Brown Butter Apple Coffee Cake
- Cook Time: 70 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter (for browning)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 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 cup sour cream or full-fat Greek yogurt
- 2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and chopped
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped (optional for topping)
- 1/4 cup extra flour (for streusel)
Instructions
- Place the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Melt the butter, then continue cooking while whisking constantly. The butter will foam up and then develop small brown bits at the bottom. Once it smells nutty and looks golden brown, remove it from the heat immediately and let it cool for 10 minutes.
- 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. You can also line the bottom with parchment paper for easy removal.
- In a small bowl, combine the chopped apples with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar. Toss them well so the apples are evenly coated. Set these aside to macerate while you prepare the batter.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Ensure there are no large lumps so the cake rises evenly in the oven.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled brown butter with the remaining granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat with a hand mixer or stand mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, beating well after each addition.
- Add half of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and stir gently. Mix in the sour cream, then add the remaining flour mixture. Stir until just combined; do not overmix, as this can make the cake tough.
- Spread half of the batter into the prepared pan. Top with half of the apple mixture. Spread the remaining batter over the apples, then top with the rest of the apples and any remaining streusel ingredients (extra flour, cinnamon, and nuts mixed with a bit of brown butter). Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for at least 20 minutes. This allows the structure to set so it doesn’t crumble when sliced.