Gluten-Free Fresh Apple Cake

Overhead view of gluten-free apple cake frosted with vegan cream cheese frosting, cut into squares.

Gluten-Free Fresh Apple Cake

This gluten-free apple cake is perfect for breakfast or brunch! It has triple the apple flavor with fresh fall apples, applesauce, and apple butter, topped with the creamiest dairy-free cream cheese frosting.

Prep Time10

Cook Time35

Total Time45

Course: Baked Goods

Cuisine: American

Keyword: gluten free apple cake recipe, gluten-free apple cake

Servings: squares

Calories: 192kcal

Author: Alyssa

Ingredients

for the cake:

1 cup almond flour
1/2 cup quinoa flour (preferably toasted)*
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup arrowroot powder
2 tablespoons coconut flour
1 cup coconut sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 organic eggs beaten
1/2 cup almond milk
1/4 cup applesauce (I like coconut)
1/4 cup apple butter (or more applesauce)
2 tablespoons oil of choice (I like coconut or olive)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup shredded apple (measured before pressing)

for the frosting:

4 oz vegan cream cheese
1 tablespoon vegan butter
2 tablespoons maple syrup
3/4 tablespoon arrowroot powder

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a square 9x9 baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients.
In a separate bowl, combine your eggs, milk, applesauce, apple butter, and oil. Beat these into the dry ingredients until a very thick batter begins to form. Fold in the apple.
Transfer all the batter into the pan and smooth with the back of your spoon.
Bake in the center of your warmed oven for 35 - 38 minutes. Test with a cake tester by placing it in the center of the cake. If there is nothing on the stick when you remove it, the cake is ready!
Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting.
For the frosting, beat together the cream cheese, butter and maple syrup using electric beaters or stand mixer with the whisk attachment (my preferred method). Once smooth, beat in the arrowroot powder.
Dollop the frosting on top of the cake and smooth it out with an offset spatula. Sprinkle with cinnamon if desired and enjoy!

Video

Notes

* toasting your quinoa flour will mellow out the flavor a bit and get rid of the bitterness. not sure how to toast it? here's a tutorial on how to toast quinoa flour!

** if you want to reduce the sugar, skip the frosting!

Nutrition