Spiced Applesauce Crumb Cake with Buttery Streusel Topping
A comforting and aromatic cake with warm spices, topped with a buttery streusel, perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
For the streusel topping
- ½ cup All-purpose flour about 64 g
- ¼ cup Light brown sugar around 50 g
- 3 tbsp Cold vegan butter sticks, unsalted about 42 g, cut into small pieces
- a small pinch Salt
For the cake batter
- ½ cup Cane sugar about 133 g
- ½ cup Neutral-flavored oil around 95 g
- ½ cup Unsweetened applesauce about 135 g
- 1½ tsp Ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp Ground ginger
- ½ tsp Freshly grated nutmeg
- ½ tsp Fine sea salt
- ¼ tsp Fresh orange zest
- 1 tsp Baking powder
- ½ tsp Baking soda
- 1½ cups All-purpose flour about 190 g
- Optional: powdered sugar for finishing
Instructions
Preparation
- Heat oven to 350°F (about 175°C). Prepare an 8×8-inch baking pan by greasing it and lining it with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy lifting.
- Mix streusel ingredients in a small bowl, pressing everything together with fingertips until a crumbly texture forms. Set aside.
Making the cake
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together sugar, oil, applesauce, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, salt, and orange zest until the mixture is smooth and evenly blended.
- Add baking powder and baking soda, then stir to combine.
- Gently fold in the flour until no dry streaks remain.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan, smooth the surface, and lightly tap the pan to release trapped air.
- Spread streusel evenly over the top.
Baking
- Bake for about 30–40 minutes, or until the cake is risen, golden, and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow to cool in the pan for around 15 minutes, then lift out using parchment and cool completely on a rack.
- Dust with powdered sugar if desired before serving.
Notes
Store loosely covered at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, wrap individual slices in plastic wrap and freeze.