Indulge in this beautiful twist on a classic recipe with this gluten free apple cake. This apple rose cake will have your taste buds dancing with joy with a perfectly soft and fluffy cake topped with sliced apples decorated in a pretty rose design. Serve hot or cold with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream or hot custard.
There's nothing I love more than gluten free apple desserts just like gluten free apple tart and gluten free apple and blueberry crumble. So my gluten free apple cake was always going to make it into my gluten free cakes collection sooner or later.
I adapted my gluten free Victoria sponge as a starting point when developing this recipe and have also used it to make a gluten free rhubarb cake. I wanted to take this gluten free apple cake recipe to the next level by adding a fun romantic flare by making the top of the cake a beautiful apple rose.
This gluten free apple cake works well for a gluten free valentines dessert but also for an impressive dessert in the holidays served warm.
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⭐ Why we love this recipe
- Pretty presentation - Apple roses are a beautiful, elegant, and delicious way to elevate your apple cake.
- Soft and fluffy cake - The texture of the cake is pillowy soft and with the perfect topping of apple slices.
- Served hot or cold - This cake can be served warm or cold. I love it warmed up with a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream or drizzled with hot caramel and custard.
- Gluten free - Uses only gluten free ingredients to make this apple cake gluten free.
- Dairy free option - easily made dairy free.
🍎 The best apples to make an apple cake
When it comes to baking an apple cake, choosing the right type of apple is crucial. Each variety has its own unique flavor profile, texture, and sweetness level, which can greatly impact the taste and texture of the cake.
- Granny Smith - These apples are tart and firm, making them a popular choice for baking. They hold their shape well and add a nice contrast to the sweetness of the cake.
- Honeycrisp - These apples are crisp and juicy, with a slightly sweet flavor. They add a nice texture to the cake and pair well with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Braeburn - These apples are slightly tart and firm, making them a good choice for baking. They have a great flavor that works well in apple cake.
- Pink Lady apples - This apple variety is one of my favorites it holds its shape well during baking, and its firm texture adds a satisfying crunch to the cake. Additionally, they release a subtle aroma when cooked, which enhances the overall flavor of the cake.
📋 Ingredients Notes
- Gluten free All purpose flour - I used a shop-bought Gluten free flour blend from Doves Farm Freee from range. Which is a flour blend of Rice, Potato, Tapioca, Maize, and Buckwheat flour. I have had reports that others have used King Arthur Flour Gluten-Free Measure for Measure Flour, Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour, Cup4Cup Gluten-Free Flour with my recipes that have worked well.
- Sugar - This recipe uses both white and brown sugar. White sure for the cake mixture and brown sugar for the apples. Brown sugar in the apples as it adds a deeper, richer flavor that compliments the apples perfectly.
- Gluten free Baking powder - is a leavening agent that is commonly used in baking to help the batter rise and becomes light and fluffy. Expired baking powder loses its potency, causing baked goods to be flat or not rise properly. Therefore, it's important to check the expiration date before using it.
- Xanthan gum - Omit if the flour blend already contains xanthan gum.
- Unsalted butter - room temperature
- Eggs - Room temperature
- Vanilla extract - Adds additional flavor to the cake.
- Apples - I use Honeycrisp apples bit have also used pink lady apples when testing this recipe. When making this gluten free apple cake but you can use your preferred apples such as granny smith or Braeburn apples.
- Lemon juice - Lemon juice contains citric acid, which can slow down this oxidation process and help the apple slices retain their natural color. It will also add a nice balance to the sweet flavor of the apples.
- Apricot Jam - By brushing warm apricot jam over the baked apples will add a beautiful sheen and glossy finish to the apple slices and additional flavor and helps prevent the apples from drying out too much.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients & measurements.
⚡ Substitutions & Variations
- Dairy Free - to make a dairy free apple cake use dairy free butter.
- Alternative glaze - for a substitute for the apricot jam you can use warmed honey or maple syrup if preferred.
- Apple cinnamon cake - Add ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the sliced apples before baking.
🥣 Step by Step Instructions
Below is a brief step-by-step process with photos of how to make gluten free apple cake. See the recipe card below for more detailed recipe instructions.
Step 1: Prepare the cake tin, line the bottom with parchment paper, and line or grease the sides. Then, preheat the oven to 180°C/325°F/Gas Mark 3. In a large bowl beat sugar and butter together until smooth and fluffy, Incorporate eggs and vanilla and mix well.
Step 2: In a separate bowl combine flour, salt, baking powder, and xanthan gum.
