This is a caramel version of the chocolate pudding cake that uses boiling water to magically form a pudding layer on the bottom. Think of a gooey caramel layer instead of chocolate pudding on the bottom, and you’ve got the idea of this delicious, dairy-free apple pudding cake.
Because the caramel layer is sweet, this apple pudding cake tastes best with tart apples, like Granny Smith. For an over-the-top treat, serve it warm and topped with a scoop (or two) of dairy-free ice cream. Alternately, you can let the cake cool, and present it as a special-occasion breakfast coffee cake.
This was originally a Bisquick recipe, and yes, Bisquick is dairy free. But, I bake the cake using my own dairy-free biscuit mix, adapted from Mary Ostyn’s Family Feasts for $75 a Week. For more information on whole grain baking mixes that work well in Bisquick recipes, check out Angry Chicken’s post: Homemade baking mix with whole grains (mostly).
Special Diet Notes & Options: Caramel Apple Pudding Cake
This recipe for apple pudding cake is naturally dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, vegan (choose your sugars wisely), and vegetarian.
For Soy-Free: Opt for a soy-free baking mix or see the “milk” powder options in Sarah’s Homemade Dairy-Free Baking Mix Recipe.
For Gluten-Free: Though we haven’t tested it with this recipe, Gluten-Free Bisquick does exist! And it is dairy-free and made without top allergens.
- 1½ cups Sarah's Homemade Dairy-Free Baking Mix
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup plain dairy-free milk alternative
- 2 medium tart apples, peeled and sliced (approximately 2 cups) and tossed with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Salt, to taste
- 1 cup boiling water
- Preheat your oven to 350ºF.
- Mix the baking mix and the granulated sugar in medium bowl.
- Stir in the milk alternative until blended.
- Pour the batter into an ungreased 9x9-inch pan. I've also used an 8x11 inch lasagna pan with success.
- Arrange the apples on top of the batter.
- Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon (and salt, if desired) in a small bowl; sprinkle over the apples.
- Carefully pour the boiling water over apples.
- Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. I find that the homemade baking mix takes a bit longer to cook through. Also, you may need to increase the cooking time slightly if you are using a glass pan.
- Serve warm.
