Fresh apple crumb cake makes for the perfect slice of fall.

This Apple Crumb Cake is the perfect combination ofFresh Apple Cakeand the buttery crumb topping ofApple Crumble.

Apple brandy (yes, brandy!)

Southern Living Apple Crumb Cake sliced and ready to serve

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The result is perfectly flaky, buttery, sugary, and tender.

Browned butter lends extra special notes of caramelization and warm ar.

What Is Apple Crumb Cake?

Southern Living Apple Crumb Cake ingredients

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Apple crumb cake combines a classic fresh apple cake with a traditional apple crumble topping.

The apple crumble topping is a combination of flour, butter, and sugar.

This recipe incorporates pecans for a bit of toasty texture.

Southern Living Apple Crumb Cake sliced and ready to serve

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Let it soften in the refrigerator before using.

)all-purpose flour

1/2cuppacked light brown sugar

1/4cupfinely chopped pecans

1/2tsp.ground cinnamon

6Tbsp.

)salted butter, cold and cut into 1/2-in.-thick pieces

Cake:

1/2cup(4 oz.

Southern Living Apple Crumb Cake making the crumb topping

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Using clean fingers, rub butter into flour mixture until the flour is fully moistened.

Prepare the pan:

Preheat oven to 350F.

Tap baking pan until an even layer of brown sugar covers bottom and sides; discard excess sugar.

Southern Living Apple Crumb Cake preparing the pan

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Brown the butter:

Add butter to a medium saucepan.

Transfer to a medium heat-proof bowl and let cool at room temperature, about 10 minutes.

Make Cake batter:

Pour applesauce mixture into flour mixture, and whisk to combine.

Southern Living Apple Crumb Cake browning the butter

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Add apples:

Gently fold apples into batter.

Transfer to prepared pan; spread in an even layer.

Remove from springform pan and dust with powdered sugar just before serving.

Southern Living Apple Crumb Cake whisking together the dry ingredients

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Southern Living Apple Crumb Cake combining the wet ingredients

Credit:Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Sally McKay; Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser

Southern Living Apple Crumb Cake whisking together the batter

Credit:Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Sally McKay; Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser

Southern Living Apple Crumb Cake folding the apples into the batter

Credit:Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Sally McKay; Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser

Southern Living Apple Crumb Cake batter in pan before adding topping

Credit:Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Sally McKay; Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser

Southern Living Apple Crumb Cake adding the topping to the batter

Credit:Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Sally McKay; Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser

Southern Living Apple Crumb Cake after baking the cake

Credit:Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Sally McKay; Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser

Southern Living Apple Crumb Cake sprinkled with powdered sugar before serving

Credit:Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Sally McKay; Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser