Recipe for Apple Streusel Cake - A German Style Cake in an American Pan (2024)

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This recipe for Apple Streusel Cake is a family favorite, and is the recipe I’m asked for most frequently. It has everything a good German Apple Streusel Cake Recipe should have… Apples, Streusel, it’s not too sweet, and it’s fabulous with whipped cream. I call it a hybrid. This recipe is one of my go-to recipes when I need to bring a dessert, but want to bring something besides brownies, and it’s a good “everyday” cake (plus, it’s a big seller at school bake sales!). Despite it’s simplicity, you can serve the apple filled squares on fine china to your Kaffee Klatsch guests.

And if there is any left over, my kids love to eat it for breakfast.

Recipe for Apple Streusel Cake - A German Style Cake in an American Pan (1)

German Apple Streusel Cake Recipe

Instead of a round cake form, it’s baked in the same pan you use for American bar cookies or brownies. It is sweeter than most German cakes (but still not overly sweet), and you add a bit of cinnamon to the apples. Also, because it’s just a flour, sugar, butter, & eggs dough… do NOT substitute margarine. Use the butter. Believe me, it makes a difference.

Recipe for Apple Streusel Cake - A German Style Cake in an American Pan (2)

Recipe for Apple Streusel Cake

4 from 1 vote

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Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 2 cups unbleached flour
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 slightly beaten egg
  • 4 med apples- peeled cored and sliced (4 cups)
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup unbleached flour
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon

If Desired:

  • 1 cup sifted powdered sugar
  • few tsp milk

Instructions

  • Preheat oven 350 F

  • Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan

Prepare the Apples:

  • -In a large bowl, mix the 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup flour and the cinnamon.

  • Add the Apples, toss to combine thoroughly . Set aside while you make the crust.

Prepare the Crust:

  • -In medium bowl stir together 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and baking powder.

  • Cut in butter with a pastry cutter, until looks like wet sand.

  • Stir in beaten egg with fork.

  • (note, you can also do this with a Food Processor... just don't over process it! Pulse till you have sand, then a few more pulses after adding the egg)

  • Dump about 2/3 of the dough into the baking pan. Press evenly and firmly into pan.

  • Lay the apple slices over the crust. Spend a few minutes, lay to them out neatly. I make long rows down the length of the pan... keeps it looking nice, and makes slicing a lot easier.

  • (Sprinkle any remaining flour/sugar/cinnamon stuff from the bowl over the apples)

  • Take the other 1/3 of the dough and crumble it over the apples. I grab it in my fist and sprinkle it through my fingers, making small and big lumps evenly over the apples. This makes the Streusel.

  • Bake 45 minutes.. until beginning to brown

  • Cool on rack for 1 hour.

Now you get to choose:

  • You can sprinkle powdered sugar over the cake and serve it...

  • Or

  • You can make a thick glaze by combining the powdered sugar and a few spoonfuls of milk... make sure it's not too thin... less milk is better...pour the glaze over the cake, let sit a bit, cut and serve

  • Or

  • You can eat it plain.

  • No matter which you choose, it will be delicious! Top it with whipped cream and it's bliss.

Notes

This recipe makes bar type apple streusel cake squares... Use a 9 x 12 inch Brownie Pan.

And it travels fairly well!

Recipe for Apple Streusel Cake - A German Style Cake in an American Pan (3)

Step by Step Apple Streusel Sheet Cake

This Apple Streusel Cake Recipe is a SNAP to Make!

Recipe for Apple Streusel Cake - A German Style Cake in an American Pan (4)

Pat 2/3 of the dough into the bottom of a greased brownie type pan (9×12)

Recipe for Apple Streusel Cake - A German Style Cake in an American Pan (5)

Line up the sliced apples in rows down the length of the pan… overlap them a bit. If you have extras, squish them in. More apples is better!
Then top with the other 1/3 of the dough… crumble it over the apple slices

Recipe for Apple Streusel Cake - A German Style Cake in an American Pan (6)

Bake for 45 minutes … until it begins to brown a bit.

Recipe for Apple Streusel Cake - A German Style Cake in an American Pan (7)

Cut yourself a slice…. top with whipped cream (home made!)

Recipe for Apple Streusel Cake - A German Style Cake in an American Pan (8)

ENJOY!


Recipe for Apple Streusel Cake - A German Style Cake in an American Pan (9)

Recipe for Apple Streusel Cake - A German Style Cake in an American Pan (10)

  1. So I made the apple streusel cake according to your directions and even though I like the sugar cut back like you did, my hubby says he likes it sweeter, so next time I will add 1/3 more and see if he still complains, haha

    Reply

    1. Hahaha! It’s hard to switch back and forth for some between German Cakes and American Cakes… my daughter came home from Berlin, where she ate cake almost every day, and now HATES sweet American cake and frosting.
      So it goes… You can try a bit more for him. (It always pays to have a sweet hubby!)

