Brown Butter Apple Crumb Cake
- Cook Time: 80 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup sour cream or full-fat Greek yogurt
- 2 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced
- For the Crumb Topping:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons melted brown butter (reserved from the main amount)
Instructions
- Step 1: Brown the Butter. Place the butter in a light-colored skillet over medium heat. Melt the butter, then continue cooking while whisking constantly. The butter will foam up and then develop little brown specks at the bottom. Once it smells nutty and turns a golden amber color, remove it from the heat immediately. Pour it into a bowl to cool, making sure to scrape in all the brown bits.
- Step 2: Prepare the Oven and Pan. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch square baking pan or a round springform pan with butter or non-stick spray. Line the bottom with parchment paper for easy removal later.
- Step 3: Mix the Dry Ingredients. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the 2 cups of flour, baking powder, baking soda, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and salt. Ensure there are no lumps so the cake rises evenly.
- Step 4: Combine Wet Ingredients. In a large bowl, beat the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and most of the cooled brown butter (reserve 4 tablespoons for the topping) until well combined. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract and sour cream until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Step 5: Fold in Flour and Apples. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring by hand or on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix. Gently fold in the diced apples until they are evenly distributed throughout the thick batter.
- Step 6: Prepare the Crumb Topping. In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Pour in the 4 tablespoons of reserved brown butter. Use a fork to mix until the mixture forms thick, pea-sized crumbs.
- Step 7: Assemble and Bake. Spread the cake batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle the crumb topping generously over the batter, covering it completely. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for at least 20 minutes before slicing.