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Moist and fluffy, this delicious applesauce coffee cake is a wonderful treat to serve with a cup of coffee, or as a dessert with some homemade whipped cream. It will easily become a family favorite. 

Also, if you’re looking for a delicious and easy-to-make dessert that pairs perfectly with a warm cup of coffee, then you can’t go wrong with applesauce coffee cake. This classic recipe is not only moist and flavorful, but it’s also a great way to use up any leftover applesauce you may have in your pantry. 

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What Does Adding Applesauce Do to Baked Goods?

Adding applesauce to baked goods can have several effects on the finished product:

1. It adds moisture: Applesauce is a natural source of moisture, and adding it to baked goods can help keep them moist and soft. This is particularly useful in recipes that are low in fat, as the applesauce can help compensate for the missing moisture from the fat.
2. A binding agent: Applesauce can also act as a binder in baked goods, helping to hold the ingredients together. This is especially helpful in recipes that are low in eggs or have no eggs at all, as the applesauce can help provide the necessary binding.
3. It adds flavor: Applesauce has a mild, sweet flavor that can complement other ingredients in baked goods. Particularly those with warm spices like cinnamon or nutmeg.
4. Additional health benefits: Applesauce is a low-fat and low-calorie alternative to butter or oil, and can help reduce the overall fat content of baked goods.

Overall, adding applesauce to baked goods can help improve the texture, flavor, and nutritional profile, making it an ingredient worth adding to your baked goods.

While I am not claiming that this recipe is healthy by any means, the addition of applesauce in this specific recipe is for its moisture and binding properties. It is also a great way to use up some remaining jarred applesauce in your refrigerator!

What is in Streusel Topping?

Streusel topping is absolutely delicious.

I love how it adds a crumbly and sometimes chewy texture to baked goods. Streusel is often used on top of cakes, muffins, pies, and other tasty treats. In its simplest form, it is made by combining flour, sugar, and butter. But it is often flavored with spices, nuts, or other ingredients.

For this applesauce coffee cake recipe, I used a cinnamon streusel which I layer into the coffee cake itself.

This streusel is the most classic flavoring, made with ground cinnamon, brown sugar, flour and butter. By layering it into the cake, it actually creates some chewy texture bits throughout the cake.

Types of Streusel Toppings

There are many different types of streusel toppings, each with its own unique flavor and texture. Here are some variations of streusel toppings you could try out in other baked good recipes:

Nut streusel: This type of streusel topping includes chopped nuts, such as almonds, pecans, or walnuts, in addition to the classic flour, sugar, and butter mixture. The nuts add a crunchy texture and a nutty flavor to the streusel.

Oat streusel: Oat streusel is made by adding oats to the flour, sugar, and butter mixture. The oats add a chewy texture and a nutty flavor to the streusel. This type of streusel is often used to top fruit pies or crumbles.

Chocolate streusel: Chocolate streusel is made by adding cocoa powder or melted chocolate to the flour, sugar, and butter mixture. It has a rich chocolate flavor and a crumbly texture, and is often used to top chocolate cakes or muffins.

Ginger streusel: Ginger streusel is made by adding ground ginger to the flour, sugar, and butter mixture. It has a warm, spicy flavor and a crumbly texture.

How to Make Applesauce Coffee Cake

Applesauce coffee cake is rather simple to make. I actually prefer to make mine the night before I plan to enjoy it, as I find that the cake binds together better when left to sit overnight.

Tools You’ll Need

• Casserole Dish
• Electric Mixer
• Mixing Bowls
• Measuring Cups and Spoons

Ingredients

FOR THE Filling/Topping

Step 1. Prepare your filling/topping. Mix together melted butter, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon with a pastry fork. It should be slightly sticky and sort of crumbly. Set aside. 

Step 2. Combine your dry ingredients for the cake batter. Mix together sugar, flour, baking soda, baking powder. 

Step 3. Separate your eggs, keeping both yolks and whites. Using an electric mixer, whip the egg whites and set aside. 

Step 4. Whip butter, and mix in sour cream, applesauce, vanilla extract, and egg yolks. 

Step 5. Slowly add in the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Mix together until well combined. 

Step 6. Carefully fold in the whipped egg whites until combined. But don’t over mix. 

Step 7. Grease a 9×13 cake pan and pour in half of the cake batter. Then sprinkle in half of the filling/topping mixture. 

Step 8. Pour the remaining cake batter on top of the topping mixture and then sprinkle the remaining filling/topping on top. 

Step 9. Bake for 50-60 minutes at 350°F. 

Free Printable Recipe Card

How to Store Leftover Applesauce Coffee Cake

If you have leftovers, you can store your applesauce coffee cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

You could also wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. To reheat the cake, simply microwave it for a few seconds or pop it into a preheated oven at 350°F for 5-10 minutes.

More Baked Good Breakfasts

I really hope you enjoyed this recipe! What kind of streusel topping do you like to add to your applesauce coffee cake or other baked cake recipes?

And if you’re looking for more delicious baked good recipes, make sure to check these out next.

• Moist Banana Bread with Applesauce
• Healthy Gluten Free Banana Bar Recipe
• Pumpkin Pecan Pancakes with Anise Extract
• Easy, Mouth Watering Blueberry Bars

You can also visit my recipe archives here.

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-Sarah