This Gluten-Free Apple Cake is filled with delicious apple flavor and topped with a sweet cinnamon and walnut streusel crumble. The secret ingredient is an easy homemade applesauce that makes the cake incredibly moist.

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why You'll Love This Apple Cake Recipe
• 🛒 Ingredients for Gluten-Free Apple Cake
• 🔪 How to Make Apple Crumb Cake
• 💡 Tips for Making Gluten Free Cake
• ☑️ Storage Instructions
• 🔄 Substitutions and Additions
• Can I Make this Cake Dairy Free?
• Can I Make this Cake Without the Topping?
• What's the Difference Between Oat Fiber and Oat Flour?
• Can I Serve This Cake Warm?
• Can I Make Muffins with This Apple Cake Recipe?
• 🍽️ More Gluten-Free Desserts

❤️ Why You'll Love This Apple Cake Recipe

• Homemade applesauce makes this cake extra moist
• Lots of apple flavor with perfectly fluffy texture
• Sweet cinnamon and walnut streusel topping
• Great for brunch, holiday get-togethers or as an afternoon snack
• Vegetarian and gluten-free

The apple crumb cake is a classic brunch and snack time favorite, and this gluten-free version certainly lives up to the expectations. With a fluffy texture, lots of apple flavor, and that classic crumb topping, it's everything a homemade apple cake should be.

What really sets this gluten-free apple cake apart from other apple cakes is that the batter is infused with Homemade Applesauce. A lot of apple cakes fold in chunks of fresh apples, but by using applesauce instead, every crumb is infused with apple flavor.

If you love this recipe and are looking for other delicious apple recipes, check out this recipe for Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats and this delicious French Apple Tart.

🛒 Ingredients for Gluten-Free Apple Cake

• Almond flour
• Oat fiber
• Homemade Applesauce
• Greek yogurt
• Eggs
• Butter
• Coconut sugar
• Walnuts
• Vanilla extract
• Baking powder
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground nutmeg
• Salt

*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

🥣 Recommended Tools

• 9 x 9 baking dish
• Mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Hand mixer

🔪 How to Make Apple Crumb Cake

To Make the Apple Cake

Preheat the oven to 325°F. In a mixing bowl, add in the almond flour, oat fiber, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, salt, and baking powder. Whisk to combine, then set aside.

In a separate bowl, add the applesauce, Greek yogurt, eggs, coconut sugar, and vanilla extract.

Using a hand mixer, mix until well combined. Pour in the dry ingredients and mix just until combined; do not overmix.

Pour the batter into a 9 x 9 baking dish that’s been sprayed with coconut oil or other nonstick spray.

To Make the Streusel Topping

In the same bowl you used for the dry ingredients, add in the streusel topping ingredients.

Mix using a silicone spoon until you get the consistency of wet sand and it clumps together easily.

Evenly distribute the topping over the batter and gently press down.  This will help the crumb topping stick to the cake once it’s been baked.

Bake for 40–45 minutes or until a toothpick, when inserted, comes out clean. Allow it to cool before cutting.

💡 Tips for Making Gluten Free Cake

• Homemade applesauce: While store-bought applesauce may be easier, but trust me it's so worth it. Store-bought applesauce can sometimes be too sweet or lack freshness.

• Room temp ingredients: To prevent the ingredients from separating when mixed, make sure your eggs, Greek yogurt, and other wet ingredients are at room temperature.

• Don't overmix: Mix just until everything is combined. Overmixing causes the cake to become dense and tough.

• Let it cool: It may be tempting to cut the cake when its warm. Cake made with gluten free flour is more tender, so allowing it to cool before slicing will keep it from crumbling.

☑️ Storage Instructions

To keep the cake fresh, store it in an airtight container at room temperature for a day or two. You can also store it in the fridge to keep it fresh for about a week, if it last that long.

You can freeze this cake too. Wrap it with a couple of layers of plastic wrap then with a layer of foil. Label it with the date and place in the freezer for up to a couple of months.

🔄 Substitutions and Additions

• Dried fruits: Add a handful of raisins, dried cranberries, or dried chopped apricots to the batter for little bites of chewiness.

• Chopped nuts: For extra crunch, you can include chopped pecans or walnuts in the batter.

• Diced apples: For added apple flavor, you can fold in small pieces of diced apples into the batter.

• Cream cheese swirl: Create a cream cheese swirl by mixing cream cheese with a bit of coconut sugar and vanilla extract. Swirl it into the batter before baking.

• Caramel drizzle: After baking, drizzle some of this Salted Caramel Sauce over the cooled cake.

• Pears: For added texture and a different flavor, you can mix in diced pears.

• Chocolate chips: Sprinkle white chocolate chips into the batter for a sweet contrast to the apple and cinnamon flavors.

• Citrus zest: Grate lemon or orange zest into the batter for a burst of citrusy freshness.

If you love apples, also be sure to try this fried apples recipe. There are so many ways to serve them- over pancakes, waffles, ice cream and much more! Also check out this apple pie that is perfect for any occasion!

Can I Make this Cake Dairy Free?

Yes, you can. Replace the Greek yogurt with a dairy-free yogurt, and use dairy-free butter in the crumb topping.

Can I Make this Cake Without the Topping?

If you have an allergy or just prefer a simple cake, you can skip the crumb topping. Keep an eye on it in the oven because it will take less time to bake.

What's the Difference Between Oat Fiber and Oat Flour?

Oat fiber is made from the outer husks of oats and is gluten-free. Oat flour is ground whole oats, which can sometimes contain gluten so be sure you check the label.

Can I Serve This Cake Warm?

Yes, you can. But for best results allow it to cool completely first. Then, slightly reheat it in the microwave.

Can I Make Muffins with This Apple Cake Recipe?

Sure! Fill a muffin tin ¾ of the way full with batter. Add the topping and press it down slightly. Bake the muffins, checking for doneness at around 15-18 minutes by inserting a toothpick into the center of a muffin. When it comes out clean, the muffins are done.

🍽️ More Gluten-Free Desserts

• Gluten Free Pumpkin Cookies
• Double Chocolate Gluten Free Brownies
• Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread
• Almond Flax Seed Cookies
• Date and Walnut Truffles