Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake

A moist, cinnamon-laced apple cake with a buttery, crumbly topping. What could be better? It's healthy, easy and ready in less than 30 minutes. Warm coffee cake straight from the oven? I think we can all agree - that's a good thing.

Let's first discuss why this cake is healthy. I slashed fat by using applesauce and Greek yogurt to replace most of the fat. There are just 2 tablespoons of oil in the entire cake. Yes, there's a buttery topping, but there are just 4 tablespoons of butter in the crumble and the cake serves 24. Even if you serve 12 BIG slices, it's a much healthier option that traditional coffee cake with butter in the batter AND the crumble. For a virtually fat-free cake, you could eliminate the crumble altogether. But I think the topping is awesome. Just sayin'.

Now let's discuss why the cake is easy. You don't need an electric mixer. No beating butter and sugar together before alternating wet and dry ingredients (the standard method for making cake batter). You just need two bowls - one to mix the dry ingredients and one for the wet ingredients. The batter comes together in one of those bowls!

I love the short cooking time too - just 18 to 20 minutes and you're ready to serve. Seriously, what's better than a slice of warm coffee cake? Two slices. And you can enjoy them without guilt.

Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake

For the topping: 
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 light brown sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the cake: 
Cooking spray
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
To make the topping, combine the flour, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon in a bowl. Mash with a fork until blended and coarse crumbs form. You could also do this with your hands! Set aside.
To make the cake, in a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the applesauce, yogurt, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir with a spatula until blended (all the flour should be incorporated).
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface. Sprinkle the crumb topping over top.
Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until a wooden pick comes out clean or with little moist bits clinging to it.
Cool the cake, in the pan, on a wire rack. Slice into 12 to 24 squares and serve warm or room temperature. Store leftovers in an airtight container.

Makes one 9x13-inch pan (serves 12-24)