Finding my Inner German with a little Apple Streusel Cake

German Streusel Cake, Gather and Graze

I’ve bemoaned the fact once before (here) on ‘Gather and Graze’ that my Anglo-German heritage is lacking in at least one or two colourful, Mediterranean ancestors. But no more my friends! After tasting these little cakes, I’m embracing my inner German girl today and sharing with you a fabulous recipe; amended and updated from one that my Mum passed on to me a few years ago. The addition of grated apple and Butterscotch Schnapps gives not only the perfect flavour, but also extra moisture and tenderness to these delicious afternoon tea treats. Genießen Sie!

German Apple Streusel Cupcakes | Gather and Graze

Servings: 12 Small Cakes
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Cake Ingredients

30g/2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter (Melted)
175g/¾ Cup (Raw) Caster Sugar
1 Free-Range Egg (Lightly Beaten)
¾ Cup Milk
2 Tablespoons Butterscotch Schnapps (optional, but oh so worth it!)
265g/1¾ Cups Self-Raising Flour
¼ Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
Pinch of Sea Salt
2 Apples (Peeled, Cored and Grated coarsely)

Pre-heat the oven to 180°C and line a muffin tin with cupcake papers.

Into a large mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, sugar, egg, milk and Schnapps and stir well with a wooden spoon. Sift in the dry ingredients and fold them in lightly. Add the grated apple and once again fold lightly, until incorporated.

Spoon the batter carefully into the prepared tins and add a layer of Streusel Topping – instructions to follow below, after the photos…

German Streusel Cake, Gather and Graze

Streusel Topping Ingredients

75g/½ Cup Plain Flour
½ Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
80g/½ Cup (Raw) Caster Sugar
45g/3 Tablespoons (Cold) Unsalted Butter

Sift the flour and cinnamon into a small bowl, then stir in the sugar to combine. Dice the butter into small cubes and then rub into the flour mixture, until resembling course bread-crumbs.

Sprinkle a good layer of Streusel over the tops of the cakes and then bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean from the middle.

Enjoy with a good cup of tea or coffee… or there’s always that leftover Butterscotch Schnapps! 😉

German Streusel Cake, Gather and Graze

36 thoughts on “Finding my Inner German with a little Apple Streusel Cake”

anghh 17/08/2014 at 8:30 pm

These are definitely on my ‘must bake’ list for this week! Thank you!

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1. Margot @ Gather and Graze Post author18/08/2014 at 10:03 am
  
  Thank you so much! They are really lovely and moist little cakes and are made even better with the addition of the Butterscotch Schnapps if you can find some! Love to hear how you go and what you think if you do get a chance to bake them. Cheers, Margot
  
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The Daily Cure 28/12/2013 at 1:55 am

This looks sooooo yummy. I make a cake version of this (i.e. all the dough in one big pan) but these little individual servings look much more seductive. Can’t wait to try your recipe!

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1. Gather and Graze Post author29/12/2013 at 1:22 pm
  
  Thanks for your lovely comment! I hope you give them a try sometime! 🙂 Margot
  
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laurasmess 23/12/2013 at 7:50 pm

These look so delicious! Haha… I love the fact that your inner German can be harnessed at will!! I love the combination of apple and spice, I’ll definitely be giving these a go in the very near future. Hope that you and your family are enjoying a beautiful Christmas season! Hugs x

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1. Gather and Graze Post author29/12/2013 at 1:20 pm
  
  Thanks very much Laura, hope you’re enjoying a wonderful festive season, spending time with those you love! Cheers, Margot
  
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cityhippyfarmgirl 17/12/2013 at 1:24 pm

I say hurrah for your inner German as these look rather fine!

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1. Gather and Graze Post author17/12/2013 at 10:56 pm
  
  Cheers Brydie! 🙂
  
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Ayesha (Miss Spicy Hat n' Sugar Socks) 16/12/2013 at 5:34 pm

Those little wonders look absolutely delicious 🙂

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1. Gather and Graze Post author16/12/2013 at 7:49 pm
  
  Thank you – very kind of you to say so! Cheers, Margot
  
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jothetartqueen 12/12/2013 at 5:04 pm

I always enjoy a streusel topping! and I can imagine that the grated apples will make the cake really moist! Butternut schnapps sound great! Need to look for it!

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1. Gather and Graze Post author12/12/2013 at 11:45 pm
  
  Thanks Jo – the grated apple worked a treat… my youngest child wouldn’t have eaten these if they’d had little chunks of apple in them, but by grating it, it gave all the flavour and moisture, but not the texture that he doesn’t like. 🙂
  I’ve been using ‘De Kuyper’ Butterscotch Schnapps (found in my local liquor shop), but have since realised that there’s a locally made schnapps (from down near Jindabyne) – ‘Wild Brumby’ that make a version too. They sell to a few places in NSW and ACT – I’ll be trying that one next time!
  
