Gluten Free Apple Cake

This Gluten Free Apple Cake is a great fall dessert! It's made with fresh apples, buttermilk, and baked with a cinnamon sugar topping.

There's nothing better during the autumn months than the smell of an apple dessert baking in the oven. This Buttermilk Apple Cake is a simple, old fashioned dessert that's moist and perfect topped with whipped cream.

This apple cake is based on a recipe found in an old church cookbook. It's made with a few ingredients and requires no complicated cooking techniques. I love this cake because of its simplicity. It's mildly sweet and the flavors of the fresh apples really shine through.

I find myself craving fall desserts as soon as the weather starts to change and this is one of my go-to recipes. It's made with a combination of fresh sweet and tart apples, giving it a balanced flavor.

The apples are diced and baked in a batter made with buttermilk, which provides a slightly tangy flavor and moist texture. It's also got cinnamon and the whole thing is baked with a cinnamon sugar topping.

It's perfect for dessert or breakfast served with some coffee or tea. This cake is even better with a dollop of freshly made whipped cream.

Jump to:

• Which Apples Are Best For Apple Cake?
• Do The Apples Need To Be Peeled First?
• Ingredients For Gluten Free Apple Cake
• What Flour Is Best For Gluten Free Apple Cake?
• What Is Buttermilk?
• How To Make Gluten Free Apple Cake
• Prepare The Cinnamon Sugar Topping
• How Long Does Apple Cake Take To Bake?
• How To Keep Apple Cake From Getting Soggy
• What To Serve With Fresh Apple Cake
• How To Make Homemade Whipped Cream
• How To Store Apple Cake
• Can It Be Frozen?
• Gluten Free Apple Cake

Which Apples Are Best For Apple Cake?

I find that the best apples for desserts like apple cake to be a combination of both sweet and tart apples. The combo of the two varieties creates a balanced flavor that pairs well with both sugar and cinnamon.

The best varieties of sweet apples for apple desserts include Gala, Braeburn, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, and Fuji.

Tart apple varieties include Granny Smith, Jonagold, Ida Red, and Cortland. Granny Smith is probably the most popular variety and readily available in grocery stores, making it a great choice for baking.

It's important to choose apples that are firm and not mushy to the touch, so that they hold their shape when baking. Make sure that the skin is not damaged and that the aroma of the apple is pleasant.

Do The Apples Need To Be Peeled First?

It's best to peel apples for apple cake and apple desserts because the skin of the apple is tougher than the fruit and doesn't break down, which can create an unpleasant texture when baked into cakes and other desserts.

I normally advocate for leaving the skin on fruits and vegetables when cooking because of the vitamins and minerals they provide and often times the texture is welcome but when baking desserts, I recommend peeling the apples first.

Ingredients For Gluten Free Apple Cake

Here's what you'll need to make it.

• 1 ½ packed cups Brown Sugar (light or dark brown sugar)
• ½ cup (1 stick) Unsalted Butter (softened)
• 1 cup Buttermilk
• 2 Eggs
• 1 large or 2 medium-sized Sweet Apples (such as Gala, Braeburn, Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady) (equals 1 ½ cups diced)
• 1 large or 2 medium-sized Tart Apples (such as Granny Smith, Jonagold, or Cortland) (equals 1 ½ cups diced)
• 2 cups Gluten Free Flour Blend (or regular AP flour if not gluten free)
• 1 tsp. Baking Soda
• ½ tsp. Kosher Salt
• 1 ½ tsp. Cinnamon (split)
• ¼ cup Granulated Sugar
• 16 oz. Heavy Whipping Cream (optional)

What Flour Is Best For Gluten Free Apple Cake?

This recipe calls for a gluten free flour blend. A gluten free flour blend is a great choice for genera gluten free baking because it works much like All-Purpose Flour. There is no need for complicated or confusing measurements or substitutions, as it contains all of the components to work like AP flour.

My go-to gluten free flour blend for simple desserts and breakfast dishes like pancakes, waffles, or scones is Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Flour. It has a great taste and texture and is easily located in the baking section of your local grocery store.

Any type of gluten free flour blend should work nicely when preparing this cake. Other great brands include Cup4Cup or Measure 4 Measure, which can be found in most grocery stores or purchased online.

Feel free to use AP flour if gluten is not an issue for you.

What Is Buttermilk?

Buttermilk is a fermented dairy product that has a thick texture and slightly tangy flavor. It can be used in both sweet desserts and savory dishes.

I love adding buttermilk to desserts because it provides a great texture, makes the cake super moist, and creates a unique tangy flavor that balances the sweetness of the apples and sugar perfectly.

Buttermilk gives things like buttermilk pancakes and buttermilk biscuits their distinct flavor. I love to use buttermilk in both sweet and savory dishes for both the taste and texture it provides. I add it to everything from bread pudding to sweet potatoes in my kitchen.

The acidity in buttermilk also makes it a great choice for marinating meats like chicken, as it helps to break down the proteins and creates a tender, juicy piece of meat.

How To Make Gluten Free Apple Cake

As far as desserts go, this is an easy one to make.

It starts by peeling both the sweet and tart apples and then dicing them into small chunks. The wet and dry ingredients are prepared separately and then combined along with the buttermilk and chopped apples.

It's best to add the dry ingredients to the wet and do this alternately with the buttermilk so everything is combined evenly.

The batter is spread into a 9x13 inch baking dish and sprinkled with a cinnamon sugar topping and then baked in the oven until finished.

It's best to combine the wet ingredients using a stand mixer or a hand mixer.

