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    Home » Recipes » Sweets

    Updated: Mar 14, 2023 by Gus · This post contains affiliate links.

    Apple Cake (Vegan + Gluten-Free) Perfectly Moist with Simple Ingredients

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    vegan apple cake pin spanish
    vegan apple cake pin
    vegan apple cake pin
    VNFGF

    If you're looking for a vegan and gluten-free apple cake recipe, look no further. We have all the tips to make this moist, delicious cake with simple everyday ingredients. Vegan and gluten-free baking may seem complicated, but it doesn't need to be! Follow these steps, and your perfect apple cake will be ready in no time.

    Jump to Recipe

    The apple cake vegan recipe that we have chosen to share with you is perfect for any time of the year. Whether it's apple season or not where you are, this moist apple cake will be a great idea!

    The same way you would make a carrot cake or vegan pumpkin pie out of season just for the sake of enjoying a delicious and healthy pie! Those are my all-time favorite desserts!

    vegan apple cake slice

    And if your friends don't follow a gluten-free diet, you can enjoy it will all-purpose flour as well.

    Making an apple cake vegan is super easy, you just need to replace the on-vegan components such as egg, butter, and milk, with healthier options, like:

    1. Dairy-free milk combined with lemon juice makes vegan buttermilk which makes a great vegan baking partner because it helps to raise baking goods and helps to make this vegan apple cake light. You can use it on cornbread or a vegan banana loaf.
    2. Chia or Flax eggs - simply made by combining these anti-oxidant packed seeds with warm water, and make a great egg replacement.
    3. Flaxseed oil, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, or melted vegan butter - to replace regular butter.

    To make this vegan apple cake gluten-free, you need to use a gluten-free flour mix instead of wheat flour.

    vegan apple cake

    This absolutely delicious recipe is simple, soft, moist, dairy-free, made with fresh chopped apples. You only need 15 minutes to prepare it, and the rest is baking time.

    Jump to:
    • 🧾 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • Variations
    • 🍽 Equipment
    • 👨🏻‍🍳 Tips for making the perfect vegan apple cake
    • 🥡 Storage
    • 💡 Top tip
    • 🥢  How do I serve vegan apple cake?
    • ❓ FAQ
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 🌡️ Food safety
    • 💬 Reviews and Comments

    🧾 Ingredients

    To make this delectable Italian-inspired version of a vegan apple cake, you'll need only 10 simple ingredients. These particular components guarantee that this cake is nutritious and has plenty of fiber, fruits, antioxidants, and minerals.

    The apple cake is made with natural sugar that won't cause blood sugar levels to rise. The main allergens (dairy, eggs, and wheat) are absent from the dessert, and it is also nut-free. It's also a fantastic dish to try with children.

    vegan apple cake ingredients
    • Apples, peeled and cubed
    • Lemon juice and zest
    • Cinnamon powder
    • Gluten-free flour (or all-purpose, if you are not looking for a gluten-free recipe)
    • Brown cane sugar (coconut sugar or regular granulated sugar)
    • Baking powder
    • Chia seeds
    • Flaxseed oil (or extra virgin olive oil, regular canola oil, and sunflower oil work as well)
    • Non-dairy milk (preferably soy milk, oat milk, or almond milk)
    • Pure vanilla extract

    See quantities and complete instructions in the recipe card.

    sliced vegan apple cake sliced

    🔪 Instructions

    These are the simple directions to make a vegan apple cake, and you can see the detailed step-by-step guide right below.

    1. Prepare the chia egg with chia seeds and water.
    2. Make vegan buttermilk with plant milk and lemon juice (or apple cider vinegar).
    3. Peel, core, and cube the apples. Then toss with lemon and cinnamon.
    4. Sieve your dry ingredients.
    5. Mix everything and pour the cake batter into a baking dish.
    6. Bake in a preheated oven.

    Step by step

    They only require bowls and a baking dish to make this delicious vegan apple cake.

    Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350 ºF (180 ºC). Lightly grease and flour a 9-inch cake pan.

