Grab some fresh, tart apples from the orchard, farmer’s market or store so you can make this delicious gluten-free apple bundt cake. This gluten-free apple cake is dairy-free too! This is such a pretty gluten-free apple dessert.
We buy at least 60 pounds of apples twice each fall. We use them in a variety of recipes, including gluten-free apple puff pancakes, gluten-free apple streusel muffins, gluten-free apple crisp, homemade applesauce, and of course this gluten-free apple cake that I’m sharing today! I slice and freeze a lot of the apples for future use too, so that all winter and spring, I can use the thawed apples in my favorite recipes.
I’ve also been making gluten-free apple cakes for years, but have been really trying to perfect it this past year. I’ve been trying different glazes and icings, making a dairy-free option, and getting the seasonings just right. Now it is finally time to share this new recipe with you! We love this gluten-free apple cake! If you don’t have fresh apples on hand, use ones that you froze!
Notes on ingredients and substitutions for this gluten-free apple cake:
- Gluten-free Flour: As always, I only recommend baking with a good quality all-purpose gluten-free flour blend. All flour blends are not created equal! I recommend avoiding flour blends that contain any bean flours or that are primarily rice flour, as you’ll get a more gritty result. This recipe, like pretty much all of my recipes, has been tested with successful results with both gfJules gluten-free flour (also on Amazon here) and Gluten Free Mama’s Almond Flour Blend and I recommend either one. Two other flour blends that I’ve been testing some (but not this recipe yet) with good results are Cup4Cup and Pamela’s.
- Butter/Oil: After making this apple cake successfully several times with melted butter or with corn oil, I recently tested it with melted coconut oil and had the same great results. The batter before baking has small lumps when using coconut oil, but those dissolve in baking. The cake was great either way!
- Applesauce: When using applesauce in baking, I always use an unsweetened, plain applesauce. I personally use our homemade applesauce or store-bought No Sugar Added apple sauce.
- Apples: I recommend using a good tart apple that’s suitable for baking. I personally always prefer McIntosh, Pink Lady, or Braeburn.
- Sugar: I know someone is going to comment on the amount of sugar – but keep in mind this is a LARGE cake, you’re using unsweetened applesauce and tart apples. While I haven’t experimented with any sugar substitutions, you’re welcome to experiment and let me know what works!
Have more applesauce on hand? Make this gluten-free applesauce bread from my friend Erin. Or this gluten-free blueberry banana buckle from my friend Shirley.
I tried a variety of glazes and icings and ultimately felt like they all overpowered the cake and made the whole dessert just too sweet. I finally decided to just give the cake a dusting of powdered sugar and we all loved it! Powdered sugar is just the right thing to make it pretty and add another little layer of flavor and texture to this amazing dessert!
I’m sure some of you can get all crazy making powdered sugar patterns and such on it too! That’s a little out of my league, but I can’t wait to see if some of you do! You can email me or share to my Facebook page if you make this, or any of my recipes!
Since it doesn’t have chocolate that will melt, or a runny, sticky glaze, this can handle sitting out in the heat at your next picnic or potluck. Before I brought it to a potluck recently, I went ahead and sliced it all up at home and laid the slices on a platter. I got 16 good thick slices, but you could squeeze more if you slice thinner.
I’ve been making this gluten-free apple cake for many years now that I perfected it! I hope this becomes a go-to recipe in your home also! If you like this apple cake, then I think you’ll love this gluten-free peach cake that I make too! They’re both delicious and can be enjoyed for breakfast like coffee cake or for dessert with some whipped cream or ice cream.
Oh, you can also serve this with homemade whipped cream – I often do! You could also serve with either store-bought or homemade gluten-free caramel sauce if you want that caramel flavor!
