If you love caramel apples, this moist and delicious gluten free caramel apple cake will become your favorite apple recipe. Gooey caramel and fresh apple flavors combine into this easy to make gluten free caramel apple cake!
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Fall is around the corner and I am so excited to get fresh organic apples again. This easy gluten free caramel apple cake recipe will help you use those yummy apples :-).
Do you like to bake or cook with apples, or do you prefer to eat them raw? My family is so fast, if I want to cook with apples, I will have to be quick. My teens love crisp apples and this big bag will be gone in just a few days.
If you love different kinds of apple cake, you will want to try all of my delicious Gluten Free Cake Recipes! You will also want to try my delicious Gluten Free Caramel Apple Donuts!
Why this caramel apple cake is great:
This easy apple cake with caramel is one of my favorites because it is full of caramel flavor! I bake the caramel topping right into the cake, making it caramelize the flavors with the apples.
If you love caramel apple flavor, this cake is going to quickly become your favorite fall cake recipe!
Lucky for me my family loves to eat cake. There are a few delicious apple cakes here on the blog, including Gluten Free French Apple Cakes and this Fool-Proof Gluten Free Apple Cake. Both cakes are incredible and full of apples...but it was time for me to make something a little different.
What apples are best for baking?
Apples are starting to show up in our Campbell farmer's market and I bought a big bag of Gravenstein apples. These apples are crisp and slightly tart, which really adds a lot of apple flavor to baking. You can use any apples in this recipe but try for one of the more tart varieties.
If your family loves apples as much as mine does, you must also try my new Gluten Free Apple Bundt Cake recipe!
Other apple varieties to use:
- Pink Ladies
- Granny Smith
- Jonagold
Ingredients notes:
- Gluten free flour blend - 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.
- Caramel - You can use jarred caramel like the one I bought at Trader Joe's, or you can make a homemade caramel sauce.
- Brown sugar - You can also use coconut sugar if you prefer a lower glycemic sweetener.
- Coconut milk - Any non-dairy milk or regular dairy milk is fine. Do not use canned coconut milk.
- Almond flour - I highly suggest using almond flour and not almond meal. Almond meal is more coarse and will make your cake grainy.
- Vanilla bean paste - You can also use pure vanilla extract. Do not use imitation.
You will also love these easy gluten free apple crumble bars!
Recipe step by step directions:
Step 1: Add your dry ingredients to a bowl and whisk to blend them together.
Step 2: In a smaller bowl, add the wet ingredients and whisk to blend.
If you look closely at the egg photo above, you can see the tiny vanilla beans in this vanilla paste. You will LOVE Rodelle's Vanilla Paste because it adds so much real vanilla taste, with no alcohol aftertaste!
Step 3: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and add the chopped apples.
Step 4: Your batter will look like this. Mix until just barely mixed to keep your cake light and fluffy.
Step 5: After you put the batter into your 8x8 pan, pour caramel over the top.
Step 6: Bake at 350º F for 30-35 minutes. The caramel then bakes into this cake and the caramel seeps deep into the cake.
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.
Tips and Recipe FAQ:
This cake is so easy to make, and I included almond flour to add extra protein. If you prefer a nut-free version, substitute ½ cup additional gluten free flour blend instead of the almond flour.
You can make this cake dairy-free as well. Substitute ⅔ cup coconut oil instead of butter. For dairy-free caramel, check out this delicious dairy-free caramel recipe. I used dairy-free almond milk in this recipe, but you can also use flax milk.
To test to see if this cake is baked through, insert a toothpick into the center of the apple cake. If the toothpick comes back clean, the cake is ready. If you see batter or crumbs on the toothpick, it needs to bake a bit longer.
You can definitely use vanilla extract if you can't find the vanilla paste. You can also use vanilla beans.
This apple cake will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You will need to keep it in a sealed container so it doesn't dry out.
If you love apples as much as we do, give one of these gluten free apple recipes a try!
Reader Raves:
This was delicious. I added 2 cups chopped apples and it made both of these cakes. Thank you for sharing this recipe."
Susan A., Pinterest user
More Gluten Free Desserts to Try:
- Gluten Free Lemon Sour Cream Cakes
- Gluten Free Orange Almond Flour Cake
- Gluten Free Caramel Apple Tart with Vanilla Custard
- Gluten Free Chocolate Cake
Recipe
Gluten Free Caramel Apple Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups gluten free flour blend * see note
- 1 cup almond flour * see note
- ¾ cup brown sugar * see note
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup butter melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup chopped apples
- ⅔ cups almond milk
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- ½ cup caramel I used Trader Joe's jar of caramel
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350º F.
- Spray an 8x8 baking pan with coconut oil.
- In a medium bowl, add all wet ingredients and blend.
- In a large bowl, add all dry ingredients and whisk. (*Note, if your gluten free flour blend doesn't contain xanthan gum, add 1 teaspoon.)
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and add the apples.
- Mix until just barely mixed. This light blending will help to keep your cake light and fluffy.
- Pour the batter into a baking dish and then drizzle caramel on top.
- Bake for 25 minutes, or until done. See tips to know if the cake is done baking below
- Allow to cool.
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.
- I highly suggest using almond flour and not almond meal. Almond meal is more coarse and will make your cake grainy.
- I used bottled coconut milk (refrigerator case in grocery stores) but other dairy-free kinds of milk or regular milk will work. I do not recommend canned coconut milk
- 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.
- Please make sure you check the ingredients of any caramel you use if you are not making it from scratch. Caramel color is often a phrase for something that contains gluten.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
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Dana Fishman
Can I make this in another pan… more decorative looking cake?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Dana, You can bake this in a round cake pan. Maybe put a nice design with the sliced apples on top like I did with my creamy apple cake? https://www.fearlessdining.com/fool-proof-gluten-free-creamy-apple-cake/
Linda m hughes
Making this today for christmas so am i correct in saying i am using 9x13 pan so i would double the recipe ?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Linda, a 9x13 pan should be fine for this recipe if you double it. Have a nice holiday!
Linda m hughes
Looks so good i will be makingit for christmas Question do i peel the apples
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Linda, I peel my apples, but it is not required.
Angie
I desperately need a substitute for the almond flour. I’m allergic. What do you suggest?
Thanks!
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Angie, I talked about this in the recipe FAQ, about 3/4 down the post. "If you prefer a nut-free version, substitute ½ cup additional gluten free flour blend instead of the almond flour." I hope this helps.