Irresistible Gluten Free Caramel Apple Cake

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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!

a slice of caramel apple cake with caramel being drizzled over the top

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Why This Apple Cake Is Great:
What Apples Are Best For Baking?
Ingredients Notes:
Recipe Step By Step Directions:
Tips and Recipe FAQ:
Reader Raves:
More Gluten Free Desserts to Try:
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💬 Comments

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 must be quick. My teens love crisp apples, and this big bag will disappear 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!

Why This 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 will 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 appear 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 Try:

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: Add the wet ingredients and whisk to blend in a smaller bowl.

Looking closely at the egg photo above, you can see the tiny vanilla beans in this vanilla paste. I used Rodelle's Vanilla Paste, but you can also use pure vanilla extract. Note I read Rodelle changed manufacturing, and their vanilla paste may not be safe from cross-contact with gluten. Be sure to read the label before using it.

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.

A baking dish full of Gluten Free Caramel Apple Cake. Plates and forks are in the background

Tips and Recipe FAQ:

Can you make this apple cake nut-free?

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.

Can you make this recipe dairy-free?

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.

How do you know when the cake is baked?

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. It needs to bake a bit longer if you see batter or crumbs on the toothpick.

Can you use vanilla extract instead of paste?

You can definitely use vanilla extract if you can't find the vanilla paste. You can also use vanilla beans.

How long will this cake keep fresh?

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.

A slice of Gluten Free Caramel Apple Cake on a plate with the cake in a pan in the background.

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:

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