Moist, fluffy, gluten-free almond flour apple cake

Gluten-free Apple Cake made with Almond Flour

With fall right around the corner, it’s time to pull out some of my all-time favorite almond flour and apple recipes! This gluten-free almond flour apple cake hits the mark with tasting decadently delicious, but deceptively healthy!

While apple cake with almond flour is grain-free, dairy-free, and contains a lower amount of sugar, it tastes anything but with light, fluffy texture, moist almond apple flavor, and perfectly sweetened, balanced taste.

When making gluten-free almond flour recipes, there’s an easy trick for offsetting a dense, heavy crumb, which typically plagues cakes made with almond flour. This baking hack was developed when creating other popular GF cake recipes, such as chocolate almond flour cake and carrot cake made with almond flour.

Almond flour is simply ground nuts, so it weighs more than wheat or gluten-free flours and contains more moisture. To counteract this, beat the egg whites separately then fold into the cake. This aerates the batter for a lighter crumb.

Read on to learn more expert baking tricks, including the best apples to use, ingredient substitutes, and creative ideas for modifications. Whether you are enjoying a grain-free cake for passover, taking advantage of peak-season produce, or looking for a healthy dessert option, this apple almond cake is for you!

Ingredient Notes

Making gluten-free apple cake only requires a handful of simple ingredients with some optional flavor enhancers, like almonds or almond extract. Any workable substitutions or dietary modifications are listed below.

• Almond Flour – For a lighter texture, I recommend using sifted blanched almond flour, not almond meal for light, fluffy results. However, if you prefer a dense cake, similar to flourless apple cake, you may use almond meal or ground almonds.
• Sugar – I experimented using less sugar, which certainly can be done if you prefer a very lightly sweetened dessert. I have not tried this recipe with a sugar-free sweetener for a low carb cake. However, I believe coconut sugar would also work. Using honey or maple syrup will add too much moisture to the cake, and is not recommended.
• Eggs – For best results, separate the eggs while they are cold and then let them sit for at least 30 minutes to come to room temperature. If you’d rather skip the step of beating the yolks and whites separately, that can be done as well. The texture will be slightly more dense, but still tasty!
• Cornstarch – While this can be omitted for dietary preferences, it does help bind the flourless cake crumb, making the cake easier to slice and serve. Alternatively, an equal amount of coconut flour may be swapped out.
• Apples – Since almond flour contains a lot of moisture, it’s important to choose an apple that maintains it’s shape during baking and doesn’t break down. My preferred choice are golden delicious, but see Recommended Apples For Gluten-Free Baking for alternatives.
• Extract – If you only have vanilla extract on hand, that will work, but I love adding half vanilla and half almond extract to enhance the cake flavor.

how to make Almond Flour Apple Cake

(Below shows step-by-step photos and modified instructions. For the complete recipe, along with ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card.)

1. Place a piece of parchment paper on the bottom of a 8-inch springform pan, close the ring around, and spray the bottom and sides with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside and preheat the oven to 350ºF.
2. In a large bowl beat together the egg yolks with sugar for 3 minutes, or until the batter is pale, thick, and tripled in volume. Mix in the extracts, then the almond flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. At this point the batter will be very thick. Set aside.
3. In a separate, clean bowl use whisk beaters to beat the egg whites until very stiff and the peaks hold shape. Gently fold and stir the egg whites into the almond flour mixture until very well combined. Fold in the peeled, diced apples.
4. Spread evenly in the prepared cake pan. If desired, sprinkle with sliced almonds and sprinkle with turbinado sugar.
5. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until top is lightly browned, set, and a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out without liquid. I particularly like this cake tester because the thicker gauge gives more accurate results, where as a toothpick can be too thin to pick up the crumb.
6. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 1 hour. Gently run a knife around the edge and then release the ring. Cool completely before transferring to a serving platter or slicing.

Recommended Cake Pan

Using an 8-inch springform pan is ideal for a couple reasons. First, a smaller pan makes a thicker single-layer cake. Also, using a springform pan versus an 8-inch cake pan means not having to invert the cake to release from the pan, which would be a little messy with the almond sugar topping.

If you only have a 9-inch springform pan on hand, that may be used but the cake layer will be thinner and requires about 5 minutes less baking time.

Can I substitute another flour?

For an apple almond cake, using flours besides almond flour is not recommended. Recipes created for almond flour use complimentary ingredients to offset nut flour’s denseness and moisture.

If you are looking for apple cake recipes using wheat flour or gluten-free all purpose flour, this apple bundt cake with praline brown sugar frosting is a great option!

Recommended Apples for Gluten-Free Baking

When making apple recipes, certain apples work better than others for desserts or baking. This gluten-free apple crisp recipe gives more information about recommended varieties, but below I share my favorites!

• Honeycrisp
• Granny smith apples (these apples are tarter so may want to pair with something else)
• Jonagold
• Braeburn
• Pink Lady
• Golden Delicious

Ideas for modifications

Almond flour apple cake also makes an extremely versatile dessert. Use the basic recipe as your canvas to create many different variations!

1. For an apple coffee cake, omit the almond sugar topping and instead make a quick streusel to sprinkle on before baking. Combine ¼ cup almond flour, 2 tbsp melted butter or coconut oil, 3 tbsp sugar or brown sugar, and 3 tbsp sliced almonds.
2. Make a spiced apple cake by adding additional spices. Ground cinnamon, or a combination of cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, and nutmeg would all taste great.
3. To make a layer cake, double the recipe and bake in two 8-inch cake pans lined with cut-to-size parchment paper. Omit the almond topping and invert the cakes onto a wire rack to cool completely before frosting and stacking.

SErving suggestions

Serve flourless apple cake as a dessert, treat for afternoon tea, or as a coffee cake for brunch. The sugar almond topping adds a perfect crunchy finish, but it can also be dusted with powdered sugar.

This cake also pairs well with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or coconut whipped topping.

Storing and Freezing

For best results do not wrap the cake in plastic wrap for storing because of the amount of moisture. It’s best covered lightly with foil, which doesn’t trap in moisture and make the cake soggy.

I’ve found the cake has the best texture the day it is made. If you need to make it a day head, leave it in the pan and lightly tent foil over the top after it has cooled completely.

While the cake can be frozen, it will make the almond topping soft, so it is not recommended.

Let’s be friends on Pinterest! I’m always sharing great recipes!