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Cream Cheese Apple Coffee Cake Recipe for Fall Baking

Craving a cozy fall treat that’s easy to make and perfect to share? This Apple Coffee Cake with Cream Cheese is exactly that. It’s a tender, fluffy cake with a creamy cream cheese layer, folded apples, and a crunchy cinnamon-walnut streusel on top. Serve it warm with coffee for a comforting breakfast, brunch, or dessert.

A slice of Apple Coffee Cake with Cream Cheese and crumb topping, drizzled with icing, sits on a white plate. Visible apple pieces peek through the cake, while a red apple is blurred in the background on a wooden surface.

Why You’ll Love Apple Coffee Cake with Cream Cheese

  • Simple and approachable: The recipe uses familiar ingredients and clear steps, making it great for beginner bakers.
  • Ideal for sharing: This cake yields plenty to bring to potlucks, brunches, or family gatherings.
  • Perfect for brunch: Serve warm with coffee for an impressive, cozy treat.
  • Make-ahead friendly: Bake the day before—store tightly covered at room temperature for up to three days and rewarm slices before serving.
  • Flexible variations: Easily swap nuts, spices, or fruit for different flavors.

Ingredients Needed

  • Gluten-free flour (or all-purpose)
  • Baking powder
  • Baking soda
  • Salt
  • Eggs
  • Sugar
  • Sour cream
  • Room-temperature butter
  • Vanilla extract
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Cream cheese
  • Powdered sugar (for cream cheese layer and glaze)
  • Chopped walnuts
  • Brown sugar
  • Granny Smith apples (peeled and diced)
  • Honeycrisp apples (peeled and diced)
  • Milk (for glaze)

Substitutions + Alternatives

Can I use all-purpose flour?

Yes. If you don’t need the recipe to be gluten-free, all-purpose flour can be used in the same amount listed for the gluten-free option.

Can I use regular dairy?

Absolutely. While the recipe author sometimes uses dairy-free milk, you can use regular dairy milk or any milk you prefer. If using a thin plant-based milk (like almond milk), consider a slightly thicker alternative for best texture.

How To Make Apple Coffee Cake with Cream Cheese

  1. Preheat and prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease a 9-inch springform pan (or a similarly sized round or square pan with at least 2–3″ sides) with nonstick spray or butter and line with parchment if desired.
  2. Cream cheese layer: In a bowl, beat room-temperature cream cheese with vanilla and powdered sugar until smooth. Set aside.
  3. Cake batter: In a separate bowl, cream together sugar and butter on high for about 3 minutes until light. Mix in eggs, sour cream, and vanilla extract. Scrape the bowl and add the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon). Mix until combined.
  4. Streusel: Combine chopped walnuts, cinnamon, brown sugar, flour, and room-temperature butter. Use a fork or pastry cutter to cut the butter in until the mixture is crumbly.
  5. Assemble: Pour half the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the batter. Sprinkle half the streusel over the cream cheese and top with half the diced apples. Dollop or spread the remaining batter on top, then finish with the remaining apples and streusel.
  6. Bake: Bake for about 55–70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Oven times vary—start checking at 55 minutes. Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan.
  7. Glaze: Whisk powdered sugar with just enough milk to reach a pourable consistency. Drizzle over the cooled cake.
A metal mixing bowl containing a smooth, creamy white batter or frosting—perfect for an Apple Coffee Cake with Cream Cheese—partially spread around the sides, sits on a wooden surface.
A clear glass bowl filled with white flour, ready for baking Apple Coffee Cake with Cream Cheese, is placed on a rustic wooden surface, viewed from above.
A clear glass bowl filled with the crumbly mixture for an Apple Coffee Cake with Cream Cheese sits on a rustic wooden surface.
An Apple Coffee Cake with Cream Cheese, topped with a crumbly cinnamon and nut streusel, sits in a baking pan on a rustic wooden surface.

Variations & Substitutions

  • Nuts: Swap walnuts for pecans or almonds.
  • Spices: Add a pinch of nutmeg or allspice to the batter for extra warmth.
  • Fruit: Try pears or mixed berries in place of or alongside apples. If fruit is very juicy, toss it with a tablespoon of flour before adding to the cake.

Common Questions

Can I use other apples?

Yes. Gala, Fuji, Braeburn, or a mix of sweet and tart apples all work. Some varieties release more juice—tossing very juicy apples with a bit of flour helps prevent a soggy cake.

Can I make the cake ahead?

Yes. Bake, cool completely, and store covered at room temperature for up to three days. Rewarm slices briefly before serving if you prefer them warm.

How do I know when it’s done?

Insert a toothpick into the center—if it comes out clean or with only a few moist crumbs (not wet batter), the cake is done.

A slice of Apple Coffee Cake with Cream Cheese sits on a white plate with a fork beside it. The cake has a crumbly streusel layer and is topped with icing. A green apple is blurred in the background.

Recipe Summary

Name: Apple Coffee Cake with Cream Cheese

Author: Danielle Cochran

Prep time: ~30 minutes | Cook time: ~1 hour 10 minutes | Cool time: ~1 hour | Total: ~2 hours 40 minutes

Servings: 10

Notes: This cake stores well for a few days. For best texture, use apples that hold their shape when baked (Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Braeburn).