Gluten Free Apple Cider Cake

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This fluffy light Gluten Free Apple Cider Cake is full of delicious fall apple flavors. Top it with a delicious vanilla buttercream frosting or a cinnamon buttercream frosting. Either way, it is an incredible snack cake!

Two slices of apple cider cake with vanilla frosting.

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Why Make This Recipe:
Ingredient Notes:
Tips For Success:
Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:
Recipe FAQ:
More Gluten Free Apple Desserts:
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This fluffy gluten free apple cider snack cake is full of fall apple flavors. You can make this as a layer cake, snack cake, or as cupcakes. If you love cake as much as we do, you will want to try all of my incredible gluten free cake recipes on the blog!

This delicious gluten free apple cider cake recipe is based on my homemade Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts recipe.

Why Make This Recipe:

This cake is not dense. It is fluffy and light!
Top them with vanilla buttercream frosting, my cinnamon buttercream frosting, dust a light coating of powdered sugar over the top, or enjoy this snack cake plain!
You will also love that this cake freezes really well, so you can make it ahead.
Make this cake in about 30 minutes (not including cooling time!)

Top Pick

King Arthur, Measure for Measure Flour 3 lbs

This is one of my favorite gluten-free flour blends for cookies, cakes, pie crust, biscuits, and muffins! (Do not use this flour blend for yeast recipes.)

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Ingredient Notes:

Photos of the apple cider cake ingredients.

Gluten Free Flour Blend - I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF. That doesn't mean others will not work. I just have not tested other flours.
Xanthan Gum - If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add one teaspoon.
Baking Powder - Use aluminum-free.
Butter or Oil - Use unsalted butter. If you are using oil, I recommend a light oil and not a heavily flavored oil. I used canola oil when making this snack cake.
Egg - Use a large egg.
Apple Cider - You can use apple cider or apple juice. I do like the flavor more with apple cider.
Apples - I like using fuji or another sweet apple variety in this snack cake recipe.
Nuts - I like walnuts or pecans for this recipe.

Tips For Success:

Do not use a stand mixer for this recipe. Standing mixers tend to overmix the batter, making the cake dense. Mix the wet and dry ingredients until they are just barely mixed.
Be sure your cake is completely cooled before adding the frosting.
I like to make my apple bits very small. I like to use a grater with large holes to grate the apple into small bits. Be sure to peel your apples with an apple peeler.

Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350º F and ensure the oven rack is set in the middle of the oven.

Step 1: Add the dry ingredients to a bowl. Use a whisk to blend them all together.

To measure your gluten free flour, I recommend using the spoon method or leveling method.

Put the measuring scoop into the flour and fill. Do not pack the flour. Use a knife to scrape along the top to remove the extra flour.
You can also use a spoon to fill the measuring cup. Use a knife to level along the top to remove the extra flour.

Step 2: Use an apple peeler to peel your apples. This is optional. If you prefer to leave the peels on, that is okay.

Step 3: In a large bowl, place the grater. Grate the apple on the side of the grater with the large holes.

Step 4: Add the rest of the wet ingredients (eggs, vanilla, butter, non-dairy milk, and apple cider) to the bowl with the grated apple. and mix until they are blended.

Step 5: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until they are just barely mixed. Do not overmix your batter, or your cake can turn out dense.

I do not recommend a stand mixer for this cake recipe. These mixers always overmix the cake batter.

Step 6: Pour the batter into a prepared 8x8 baking dish, bundt cake pan, or cake pan. I used a coconut oil spray on my pan. Use a spatula to spread out the batter evenly.

Step 7: Bake the cake for 25-30 minutes, depending on the pan size you use. A bundt cake will take closer to 45 minutes.

Step 8: Test the cake to ensure it is finished baking. Do this by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean, your cake is ready. If you see crumbs or batter on the toothpick, it will need to be baked longer.

Step 9: Place the cake on a cooling rack to cool. You want it to be completely cooled off before frosting it.

While the cake is baking, whip up some frosting. You can make either this Vanilla Buttercream Frosting or the Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting in this gluten free pumpkin cupcakes recipe.

If you love apple cake as much as I do, you may also want to try this fool-proof Gluten Free Creamy Apple Cake recipe!

You may also love this moist Gluten Free Sweet Potato Cake or this Gluten Free Crumb Cake recipe!

Recipe FAQ:

Can you make this cake dairy-free?

Yes, making this gluten-free apple cider cake dairy-free is easy. Just substitute dairy-free butter or oil for the butter.

How do you store apple cider cake?

Store the cake in an airtight container in your refrigerator. This will prevent the cake from drying out. It will keep fresh for up to 4 days.

Can you freeze this cake?

It is easiest to freeze this cake if it is cut into squares. If the cake is frosted, refrigerate the cake to make the frosting cold. Carefully place slices of the cake in a freezer-style zip bag. This cake can keep fresh for up to 4 months in the freezer.