In this household, we’re big coffee/crumb/streusel cake eaters. Actually, we love anything with crumb toppings. Muffins, bread, cakes. You name it, we love it. The more crumb the better! Cakes with layers and thick frosting, not so much. I love looking at them but eating them is another story, unless they’re *really* good and it has to be chocolate.
Today’s post is a favorite of mine. Crumb cake! Would you be shocked if I told you I have never had fresh cranberries before? Not until this week. I didn’t realized they were so tart and they stain! It turned my sink purple but I don’t mind. This cake is worth scrubbing my stained sink for. Aren’t they pretty? It really makes the cake pop! 🙂 I’m starting my weekend early this week so enjoy yours.
Ingredients:
Cake:
- 2/3 cup + 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar, divided
- zest of 1 lemon
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) of unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 1/3 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/3 cup of sour cream
- 2 small apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
- juice of 1 lemon
- 1 (12 ounce) bag of fresh cranberries, rinsed and dried
Crumb:
- 1 cup of all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup of light muscovado sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) of unsalted butter, melted
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9″ x 13″-inch baking pan with non-stick baking spray. Line it with a sheet of parchment paper leaving a generous overhang for easy removal; set aside.
Using a stand or electric mixer (or mix by hand) mix together 2/3 cup of sugar, lemon zest and butter. Add eggs, one at a time then vanilla extract.
In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Slowly add the dry mixture into the egg mixture, 1/3 at a time, mixing each time until just moistened, while scraping down the sides. Add sour cream and mix until combined (do not overmix).
In a small bowl add sliced apples and douse with lemon juice, using your fingers to combine; set aside.
Dollop batter into the prepared pan, using a spatula to spread the batter into an even layer. Place the apple slices over the top of the batter, then place the cranberries over the apple slices. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar over the top.
For the crumb: Mix flour, muscovado sugar, salt and butter in a medium bowl with your fingertips until it looks like wet sand. Sprinkle evenly over the entire batter and bake for 45-50 minutes or until toothpick/tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely before cutting into the pan. Once cooled, cut into squares and serve.
Adapted from passports & pancakes
uni homemaker 
What gorgeous photos and beautiful recipe! Perfect for Thanksgiving breakfast, too! And I’m totally with you on the more crumbs the better 🙂
Wow that looks fantastic! Cheers!
How yummy. Anything with streusel is a winner for me!
You are on a roll my friend! These Cranberry Apple crumb bars look fantastic! I love how the cranberry red pops though all those luscious crumbs.
This cake looks absolutely delicious! Wonderful photos, too, Anne!
These look so bright and fun! And you’re right, streusel makes everything better!
Have a wonderful weekend 🙂
ciao! i find this recipe just delicious…will be making it soon.
thebestdressup
I love crumb toppings too… this crumb cake looks festive, beautiful, and super delicious.
Looks delish , I just adore crumble cake … Lovely post ,Sarah
Ahh, these were so good! I love foods that are tart and sweet. The pictures look great but the real thing is even better. Bake some soon!
These look lovely – I’m definitely going to try them x
Whenever I make coffee cake, I always make sure to add a thick layer of crumb topping. It is the best part! And I can’t believe you have never had fresh cranberries before, these look delicious!
This crumb cake looks fantastic! I’m a big fan of the cranberry-apple combo, especially in breakfast foods. I can’t wait to try this — I know what I’ll be making for brunch on Saturday morning!
The more crumbs the better – I couldn’t agree more! This looks delicious! It would be so perfect for a holiday breakfast!
Can I grab one? Beautiful shot. Cranberries fits so well in sweet recipes because of the original contrast in flavor they create.
That is so pretty! Holiday baking it’s getting started in our house, gotta make this one too!
Wow, Anne, these crumb bars are truly a stunner!
Looks so delicious Anne. Never made a cranberry apple bar before, need to do that asap. Love it for the holidays.
Couldn’t agree more about crumble versus thick frosting – no competition, especially with the tart addition of fresh cranberries. I will certainly try this when the cranberries get in the shops here. Thanks
Anne,
These are truly beautiful. I love the cranberry idea as well; so seasonal, wish I had some!!!
Oh goodness, this looks great! I love a delicious berry crumb!
Beautiful crumb cake, Anne! We just adore cranberries. (They are making an appearance next week on the blog.) Crumb topped cakes are the best! Glad you’re starting your weekend early. Have a good one!
