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a square piece of brown sugar cinnamon cake with a fork on a plate.
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5 from 6 votes

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cake

This tender brown sugar cinnamon cake with apples and a crunch, sugary topping is easy to make and perfect for having with coffee.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Cakes
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 266kcal
Author: Adina

Equipment

  • Baking dish about 9x13 inches/ 23x33 cm

Ingredients

Brown sugar cinnamon cake:

  • 1½ cups apples chopped, 200 g, Note 1
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour 300 g
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg Note 2
  • ⅛ teaspoon cardamom
  • 1 cup brown sugar 200 g
  • ⅓ cup canola oil 75 ml
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup buttermilk 250 ml
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Brown sugar cinnamon topping:

  • ½ cup granulated sugar 100 g
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 325°F/ 165°C. Butter the baking dish.
  • Prepare apples: Peel (optional) and chop the apples into smallish cub
    1½ cups apples/ 200 g
  • Mix flour, baking soda, and spices in a bowl and set aside.
    2 ½ cups all-purpose flour/ 300 g + 1 teaspoon baking soda + 1 teaspoon cinnamon + ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg + ⅛ teaspoon cardamom
  • Batter: Place the brown sugar, oil, egg, vanilla extract, and buttermilk in a large bowl and whisk well. Add the flour mixture and the apples and stir until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish.
    1 cup brown sugar/ 200 g + ⅓ cup canola oil/ 75 ml + 1 large egg + 1 cup buttermilk/ 250 ml + 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Topping: Melt the butter in a small pan. Remove it from heat and add the granulated sugar and the cinnamon. Stir to mix. Spread the topping over the batter in the baking dish.
    1 tablespoon unsalted butter + ½ cup granulated sugar/ 100 g + 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • Bake for about 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

  1. Apples: 1 large or 2 smaller apples would make about 1½ cups when chopped. 2 cups are ok, too. 
  2. Nutmeg and cardamom are optional but so great.
  3. Buttermilk: You can make it yourself. To get one cup of buttermilk, place 1 cup of milk in a bowl, add 1 tablespoon of vinegar, and let stand for 5 minutes. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1square | Calories: 266kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 155mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 26g