This gluten-free apple cake is the best apple cake recipe ever! It's an easy, healthy paleo dessert that’s made without refined sugar and bursting with cozy fall flavors.
Fall is my favorite season. While I definitely enjoy summer, I am always ready for the cooler temperatures, scarves, boots, and all the fall recipes - including this Gluten-Free Apple Cake!
This paleo, gluten-free apple cake recipe comes together in no time and is packed full of nutritious ingredients! Eat it for breakfast, eat it for brunch, serve it warm for dessert smothered with some Paleo Vanilla Ice cream. You really can’t go wrong.
This Paleo apple cake is irresistible! It's perfectly sweet, seriously moist, and bursting at the seams with bits of apple goodness!
Gluten-Free Apple Cake: Ingredients & Substitutions
As always it is best to follow this gluten-free Paleo Cake recipe as it's written, but here are a few potential substitutions!
- Tapioca Flour. Arrowroot powder is an acceptable substitute for tapioca flour! You can also use corn starch but it's not paleo.
- Coconut oil. Butter is a super yummy (but not dairy-free) substitute for coconut oil! Ghee is also a great substitution!
- Coconut sugar. Any granulated sugar works great in this recipe, just be sure it complies with your dietary needs.
- Pecans. I have used walnuts with delicious results as well!
How to make Gluten-Free Apple Cake
- Finely dice the apples. This will ensure that the apples in the cake are fully baked (and not hard and crunchy)
- No Peeling Required. Since peeling is unnecessary, this best Apple Cake recipe is SUPER easy to make. I love that keeping the skin on the apples adds nutrition and fiber to this fabulous fall dessert!
- Making the topping. I know I say that the topping is optional, but really the sweet and salty crunch of the pecans is SO good I don't recommend skipping it! I use a nut chopper to finely chop the pecans, but you can use a knife and cutting board if you don't have one of those!
- Let it cool before removing from the cake pan. Please be sure to give this gluten-free apple cake recipe plenty of time to cool in the cake pan. This ensures that it will hold it's shape and not fall apart when it's removed from the pan.
Serve
Serve this healthy apple cake warm with a scoop of paleo vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream!
Store
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up 5-7 days.
Recipe FAQs
Any who. I believe the absolute best apples for baking are Pink Lady apples. They are a little sweet, and a little tart, and absolutely perfect in this Gluten-Free Apple Cake recipe! Some suggestions include (but are not limited to):
Pink Lady Apples. Must mention again because they're my favorite!
Honey Crisp Apples. These are a sweeter variety, but super crisp with amazing flavor.
Granny smith. The traditional tart baking apple! They hold up well and add a nice little sour kick to the recipe!
Jazz apples and Gala apples. These varieties are very similar. They are great for baking but are mostly sweet with little (if any) sour taste!
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Gluten-Free Apple Cake (Paleo)
Ingredients
Cake:
- 1 cup almond flour
- 2 TBS tapioca flour
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- ½ cup coconut sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups chopped apples
Topping:
- ¼ cup pecans chopped
- 1 TBS coconut sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degress F. Grease an 8x8” pan, set aside.
- In a small bowl, mix together almond flour, tapioca flour, baking soda, salt, and ½ tsp of cinnamon; set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together melted coconut oil, coconut sugar.
- Mix in egg and and vanilla until well combined.
- Add the flour mixture and stir until just combined.
- Stir in the apples, pour into prepared pan.
- Sprinkle pecans on top.
- In a cup or small bowl, stir together the remaining cinnamon and sugar; sprinkle over pecans.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in preheated oven until the bars spring back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let bars cool on a wire rack. Cut into squares and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Ingredient Substitutions
- Tapioca Flour. Arrowroot powder is an acceptable substitute for tapioca flour! You can also use corn starch but it's not paleo.
- Coconut oil. Butter is a super yummy (but not dairy-free) substitute for coconut oil! Ghee is also a great substitution!
- Coconut sugar. Any granulated sugar works great in this recipe, just be sure it complies with your dietary needs.
- Pecans. I have used walnuts with delicious results as well!
Serve
Serve this healthy apple cake warm with a scoop of paleo vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream!Store
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up 5-7 days.Nutrition
More delicious apple recipes:
- Make some pie, check out our recipes for BEST apple crumble pie, or classic apple pie!
- We make this Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal for breakfast all the time!
- These Healthy Cinnamon Apples are made on the stovetop and taste so good!
- These Cinnamon Apple Muffins are the best! Enjoy them with a warm cup of coffee for a perfect fall breakfast!
- I could eat 3 of these Paleo Apple Crumb Muffins in one sitting!
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Jessica Espinoza
When doubling this recipe, is the cooking time the same?
Esther Deakins
Loved this cake! It is so good and easy to make! The paleo banana bread is also wonderful. Thank you for so many good recipes.
Ali Rose Savitt
It was delicious but fell apart. Not sure what I did wrong....
Julia Whaling
I made this recipe yesterday and it was so delicious! I could eat the entire cake in one sitting. I did use 2 eggs as the mix was to stiff to stir in the apples and it worked great.
Teri
Made as is is delicious! I was trying to replicate an apple cake my mom used to make, so I doubled the recipe and added an egg- I did also added a little freshly grated nutmeg. it was perfect The nut topping was not part of the original recipe, but I kept that since it took things over the top!
Kalebandit
So delicious. I was craving apple something as September crept in. Served with a caramel ice cream over warm cake. Thank You
Deanne
FInally. A truly DELICIOUS paleo cake!! I doubled the recipe, and used walnuts as I was out of pecans. I have tons of apples left to use so am going to make another double batch tomorrow and freeze it. The husband even said he could eat this regularly! Thank you, thank you!!
Laura
Thank you so much Deanne! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! When in doubt, double a cake right?!
Nataline
Hi all, what can I substitute for Tapioca flour.. my cupboard is not exactly as it use to be so I also do not have any corn starch... I can handle the substitute if it's not paleo; no problem. Thanks. I really want to make this today!
Laura
You can use gluten-free all purpose flour or regular flour!