• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Oh My Veggies logo

  • Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Vegetarian Main Dishes
    • Vegetarian Appetizers
    • Vegetarian Breakfast Recipes
    • Vegetarian Side Dishes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Snack Recipes
    • Drinks
    • Sauces, Spreads and Condiments
    • Holiday Recipes
    • From our Readers
  • Cooking Tips & Hints
    • Cooking Tips
    • Plant-Based Nutrition
    • Product Reviews
  • Shop Cookbooks
  • About Us
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Find Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • About Us
  • Free Meal Plan
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Find Recipes
    • Cookbooks
    • About Us
    • Free Meal Plan
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Oh My Veggies » Vegetarian Recipes » Dessert Recipes

    Vegan Apple Cake

    Published: Apr 20, 2021 · by Nicole · Updated: May 17, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
    vegan apple cake
    vegan apple cake
    vegan apple cake
    gluten-free vegan apple cake

    This vegan apple cake is perfectly spiced, fluffy, light and easy to make. Made with a secret ingredient, this upside down cake has the perfect texture and is the ideal cozy treat for fall. Serve with a scoop of vegan ice cream for the ultimate dessert!

    vegan apple cake with a scoop of ice cream

    I don’t know about you, but I love fruity desserts a lot. Don’t get me wrong, I can never pass on something chocolatey. But, oftentimes, a tangy, refreshing treat is exactly what I need.

    Apple-based desserts are some of my favorites. Everything from apple crumbles to caramelized apples. Adding cinnamon makes things even better.

    And this apple cake is no exception. It’s gluten-free, but the addition of a secret ingredient makes it super fluffy and moist. It's perfect with a scoop of dairy-free ice cream.

    vegan apple cake being served

    Upside down desserts are soo much fun! Who agrees?! They are really easy to make when you don’t have a lot of time, and taste delicious too.

    When it comes to this vegan apple cake, I love the contrast between the fluffy, soft dough and the sweet caramelized apples that practically melt in your mouth.

    This apple cake is made with a secret ingredient, which is aquafaba. If you’ve never heard of aquafaba before, it’s basically the liquid from a can of chickpeas.

    Sounds weird, but it makes a great egg white substitute in vegan baking. When you whisk it for a long period of time, it turns super soft and fluffy, and then you can add it to whatever. (It's also the secret ingredient in my vegan chocolate mousse!)

    cutting the vegan apple cake
    gluten-free vegan apple cake with a scoop of ice cream

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    ingredients for apple cake
    • Granny smith apples. I love this apple variety! It works so well in baking recipes, given its delicate and unique flavor. You can, however, try out different apple varieties and see how you like them.
    • Aquafaba. Simply drain a can of chickpeas over a bowl and retain the liquid. You can use the chickpeas to make something like my vegan butter ‘chicken’ or a massaged kale salad with roasted chickpeas.
    • Coconut sugar. Make sure to set some aside for dusting the pie dish.
    • Lemon juice. I would not recommend removing this as it does help improve the flavor.
    • Cinnamon. Because after all, apples and cinnamon is one of the best combos!
    • Self-raising gluten-free flour.

    Step by Step Instructions

    Firstly, peel and chop your apples until you have around 1.8 lbs apple slices in total. Sprinkle some coconut sugar over a pie dish and arrange the apples in a circular pattern, starting from the outside and working in. Repeat, creating layers, until you have used up all the apples.

    assembling the vegan apple cake

    Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C/350 degrees F. Meanwhile, whip the aquafaba using a handheld mixer until stiff peaks form. This usually takes around 10 minutes, so be patient with it.

    Once stiff peaks form, continue whisking and gradually add in the coconut sugar. Next add the lemon juice and cinnamon. Once they are well-combined, stop the mixer and gradually add the flour, mixing using a spatula or a spoon.

    pouring batter into cake pan

    Pour the batter into the pie dish and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, until golden brown. When the cake cools down fully, flip it by holding the bottom of the cake while wearing oven gloves, placing a plate or a cake stand on top of it and flipping it over carefully.

    serving a slice of the vegan apple cake

    Tips & Tricks

    Make sure to whip the aquafaba for long enough. This is essential for a light, fluffy and soft texture.