Beautiful crumb cake, Anne! We just adore cranberries. (They are making an appearance next week on the blog.) Crumb topped cakes are the best! Glad you’re starting your weekend early. Have a good one!
I am with you, Anne, when it comes to streusel. The more crumbs the better! I also love cranberries. I buy the fresh ones this time of year and freeze several bags for future reference. Try finding fresh or frozen cranberries in July! The sweet-tartness of cranberries is perfect for a coffee crumb cake. I will find an excuse to make this beauty very soon. 🙂
Oh my goodness Anne, this cranberry-apple crumb cake looks stunning! You’re so right, the more crumbs the better 🙂 Hehe, I made cran-apple-lemon shortbread bars on the weekend that I was going to post today too but decided to save the post for tomorrow or next week instead but now I totally wish I made these instead – they sound incredible and I am all about the streusel topping too! I love how gorgeous the cranberry topping is peaking through the crumbs! Pinning these beauties with my leftover cranberry sauce, thanks for sharing sweetie. Hope you have an amazing weekend Anne 🙂
I too have a weakness for crumb toppings, Anne. Seriously, what’s not to love especially when they are dressing such a festive cake. Stunning and I’m sure absolutely delicious!
I wish I knew some solutions for that stained sink of yours. I’ve seen suggestions for fabric stains but none for sink stains. Let us know how you do:)
Thanks for sharing, Anne…
Yes – spiced, crumb toppings are the way to go. A nice textural element, too! Nice! Warmly, Shanna
This is the part of the season that I like best, when the cranberry recipes begin to circulate. I love the tartness they bring to sweet desserts. I bet they work very well here. They certainly do look good, Anne. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Great looking bars! I just happen to have apples and cranberries in the house… now you have given me an idea! Pinning…
What a fabulous Christmassy bake. Looks delicious Anne.
This just looks all pretty. I love crumbs so much too. The people in my life? Not so much. At least their appreciation for it isn’t as great. Sigh. I can have crumble over any dessert.
Lovely, lovely dessert. Crumble with fruit is one of my favorite things to eat :))
Very festive crumb cake, ideal to add to the holiday table. I could even have it for breakfast without feeling guilty after all it has eggs and fruits.
The pop of red from the cranberries is almost addictively pretty, just as I’m sure these are fairly addictively delicious!
Wow – gorgeous looking crumb cake! sourcream must have made this so moist,topped with that crumb and balanced with the filling – mmm mmm mmm!
Yes, I’m so like you! Coffee and crumb anything please. 🙂 I love the gorgeous color, so appropriate for the holidays.
Oh yes, we must have coffee cake and crumb topping on the mind these days! This is just beautiful – love the color and definitely the topping. I can imagine the nice combination of sweet and a little tartness from the cranberries.
Oh, beautiful photos and great, seasonal recipe! Warmly, Shanna
Cranberries really do have the prettiest color. I never quite know what to do with them, because they’re so tart…but I love this recipe! Next time I’m at the market I’m grabbing a bag of cranberries 🙂
First off, the color is so gorgeous and eye catching! I love a crumb bar and having the apples mixed with cranberries is just perfect!
You photographed this dessert beautifully! I just want to reach through the computer screen and grab a slice! Pinned!
I looooooove cranberries! This dessert wouldn’t stand a chance with me in the room 😉
Sounds delicious Anne, and worth scrubbing your sink for sure 🙂
I love anything with a streusel or crumb topping too, your cake is so pretty and looks so yummy! Pinning. Visiting from Best of the Weekend.
I definitely need to make these soon. I love the combination of cranberry and apple and these bars are the perfect treat.
charming food clicks and a scrumptious recipe…will be trying this out at home,thanks for sharing 🙂
These look so delicious! Cranberries have good health benefits too as well as good tasting. Yummy! Thanks for sharing!
Stopping by from “Best of the Weekend” linky. Following you via G+, Twitter, and Facebook.
Have a great day 🙂
Can’t get much better after this fantastic looking cake 🙂
Love the combination of apple and cranberries, sounds o good!
I’ve only eaten dried cranberries myself! We don’t get the real fresh ones here! I am gonna try these with the the dried cranberries instead ’cause they’re looking TOOOOO GOOD TO RESIST! 🙂
You’ve read my craving, Anne — I’ve been hankering for a nice, cranberry apple dessert and this would definitely satisfy! I love this. 🙂