The more crumb the better. About a good inch or 2 of crumb and a little less of the cake is ideal.
By Amy Casey
Caramel Apple Crumb Cake is my version of the beloved New York style crumb cake. Every grocery store, coffee shop, bakery, diner, and convenience mart in New Jersey and New York sells crumb cakes. The more crumb the better. About a good inch or 2 of crumb and a little less of the cake is ideal.
Caramel Apple Crumb Cake
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
The more crumb the better. About a good inch or 2 of crumb and a little less of the cake is ideal.
Ingredients
Scale
for the caramel apples
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 4 Fuji apples, peeled and sliced thin
for the crumb topping
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 1/3 cups cake flour
- 2 sticks butter, melted
for the cake
- 2/3 cup half and half
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- 2 1/2 cups cake flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 sticks butter, cut in chunks
- 2 extra large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
- Heat a large saute pan to medium high. Add the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir to melt. Add the apples and stir to coat. Reduce heat to medium and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Apples should be slightly soft.
- Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the crumb topping ingredients and stir to combine. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, add vinegar to half and half and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt and baking soda. With mixer on low, add the butter chunks, one at a time. Mix for about 2 – 3 minutes until mixture resembles a coarse crumble. Add eggs, vanilla, and half and half mixture. Beat on medium high speed for about 1 – 2 minutes until smooth.
- Spread cake batter into prepared baking dish. Top with sauteed apples. Break up the crumb topping with a spoon. The pieces should be about the size of marbles. Sprinkle on top of apples. Bake for 50 – 60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Dust with powdered sugar.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hour
Hi Sue –
Half and half is part cream and part milk. If you have access to both heavy whipping cream and milk, you can make half and half by combining four parts whole milk with one part heavy cream. If you only have light whipping cream, use three parts whole milk and one part light whipping cream.
Happy baking!
Amy
this looks lovely and I would like to make it soon. However, please would you tell me (I’m English!!) what “half and half is !
Thank you,
Kind Regards,
Sue :)