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There’s been a lot of apple pie filling recipes coming out of the kitchen this season, but this one is my favorite. I will admit that coffee cake is already one of my favorite sweet treats, and this one is something special.
You get this apple coffee cake by combining a soft vanilla cake with a ribbon of apple pie filling and a thick cinnamon crumble that bakes into craggy, golden clusters. As it bakes, the filling sinks into the batter and the crumb top gets tender and crisp all at once, then an optional glaze goes on once it cools. The brown sugar crumble is the part everyone picks at first. I can barely wait for it to cool before I try it (but I suggest you give it a few minutes…)
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Easy apple coffee cake with apple pie filling recipe steps
Step 1: Gather your ingredients before starting. I promise it’s the right thing to do. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper. If you don’t have any parchment, prep the bottom and sides of the pan heavily with butter and flour.
Step 2: Whisk the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt together in a large bowl until no lumps remain.
Step 3: Melt 3/4 cup of the butter and pour it into the dry mixture, and stir until crumbly, with large and small bits of crumble. Chill the crumble in the refrigerator while you make the batter.
Step 4: In another bowl, whisk the cake mix powder, remaining 4 tablespoons melted butter, oil, vanilla, eggs, and sour cream into a smooth, thick batter.
Step 5: Spread the batter in the prepared pan.
Step 6: Spoon the apple pie filling over the center, pulled away from the sides a bit so the apple filling doesn’t burn at the pan’s edge.
Step 7: Scatter the chilled cinnamon crumble over the top, breaking up any large chunks with your fingers. (Unless you’re like me and you reallly want big pieces of crumble…)
Step 8: Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Cool completely. As an optional finish: In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar and milk to make a glaze and drizzle over the top.
Tools and equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Small saucepan
- Large mixing bowl
- Parchment paper
- 9×13-inch baking dish
- Small bowl
- Spoon
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Apple Coffee Cake With Apple Pie Filling
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter divided
- 13.25 oz box vanilla cake mix
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 21 oz apple pie filling
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar for optional glaze
- 2 tbsp milk for optional glaze
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
- Whisk the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl.
- Melt 3/4 cup of the butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat until bubbly, then pour it into the dry mixture and stir until crumbly. (This creates a deeper brown butter flavor.) Chill in the refrigerator while you make the batter.
- In a large bowl, whisk the cake mix, 4 tablespoons melted butter, oil, vanilla, eggs, and sour cream until smooth.
- Spread the batter in the prepared pan. Spoon the apple pie filling over the center, leaving a little batter showing around the edges.
- Sprinkle the chilled crumble over the top. You should have a variety of crumble sizes.
- Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely.
- Optional finish: Whisk the powdered sugar and milk together and drizzle over the cake.
The bottom line
This apple coffee cake with apple pie filling gives you bakery-style layers, a soft cake, a jammy apple middle, and a crumbly cinnamon top, from a box of cake mix and a can of fruit filling.
We’ve been cooking and chewing up a storm, so if you have cans of apple filling in the pantry to use up, here are some more recipes:
