweet bread.

1. Apple Caramel Cinnamon Cake. You can never eat enough apple cake in fall. Especially when it tastes like caramel apples in a cake.

1. Apple Texas French Toast Bake. A decadent twist on our Texas French Toast Bake, fall-ified.