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ohlidia 12/12/2013 at 1:47 am

Gorgeous Margot! My girlfriend just left for Germany yesterday andt I will surprise her withe these when she returns. 🙂

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1. Gather and Graze Post author12/12/2013 at 10:23 am
  
  Hi Lidia, how lovely for your friend to be off on holidays(?) to Europe! and what a sweet idea to surprise her with these on her return – please let me know how they turn out. I’ve only ever passed through a tiny section of Germany (Bavaria), many, many years ago… Next time we go, I’d love to explore further afield to the parts where my ancestors came from (Northern Germany), to hopefully feel a little more connected to my past… 🙂
  
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Fig & Quince 12/12/2013 at 12:54 am

Streusel cake with butterscott schapps? This would be perfection with tea/coffee. I heart your inner German girl! 🙂

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1. Gather and Graze Post author12/12/2013 at 10:15 am
  
  Cheers Azita! Very kind of you to say so. 🙂
  
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Anne @ Life in Mud Spattered Boots 11/12/2013 at 8:43 pm

These look divine and look a hundred times more interesting than the normal apple cake I make – could be the streusel topping, could be the butterscotch schnapps. Just the thing to use up the last of my apple crop.

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1. Gather and Graze Post author12/12/2013 at 10:14 am
  
  That’s such a kind compliment coming from you Anne, who I’m sure makes the most delicious apple cake in the first place! Give them a go though, I’d really appreciate hearing your thoughts if you do. Cheers, Margot
  
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ChgoJohn 11/12/2013 at 6:49 pm

As you may already know, I do love a good apple cake. What you may not realize is that I love a streusel topping even more. Putting the two together is heaven on a plate … er … in a white paper cup. Bless your German heritage for providing us this recipe. 🙂

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1. Gather and Graze Post author12/12/2013 at 10:07 am
  
  Thanks very much John – they certainly are a match well made! If only I could have managed a little chocolate added in there too for you… 😉 I’ll work on it! 🙂
  
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tinywhitecottage 11/12/2013 at 1:44 pm

I absolutely love all German cakes and cookies! I have to make these. One day I tried to create those little parchment cups and majorly failed! 🙂 I have never even heard of butterscotch schnapps. But I think having some on hand for the holidays is a good idea.

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1. Gather and Graze Post author11/12/2013 at 2:07 pm
  
  I hope you do give them a try – they’re really lovely! In my response to Johnny’s comment just below, I’ve attached a link for details of the white paper cups (which surprisingly appear to have hit Australian supermarket shelves before any others around the world – who would have thought?!) The butterscotch schnapps makes a lovely after-dinner drink with guests and I dare say it would go well drizzled over apple pie and ice-cream too! Happy Holidays to you and your family! 🙂
  
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Johnny Hepburn 11/12/2013 at 10:56 am

What I’d love to know is how to make those white cups! I’ve never seen them used over here. Must Google – although, that’ll drive me up the proverbial.

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1. Gather and Graze Post author11/12/2013 at 1:54 pm
  
  All too easy Johnny when you find them on the supermarket shelf! 🙂 I’ve done up a little page to give you a few more details about them – https://gatherandgraze.com/muffin-wraps/
  Cheers, M
  
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apuginthekitchen 11/12/2013 at 4:55 am

Oh my do those little cakes look good. So moist, I will definitely give these a go very soon. Must find butterscotch schnapps.

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1. Gather and Graze Post author11/12/2013 at 10:01 am
  
  Thanks Suzanne! I used a brand called ‘De Kuyper’ Butterscotch Schnapps, which is made in the Netherlands. From what I can see, I think it’s available in the USA too. Otherwise I’m sure the cakes would be fine without it, though it just adds that extra flavour kick that works perfectly with the apple.
  Are you feeling much better now? Still makes me so sad thinking that you had to cancel your Thanksgiving dinner! 😦
  
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  1. apuginthekitchen 11/12/2013 at 10:14 am
    
    Yes my local wine shop has that brand which I ordered today. I am still not 100% but much better than I was on Thanksgiving, thank you. It was very upsetting for me but it was the only option. Will let you know how those lovely cakes are! Thank you for a great recipe.
    
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saucygander 10/12/2013 at 11:11 pm

I’m also hooked by the butterscotch schnapps. And the streusel. Oh and also the falling snow on the page – if only we had some real snow to cool off! 🙂

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1. Gather and Graze Post author11/12/2013 at 9:53 am
  
  The butterscotch schnapps is absolutely delicious! It’s fabulous as it is, just poured over a couple of ice-cubes, though I’m sure it would enhance so many other sweet dishes/desserts too!
  I kept coming across blogs with the snow effect happening and thought it was rather sweet… despite the fact that it’s summer here. 🙂
  
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  1. saucygander 11/12/2013 at 10:18 pm
    
    Now you really have me craving butterscotch schnapps! And yes, we’ve had such hot weather this week, yet talking to someone from Washington DC, they just had a snow storm! This crazy planet we live on. 🙂
    
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Chica Andaluza 10/12/2013 at 6:50 pm

Gorgeous -like a cake and a crumble all in one!

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1. Gather and Graze Post author10/12/2013 at 8:55 pm
  
  Thanks Chica! It is indeed… the best of both worlds! 🙂
  
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lemongrovecakediaries 10/12/2013 at 1:59 pm

You had me at butterscotch schnapps! I will have two please 🙂

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1. Gather and Graze Post author10/12/2013 at 2:01 pm
  
  Is that a double schnapps? or cakes? or both? 😉
  
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  1. lemongrovecakediaries 10/12/2013 at 2:04 pm
    
    I think you have the wrong impression of me Margot….ok well actually you don’t. Double schnapps and two cakes please 🙂
    
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    1. Gather and Graze Post author10/12/2013 at 2:05 pm
      
      Hehe… I’ll line them up next to my own!
      
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