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Apple Streusel Sheet Cake is so easy to make from scratch and tastes amazing! A simple but so flavorful German apple crumble cake that’s topped with the most delicious cookie-like streusel.
Apple Streusel Sheet Cake is made with fresh apple chunks and topped with crunchy German streusel. German streusel is different from an American crumb topping. It’s more cookie-like on top and soft on the bottom where it meets the cake. It’s my favorite topping for cakes and muffins!
The filling of this cake is a mixture of fresh apple chunks and apple sauce which guarantees a moist cake even on the next day! This cake is so easy to make! Just press it into the pan, top it with the apple mixture and scatter the streusel with your hands on top and you are done!
Apple desserts like this are perfect for fall but I make them all year round! This easy-to-make apple cake is a great dessert for potlucks and parties. I serve it still warm with a big scoop of ice cream or cold from the fridge. Everyone loves this easy apple dessert!
Tips and tricks for making this Apple Streusel Sheet Cake
- I like to use Elstar or Jonagold apples for this recipe but Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, or Pink Lady would work, too.
- I like to use unsweetened applesauce for my German Apple Cake because it gives you a balanced flavor that is not too sweet but if you like your cakes more on the super sweet side you can also use sweetened applesauce.
- You can use granulated sugar or brown sugar for the streusel topping. I prefer granulated sugar! Brown sugar is not common in Germany, you can’t get it in any German grocery store so if you want to make authentic German streusel use white sugar.
- No need to press the crumbs onto the cake, they will melt while baking and stick together!
- I recommend refrigerating the cake after it is completely cool. It keeps fresh, covered with plastic foil, for a few days in the fridge. The cake tastes great cold and will hold its shape better.
The secret of extra delicious German Streusel is to make them bigger. Use your hands and rub the dough between your fingers, press the smaller crumbs together and sprinkle them over the cake.
Looking for more Streusel-topped desserts?
- Easy Lemon Raspberry Cake
- Plum Cake with Streusel
- Apple Crumble Pie
- Banana Muffins with Cinnamon Streusel
Tools used for making this Apple Streusel Sheet Cake
9 x 13 inch Pan with Lid: I love this baking pan! It comes with a lid so it’s easy to transport baked goods or casseroles and it’s super easy to clean, everything slides right off. I use this pan for all my 9×13-inch cakes, bars, and casseroles.
Stand Mixer: The most beautiful appliance in my kitchen! I own it in the gorgeous Ice Blue but the new Imperial Black one is my current favorite color.
Apple Streusel Sheet Cake
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
- 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, divided
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 5 apples
- 1 ⅓ cup applesauce, sweet or unsweetened
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest, freshly grated
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup granulated or brown sugar
Instructions
- Lightly grease a quarter-size baking sheet (9x13-inch) and preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add 3/4 cup butter, 1/3 cup sugar, vanilla extract, 2 cups all-purpose flour, and egg. Beat until everything is incorporated. Spread the dough onto the baking sheet. Put the baking sheet in the fridge while you make the apple and crumble layer.
- Leave the remaining 3/4 cup butter on the kitchen counter to get to room temperature.
- Peel and core the apples and chop them into small chunks. Mix the apple chunks with the lemon zest, lemon juice, cinnamon and apple sauce. Set aside.
- For the crumb topping: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment mix the remaining soft butter with 2 cups of flour and 1/2 cup sugar (see Note 4). The mixture will be crumbly.
- To assemble the cake, spread the apple mixture onto the dough layer. Then use your fingers to crumble the crumbs on top. Press some crumbs together to form bigger crumbs, you don't want the crumbs to be too fine.
- Bake for 45 minutes until the crumbs are lightly golden.
- Let the cake cool off completely. It will be a little bit soft while hot.
- Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream!
Video
Nutrition
Ready to put in oven – looks great – do you think you can freeze part of cake?
Hi, Betty! Yes, you can freeze the cake. I prefer to cut it in slices before I freeze it. I hope you like the cake as much as I do! I wish I had a slice right now with some ice cream. Have a great weekend! Julia
Hello. Going to try this. Is it possible to use a can of apples ( wanted to use up what I had)?
Hi, Maureen! I haven’t tried it with a can of apples, but I think it would work!
As a child we would have kuken.i would really like a authentic German recipe.
Hi I have a question so it’s a total of 3 sticks of butter for the whole recipe or 3 sticks for the dough and 3 sticks for the topping?
Hi Chris, it’s 3 sticks for the whole recipe. 1 and 1/2 stick are used for the dough and the other 1 and 1/2 sticks are used for the crumb topping. – Julia
What apples would you recommend for this recipe?
I like to use Elstar or Jonagold apples for this recipe but Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, or Pink Lady would work, too. – Julia
Hi i have two questions.
Can i double the recipe? And can i make it the day before, refridgerate then bake at dinner time?
Many thanks!
Rosemary
Hi Rosemary! Yes, you can double the recipe. I often bake this cake a day in advance, leave it in a cool place overnight and serve it on the next day. But I have never tried to prepare it a day in advance and bake it on the next day, I think the apples would turn brown overnight. If you want to serve it warm, you could just heat up the baked cake for a few minutes in the oven before serving. Happy Holidays!
Made this cake this week and it’s unbelievably good! It keeps getting better over time too. I didn’t have applesauce on hand but had some homemade cranberry sauce left over from Thanksgiving so replaced the applesauce with that and it turned out absolutely delicious (and I got rid of all my cranberry sauce too! Can’t wait to make it again with applesauce next time. Thanks for sharing such a great recipe.
Kari, your comment made my day! I need to try it with cranberry sauce, it sounds delicious! Happy Holidays!
When you say quarter sheet pan? Exactly what size?
Hi Janet, I use a 9 x 13 inches (23 x 33 cm) quarter sheet pan for this recipe. Julia
This looks so good! I’m going to have to make it this weekend, I love apple streusel ;-) Great photos too x
Thank you so much, Michelle!
This looks really good. I just made an apple cake and I’m on an apple kick. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Miss Jackie!