Tip: Be sure to use room-temperature eggs and butter. As butter at room temperature, it is softer and easier to work with, making it easier to cream with sugar to create a light and airy texture. Room-temperature eggs also mix better with the other ingredients, resulting in a more even distribution of moisture and fat in the batter, which can help the cake rise properly and have a tender crumb.
Step 3: Combine the wet mix with the dry ingredients and whisk until the batter is smooth and free of lumps.
Step 4: Transfer the cake batter to your pre-prepared baking tin and set aside to rest while preparing the apples for the topping.
Step 5: Remove the core and cut the apples in half. Thinly slice the apples into pieces that are approximately ⅛ inch thick (See image 5).
Tip: I like to leave the skin on when making an apple rose because it adds a beautiful red color, and added texture to the finished dish. The skin also helps to hold the apple together as it bakes, preventing it from falling apart.
Step 6: Place the apple slices into a microwave-safe bowl and add the lemon juice, butter, and sugar. Mix together until the apple slices are fully coated. Put the bowl containing the apples in the microwave and heat for 3 minutes, pausing halfway through to stir.
Tip: Coating the sliced apples in lemon juice is important for two reasons.
- Prevents Browning - When apples are cut, they start to brown due to a chemical reaction called oxidation. Lemon juice contains citric acid, which can slow down this oxidation process and help the apple slices retain their natural color.
- Adds Flavor - Lemon juice also adds a tangy flavor to the apple slices, which can balance out the sweetness of the apple cake or other baked goods.
Tip: The apple slices should have softened in the microwave and be flexible for bending into a curved shape.
Step 7: Place the larger apple slices upright at the outer edges of the cake tin, gently pressing them into the cake batter and overlapping them halfway. Continue around the cake tin until you have created a full circle of overlapping apple slices.
For the next row of apple slices, place them in front of where the previous apple slices have joined slices, and continue this process until you have reached a point where there is a ½ inch of space in the center of the cake (See image 7).
Take 1-2 apple slices and overlap them slightly on a flat surface to form a row. Roll the slices tightly together to create a small apple rose, then place it at the center of the cake.
Tip: If the apple slices are not flexible enough to roll you can pop them back in the microwave until they become soft enough to roll.
Step 8: Place the apple cake in the oven and bake it for approximately 40 minutes. Use a skewer to test for doneness, and if it comes out clean, transfer the baking tin to a cooling rack.
While the apple cake is cooling but still warm. Slightly warm the apricot jam in the microwave for a few seconds and brush over the top of the apple slices this will give the apples a lovely glaze.
Tip: Brushing warm apricot jam over the baked apple slices will add a beautiful sheen and glossy finish to the apple slices and additional flavor and helps prevent the apples from drying out too much.
💡 Pro Recipe Tips
- Tip #1: Use fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best flavor. Always check that the baking powder is in date as expired or old baking powder will not be as effective which may result in the cake being flat or not rising properly.
- Tip #2: Be sure to use room temperature eggs and butter as mix together more easily, creating a smoother batter and better texture in the finished baked goods.
- Tip #3: Lemon juice - Coating the sliced apples in lemon juice is important as it prevents the apple slices from browning and balances out the sweetness of the apples.
- Tip #4: Apple skin -I like to leave the skin on the apple slice when making an apple rose because it adds a beautiful red color, and added texture to the finished dish. The skin also helps to hold the apple together as it bakes, preventing it from falling apart.
- Tip #5: Apple glaze -Brushing warm apricot jam over the baked apple slices will add a beautiful sheen and glossy finish to the apple slices and additional flavor and helps prevent the apples from drying out too much.
🍽️ Serving suggestions
- Serve the cake with a dollop of french whipped creme chantilly or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Caramel Sauce - Drizzle the cake with warm caramel sauce for a decadent and indulgent treat.
- Powdered Sugar - Dust the cake with powdered sugar for a classic and simple presentation.
- Hot Custard - Serve a gluten free apple slice with hot custard over the top which is the perfect dessert for those cold winter nights.
💭 Gluten Free Baking
- Gluten Free Flour – I used a shop-bought Gluten free flour blend from Doves Farm Freee from range. Which is a flour blend of Rice, Potato, Tapioca, Maize, and Buckwheat flour. I have had reports that others have used King Arthur Flour Gluten-Free Measure for Measure Flour, Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour, Cup4Cup Gluten-Free Flour with my recipes that have worked well. I would love to know what flour blends worked for you so feel free to get in touch by leaving a comment below or you can contact me directly.