Gluten-free Apple Cake Recipe:
This gluten-free apple cake is delicious with a dusting of powdered sugar. You can also serve with homemade whipped cream or ice cream. This has been tested successfully several times with gfJules flour blend, and several times with Gluten Free Mama's flour blend. I've made this gluten-free apple cake dairy-free with coconut oil with great results. I've also made this cake using melted butter with great results. Feel free to use whichever works better with your allergens/intolerances.Gluten-free Apple Cake (dairy-free)
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Remember, if using a blend like gfJules that has xanthan gum or guar gum in it, omit the xanthan gum called for in the recipe.
Enjoy!
Lauren Gaskill says
This cake looks absolutely divine! I am putting this on my to-make list for sure!
jules says
This cake is calling my name! I love that it’s not chocolate … not that there’s anything wrong with chocolate, but we could all use more non-chocolate cake recipes out there. Especially when they’re this beautiful!!!
~jules
Julie says
Do you think this could be made w/a substitute for eggs?
Tammy Jones says
I’m wondering the same also. I’m thinking of trying 2 flax eggs and maybe a powdered egg replacer.
ss says
Made this today for my friends daughter. You would never know it was gluten free, very moist and flavorful!!!
Mary says
I have never left comments before however this deserves one. This cake is as yummy as it looks. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Bleie says
What size is your bundt pan? And could I use regular flour (I need a dairy free recipe, but gluten are fine)?
Laura says
This cake is excellent. I will omit the cloves this time as the flavor is very intense. But this recipe is a killer! Thank you so much for this!
Britni says
I made this for my daughter’s birthday but did a strawberry version. I used Glutino brand flour, smashed strawberries in place of the applesauce, 1/2 the sugar and a packet of Simply Jello strawberry flavor. Turned out so good. Moist and tasty. I might use a bit more sugar next time but did a nice glaze on top and with mango sorbet it was amazing. My husband thought it was the perfect sweetness.
Thanks for posting such a solid recipe, I find gluten free/dairy free cakes to be hit-or-miss but this was easy and turned out perfectly.
I want to add as a note for those considering making this that the batter was VERY thick, much thicker than regular cake batter, so if that happens not to worry. It will turn out fine. 🙂
Kelly says
Can I use canola oil instead of coconut or butter?
Michelle Palin ~ My Gluten-free Kitchen says
Yes that should be fine!
maggie says
Tastes great, but didn’t bake right. The outer part was too hard, and the inside never fully baked because of the apples. I may have messed up the recipe bit, though. Other than that, I love this recipe!
Mei says
Has anyone tried this in a regular cake pan, or a 9×13 pan? Sounds great! I’d also like to try with egg replacers.
MS says
This cake was a hit! I made this following the recipe as provided, using butter. I had to bake it about 20 minutes more than called for in the recipe, but it could be because I used too many apples. I tested the cake with a toothpick multiple times, waiting the batter was cooked through. The cake was moist with a lot of favor. It was a hit with those that are gluten free and those that are not!
Michelle Palin ~ My Gluten-free Kitchen says
I’m so glad it was a hit! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and leave a 5 star review! You were very smart to keep testing for doneness and baking until it was done. Pan size, amount of apples, and even how juicy the apples are would all cause variations in baking time. So glad your’s turned out! Happy Baking MS!
Nora says
I’d like to try this as it’s apple season and you have so many good reviews. I’d like to cut back on the sugar used though.Any Thoughts?
Daniella says
My gluten free cake attempts mostly suck, but this one did not suck!
It was moist and fluffy at the same time! Delicious and my non-gf husband who doesn’t like any of my baking loved it.
Thank you!
Kalaena says
I had some apple butter and was too lazy to cut up more apples so I used 2 cup apple butter total in place of the 1/2 cup A sauce and 3 cups diced A and added 7 min cook time. Everything else the same, turned out perfect. Reminds me of a favorite gingerbread bunt cake I adore from Lord Byron’s Kitchen (I sub GF flour blend w his recipe). If you are a fan of this cake you really ought to check out that recipe out for the holidays!