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If you love caramel apples, this moist and delicious gluten-free caramel apple cake will become your favorite apple recipe. Gooey caramel and fresh apple flavors combine into this easy-to-make gluten free caramel apple cake!
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Fall is around the corner, and I am so excited to get fresh organic apples again. This easy gluten free caramel apple cake recipe will help you use those yummy apples. This easy apple cake with caramel is one of my favorites because it is full of caramel flavor! I bake the caramel topping right into the cake, making it caramelize the flavors with the apples.
Do you like to bake or cook with apples, or do you prefer to eat them raw? My family is so fast, so if I want to cook with apples, I must be quick. My teens love crisp apples, and this big bag will disappear in a few days. If you love different kinds of apple cake, you will want to try all of my delicious Gluten Free Cake Recipes!
Lucky for me, my family loves to eat cake. There are a few delicious apple cakes here on the blog, including Gluten Free French Apple Cakes and this Fool-Proof Gluten Free Apple Cake. Both cakes are incredible and full of apples…butit was time for me to make something a little different.
This was delicious. I added 2 cups chopped apples and it made both of these cakes. Thank you for sharing this recipe.” Susan A., Pinterest commentReader Rave
Allergen Information:
This simple apple cake is gluten-free, oat-free, and soy-free. If you prefer a nut-free version, substitute ½ cup additional gluten-free flour blend and omit the almond flour. You can make this cake dairy-free as well. Substitute ⅔ cup coconut oil instead of butter. For dairy-free caramel, check out this delicious dairy-free caramel recipe. I used dairy-free almond milk in this recipe, but you can also use flax milk.
What Apples Are Best For Baking?
Apples are starting to appear in our Campbell farmer’s market, and I bought a big bag of Gravenstein apples. These apples are crisp and slightly tart, which really adds a lot of apple flavor to baking. You can use any apples in this recipe but try for one of the more tart varieties.
- Pink Ladies
- Granny Smith
- Jonagold
If your family loves apples as much as mine does you must also try my new Gluten Free Apple Bundt Cake recipe!
Ingredients Notes:
- Gluten Free Flour Blend – I tested this recipe using Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour Blend and King Arthur’s Measure for Measure Gluten Free Blend. That doesn’t mean others will not work; I have not tested other flours.
- Baking Powder – Use aluminum-free baking powder.
- Caramel – You can use jarred caramel like the one I bought at Trader Joe’s, or you can make a homemade caramel sauce.
- Brown Sugar – You can also use coconut sugar if you prefer a lower glycemic sweetener.
- Eggs – Use size large.
- Butter – Use unsalted butter.
- Non-Dairy Milk – Any non-dairy milk or regular dairy milk is fine.
- Almond Flour – I highly suggest using almond flour and not almond meal. Almond meal is more coarse and will make your cake grainy.
- Vanilla Bean Paste – You can also use pure vanilla extract. Do not use imitation.
- Apples – It is optional whether you want to peel the apples.
You will also love these easy gluten free apple crumble bars!
Step-By-Step Directions:
Step 1: Add your dry ingredients, including the sugar, to a large
Step 2: Add the wet ingredients and whisk to blend in a smaller bowl. I recommend partially melting the butter so it mixes into the batter well.
Looking closely at the egg photo above, you can see the tiny vanilla beans in this vanilla paste. Most grocery stores carry vanilla bean paste, but you can also use pure vanilla extract.
Step 3: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and add the chopped apple pieces.
Step 4: Mix the two gently until just barely mixed. Overmixing will make this cake denser. You want to keep your cake light and fluffy. Your batter will look like the photo above.
Step 5: Spray an 8×8 baking pan with gluten-free baking spray. After pouring the batter into the pan, spread it out evenly so it is flat on top. Pour the caramel over the top.
Step 6: Bake at 350º F for 35 minutes. The caramel then bakes into this cake, and that caramel flavor seeps deep into the cake. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. Ifthe toothpick comes out clean, it is done baking. If you see batter or crumbs, the cake needs to bake longer.
Recipe FAQ:
How do you know when the cake is baked?
To test to see if this cake is baked through, insert a toothpick into the center of the apple cake. If the toothpick comes back clean, the cake is ready. It needs to bake a bit longer if you see batter or crumbs on the toothpick.
Can you use vanilla extract instead of paste?
You can definitely use vanilla extract if you can’t find the vanilla paste. You can also use vanilla beans.
How long will this cake keep fresh?
This apple cake will keep fresh in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You must keep it in a sealed container so it doesn’t dry out.
If you love apples as much as we do, give one of these gluten free apple recipes a try!
More Gluten Free Desserts to Try:
- Gluten Free Apple Cobbler
- Gluten Free Lemon Sour Cream Cakes
- Gluten Free Orange Almond Flour Cake
- Gluten Free Caramel Apple Tart with Vanilla Custard
- Gluten Free Chocolate Cake
If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. Please include which flour blend you used. This helps others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!Love This Recipe?
Gluten Free Caramel Apple Cake
Sandi Gaertner
One of my very favorites, this gluten free caramel apple cake is so easy to make!
4.75 from 72 votes
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Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 40 minutes mins
Course Gluten Free Cake Recipes, Gluten Free Dessert Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 8 slices
Calories 447 kcal
Ingredients
- 2 cups gluten free flour blend * see note
- 1 cup almond flour * see note
- ¾ cup brown sugar * see note
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup butter melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup chopped apples
- ⅔ cups almond milk
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- ½ cup caramel I used Trader Joe’s jar of caramel
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350º F.
Spray an 8×8 baking pan with coconut oil.
In a medium bowl, add all wet ingredients and blend.
In a large bowl, add all dry ingredients and whisk. (*Note, if your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum, add 1 teaspoon.)
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and add the apples.
Mix until just barely mixed. This light blending will help to keep your cake light and fluffy.
Pour the batter into a baking dish and then drizzle caramel on top.
Bake for 25 minutes, or until done. See tips to know if the cake is done baking below
Allow to cool.
Notes
- I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF and Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend. That doesn’t mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
- If your gluten free flour blenddoesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
- I highly suggest using almond flour and not almond meal. Almond meal is more coarse and will make your cake grainy.
- I used bottled coconut milk (refrigerator case in grocery stores) but other dairy-free kinds of milk or regular milk will work. I do not recommend canned coconut milk
- To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean, it is done baking. If you see batter or crumbs, the cake needs to bake longer.
- Please make sure you check the ingredients of any caramel you use if you are not making it from scratch. Caramel color is often a phrase for something that contains gluten.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.
Nutrition
Serving: 1gCalories: 447kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 8gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 260mgPotassium: 196mgFiber: 5gSugar: 33gVitamin A: 429IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 168mgIron: 2mg
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Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
