Gluten Free Apple Cake

This Gluten Free Apple Cake has just a few simple ingredients and comes together quickly. As a bonus, it is also dairy free! This is a french style gluten free apple cake that will impress just about anyone.

You know what I really like? Apples. They are probably one of my favorite fruits for some strange reason, so I tend to use them quite a bit when cooking and baking.

I've been gluten free for a long time now, and this gluten free apple cake is loved by just about everyone I've ever served it to.

New to gluten free? Don't worry, this french gluten free apple cake is super simple to make, and tastes great. You would never know it was gluten free unless someone told you.

What is a French Apple Cake?

A French Apple Cake is an apple cake that originated in France and has a light, fluffy texture and subtle sweetness. Unlike traditional American apple cakes, it does not contain any type of flour, making it naturally gluten free. It is usually made with tart apples such as Granny Smith or Fujis, which are then layered with sugar and cinnamon for a delicious flavor. The cake batter is light and airy, giving the cake its signature texture. This type of apple cake can be served warm or cold and makes a great dessert option for anyone who prefers something lighter than a heavy cake.

Ingredients Needed

Like I said this cake is simple, and you'll only need a few simple ingredients. Get more info on these ingredients in the recipe card below.

• Gluten Free Flour (I use King Arthur Gluten Free Baking Mix for almost everything I make)
• Two Apples (I love honeycrisp for everything, so that's what I use)
• Two Eggs
• Sugar
• Canola Oil (I bake dairy free, so I use canola oil. You could use room temperature unsalted butter if you wish!)
• Vanilla Extract
• Salt

That's it. Really. See, I told you it was easy!

One of the best parts about King Arthur Gluten Free Baking Mix is that it already has baking powder in it, so no need to add it to your recipe. If you're using a different type of gluten free flour, be sure to add some.

How to Make Gluten Free French Apple Cake

Start by whisking together your eggs and sugar in a large bowl. Then add your vanilla and oil.

Slow whisk in your flour, in thirds. It stays easy to whisk if you add it a little at a time.

The batter will be thick once all of the baking mix is in, so I like to switch to a rubber spatula, and toss the apple slices in the batter.

I also line my pan with parchment paper, and wipe the sides down with oil so I don't have to worry about it sticking. Then I put the batter and apple mixture into an 8 or 9-inch springform pan.

Then bake at 350F for about 35 minutes. That's it! Once the top starts to turn a beautiful golden brown, you know that the best apple cake is ready to be removed from the hot oven and set out to cool.

We like to enjoy our French gluten free apple cake while it is still warm!

Storage

Store any leftover gluten free apple cake in an airtight container or wrap it with plastic wrap and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

You can reheat this delicious cake in the oven, toaster oven, or microwave until warmed through.

WHAT ARE THE BEST APPLES TO USE IN A FRESH APPLE CAKE?

You may be wondering what apples to use in an apple cake. I'm going to go against probably everyone else on the internet and say use whatever fresh apples you enjoy to eat.

Yes, there are baking apples, cooking apples, whatever, but in my mind, I want to bake with something I like to eat!

I use Honeycrisp apples in this gluten free apple cake delicious recipe because they are my favorite.

How do I know when my cake is done?

When you're baking an apple gluten free cake, it's important to know when it's done so it ends up with just the right texture.

An easy way to check is by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake; if it comes out clean, your cake is done. You also want to make sure that the top of the cake feels firm and springs back lightly when touched. If you are using a digital thermometer, cakes are usually done between 205-212°F (96-100°C).

How do I prevent the cake from sticking to the sides of the pan?

When baking any cake, it's important to make sure you have a prepared pan to make your cake in. As I share in the instructions, I like to line the bottom of my pan with parchment paper and then wipe the sides of the pan down with some canola oil. If you are not following a dairy free diet, you could use butter. You can even wipe down the parchment paper on the bottom of the pan with the oil to make sure it doesn't stick.

Additionally, some people like to line the entire pan with parchment paper and leave a little extra on the sides to use as handles to remove the cake. I find that to be a little hard in round pans, especially springform pans. But you can do whatever you prefer.

Tips and Variations

• Always check that your gluten free flour mixture has xanthan gum, guar gum or some other binding agent. Otherwise, you need to add some in to your dry ingredients in your large mixing bowl in order for your gluten free apple cake to turn out properly.
• If you don't want to use sugar in this recipe, you can sweeten this cake up naturally by using some natural 100% pure maple syrup.
• If you don't want to use butter or canola oil to grease the pan, you can use a baking spray or cooking spray to prepare the pans.
• For a little extra flavor, you can add some lemon zest and lemon juice to your gluten free apple cake batter.
• You can make this gluten free apple cake even more special by serving it with a scoof of vanilla ice cream, other homemade ice cream or homemade whipped cream.
• And if you want to give the cake a little crunch, sprinkle some chopped nuts tossed in brown sugar, over the top before baking.
• When I make thign gluten-free apple cake recipe, I like to let my cake cool on a wire rack once it cools down enough to remove it from the springform pan, before I start cutting it. Letting it cool on the rack stops the hot pan from continuing to let the simple French apple cake bake while still in the pan.
• Do you like a variety of apples? You can use a few different kinds when making this moist apple cake.

This moist cake really is an easy gluten free cake recipe to make. So, what's stopping you? Grab the ingredients and head to the kitchen!

Print

Gluten Free Apple Cake {French Style, Dairy Free}

This simple gluten free apple cake comes together quickly, and is a crowd pleaser. You won't be able to tell this one is gluten free!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Servings 8

Author A Stray Kitchen

Ingredients

• 2 Eggs
• ½ Cup Sugar
• ½ Cup Canola Oil
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
• 1 Cup King Arthur Gluten Free Baking Mix
• ½ Teaspoon Salt
• 2 Apples chopped into cubes

Instructions

1. Preaheat oven to 350F.
2. Prepare a 8" or 9" spring form pan by placing a parchment paper on the bottom, and greasing the side. Alternatiely, you can grease the whole pan.
3. Chop two apples of your choice into cubes, and set aside.
4. Start by whisking together your eggs and sugar. Once combined well, then add your vanilla and oil.
5. Measure one cup King Arthur Gluten Free Baking Mix, and add ½ teaspoon salt. If using a gluten free flour that does not have baking powder, be sure to add 1 Teaspoon baking powder.
6. Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, ⅓ at a time.
7. The batter will be very thick once all of the flour has been whisked in. Switch to a spatula, and add the chopped apples.
8. Combine batter and chopped apples, until they are evenly coated.
9. Place apple batter into the prepared pan, and smooth out the top. You may need to spread it to distribute it evenly.
10. Bake a 350F for about 35 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out cleanly.
11. Allow to sit for 10 minutes. Remove spring form portion of the pan and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Be sure to add 1 teaspoon of baking powder if your gluten free flour does not contain it. This is great served warm. You may want to even add whipped cream or your favorite ice cream to it!