1. Start by peeling 1 large (or 2 medium) sweet apples such as Gala, Braeburn, or Fuji. Dice the sweet apples into small chunks (yields 1 ½ cups).
2. Peel 1 large (or 2 medium) tart apples such as Granny Smith or Jonagold. Dice the tart apples into small chunks (yields 1 ½ cups).
3. Make sure that the apples are relatively the same size so that they cook evenly as the cake bakes in the oven. In total, you should have about 3 cups of chopped apples.
4. Place ½ cup (1 stick) of softened (but not melted) unsalted butter and 1 ½ packed cups of brown sugar (light or dark) in a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer.
5. Using the whisk attachment of a stand mixer or a hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed for 1-2 minutes.
6. Add 2 eggs to the butter and sugar and cream for another 30 seconds on medium speed until the mixture is completely combined (the mixture will be thick and a little grainy).
7. In a separate bowl, combine 2 cups of gluten free flour blend, 1 tsp. baking soda, and ½ tsp. kosher salt.
8. Stir the dry ingredients together with a fork or whisk until completely combined.
9. Add half of the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until combined. Add ½ cup of buttermilk to the batter and stir until combined.
10. Repeat with the second half of the dry ingredients and then the other half of the buttermilk.
11. Stir the batter until completely combined (it will be thick and kind of sticky).
12. Add the 3 cups of diced apples (both sweet and tart) to the batter along with ½ tsp. cinnamon. Stir the apples and cinnamon into the batter until completely combined.

Prepare The Cinnamon Sugar Topping

The thing that gives this apple cake a boost of flavor and sweetness is the cinnamon sugar topping that is sprinkled over the cake just before it is baked.

The cinnamon sugar topping creates a slightly crunchy texture after the cake is baked and provides just the right amount of sweetness that makes this dessert downright irresistible.

It's super easy to make and only requires two ingredients; cinnamon and sugar. To make it, simply combine ground cinnamon and granulated white sugar in a small bowl.

How Long Does Apple Cake Take To Bake?

Baking times may vary slightly depending on the type of cake pan and oven used. In general, it should take 42-45 minutes baked at 350 Fahrenheit to bake through.

It's important to grease the baking pan thoroughly with butter or cooking spray to prevent the cake from sticking to the surface as it bakes.

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Generously grease a 9x13 inch baking pan with butter or cooking spray.
3. In a small bowl, combine ¼ cup of granulated white sugar and 1 tsp. ground cinnamon. Stir until completely combined.
4. Pour the cake batter into the greased baking pan and even it out with a spatula.
5. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the top of the cake.
6. Place the baking pan in the oven and bake for 42-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
7. Feel free to bake for an additional few minutes if the middle of the cake is not finished.
8. Once the cake is finished baking, remove it from the oven and set aside to cool.

To test if the cake is done place a toothpick in the center. If the toothpick is clean when removed then the cake is ready.

The top of the cake should be golden brown and slightly cracked when finished.

The inside should be moist and spongy, but not soggy.

How To Keep Apple Cake From Getting Soggy

It's important that the oven is thoroughly heated and that the cake is baked long enough, or it may become soggy. This can happen when baking fruit cakes, so be sure to bake the cake properly.

Another factor to keep in mind is not to overload the batter with apples, or the cake will end up with too much excess moisture and as a result may become soggy.

What To Serve With Fresh Apple Cake

Apple desserts are perfect served with a cup of coffee, tea, or warm cider.

Decadent drinks like this Baileys Affogato Coffee Cocktail or Tom and Jerry Cocktail are a delicious pairing.

This cake can be served as-is but, or topped with some homemade whipped cream, ice cream, or creme anglaise.

For some extra texture, it can be topped with toasted nuts like walnuts, almonds, pecans, or hazelnuts.

If you prefer a little more sweetness, feel free to drizzle some honey, maple syrup, or caramel sauce over the cake.

Homemade whipped cream is an excellent complement to this cake and is super easy to make. It can be prepared while the cake is baking and stored in the fridge until ready to use.

How To Make Homemade Whipped Cream

1. To make whipped cream, simply place 16 oz. of cold heavy whipping cream into the bowl of a stand mixer or a large bowl.
2. Using the whisk attachment of a stand mixer or a hand mixer, whip the cream on medium speed for 3-4 minutes, or until it forms stiff peaks (you can also whip it for 2-3 minutes for a looser texture).
3. Serve the warm cake with a scoop of homemade whipped cream.

This step is completely optional, but everyone I served it to seemed to enjoy the addition thoroughly.

You can also opt for store-bought whipped cream or a non-dairy whipped cream alternative.

Looking for more fall desserts? Check out these recipes!

• Pumpkin Bread Pudding
• Crustless Pumpkin Cheesecake
• Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie
• Pumpkin Panna Cotta
• Gluten Free Pumpkin Waffles

How To Store Apple Cake

This Gluten Free Apple Cake should last for 2-3 days stored in an airtight container on the counter.

To store apple cake, simply allow it to come to room temperature and cover the baking dish tightly with a lid or a dish towel so that it doesn't dry out.

You can store it in the refrigerator for 2-3 days if you prefer. Make sure the cake is stored in an airtight container so that it doesn't dry out.

Any leftover whipped cream may be stored for 2-3 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

Can It Be Frozen?

Yes, this apple cake can be frozen.

How To Freeze

1. Prepare the recipe as directed and allow the cake to cool completely before freezing.
2. Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap or cling wrap. Then, place the wrapped cake in a heavy-duty freezer bag or tightly wrap it in foil.
3. Label with the date and store up to 3 months.

How To Thaw

1. Place the cake in the refrigerator 12 hours before serving.
2. You can also thaw it on the counter top for a few hours if preferred.

Prepare the whipped cream right before serving, as it does not freeze well.

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• Gluten Free Apple Galette
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