If you love apple cake, this Easy Gluten Free German Apple Cake is a delicious dessert recipe to try. Double the recipe if you are feeding a crowd! I include a video below to show you how easy this German apple cake is to make
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This gluten free version of our family's German apple cake recipe is just as good as the real thing! Crisp fresh apples and lots of cinnamon give this cake so much flavor.
Our family is definitely into apples. There are so many varieties and each has its own unique flavor. There is a vendor at our farmer's market that sells over 10 varieties of apples, many of these apples are heirloom, during the fall months.
This Gluten Free German Apple Cake recipe is one of my husband's family favorites. It is one of many German dessert recipes I can't wait to share with you.
I am happy to say this recipe is not only gluten free, but it is dairy-free and refined sugar-free as well! If you love apples as much as we do, check out these delicious gluten free apple recipes.
For this recipe, I used Pink Lady apples. I haven't been able to find Gravenstein, except for the fall farmer's market. You can use any apple but tart apples have more flavor!
Ingredient notes:
I modified this recipe a bit from my husband's family recipe because we are trying to reduce our processed sugar intake. I have been baking with coconut sugar quite a bit. Coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index and still sweetens baking nicely.
Coconut sugar is typically brown, which can make baked goods look a bit drabby. I was really excited to find this blond-colored coconut sugar!! This blond coconut sugar helps keep baked goods lighter in color...making them even more tempting!
Feel free to use regular organic sugar for this recipe if you would like. Either way, this cake is perfectly sweet.
Recipe step by step directions:
Step 1: Mix up your wet ingredients and dry ingredients in separate bowls. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
I tested this recipe using Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour Blend and King Arthur's Measure for Measure Gluten Free Blend. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
Step 2: Your cake batter will be a bit thick like I show in this picture.
HINT: Do not overmix the cake batter. Mix this in a bowl by hand and don't use a standing mixer. Overmixing this cake batter will make your cake turn out dense!
Step 3: In a separate bowl, add the blond coconut sugar and cinnamon to cut up apple slices. Although you do not have to peel your apples, I recommend doing so for this recipe.
NOTE: You can also use regular sugar instead of coconut sugar.
Step 4: Pour the cake batter into a greased 8x8 baking pan. Top with the apple mixture. Press the apples down a bit so they set into the cake.
Step 5: Bake at 350º F for 40 minutes until the cake is done. The apples will look soft and the cake will be firm to the touch.
Step 6: Allow the German apple cake to cool. Slice into 9 slices and serve. Eat by itself, or you can top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream!
Recipe FAQ:
Although you can leave the peels on, I prefer to make this cake with peeled apples.
Many apple types will work in this easy German apple cake recipe. Here are some of my favorites: Gravenstein, Granny Smith, Gala, Pippin, and Pink Lady.
This cake will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean, it is done baking. If you see batter or crumbs, the cake needs to bake longer.
Reader adaptations:
Iza mixed her apples throughout the cake and dusted the top with powdered sugar.
More gluten-free cake recipes to try:
- Gluten Free French Apple Cake
- Creamy Fool Proof Gluten-Free Apple Cake
- Gluten Free Raspberry Bundt Cake
- Gluten Free Orange Almond Flour Cake
Tools:
- An apple slicer certainly makes cutting up the apples easier!
- I use an 8x8 baking pan to make this cake.
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📖 Recipe
Gluten Free German Apple Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup gluten free flour blend * see note
- ¾ cup coconut sugar * see note
- ½ cup coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
For Apple Mixture
- 2 apples (peel removed and sliced)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup coconut sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350º F
- Peel and slice apples into thin slices.
- In a large bowl, add dry ingredients and whisk to blend.
- In a smaller bowl add the wet ingredients and mix well.
- In a third bowl, add apples, ¼ cup coconut sugar and cinnamon. Toss to coat.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix well.
- Spray an 8x8 pan with coconut oil. Add the batter and spread it out.
- Add the apple slices on top of the batter and press gently into the cake batter.
- Bake for 40 minutes until done.
Video
Notes
- I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF and Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
- If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain Xanthan Gum or Guar Gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
- You can use regular sugar instead of coconut sugar in the cake for a light colored cake.
- This cake will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
Nutrition
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Kerry
Can this be made with Almond flour or coconut or other such Paleo flours? The gluten free flours have many ingredients I can't have.
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Kerry, Almond flour and coconut flour do not work on their own well. I haven't tested this recipe with any paleo flour blends so I am not sure how to advise you.
Kim
I don’t like the flavor of coconut. What else could I use?
Sandi Gaertner
You can use another oil like canola, or butter if you are not dairy-free.
Maureen
Hello, I’m just about to make this recipe, and in the notes, you talk about dairy free milk options, but I don’t see any mention of amount in the ingredients list. Can you update this?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Maureen, this is corrected, thank you so much!
Miranda Stonehouse
Could I confirm, there is no milk dairy free or otherwise in this recipe correct? The only wet ingredients are the oil, vanilla and eggs right?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Miranda, that is correct. You can dd dairy-free milk if you like, but the recipe was made not adding any in.
Sara
Really easy to make. Came out moist and delicious. My husband couldnt tell it wasnt made with flour or refined sugar. Thank you
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you likee it Sara!