    Step 2. Prepare the chia or flax egg by adding 6 tablespoons of warm water to 2 chia seeds (or flax meal).

    chia egg
    chia egg

    Step 3. Prepare the vegan buttermilk by adding one tablespoon of lemon juice to 5 tablespoons of plant milk (preferable soy).

    vegan buttermilk
    vegan buttermilk

    Step 4. Peel, core, and cube the apples. Toss the diced apples with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, the lemon zest, and the cinnamon powder. Set aside.

    chopped apples with lemon and cinnamon

    Step 5. In a large bowl, sieve and whisk together the flour, brown sugar, and baking powder. Set aside.

    sieved dry ingredients in a bowl
    sieved dry ingredients

    Step 6. To the vegan buttermilk bowl, add the chia eggs, vanilla, and oil, and whisk until well combined. 

    wet ingredients in a bowl
    combined wet ingredients

    Step 7. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mix and combine. Don't over mix (especially if using a non-gluten-free mix). Once most of the flour is incorporated, fold in the apples.

    all apple cake ingredients mixed into a batter

    Step 8. Spread the batter into the prepared pan, sprinkle with extra brown sugar, and bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

    vegan apple cake batter poured in a cake tin

    Alternatively, you can use one apple and slice it from the center, then squeeze some lemon juice. Arrange the apple slices, flat-side down, on top of the batter in a spiral pattern.

    raw apple slices arranged in a spiral pattern on top of the batter
    baked apple slices arranged in a spiral pattern on top of the batter

    Step 9. Completely optional. Once the apple cake has completely cooled down, dust powdered sugar using a sieve, just for the looks! 🙂

    vegan apple cake
    vegan apple cake

    Enjoy at room temperature or cool.

    Variations

    Here we give you all the tips to make this recipe with whatever pantry ingredients you have.

    • Lemon flavor - we really love the lemon notes on this cake, and we have made it with half a lemon's zest and with a whole lemon's zest. We love them both, and it was difficult to write the final recipe. When you use all of it, the cake will be more fragrant but you may have less of the apples' flavor, but is sooo yummy! We suggest experimenting with both!
    • Apples - granny smith apples work very well, but in reality, all apples work for this vegan apple cake. Even if you have some leftover apple sauce or (unsweetened applesauce), feel free to stir it in.
    • Flour - all kinds of flour work for this lovely recipe. In addition to the gluten-free mix, we have tried whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, spelt flour, and oat flour.
    • Whole wheat flour works well and adds nutrition and fiber, just remember that it makes be less fluffy, but just a little, nothing to worry about!
    • Dairy-free milk - you can use preferably soy milk, homemade oat milk, and cashew milk because they make better vegan buttermilk, but almond milk also works. Vegan yogurt works as well. To make vegan buttermilk, you can also use apple cider vinegar.
    • Chia egg - you can also make a flax egg, using a flax meal; they both work equally. I chose to use chia eggs for two reasons: I like the extra texture that chia seeds provide, and we are using flax oil. As you know, we like maximizing the nutrition aspect of our recipes, so having both chia and flax seeds in our recipe, gives us a double portion of these powerful antioxidants.
    • Spices - in addition to cinnamon, you may add a touch of nutmeg or even replace the cinnamon with a pumpkin spice mix, which has cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger powder.
    • Pure Vanilla extract - if you don't have some but have almond extract, you can use it instead.
    • Baking powder - if you can't find baking powder where you live, you can make your simple by mixing two-part baking soda, two-part cream of tartar, and one part of cornstarch.

    Just don't try to replace it solely with baking soda because you will end up having an odd flavor in your vegan cake.

    As you can see, following a vegan diet can be easier than you think; we need to know the correct replacements to make delicious vegan creations!

    🍽 Equipment

    Ideally, use a cake tin; that way, you don't need to worry about turning it, but the cake also bakes well in a regular baking dish.

    You can also use a muffin pan to make muffins with the same cake batter.

