This Vegan Apple Cake is so wonderfully spiced, moist, and tender. Delicious bites of apple throughout and topped with so much crumbly goodness!
Whenever I have vegan friends coming over for dinner, it’s an opportunity for me to come up with new recipes that will wow them and hopefully impress my vegan readers as well. Though it’s easy to create meals without meat, dairy, and eggs, coming up with vegan cakes, cookies, and other baked goods is a whole other ballgame. Luckily, I’ve discovered just how easy it is to replace these ingredients and still produce beautiful results.
I came up with this delectable apple cake recipe when I hosted a dinner party for a group of vegan friends last autumn. I wanted to make a deliciously aromatic cake with chunks of chewy apples and a thick layer of crumbly goodness on top. The results definitely had them asking for the recipe! This vegan apple cake has the perfect touch of sweetness and a delicate whisper of warm cinnamon. Autumnal perfection in every bite!
Is This Vegan Apple Cake Recipe Healthy?
Though this cake likely has less saturated fat than other recipes made with eggs and dairy, we can’t really label it as healthy. It’s cake, and even though it has healthy apples, it calls for sugar, flour, and fat. That said, you can make it a little more wholesome by using whole-wheat flour (or gluten-free flour) instead of white flour. Bear in mind, however, that this will result in a more compact, dense crumb.
Delicious Variations
This recipe is great as is, but it also lends itself to delicious variations. For example, you could try adding chopped nuts to the cake or to the crumb topping. Pecans and walnuts work exceptionally well. Another excellent idea is to replace the cinnamon with ground ginger and stir two tablespoons of candied ginger through the batter. For a heartier (and healthier!) topping, replace half of the flour with rolled oats. Want to create a truly indulgent cake? Stir some butterscotch chips through the batter and drizzle the cake with a warm, vegan caramel sauce before serving. A scoop of vanilla ice cream would make this even better!
How To Make Ahead And Store
This cake is fabulous when enjoyed fresh, but it will also keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze it. To do so, wrap the slices tightly with plastic wrap and place them in a Ziploc bag. It will last in the freezer this way for up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
As suggested above, a Dairy-Free Vegan Caramel Sauce will make this cake totally irresistible. You could also serve it warm, with a drizzle of cold, thin Custard (for non-vegans) or a scoop of cinnamon ice cream. If you’re looking for other vegan dessert recipes to make with apples, try these Microwave Baked Apples (just replace the butter with a plant-based variety). Like the cake, they’re also perfect with either ice cream or custard.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup vegan butter melted
- 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups apples chopped
For the Crumbles:
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)
- 1/3 cup brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- 5 tablespoons cold vegan butter cubed
Instructions
- Line the bottom of an 8-inch cake pan with parchment paper, rubbing the sides with coconut oil. Heat your oven to 350°F.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
- In a separate large bowl, stir together the sugars, applesauce, butter, almond milk, and vinegar.
- Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir until combined. Fold in the apples and then pour into the prepared pan, spreading the mixture out evenly.
- In a medium bowl, make the topping by mixing together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Use your hands to cut in the cold butter until the mix forms crumbles. Keep some nice and chunky.
- Spread the crumbs over the cake, lightly pressing them in to stick to the batter.
- Bake for 48 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely, then slice and devour.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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