Protein Apple Crumble Coffee Cake

This Protein Apple Crumble Coffee Cake layers tender spiced apples and a real butter crumble topping over a Greek yogurt and protein powder cake base, with 11g of protein per serving.

This is the cake I bring out when apples are everywhere and I want something that works just as well for breakfast as it does after dinner.

Apple coffee cake is already a fall favorite, but most versions are built entirely around sour cream, butter, and sugar, with nothing to make it hold you over past 10am. This protein coffee cake keeps the parts people actually love — a real butter crumble on top, tender spiced apples throughout — while working Greek yogurt and protein powder into the cake itself.

The apple pie spice is what ties the filling, the crumble, and the batter all together. I use my own Homemade Apple Pie Spice in all three layers, though plain cinnamon works fine too if that’s what you have on hand.

If you’re leaning into apple protein recipes this season, my Apple Cinnamon Protein Muffins are a great grab-and-go option, and my High Protein Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats are perfect for a no-cook morning.

What Does Protein Apple Coffee Cake?

Warmly spiced from the apple pie spice running through every layer, with tender bites of apple and a buttery, slightly crisp crumble on top. The cake itself is soft and moist, tasting like a classic coffee cake rather than anything obviously “protein.”

Why You Will Love Protein Apple Coffee Cake

• 11g of protein per serving: this high-protein coffee cake has more staying power than a typical one.
• A real butter crumble: no fake substitutions, just balanced out by the protein elsewhere.
• Homemade apple pie spice: used in the filling, crumble, and batter for cohesive flavor.
• Whole wheat pastry flour: adds a bit more substance without a heavy texture.
• Works for breakfast or dessert: genuinely flexible depending on when you want it.

Ingredients Needed

• Honeycrisp apples: peeled and cubed for the filling — a firm, sweet apple that holds its shape while baking.
• Brown sugar: sweetens both the apple filling and the crumble topping.
• Apple pie spice: used in the filling, crumble, and batter for consistent flavor throughout.
• Whole wheat pastry flour: the base of both the crumble topping and the cake batter.
• Unsalted butter: softened, worked into the crumble for that classic crumbly texture.
• Plain Greek yogurt: adds moisture and protein to the cake batter.
• Large eggs: bind the batter together.
• Milk of choice: thins the batter to the right consistency.
• Pure maple syrup: sweetens the cake batter.
• Applesauce: adds moisture without extra oil.
• Vanilla protein powder: what boosts each serving to 11g of protein.

Substitutions & Variations

• Cinnamon instead of apple pie spice: a straightforward 1:1 swap in the filling, crumble, and batter.
• Apple variety: Granny Smith, Fuji, or Gala both work well in place of Honeycrisp.
• Gluten-free: a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend works in place of the whole wheat pastry flour.
• Dairy-free: a plain dairy-free yogurt can stand in for the Greek yogurt.
• Protein powder flavor: plain or unflavored protein powder both work in place of vanilla.

How to Make Protein Apple Crumble Coffee Cake

• Step 1: Get your oven preheating to 350°F and line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper.
• Step 2: Mix the flour, brown sugar, apple pie spice, and salt together in a separate bowl for the crumble, then work in the softened butter with your hands or a fork until it turns crumbly. Pop it in the fridge while you make the batter.
• Step 3: Whisk the Greek yogurt, eggs, milk, maple syrup, applesauce, and vanilla together in a large bowl until smooth, then stir in the flour, protein powder, apple pie spice, baking powder, and baking soda just until combined.
• Step 4: Toss the cubed apples with the brown sugar and apple pie spice in a small bowl, then set that aside.
• Step 5: Spread the batter into the prepared pan in an even layer, scatter the apples evenly over the top, and finish with the chilled crumble.
• Step 6: Bake until the cake is fully baked through, then let it cool in the pan for a few minutes before moving it to a cooling rack. Slice into 9 pieces once it’s cooled.

Recipe Success Tips

• Dice the apples uniformly: evenly sized pieces bake at the same rate, so you won’t end up with some too soft and others still firm.
• Keep the crumble chilled until ready to use: cold butter holds its crumbly texture better than butter that’s had time to soften further.
• Let it cool before slicing: the cake sets up more as it cools, making for cleaner slices.
• Cut and toss apples right before assembling: the apples will release too much juice if they sit in the brown sugar too long and will make the coffee cake too wet.