    👨🏻‍🍳 Tips for making the perfect vegan apple cake

    Granny smith apples are beautifully crisp and are pretty delicious, with a good ratio between sweet and tart, but all types of apple work.

    A little more suitable than white sugar, coconut sugar, and brown sugar complements the fall season.

    We recommend cooling your vegan apple cake completely before slicing it. That way, the flavors will consolidate better, and it will also moisten better.

    🥡 Storage

    If you have leftover cake, you should worry much because it will disappear quickly. You can have it in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    This vegan apple cake is preserved in a cake container for three days. You can also use plastic bags to keep the apple cake soft and moist.

    💡 Top tip

    When it comes to baked goods, the air is the enemy of freshness. Oxygen oxidates food, and it is pretty visible on cakes and bread. If you don't have a closed cake container, just put your bread or cake in a plastic bag, close it, and absorb as much air as possible with your mouth, "emulating" a sealed bag.

    If you want to eat the vegan cake warm, you can reheat it in the microwave or over for 5 minutes on medium heat.

    🥢  How do I serve vegan apple cake?

    Enjoy a slice of vegan apple cake for breakfast, tea time, or dinner dessert.

    Apple cakes taste delicious on their own, but if you feel like indulging yourself or your guests, you can serve the apple cake with vegan vanilla ice cream or vegan whipped cream (made with coconut cream).

    vegan apple cake with vegan ice cream

    ❓ FAQ

    Can I make apple cake oil-free?

    Yes. Just replace the oil with the exact amount of water. The result will be drier though.

    What makes vegan cakes moist?

    One of the main secrets to making apple cake moist is the treatment you give to the apples before stirring them into the batter.
    Alternatively, you can use apple sauce, but you would require too much of it, that's why we go with apples, but you can always add some extra applesauce and make it extra-moist.
    Other than that, you can use oil instead of just water and milk alternatives like homemade almond milk or soy milk, which will give more body to your vegan apple cake.

    What's the best flour for apple cakes?

    All-purpose flour is a great choice, but you can also use whole wheat or spelt flours. Just make sure you keep the proportions.
    What's the difference between apple cake and apple pie?
    The apple cake doesn't need a crust. To make a vegan apple pie, you need a vegan crust and then use either unsweetened applesauce or make a moister apple filling.

    Can I add chocolate chips to an apple cake batter?

    Yes! Make a double batch and add dark chocolate chunks, raisins, cranberries, or leftover cranberry sauce.

    vegan apple cake

    If you love healthy apple recipes, don´t forget to give a go to our delicious brown sugar and apple oatmeal and our cinnamon apple smoothie, which is low in calories and high in protein.

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    vegan apple cake sliced

    ⭐ If you try this recipe, let us know! 💬 Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag us @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!

    📋 Recipe

    baked apple slices arranged in a spiral pattern on top of the batter

    Vegan Buttermilk and Gluten-Free Apple Cake

    Gus
    How to make an apple cake vegan and gluten-free. We give you all the tips to make a vegan apple cake perfectly moist with simple everyday ingredients.
    4.9 from 43 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast & Brunch, Snack, Sweet
    Cuisine American, Comfort Food, Italian-Inspired
    Servings 8 slices
    Calories 331 kcal

    Equipment

    nine inch cake tin.
    (affiliate link)
    9-inch cake tin (affiliate link)
    Tovolo Stainless Steel Deep Mixing Kitchen Metal Bowls for Baking & Marinating, Dishwasher-Safe
    (affiliate link)
    Bowl (affiliate link)

    Ingredients
     
     

    APPLE MIX

    • 5 apple small, 1.4 lb ~650 gr or so, peeled and cubed
    • 1 lemon juice and zest, divide juice (2 tablespoons for the apples’ mix + 1 for the vegan buttermilk)
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon ground

    DRY INGREDIENTS

    • 1 ¾ cup gluten-free flour all-purpose, or Type 00 flour, works well if not following a gluten-free diet.
    • ¾ cup brown cane sugar or regular granulated sugar + 2 tablespoons
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder

