Lightly spiced, not overly sweet, and topped with a buttery crumble that gives proper texture contrast.

Perfect for:

• Using up apples before they wrinkle
• Weekend slow baking
• Serving warm with yoghurt or custard
• Freezing in individual slices

And yes — this is scaled for a small 18cm round tin or small loaf tin (4–6 slices).

No oversized tray bakes. Just practical, solo-friendly comfort.

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🍂 Why Apple Crumb Cake Is Peak Autumn

Autumn = apple season in Australia.

Apples bring:

• Natural sweetness
• Moisture
• Fibre
• Budget-friendly bulk

The crumb topping adds texture so every bite isn’t just soft — it has crunch.

Balanced. Satisfying. Classic.

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🛒 Ingredients (1 Small Cake – 4–6 Slices)

Cake Base

Dry Ingredients

• 1 cup plain flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ tsp cinnamon

Wet Ingredients

• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup neutral oil
• 2 tbsp milk
• ½ tsp vanilla

Fruit

• 1 medium apple, peeled and diced small

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Crumb Topping

• ¼ cup plain flour
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp cold butter, cubed

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👩‍🍳 Method

1️⃣ Preheat & Prep

Preheat oven to 170°C (fan 160°C).
Line or grease your small cake or loaf tin.

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2️⃣ Make the Crumb

In a small bowl:

• Combine flour, sugar, and cinnamon
• Rub in cold butter with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse crumbs

Place in fridge while making batter.

Cold crumb = better crunch.

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3️⃣ Make the Cake Batter

Whisk egg and sugar until slightly lighter in colour.

Add oil, milk, and vanilla.

In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.

Fold dry ingredients into wet mixture gently.

Stir in diced apple.

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4️⃣ Assemble

Pour batter into prepared tin.

Sprinkle crumb mixture evenly over top.

Do not press down.

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5️⃣ Bake

Bake 40–45 minutes or until a skewer inserted into centre comes out clean.

Crumb should be golden.

Cool in tin 10–15 minutes before transferring to rack.

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✨ Optional Add-Ons

• 1 tbsp chopped walnuts in crumb
• Light dusting of icing sugar once cooled
• Serve warm with thick yoghurt
• Or drizzle with 1 tbsp warm honey

Keep it simple — it doesn’t need much.

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🥗 Nutritional Highlights (Per Slice – Approximate)

• Fibre from apple
• Moderate sugar
• Balanced fat content
• More satisfying than plain sponge

It’s indulgent, but grounded.

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🧊 Storage & Freezer Tips

• Room temp: 3 days airtight
• Fridge: 5 days
• Freezer: Slice and wrap individually up to 3 months

Reheat:

• Microwave 20 seconds
• Or warm in oven 5–7 minutes

It’s excellent slightly warm.

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💡 Plan4One Smart Baking Tips

• Use Granny Smith for tart contrast.
• Dice apple small — large chunks sink.
• No brown sugar? Use raw sugar.
• Want extra protein? Replace 2 tbsp flour with almond meal.

This cake is forgiving and adaptable.

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☕ Perfect Pairings

• Flat white
• English breakfast tea
• Chai latte
• Or eaten warm straight from the tin because “it’s just a taste test”

Autumn honesty.

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🍁 Why This Works for Plan4One Readers

You don’t need a full café-style apple crumble slab.

You need:
✔ Seasonal ingredients
✔ Small-batch practicality
✔ Freezer flexibility
✔ Balanced sweetness
✔ Real-life portions

Apple Crumb Cake delivers comfort without waste.

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If you bake this, tell me — tart apple or sweet? Extra crumb or standard layer?

Share it with a fellow solo baker or subscribe to Plan4One so you don’t miss the next cosy bake in our autumn series.