How to Store Protein Apple Crumble Coffee Cake

Store the cooled cake covered at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

For longer storage, wrap individual pieces and freeze for up to 3 months, then thaw at room temperature or warm briefly in the microwave.

Is Protein Apple Crumble Coffee Cake Healthy?

Yes — this is a genuinely more filling take on a classic apple coffee cake, with 11g of protein per serving thanks to the Greek yogurt and protein powder in the batter.

A typical apple coffee cake offers very little protein, so this version does more to keep you satisfied whether you have it for breakfast or dessert.

Total nutritional content per serving is:

• Calories: 310 calories
• Carbohydrates: 51 grams
• Protein: 11 grams
• Total Fat: 8 grams
• Sodium: 295 mg
• Fiber: 4 grams

*This nutritional information is an estimate and calculated based on the ingredients used to create the recipe. The nutritional value of your ingredients may differ slightly. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.

Pricing Info

This is what I personally paid to make this recipe:

• 2 cups honey crisp apples: $1.75
• ⅓ cup + 3 tbsp brown sugar: $0.19
• 4 tsp apple pie spice: $0.32
• 2 ¼ cups whole wheat pastry flour: $0.74
• ¼ tsp salt: $0.01
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter: $0.51
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt: $0.99
• 2 large eggs: $0.90
• ⅓ cup Darigold Fit 2% milk: $0.07
• ⅓ cup pure maple syrup: $0.68
• ⅓ cup applesauce: $0.18
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract: $0.06
• ¼ cup vanilla protein powder: $0.88
• 2 tsp baking powder: $0.09
• ½ tsp baking soda: $0.01

This recipe costs about $7.38 total, or $0.82 per serving. That’s still cheaper than a single slice of coffee cake from a bakery or coffee shop, which can easily run $4-5 on its own.

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Recipe

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5 from 1 vote

Protein Apple Crumble Coffee Cake

This Protein Apple Crumble Coffee Cake layers spiced apples and a real butter crumble over a Greek yogurt cake base, with 11g of protein per serving.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time1 hour hr

Total Time1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Servings: 9 servings

Calories: 310kcal

Author: Megan Byrd, RD

Cost: $7.38 or $0.82/serving

Equipment

• 1 8×8 baking pan

Ingredients

Crumble Topping:

• ½ cup whole wheat pastry flour
• ⅓ cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp apple pie spice (or cinnamon)
• ¼ tsp salt
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter (softened to room temperature)

Protein Apple Coffee Cake:

• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2 large eggs
• ⅓ cup milk of choice (I used Darigold Fit 2%)
• ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
• ⅓ cup applesauce
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 ¾ cups whole wheat pastry flour
• ¼ cup vanilla protein powder
• 2 tsp apple pie spice (or cinnamon)
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda

Apple Filling:

• 1 ½ cups honeycrisp apples peeled, cored, and cut into ½ inch cubes
• 3 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp apple pie spice (or cinnamon)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350℉ and line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper.
• Make the crumble topping. In a mixing bowl, stir together whole wheat pastry flour, brown sugar, apple pie spice, and salt. Add the room-temperature butter and stir with a fork or your hands until it forms a crumbly topping. Place in the fridge while you make the batter.
• Make the batter. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the plain Greek yogurt, eggs, milk, maple syrup, applesauce, and vanilla extract until no lumps remain. Add the flour, protein powder, apple pie spice, baking powder, and baking soda and stir until well combined. Set aside.
• Make the apple filling. Toss the chopped apples in a small bowl with 3 tbsp brown sugar and 1 tsp apple pie spice. Set aside.
• Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth into an even layer. Top evenly with the apples, then sprinkle the chilled crumble topping over the apples. Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until baked through.
• Allow to cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to finish cooling. Slice into 9 squares and serve!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 310kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 8g | Sodium: 395mg | Fiber: 4g

If you end up making this and loving it, take a photo and tag me on Instagram! I’d love to see your versions of my recipes! And feel free to rate it down below in the comment section. I would really appreciate it!

xoxo Megan