This post and recipe was created for #AppleWeek! I received products from some sponsors, but all opinions are my own. #ad
Celebrate fall with this beautiful Apple Cinnamon Layer Cake, layered with brown butter streusel and a cinnamon-spiced buttercream.
Welcome to day two of #AppleWeek! If you haven’t entered the giveaway yet, go do that now — it’s worth it. Today I’m sharing a favorite mini layer cake dressed up for the season: Apple Cinnamon Layer Cake with Brown Butter Streusel. The cake is studded with fresh apple pieces, frosted with a cinnamon-spiced buttercream, and topped with crunchy brown butter oats. Small caramel drips finish it off for a little extra indulgence.
Today’s sponsors helped with some lovely pantry items: I used Rodelle vanilla in the cake and buttercream, Flahavan’s oats in the streusel, and a Swiss Diamond paring knife to prep the apples. I also relied on The Spice House apple pie spice in both the cake and the frosting — it adds a warm, complex apple-friendly spice blend that I reached for throughout #AppleWeek.
I’ll be honest: I love this style of cake, and I also share recipes like this to show they’re approachable. Yes, this cake has a few components — the cake layers, buttercream, streusel, and optional caramel — but none are difficult. If you prefer shortcuts, you can buy caramel or use a cake mix, though I strongly recommend making the frosting from scratch. Homemade frosting takes only minutes, tastes much better, and performs far better for decorating than store-bought tubs.
I hope you’ll try this charming apple cinnamon layer cake this fall. The combination of tender cake, warm spice, crunchy brown butter streusel, and creamy buttercream is cozy and delicious. We loved it — I think you will too.
For more small layered cakes, see my Vegan Lemon Curd Layer Cake, Vegan Fig & Dark Chocolate Layer Cake, Confetti Layer Cake, Gender Reveal Piñata Layer Cake, and Cookies & Cream Halloween Layer Cake.
Want the caramel drip recipe? Find it in my vegan caramel apple galette post.
apple cinnamon layer cake with brown butter streusel #AppleWeek
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup {½ stick} unsalted butter softened
- 2 eggs
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon Rodelle vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon The Spice House apple pie spice
- ⅔ cup whole milk
- 1 large apple peeled, cored, and diced small
- *for the brown butter streusel*
- ¼ cup {½ stick} unsalted butter softened
- ¼ cup dark brown sugar
- ½ cup Flahavan’s oats
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon The Spice House apple pie spice
- *for the buttercream frosting*
- 1 ½ cups {3 sticks} unsalted butter softened
- 6 cups powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoon whole milk as needed
- 1 teaspoon Rodelle vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon The Spice House apple pie spice
- pinch of salt
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter and flour two 6″ cake pans.
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In a stand mixer bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, and apple pie spice. Add the butter and beat on low until the mixture looks sandy.
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In a small bowl whisk together oil, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla. Add to the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
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Pour in the milk and beat on medium-low until smooth. Fold in the diced apple pieces.
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Divide batter between the two pans and bake 40–45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs. Cool completely before decorating.
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While the cakes cool, make the brown butter streusel.
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To brown the butter, melt ½ stick in a small nonstick pan over medium heat. Once it bubbles and foams, stir occasionally until it turns light golden and smells nutty. Remove from heat to prevent burning. Stir in brown sugar and apple pie spice, then add oats and flour. The mixture will be slightly clumpy. Set aside.
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Prepare the buttercream by whipping softened butter until smooth and fluffy. Add powdered sugar one cup at a time until incorporated. Thin with milk as needed, then mix in vanilla, apple pie spice, and a pinch of salt.
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To assemble, slice each cake layer in half to make four thin layers. Place one layer on a platter, pipe or spread frosting, smooth if desired, and sprinkle some streusel. Repeat with remaining layers.
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Frost the outside of the cake and smooth with a bench scraper. Pipe decorative swirls on top using a large star tip and add extra streusel in the center. If you like, add caramel drips from a squeeze bottle. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Here are the other bloggers participating today:
Tuesday Recipes:
- 1-Pot Apple Sausage Meatballs by Books n’ Cooks
- ABC Sheet Pan Dinner by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
- Apple Bacon Goat Cheese Salad by Jonesin’ For Taste
- Apple Bourbon Float by Our Good Life
- Apple Butter Overnight Chia Oatmeal by Love and Confections
- Apple Cinnamon Layer Cake with Brown Butter Streusel by The Baking Fairy
- Apple Cornbread Cakelets by The Redhead Baker
- Apple Crumble Muffins by The Anthony Kitchen
- Apple Noodle Kugel by Palatable Pastime
- Caramel Apple Pie Dip by Mildly Meandering
- Apple Pie Donuts by Daily Dish Recipes
- Apple Pie Turnovers by The Bitter Side of Sweet
- Apple Pork Burgers by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Apple Cranberry Crock Pot Stuffing by West Via Midwest
- Baked Chai-Spiced Apple Chips by Culinary Adventures With Camilla
- Beet Apple Salad with Maple Vinaigrette by Caroline’s Cooking
- Butterscotch Harvest Cake by Tip Garden
- Caramel Apple Cookie Bars by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Caramel Apple Sheet Cake by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Cinnamon Apple Crumb Cake by Cookaholic Wife
- Cinnamon Caramel Apple Frozen Custard by Faith, Hope, Love & Luck
- Cold Apple Cider with Caramel Infused Rum by Amy’s Cooking Adventures
- Creamy Blue Cheese & Sliced Apple Crostini by Who Needs a Cape?
- Deconstructed Chocolate Caramel Mini Apple Pie by The Freshman Cook
- Deconstructed Skillet Apple Dumplings by Seduction in the Kitchen
- Fall Panzanella Salad by House of Nash Eats
- Fresh Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze by Soulfully Made
- German Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting by Cooking With Carlee
- Glazed Spiced Apple Cider Cookies by Savory Moments
- Hasselback Apples by Kate’s Recipe Box
- PB Apple Muffins by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Skillet Apple and Sausage Stuffing Recipe by Lemon Blossoms
- Skinny Apple Crisp by The Saucy Fig
- Slow Cooker Apple Butter by Shockingly Delicious
- One Pan Pork Chops with Apples and Cinnamon by Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
- Out of This World Apple Cake by Family Around the Table