Vegan Apple Cake
This moist and delicious Vegan Apple Cake is the best way to enjoy those sweet and juicy fall produce! A delightfully spiced cake crammed with crisp apple chunks that you can make using one bowl in just 45 minutes. Enjoy it as a sweet afternoon snack with your favorite hot drink or as a dessert with a scoop of vegan ice cream on top.
We simply can't get enough of anything with apples and cinnamon! How can someone resist the call of these two amazing fall ingredients combined in one amazing dish or dessert? We have shared some amazing ways to enjoy this fall favorite so far. Like the Crispy Apple Chips, Apple Cinnamon Bread, and Vegan Apple Cinnamon Waffles. This vegan Apple Cake is actually one of my old recipes that has been here for ages. We felt that this classic recipe deserves an upgrade with more information and new pictures added to it.
Homemade Vegan Apple Cake
This from-scratch recipe for a dairy-free and eggless Apple Cake is super easy and simple to make! It just requires adding and mixing the ingredients in a bowl then baking it until it turns golden and crisp on top. With its rustic charm and warm fall flavors, everyone will want to have a slice of this heavenly cake. Once you've had a taste, you will never want to go back to those ready-mixes in a box.
What You'll Need
Wet Ingredients:
- Canola oil – Use any neutral oil that you have. It will give the cake a better texture and will keep it moist for days!
- Applesauce – replaces butter to make this cake dairy-free.
- Plant-based milk - If you are buying one, choose soy, oat, and almond because they are the best dairy-free milk for baking. However, you can use whatever milk you have on hand.
- Vanilla - will give the cake a lovely floral tone and aroma.
- Flax meal - mix it in 3 tablespoons of warm water to make a thick and gelatinous mixture that will help bind all the ingredients together.
Dry Ingredients:
- Sugar – You can use white granulated sugar or brown sugar for this recipe. Aside from its sweetness, sugar also helps in making the cake moist and soft.
- All-purpose flour - great for making tender yet sturdy cakes. You can use a gluten-free flour brand 1:1.
- Cinnamon and nutmeg – these warm and earthy spices will give the batter that unmistakable autumn pizzazz!
- Baking powder
- Salt – Enhances the sweetness of the apples and the flavors of the spices without leaving a salty trace.
- Apples – though you can use any type of apple for this recipe, some types bake better than others. Honey Crisp, Cortland, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson, and Newtown Pippin are some of the best apples to consider if you plan to buy them for this recipe.
- Powdered sugar - this is optional. Dust on top of the cake before serving.
How to Make Vegan Apple Cake
Preparations:
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- Lightly grease an 8-inch pan with oil.
- Peel and dice the apples.
- Make the flax egg by mixing the flax meal in 3 tablespoons of water until thick.
- Make sure that the plant milk and applesauce are at room temperature.
Steps:
- In a medium bowl, whisk all the wet ingredients plus sugar briskly until the mixture is consistent.
- Add the rest of the dry ingredients. Mix until there are no dry lumps visible before folding the apples in.
- Transfer the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30-40 minutes.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve!
Tips when making Vegan Apple Cake
- The key to a perfectly baked cake is to measure your ingredients correctly. When measuring in cups, do not use them to scoop the dry ingredients directly. Instead, use a spoon to transfer the dry goods into the measuring cups. Then run the spoon's handle on top to level it out.
- Do not overmix your batter, or you will end up with a tough and dense cake. Don't worry if you see a few lumps.
- Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick or skewer at the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, your cake is done. Take note that your baking time depends on the size of the pan and the type of oven used.
- You can also make this using a loaf, square, or Bundt pan. You can also make individual-sized muffins with this recipe by using a muffin pan. Make sure to grease them properly before pouring the batter.
- Always let the cake rest on the pan for at least 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. If you try to remove the cake early, it might fall apart.
Add-on ideas!
Aside from dusting with powdered sugar, you can add more goodies and garnishes to keep your vegan apple cake fun and festive!
- Add some nuts and dried berries to give the cake more texture and flavor! Pecans, almonds, walnuts, raisins, or dried cranberries are great options.
- Serve with whipped cream, vegan yogurt or vegan ice cream on top!
- Drizzle it with vanilla sugar glaze and top with some Peanut Butter Spiders to make a great Halloween special cake!
Can I freeze Apple Cake?
This cake is freezer-friendly so you can make a batch and keep them frozen for up to 3 months. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight and serve cold the day after. Or reheat in the oven if prefer them warm.
How to store leftovers?
You can keep the cake at room temperature for a day. There are still slices remaining after, you can refrigerate them and keep them fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days.
More Apple treats to make here!
- Stuffed Baked Apples- These are an amazing option for a festive and warm treat! Full of diverse toppings, spices, and flavors, you can easily have a tasty treat that everyone can enjoy!
- Apple Granola Topped Goodness- is so easy to put together and you can mix and match toppings easily to your liking! It’s a classic, simple, and incredibly tasty snack!
- Breakfast Quinoa Apple Bowl- This filling and fruit-packed bowl is full of yummy flavors like cinnamon and apples! The raisins add a bit of natural sweetener, while the brown sugar takes it up a notch.
If you want to check out even more apple recipes, here's a round up of 26 Amazing Apple Recipes that you need to try!
Photos by Alfonso Revilla
Vegan Apple Cake
Equipment
- 8' pan
Ingredients
- ¾ cup sugar
- ⅓ cup canola oil
- ¼ cup applesauce
- 3 Tablespoons almond milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 flax egg 1 tablespoon flax with 3 tablespoon warm water
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 whole apples , peeled and diced
- powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325F. Lightly brush 8' pan with oil.
- In medium bowl, combine sugar, oil, applesauce, almond milk, vanilla, flax meal and water. Whisk briskly until all ingredients are fully incorporated and mixture is consistent.
- Add flour, cinnamon, baking powder, nutmeg and salt. Stir until just combined. Fold in chopped apples.
- Spread mixture into baking pan and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until cake is pulling away from sides and a tester comes out clean.
- Serve with powdered sugar, warm or cool.
Notes
- The key to a perfectly baked cake is to measure your ingredients correctly. When measuring in cups, do not use them to scoop the dry ingredients directly. Instead, use a spoon to transfer the dry goods into the measuring cups. Then run the spoon’s handle on top to level it out.
- Do not overmix your batter, or you will end up with a tough and dense cake. Don’t worry if you see a few lumps.
- Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick or skewer at the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, your cake is done. Take note that your baking time depends on the size of the pan and the type of oven used.
- You can also make this using a loaf, square, or Bundt pan. You can also make individual-sized muffins with this recipe by using a muffin pan. Make sure to grease them properly before pouring the batter.
- Always let the cake rest on the pan for at least 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. If you try to remove the cake early, it might fall apart.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Although plantbasedonabudget.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Plantbasedonabudget.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
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About Toni
Welcome to Plant-Based on a Budget! Here you’ll find affordable and easy-to-make recipes, and an inclusive, supportive approach to plant-based eating.
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