Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Prep
- Preheat oven to 350F and grease a 9x13 dish, so the coffee cake releases easily after baking.
Make the streusel
- Combine flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon, then cut in cold butter until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
Mix the fillings and batter
- Beat the cream cheese layer ingredients until smooth and spreadable, with no visible lumps.
- Toss the apple layer ingredients together until the diced apples are evenly coated and glossy.
- Beat the butter and granulated sugar until fluffy and lighter in color.
- Add eggs and vanilla and beat until fully incorporated and smooth.
- Alternate mixing in the flour mixture and sour cream until just combined, stopping when no dry streaks remain.
Assemble and bake
- Spread the batter in the prepared pan, then dollop the cream cheese over the top.
- Gently spread the cream cheese layer so it sits mostly in one even layer across the batter.
- Scatter the cinnamon apples over the surface, distributing them evenly to avoid dry spots.
- Sprinkle streusel over everything so the top bakes into a golden, crumbly crust.
- Bake at 350F for 45-50 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean and the edges look caramelized.
Notes
For best slicing, cool the coffee cake until warm and set (about 20-30 minutes) before cutting so the cream cheese layer holds its shape. Store covered in the refrigerator up to 4 days; freeze individual slices up to 2 months. For a lighter option, use low-fat cream cheese and reduced-fat sour cream (texture will be slightly softer but still bakes well).
