Tender Gluten Free Apple Cake | Dairy Free Option!

Try this incredibly tender gluten-free apple cake any time of year. Our gf apple cake smells amazing and doesn't need additional toppings to satisfy. 

This gluten-free apple cake is positively packed with fork-tender apple chunks, the cake delicate and tender from being baked along with them.

There are few things more comforting than a still-warm slice of cinnamon-rich apple cake, packed with tender chunks of apples. It needs no dollop of whipped cream, no scoop of vanilla ice cream, to delight, especially if your friends and family are lucky enough to be served a slice the same day it was baked, the whole house still fragrant with its baking. And there are fewer steps than required to make a gluten-free apple pie (all due respect to apple pie!).

A gluten-free apple cake you can't resist

Similar in ingredient proportions to a French apple cake, this much simpler apple cake is baked right in a standard cake pan rather than a springform pan. This recipe somehow still manages to deliver a cake with a custard-like texture inside but with a lovely, buttery browned crust.

Maybe you're like me, and you're just picking out the very best apples at the grocery store and baking like you mean it. Or maybe you've just spent a day picking apples at an orchard, leaving you with the apple over-abundance you promised yourself you’d avoid but never seem to. You just have to make this gf apple cake any way you can.

Preparing the apples for your gluten-free apple cake

Here's how I prepare my apples for this cake:

• Peel the apples first, without coring them, using a classic vegetable peeler;
• Using a large, sharp knife, slice each apple in half on a cutting board, then in half again, so you have 4 quarters;
• Slice the core out of each quarter by placing each on one cut side, then slicing off the core at an angle;
• Slice each cored, peeled, quarter apple into 3 or 4 pieces along the length, then into chunks by cross-section;
• Toss the apples with the cinnamon, optional nutmeg, and lemon juice.

Can you freeze your prepared apple chunks ahead of time?

Yes! You can actually prepare the apple chunks as described above, and then only toss them with the lemon juice. Spread them on a baking sheet and place the baking sheet in the freezer. Once they're frozen, transfer them to a zip-top bag and return them to the freezer. You can use them to bake this gf apple cake—without defrosting them!

Choosing a gluten-free flour blend for your gf apple cake

I always use Better Batter (or my mock Better Batter gluten-free flour blend) in this cake. There isn't a ton of gluten-free flour in this cake (it's really mostly apples!), but the flour blend does a lot of work keeping everything together in this moist, custard-like cake. So be sure to choose your all-purpose gluten-free flour blend wisely!

What's the best cake pan for gluten-free apple cake?

The easiest way to bake this cake is in a 9-inch round cast aluminum baking pan, greased well to ensure that the sides of the cake don't stick to the pan. But I like the cake even better when it's baked in an 8-inch round pan, prepared the same way. It takes about 10 minutes longer to bake all the way through, but each slice really shows off all those apples when it's taller, instead of longer.

Can I bake this apple cake in a bundt pan?

No, I'm afraid that this cake is just too chunked with apples to hold together when made in a bundt pan. You'd never get it out of the pan in one piece!

Tips for preparing your gf apple cake

Get 3 mixing bowls ready

You'll need 3 separate bowls for the different ingredients in this apple cake, but it's worth it. You'll need one for the apples, to which you'll add most of the prepared cake batter, one for whisking together the few dry ingredients (gf flour blend, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and/or nutmeg), and one for creaming together the wet ingredients (butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla).

The cake batter is super chunky.

You'll combine about 2/3 of the butter and egg mixture with the chopped apples, and the batter will be almost impossibly chunky. Just make sure to coat all the apples in as much batter as you can, and resist the urge to use all the batter. You'll really need to coat the bottom of your prepared baking pan with that remaining 1/3 of the wet mixture.

Gluten-free apple cake substitutions and variations

Gluten-free dairy free apple cake

The only dairy in this recipe is the butter, and you should be able to replace it successfully with vegan butter. My favorite brands are Melt and Miyoko's Kitchen. Earth's Balance Buttery Sticks might work here, but they're really salty and have more moisture, so reduce the salt and expect that the batter might leak from the pan. Line it with a rimmed baking sheet during baking.

Gluten-free egg free apple cake

There are two eggs in this cake, and you should be able to replace each of them with one “chia egg.” To make 2 chia eggs, place 2 tablespoons of ground white chia seeds and 2 tablespoons of lukewarm water in a small bowl, mix to combine, and allow to gel.

Gluten-free sugar free apple cake

You might be able to make this cake with a sugar alternative. My favorite granulated sugar replacement for baking is Lankato brand monk fruit sweetener, but it does tend to be drying, so you may need to add some water to the butter and sugar mixture if it seems really tight.

Vegan gluten-free apple cake

If you replace both the butter and the eggs as described above, and make sure that your granulated sugar isn't made with bone char, your gf apple cake will also be vegan.

Variations for your gluten-free apple cake

Here are a few suggestions for how to switch things up a bit and make your apple cake a little different:

• Serve your apple cake warm, with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream;
• Drizzle the cake very lightly with a really simple confectioners' sugar glaze;
• Replace half the apples with firm pears, prepared the same way, for a gf apple pear cake;
• Add a dollop of fresh whipped cream and a light sprinkle of ground cinnamon on top.

FAQs

Does this gluten-free apple cake need a glaze or frosting?

No, this cake is so packed with baked apple chunks, and warm aromatic spices that it's perfect on its own. Of course, no one can say no to a generous slice of apple cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream…

What are the best apples for making gluten-free apple cakes?

For baking, you want an apple that will hold its shape when heat is applied to it, and provide lots of flavor. Granny Smith are the apples that are typically recommended for baking, since they’re quite tart, hold up very well in baking, and are widely available for purchase. I love them for everything. 

For depth of flavor and texture in your baked goods, it’s great to use a variety. My favorite apples for eating, baking, and even cooking down into applesauce are Empire, Macintosh, and Cortland. Gala is also a great variety, especially when used in baking with Granny Smith for a nice flavor variety.

Do I have to peel the apples for gluten-free apple cake?

Yes, you have to peel and core apples when they're being baked into the center of a cake. The apple skins have a lot of fiber, and won't break down in the oven like the flesh does.

Storing your gf apple cake

The crumb of this cake is so moist, and the baked apple chunks keep it that way. So you can store it at room temperature, or even in the refrigerator (or freeze for longer storage). Here are some more specific tips for getting the most out of your cake:

How long does gluten-free apple cake keep?

This gluten-free apple cake is super moist and will keep on the counter for a full day if it's well-covered with plastic wrap, and in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 3 days. The crumb of the cake is so moist, and the baked apple chunks keep it that way.

Does gluten-free apple cake need to be refrigerated?

The cake should only be refrigerated if you plan to store it for longer than 1 day, or if it's very warm in your kitchen and cooked foods are prone to spoiling.

Can you freeze gf apple cake?

Yes, you can freeze this cake whole, or in slices. Just be sure to place it in a container with a tight-fitting lid. If you're freezing the cake whole, you can wrap it tightly in plastic wrap on all sides, and place it on a quarter sheet pan in the freezer until it's frozen. Then, you can remove it from the pan.

If your cake has been frozen, defrost it at room temperature uncovered, since condensation will gather on the container or plastic wrap as it defrosts, which could make the cake soggy.

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