    Wait for the cake to cool down fully before flipping it. You can then reheat the slices on a microwave-proof plate before serving.

    For extra texture and crunch, you can add around ½ cup nuts (walnuts in particular work well) into the batter after mixing in the flour.

    vegan apple cake being served

    More Vegan Desserts

    If you love this vegan apple cake, be sure to check out these other delicious vegan desserts.

    • Vegan Lemon Cake
    • Vegan Banana Cream Pie
    • Vegan Apple Cider Donuts
    gluten-free vegan apple cake

    Gluten-free Vegan Apple Cake

    This vegan apple cake is perfectly spiced, fluffy, light and easy to make. Made with a secret ingredient, this upside down cake has the perfect texture and is the ideal cozy treat for fall. Serve with a scoop of vegan ice cream for the ultimate dessert!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Email Recipe
    Prep Time: 25 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: apple cake recipe, gluten-free apple cake, gluten-free vegan apple cake, vegan apple cake
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 158kcal
    Author: Oh My Veggies

    Equipment

    • Cake tin (8 inch diameter)
    • Conventional oven
    • Mixing bowl
    • Handheld mixer

    Ingredients

    • ⅔ cup coconut sugar (plus more for sprinkling over the cake tin)
    • 1.8 lbs Granny Smith apples peeled and chopped (weigh after preparation)
    • ½ cup aquafaba (liquid from 1 can chickpeas)
    • ½ tbsp lemon juice
    • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
    • 1 cup gluten-free flour self raising
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Prepare the cake tin by either lightly greasing it or lining it with parchment paper (see recipe notes for instructions). Sprinkle some coconut sugar over the cake tin and arrange the apples in a circular pattern, starting from the outside and working in. Repeat, creating layers, until you have used up all the apples.
    • Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C/350 degrees F.
    • Meanwhile, whip the aquafaba using a handheld mixer until stiff peaks form. This usually takes around 10 minutes, so be patient with it.
    • Once stiff peaks form, continue whisking and gradually add in the coconut sugar. Next add the lemon juice and cinnamon. Once they are well-combined, stop the mixer and gradually add the flour, mixing using a spatula or a spoon.
    • Pour the batter into the cake tin and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, until golden brown. When the cake cools down fully, flip it by holding the bottom of the cake while wearing oven gloves, placing a plate or a cake stand on top of it and flipping it over carefully.

    Notes

    To easily line a circular cake tin, place it on a sheet of parchment paper and draw with a pen around the circumference. Cut around the outline and place the circle at the bottom of the cake tin.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 158kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 2gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 56mgPotassium: 129mgFiber: 5gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 60IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 1mg
    Craving more veg-friendly recipes? Shop our collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including our new Vegan Thanksgiving and Vegan Christmas cookbooks!
    « Vegan Cherry Pie
    Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake »

    Dessert Recipes, Vegan Baking, Vegan Dessert Recipes, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes aquafaba, coconut sugar

    Reader Interactions

    Something to say? Leave a comment. Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    image of the author

    Nicole is a life long vegetarian and the author of the popular vegan cookbook, Weeknight One Pot Vegan Cooking. She loves sharing her recipes and showing the world just how easy and delicious meatless meals can be!
    Learn more here.

    signature of author

    get a free 5 day vegetarian meal plan

    shop our vegetarian and vegan cookbooks

    Trending Recipes

    • Strawberry Mojito Popsicles (Don't Forget the Rum!)
    • Thai Veggie Pizza
    • Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats
    • Spinach Mushroom Frittata

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    • Shop Cookbooks
    • About Us
    • Work with Me
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use

    Still hungry? Check out our delicious family of blogs.

    link to VegKitchen.com - vegan recipes website
    link to deliciouseveryday.com - a vegetarian and vegan recipes website
    link to allshecooks.com - a food blog
    link to wandertooth.com - a travel website

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 Hook & Porter Media

    162 shares