      Reply

  2. Hey, I like your article. I recently completed an post on preserving gammon. I love to make my own food for Christmas!. I will be making a fun ice cream to go with it. The teenagers will be on holiday and I am positive they are going to love it.

    Reply

  3. Thsnks to your detailed instructions and step-by-step photos, this cake was so easy to make. It tastes delicious, even without whippef cream. This recipe is definitely a keeper. Thank you! 🌹❤🌹

    Reply

    1. thank you! It’s a favorite in our house

      Reply

  4. Just put this in the oven. But, I am thinking I only used one cup of flour instead of two, haha. It wasn’t nearly streusel-ly enough to sprinkle over the top. A pretty moist dough! So, I took all the pieces back off and added a bit more flour to make it more like Streusel. I still think it will be great. My mother was a wonderful Afpelkuchen baker. She would have liked this recipe as well. I too am a German Girl in America, but they settled in a very rural area so we were isolated from other German immigrants. I do treasure my upbringing, though, and appreciate the “odd” things of my childhood!

    Reply

  5. Recipe for Apple Streusel Cake - A German Style Cake in an American Pan (11)
    I don’t know what I did, but the dough was way to wet!! It was still a dough and it held its shape but too wet to make the streusel. Oh well! I added more flour and got the right consistency. Havnt tried it yet but I’m sure it will be amazing!

    Reply

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Recipe for Apple Streusel Cake - A German Style Cake in an American Pan (2024)

FAQs

Where is streusel cake from? ›

The recipe allegedly originated in the region of Silesia, and is popular in German, Polish and Ashkenazi Jewish cuisines. A streuselkuchen is usually a flat cake made on a baking tray and cut into oblong pieces. It should be flat – about 1 inch (25 mm) thick – with crumbs making up about half of its height.

Can I freeze streusel cake? ›

If your coffee cake has a crumb topping or streusel topping, add an extra layer of protection by placing a sheet of parchment paper between the crumb topping and the wrapping. Coffee cakes and quick breads, like sour cream coffee cake, tend to freeze well, maintaining their tender crumb and delicious flavor.

What is Elvis Presley cake? ›

An Elvis Presley cake is a single-layer classic yellow cake that's topped with a pineapple glaze. Much like a poke cake, the syrup and juices of the pineapple will seep into the cake through fork holes, resulting in a decadent, ultra-moist cake.

What's in a Robert Redford cake? ›

Whatever you want to call it, this cake involves chocolate and all kinds of other sweet indulgences that may help explain its name (with apologies, perhaps, to the actor Robert Redford). This is a popular, irresistible chocolate cake dessert with loads of chocolate, caramel topping, candy bars, and whipped topping.

What is another name for apple cake? ›

An apple cake called tarte tatin is an upside down apple pie, very popular in France. According to the Larousse Gastronomique, it was created by the sisters Tatin and democratized in their restaurant "Lamotte-Beuvron" in the 19th century.

Is streusel German or Dutch? ›

The term streusel comes from the German word streuen, which means to scatter or sprinkle. Streusel is a very common addition to German and Austrian desserts like kuchen and crumb cake. And before you ask—streusel and strudel are totally different. Streusel is a topping while strudel is a type of German pastry.

What's the difference between crumble and streusel? ›

Streusel is similar to crumb topping and the terms are often used interchangeably. Traditionally, the two have different ratios of the same ingredients, with streusel containing more flour, and crumb topping more sugar, so they offer a different texture and flavor on top of baked goods.

What is the German word for coffee cake? ›

Streusel Kuchen (German Coffee Cake)

Does streusel cake need to be refrigerated? ›

Wrap unused THAWED portions tightly and store at room temperature for 3 days. Refrigeration is not recommended. Wrap unused FROZEN portions tightly in foil wrap and return to freezer.

Can I add streusel topping after baking? ›

Secondly, streusel can be baked on its own and then added, fully cooked, to lend a pleasing, crunchy texture to dishes.

Can streusel be made ahead of time? ›

Make Ahead Friendly: You can prep the streusel and store it in the fridge or even freeze it to make holiday baking go easier. Easy Flavor Variations: Add various baking spices or chopped nuts for crunch, there are lots of way to play with the base recipe.

What's the difference between apple pie and apple cake? ›

Unlike pies, cakes have sweetness built into the definition. Instead of fruit, meat, or pudding, cakes are defined by ingredients like flour, sugar, eggs, and baking powder or soda. Cakes also lack the pastry crust topping common to various types of pie.

Why is apple cake called apple cake? ›

Apple cakes are cakes in which apples feature as a main flavour and ingredient.

Is apple cake made of egg? ›

Eggs – They make the apple cake wonderfully light and puffy. Oil – For moisture and richness. For the best results, use a neutral oil like vegetable oil, canola oil, or avocado oil. Vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg – They add warm, spiced flavor to this fresh apple cake.

What kind of apple is a baking apple? ›

For the best pies, crisps, and other baked treats, apples need to be firm enough to hold their own during the cooking process. We call these apples “baking apples” and to namedrop, they include Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson, and Newtown Pippin.

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