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German Crumb Cake Recipe – Oma's Streuselkuchen With Apple

German crumb cake recipes, aka Streuselkuchen, are quick and delicious treats to make for your family and friends. These traditional cakes, which are so easy to make, look so pretty, too.

Traditionally, the German Streusel cake you find in a German bakery is made with a yeast dough. This one isn't. That means it's quicker to make and easier for those who struggle with yeast dough

Servings:

Makes 16 servings

Ingredients:

Cake Ingredients:

• ½ cup (114 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups (260 grams) all-purpose flour 
• ¼ teaspoon (1.5 grams) salt
• 1½ teaspoon (6 grams) baking powder
• 1 tablespoon (6 grams) grated lemon zest
• ½ cup (120 milliliter) milk
• 1 pound (454 grams) apples or other fruit, sliced

Streusel Topping Ingredients:

• 1¼ cups (163 grams) all-purpose flour 
• ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
• ¾ cup (171 grams) cold unsalted butter 

Instructions:

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a rimmed 9x13-inch baking sheet or two 9-inch springform pans and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and beat. In another bowl, blend flour, salt, baking powder, and lemon zest together. Add flour mixture a little at a time to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk. Mix well after each addition until the flour mixture and milk are all used up.
3. Spread cake batter in greased pan. Arrange apples on top of batter in slightly overlapping rows.

To make Streusel Topping:

1. In a small bowl, combine flour and sugar. 
2. Using 2 knives or a pastry blender cut in butter until mixture resembles large crumbs.
3. Sprinkle over apples.
4. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until golden brown on top and a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
5. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack. Delicious when served warm.
6. Tastes great served with whipped cream!

Notes/Hints:

• Instead of lemon zest, add 1 teaspoon almond or vanilla extract.
• Instead of using knives or pastry blender, I just use my hands to quickly rub the butter into the flour/sugar mixture.
• Usually I put apple slices under the streusel. However, peach slices, pear slices, halved plums, or pitted fresh cherries would be delicious. Even jam works! You can even just sprinkle dough with streusel and omit the fruit completely.
• Line the baking tray with parchment paper, if desired.
• If you're using canned fruit, drain it well before using.

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07.28.2024 revision update