Apple Cinnamon Crumb Cake

(Lauren Lilling)

Mother's Day is the perfect excuse for an indulgent brunch with family.  Impress your mom with this delicious crumb cake.  The apples keep the cake layer extra moist and the crumb topping will satisfy any coffee-cake-loving sweet tooth.  Cake recipe adapted from Fake Ginger.

Cook Time:55 min

Prep Time:45 min

Total Time:1 hours40 min

Servings: 15

Ingredients:

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted

2 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

3 cup chopped granny smith apples (unpeeled)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1 1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/4 cup pllain greek yogurt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13x9 glass baking dish with butter or non-stick cooking spray; set aside.

Prepare the crumb topping. In a medium bowl, stir together sugars, salt and cinnamon. Whisk in melted butter. Stir in flour until it is completely absorbed. Spread topping mix out on a large sheet of parchment paper and set aside.

Prepare cake. In a medium bowl, combine chopped apples and cinnamon; set aside. In a separate medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside. In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter until smooth and creamy. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula and add the granulated sugar. Beat for several minutes until light and fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula again and then add the eggs, one at a time, mixing on medium speed in-between. Beat just until incorporated. Scrape the bowl again and add yogurt and vanilla and mix on medium speed just until combined. Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients and stir on low speed just until combined. Repeat with remaining dry ingredients in two parts. Do not over-mix. Remove bowl from mixer and fold in apples.

Spread bake layer in prepared baking dish. Drop chunks of the topping over cake layer until completely covered with a thick layer of topping.

Bake for about 55 minutes or until a knife or toothpick comes out clean from center. If topping starts to brown too much while cooking, lightly cover with a layer of tin foil and continue to bake as directed.