    WET INGREDIENTS

    • 2 chia eggs 2 tablespoons chia seeds + 6 tablespoons warm water
    • ⅓ cup flaxseed oil or extra virgin olive oil
    • 6 tablespoons vegan buttermilk made with 5 tablespoons of plant milk (preferable soy milk + 1 tablespoon of lemon juice)
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Optional

    • Sugar-free powdered sugar to decorate
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Directions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 350 ºF (180 ºC). Lightly grease and flour a 9-inch pan.
    • Prepare the chia egg by adding 6 tablespoons of warm water to 2 tablespoons of chia seeds. Set aside for 10 minutes.
    • In a medium bowl, prepare the vegan buttermilk by adding one tablespoon of lemon juice to 5 tablespoons of plant milk (preferable soy). Set aside for 10 minutes.
    • Peel, core, and cube the apples. Toss the apple cubes with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, the lemon zest, and the cinnamon powder. Set aside.
    • In a large bowl, sieve the dry ingredients. Whisk together the flour, brown sugar, and baking powder. Set aside.
    • Mix wet ingredients. To the buttermilk vegan bowl, add the chia eggs, vanilla, oil, and whisk until well combined.
    • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mix and combine. Don't over mix (especially if using non-gluten-free flour). Once most of the flour is incorporated, fold in the apples.
    • Spread the batter into the prepared pan, sprinkle with extra brown sugar, and bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
    • Enjoy at room temperature or cool.

    Video

    Nutrition Facts

    Calories: 331kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 4gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 119mgPotassium: 197mgFiber: 7gSugar: 33gVitamin A: 111IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 140mgIron: 2mg
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram and Hashtag it #ourplantbasedworld so we can see what's cooking!!
    Nutrition Facts
    Vegan Buttermilk and Gluten-Free Apple Cake
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    331
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    11
    g
    17
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    6
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    1
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    7
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Sodium
     
    119
    mg
    5
    %
    Potassium
     
    197
    mg
    6
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    58
    g
    19
    %
    Fiber
     
    7
    g
    29
    %
    Sugar
     
    33
    g
    37
    %
    Protein
     
    4
    g
    8
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    111
    IU
    2
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    13
    mg
    16
    %
    Calcium
     
    140
    mg
    14
    %
    Iron
     
    2
    mg
    11
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
     
    FREE RECIPE EBOOK
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    🌡️ Food safety

    • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended
    • Use oils with a high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    Nutritional Disclaimer

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice. See our full Nutritional Disclosure here.

    Affiliate Disclaimer

    Please note that some of the links here are affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. I recommend all of the products listed because they are companies I have found helpful and trustworthy.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. charlene kinne says

      September 06, 2022 at 1:49 pm

      Would love to try this recipe, but can I use maple syrup instead of sugar?

      Reply
      • Gus says

        September 06, 2022 at 5:55 pm

        Yes, you can replace it with the same 3/4 cups of maple syrup! Let us know how it turns out!

        Reply
    2. Lynette Gibson says

      August 05, 2022 at 1:29 am

      This sounds delicious! I am curious if you have recommendations on making this sugar-free. I am considering the use of Whole Earth Golden (Monkfruit/Erythritol blend) instead of sugar. I note that with regular sugar you add additional tbsp. Will make it this weekend.

      Reply
      • Gus says

        August 05, 2022 at 5:52 pm

        Hi Lynette, thank you for your query! In vegan baking, it's good to generally start with a ratio of 1:1, substituting 1 cup of brown cane sugar with 1 cup of Monkfruit Sweetener. What I would do, is add 1/2 cup of monk fruit, then taste the batter with the tip of my finger, and take it from there adding more, if I don't find it sweet enough. Let us know how it goes, please!

        Reply
    3. Patricia @ Grab a Plate says

      July 29, 2022 at 10:30 am

      5 stars
      So lovely! So easy to make! I cannot wait to share the recipe with my sister, asap! Love this!

      Reply
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