If you love almond butter, wait until you try this soft, tender gluten-free almond butter cake. This cake is not only vegan but it is also topped with incredible dairy-free ice cream. Dig in because this decadent dessert is too good to miss!

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(This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Safeway. All opinions are 100% mine.)
You will be hooked by one sweet bite of this almond butter cake. If you love using your cast-iron skillet for baking, you will also want to try this homemade Gluten-Free Oatmeal Skillet Pizookie recipe!
If you haven't shopped at your local Safeway store lately, you are in for a treat. They are expanding their plant-based "better for you" foods, and the huge variety is exciting! Safeway's Open Nature® and O Organics® lines are lower cost, but don't let that fool you because these are high-quality foods!

Their new creamy non-dairy ice creams are so good. You can find ice cream made with coconut, cashew, oat, and almondmilk.
I shopped at our local Safeway, but you can also find Open Nature® and O Organics® products exclusively at the Albertsons Companies family of stores, including Albertsons, Safeway, ACME Markets, Jewel-Osco, Vons, Randalls, Shaw’s Supermarket, Star Market, and Tom Thumb.
This gluten-free, vegan almond butter cake is "healthier" with apple sauce, almond butter, coconut oil, and unsweetened non-dairy milk. Don't let this "healthy" term fool you. This cake is decadent! Nobody will know it is better for you!
You can take it up a notch by using O Organic's brand Palm Sugar if you want your cake to be refined sugar-free too! This easy Gluten Free Crumb Cake is made with palm sugar.
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.)
Ingredient Notes:
- Gluten Free Flour Blend - I tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure flour blend.
- Brown Sugar - Use light or dark brown sugar.
- Baking Soda
- Egg Replacer - I used Bob's Red Mill Egg Replacer.
- Applesauce - Unsweetened.
- Almond Butter - Use smooth almond, peanut, or nut butter.
- Coconut Oil - You can also use another light oil.
- Vanilla Extract
Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350º F. Add your dry ingredients to a bowl and whisk to blend. I used a vegan egg replacer made by Bob's Red Mill. Whisk the egg replacer in with the dry ingredients.

Step 2: In a separate bowl, add your wet ingredients. If the Open Nature almond butter is in the refrigerator and is cold, I recommend warming the almond butter for 10-15 seconds in the microwave so that it mixes in easier.
🔑 Sandi says: Feel free to put the applesauce in a blender to remove the tiny texturized chunks if you prefer a smoother cake.

Step 3: Add the Open Nature Non-Dairy Beverage and whisk the ingredients to mix well. (Note, this is easier if you let the almond butter warm to room temperature.)

Step 4: Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients.

Step 5: Mix the cake batter. Mix gently and take care not to over-mix. Over-mixing your cake batter can make the cake dense.
This is the 10-inch cast iron skillet that I own. It is perfect for cooking dinner and dessert! It can easily go from the stove to the oven.

Step 6: Pour the batter into a greased cast-iron skillet and bake at 350º F for 30 minutes. Enjoy warm or room temperature. You can bake this cake in an 8x8 pan if you do not have a cast-iron skillet.
Topping Ideas:
- Vanilla ice cream and hot fudge
- Whipped cream and chocolate chips
- Chopped nuts
- Drizzle with warm Nutella

Recipe FAQ:
The best way to check if your cake is finished baking is to insert a toothpick into the center. If the toothpick comes back clean, your cake is finished baking. It needs to be baked a little longer if you see crumbs or batter.
You can make this cake refined sugar-free by substituting coconut sugar for brown sugar.
You can make this recipe nut-free using SunButter, which uses sunflower seeds.
You can bake this cake in an 8x8 baking dish or even cupcakes!
More Gluten Free Vegan Recipes:
📖 Recipe

Vegan Gluten-Free Almond Butter Skillet Cookie






Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups gluten free flour blend *If your flour blend doesn't contain Xanthan Gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- ¾ cup almond butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup applesauce
- 2 tablespoons egg replacer
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350º F.
- In a large bowl, add your dry ingredients and whisk to blend.
- In a microwave safe container, heat the coconut oil and almond butter for 15-20 seconds to soften. Note if your almond butter was in the refrigerator, you may need to warm it a little longer so that it mixes easily into the other wet ingredients.
- Add the rest of the wet ingredients to the almond butter mixture and mix well.
- Pour the almond butter mixture over the dry ingredients and mix until just barely mixed. This will keep the cake fluffier.
- Add the batter to a greased cast-iron skillet, or an 8x8 baking pan.
- Bake for 30 minutes until done.
Video
Notes
- If you would like this cake to be refined sugar-free, substitute coconut sugar for brown sugar.
- I used Bob's Red Mill GF Egg Replacer. Make sure the package you get says gluten free. You can also use the egg replacer by the Neat Egg company.
- You can use nut butter or peanut butter.
- You can tell your cake is done baking with a toothpick test. Insert a toothpick into the middle of the cake. If the toothpick comes back clean, the cake is done baking. if you see crumbs or batter, the cake needs to bake a little longer.
- Top with ice cream!
- This cake will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.
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.
Fearless Dining
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Maggie
can you just use eggs if not vegan
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Maggie, I assume you could. I haven't tested that.
Anna
Excellent recipe! Stayed moist and didn't dry out as most gluten free cakes do.
Thanks!
Anna
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you loved this cake Anna! I am so proud of how moist and fluffy it turns out.
JOYCE L MCDOWELL
Where is the ice cream recipe posted?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Joyce, it is store-bought. The Open Nature Vegan Ice Creams.
C.G.
Made this on the weekend and used coconut sugard. Delicious. This is a keeper.
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you liked it!
Francine
Hiw many eggs or yolks instead of replacement?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Francine, if you want to use eggs, use two please.
Suzy
Loved finding a gluten free skillet cake! This was so tasty!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you liked it! Thank you for stopping by to let me know.
Meagen
Such an easy dessert recipe. We loved it! Will definitely be making again...maybe this time we'll share 🙂
Sandi Gaertner
LOL, it can be hard to share when it is this good 🙂