- Kitchen Scales - Using digital scales is recommended when baking. I always measure using scales and grams as baking is a science. When baking gluten-free it is essential to weigh out ingredients to get the best results! There is no need to purchase expensive digital scales and you can find them available cheaply online. (Although for small amounts I will use spoon measurements)
- Oven Temperatures - Your oven temperature may be slightly different. As all ovens vary in temperature and the baking time is used as a guide. Some ovens run hotter than others. You could invest in an oven thermometer to be more accurate.
❓ Recipe FAQs
When the gluten free apple cake is completely cooled wrap tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent air from getting in and drying it out. Place the wrapped cake in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
Yes, Gluten free apple cake can be made a few days in advance and stored in the refrigerator or freeze for up to 2-3 months. To thaw the cake, remove it from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for several hours, or overnight in the refrigerator.
To make dairy free apple cake use dairy-free butter as all other ingredients are naturally dairy free.
Use separate utensils, mixing bowls, and cooking surfaces when preparing gluten-free food. Clean all surfaces and utensils thoroughly before use.
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📖 Recipe
Gluten Free Apple Cake
Nutritional information is meant as a guideline and all information is approximate.
Equipment
- 9 inch cake tin
Ingredients
Ingredients for gluten free cake
- 250 grams Unsalted butter room temperature
- 250 grams Sugar
- 4 Large Eggs Room temperature
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 250 grams Gluten free All purpose flour
- 2 ½ teaspoons Baking powder Be sure to use gluten free baking powder as some brands may contain gluten.
- ¼ teaspoon Xanthan gum Omit if the flour blend already contains xanthan gum.
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
Apple rose topping
- 4 large Apples
- 4 tablespoons Lemon juice or juice from 1 fresh lemon
- 50 grams unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons Brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons Apricot Jam For brushing over the baked apples.
Instructions
How to make gluten free apple cake
- Prepare the cake tin, line the bottom with parchment paper, and line or grease the sides. Then, preheat the oven to 180°C/325°F/Gas Mark 3.
- In a large bowl beat sugar and butter together until smooth and fluffy, Incorporate eggs and vanilla and mix well.
- In a separate bowl combine flour, salt, baking powder, and xanthan gum. Combine the wet mix with the dry ingredients and whisk until the batter is smooth and free of lumps.
- Transfer the cake batter to your pre-prepared baking tin and set aside to rest while preparing the apples for the topping.
Apple rose topping
- Remove the core and cut the apples in half. Thinly slice the apples into pieces that are approximately ⅛ inch thick.
- Place the apple slices into a microwave-safe bowl and add the lemon juice, butter, and sugar. Mix together until the apple slices are fully coated.
- Put the bowl containing the apples in the microwave and heat for 3-4 minutes, pausing halfway through to stir. The apple slices should have softened in the microwave and be flexible for bending into a curved shape.
Assembling the gluten free apple cake
- To start, place the larger apple slices upright at the outer edges of the cake tin, gently pressing them into the cake batter and overlapping them halfway. Continue around the cake tin until you have created a full circle of overlapping apple slices.
- For the next row of apple slices, place them in front of where the previous apple slices have joined slices, and continue this process until you have reached a point where there is a ½ inch of space in the center of the cake.
- Take 1-2 apple slices and overlap them slightly on a flat surface to form a row. Roll the slices tightly together to create a small apple rose, then place it at the center of the cake.
- Place the apple cake in the oven and bake it for approximately 40 minutes. Use a skewer to test for doneness, and if it comes out clean, transfer the baking tin to a cooling rack.
- While the apple cake is cooling but still warm. Slightly warm the apricot jam in the microwave for a few seconds and brush over the top of the apple slices this will give the apples a lovely glaze.
- Leave the cake to cool before serving and dust with powdered sugar if preferred.
Notes
- Prevents Browning - When apples are cut, they start to brown due to a chemical reaction called oxidation. Lemon juice contains citric acid, which can slow down this oxidation process and help the apple slices retain their natural color.
- Adds Flavor - Lemon juice also adds a tangy flavor to the apple slices, which can balance out the sweetness of the apple cake or other baked goods.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Nutritional information is meant as a guideline and is always an approximate calculation. Recipes may include information of various products used. It is your responsibility to check that ingredients you use when making a recipe are gluten free.
I hope you enjoyed this gluten free apple cake recipe.
Did you make this recipe? I would love to hear from you!