Irish Apple Crumble Cake
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This Irish Apple Crumble Cake is a moist, tender, buttery apple cake topped with a classic crumb topping-somewhere between a traditional Irish apple cake and a comforting apple crumble. And easy? Oh my, yes. Delicious? Absolutely!
If you love apple cakes, try this easy cast iron Irish apple cake or this simple but beautiful Irish Tea Cake with a cup of Irish Breakfast Tea, of course!
Fair warning, the aroma coming from your oven will make everyone in the house hungry before dinner or tea!
Jump to:
Featured Review
A Note on Irish Apples and Apple Cakes
I recently read an interview, which I referenced in our Irish Scones Recipe, where well-known Irish baker, Catherine Leyden, said Irish scones are second only to an Irish apple tart.
It's been noted that "Apples have been grown in Ireland for at least 3000 years. Indeed, St. Patrick is said to have planted a number of apple trees in Ireland, including one at Ceangoba, a settlement close to where Armagh is now situated."
So important are apples and apple trees in Ireland that penalties were leveled to protect the fruit.
"Early monastic records tell us that the monks were given apples with their meals, especially at festival times. The Brehon laws (originating between 2000 and 1000BC) stipulated that anyone cutting down an apple tree would be subject to a severe penalty, namely a fine of five cows, and even removing a limb or branch would warrant a fine of some sort."
All of that to say-apples have long been part of Ireland's baking tradition, and they always feel right at home on St. Patrick's Day.
Much like our Irish Apple Cake, this Apple Crumble Cake is a hybrid of a single-layer cake and an apple coffee cake, with a delicious streusel topping.
While traditional Irish apple cake is often served as a simple teatime cake, this Irish Apple Crumble Cake leans slightly more dessert-like, thanks to its buttery streusel topping. It's the best of both worlds-tender apple cake beneath, crisp crumble above.
For another iconic treat from the Emerald Isle, these Irish Custard Tarts are easy to make with store-bought puff pastry, crispy and delicious, and popular in Irish bakeries.
Ingredients
The ingredients are simple, but the buttery cake, sweetened with fresh apples and warmed with cinnamon, is anything but simple.
Gather these ingredients:
- Butter (Irish butter is amazing if you have it)
- Light brown sugar
- Large eggs
- All-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt
- Ground cinnamon
- Fresh Apples (such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
How to Make the Apple Crumble Cake
This apple crumble cake comes together in just a few simple steps. The batter is thick and buttery, the crumble topping is quick to mix, and everything bakes into a tender cake with a golden, crumbly top.
- Step 1: Step 1: Begin by making the crumble. Combine sugar, flour, and butter in a food processor or with your fingertips until they resemble coarse crumbs. Set aside.
- Step 2: Cream the butter until it's pale and fluffy with an electric handheld mixer, then beat in the brown sugar. Then add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until fully incorporated.
- Step 3: Fold the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon into the butter mixture. Stir in the milk and half of the apples; the batter will be thick.
- Step 4: Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, top with the remaining apple in an even layer.
- Step 5: Sprinkle the crumble topping over the apple layer.
- Step 6: Bake for 40-45 minutes. Let cool before cutting into wedges and serving.
Recipe FAQs
Not exactly. Irish apple cake is typically a simple teatime cake, while Irish apple crumble cake includes a buttery streusel topping, making it slightly richer and more dessert-like.
Tart apples like Granny Smith balance the sweet crumble well, while Honeycrisp adds a touch of natural sweetness.
Yes. It keeps well at room temperature for a day and can be gently rewarmed before serving.
More Crumble Desserts to Try
- Individual Berry Crumbles
- Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble
- Baked Apple Crumble with Vanilla Ice Cream
- Blackberry Crumble Jam Bars with Oat Streusel
- German Cinnamon Apple Streusel Muffins
If you try this recipe, I'd love to hear your comments and consider giving it a 5-star rating. Explore the recipe index for more easy, delicious ideas, and stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter and following us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email, and we'll send it to your inbox. Plus, you'll get delicious new recipes from us every Friday!
Irish Apple Crumble Cake
Ingredients
Apple Cake
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons milk or cream
- 2 large apples peeled, cored and thinly sliced
Crumble Topping
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter cold, diced small
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9-inch springform or round cake pan. Set aside.
Streusel Topping
- Using a hand mixer or pastry cutter, blend the crumble topping ingredients into coarse crumbles. This can also be done with your fingertips. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Apple Cake
- Cream the butter and sugar together using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer, until pale, light, and fluffy. Mix in the eggs, one at a time, beating until fully incorporated.
- Fold the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon into the butter mixture. Then fold in the milk or cream until a smooth but thick cake batter forms. Fold in half the apples, then transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan. Use a spatula to evenly spread the batter to the edges of the pan.
- Top the cake batter with the remaining apples in an even layer, and then sprinkle the crumble over the top.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan 10 minutes before transferring to a rack to cool.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Made this cake, and what a pleasant surprise with how good it was. I put my crumble in a blender and it was too fine, don't do that. But the taste was still very good.
Thank you so much for sharing your review, Kristen! I’m delighted you enjoyed the cake! And that’s such a helpful note about the crumble; you’re exactly right, keeping it a bit coarse gives the best texture. I really appreciate you taking the time to come back and share your experience — it’s so helpful for other readers, too. 😊
If you out the best parts of apple pie and a moist, delicious cake together- this is it. So good!
Thank you for trying it! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
Easy, tastes amazing, bit hit with the family (although mine didn't rise to look like the pictures)
Just baked this tonight - my family said it's the best little cake I've ever made (not sure if that says much, lol). What a pain to get that thick, sticky batter into the baking dish though! Hang in there, you'll get it in the dish and smoothed out, and it will be soooo worth it! My Dad, rest in peace, always ate dessert first, so we honored him and had it nice and warm out of the oven, before dinner. What an easy but amazing treat - thank you for the recipe!
We made this for our afternoon tea and it was perfect!