Apple Cake with a Streusel Topping

With the month of September comes the eating of apples in this household.  Apples are ripe and delicious and usually on sale.  I love it!   

I often will just slice an apple and enjoy the crisp deliciousness.  Is it weird that I prefer my apples sliced over just chomping into a whole apple?  

Now if you want to make your apples even more delicious and hard to avoid slice them up and make the easy 2 ingredient Gma's Fruit Dip.  Dipping an amazing apple into the amazing fruit dip is pretty much the best thing ever. 

Raw apples, apple butter, and apple pie are all acceptable and delicious apple eating ways. 

Though, I have found a new addition to my Fall/Autumn apple eating deliciousness. I came across this easy to make from scratch cake that is absolutely perfect.  

This Apple Cake with a Streusel Topping is light and sweet with the perfect apple touch.  Top it with some vanilla ice cream or caramel sauce and you have yourself a great potluck dessert, dinner party dessert, or just any day of the week treat.  

We enjoyed this cake several times with guests, and my husband didn't bat an eye at having a little "fruit" for breakfast.  I'm sure you will enjoy this cake as much as all of us have.  Bonus is you can whip it up in hour tops.    

Apple Cake with a Streusel Topping

Recipe: Alohamora adapted from Friend Magazine, 9/2014

Active Time: 30 minutes

Inactive Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 9-12 servings, one 9x9 inch pan

Ingredients: 

For the Streusel Topping: 

6 Tbsp flour

1 1/2 Tbsp sugar

1 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp salt

3 Tbsp butter, chilled and cut into small pieces. 

For the cake:

5 Tbsp butter, softened

3/4 c. sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 egg, large

1 1/2 c. flour, unbleached all-purpose

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 c. milk, I used fat-free

1 c. apple (about 1 medium apple), peeled and finely chopped (I used golden delicious)

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. 
2. Grease and flour a 9x9 inch pan.
3. First make the streusel topping. In a small bowl whisk together, or use a fork to mix, the flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. 
4. Add the chilled butter pieces to the dry ingredients and use your hands to work the butter into the flour mixture until small clumps form. I like my clumps to be smaller rather than larger so it usually takes a few minutes to really work it all in together. 
5. Chill your streusel topping bowl in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it.   
6. For the cake, in a medium bowl or stand mixer beat your butter and sugar together until creamy. 
7. Add the vanilla and egg one at a time beating  inbetween until ingredients are just combined. 
8. Add the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in order on top of the cake mixture and mix it until it is just combined.
9. Stir in the milk until the cake batter is smooth. 
10. Finally, toss in the apple pieces and mix until just combined. 
11. Pour your cake batter into your 9x9 inch prepared pan. 
12. Using a spoon or your hands sprinkle the prepared and chilled streusel topping evenly over the cake batter. 
13. Bake your cake at 325 degrees for 25-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.  My magic number was 30 minutes.
14. Enjoy warm or cold with ice cream, caramel sauce, or just a glass of milk! 
15. Store leftover cake covered on the counter or in the fridge. 

Happy Light, sweet, and delicious Apple Cake w/ a Steusel Topping eating!