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    You are at:Home»Dairy-Free Recipes»Dairy Free Desserts»Cinnamon Apple Cake is Fluffy, Moist, and Amazing all in One

    Cinnamon Apple Cake is Fluffy, Moist, and Amazing all in One

    6
    By Alisa Fleming on November 17, 2021 Dairy Free Desserts, Dairy-Free Recipes

    If you’re looking for a healthified treat, move on. But, if you’re seeking a sweet, decadent cake layered with tender cinnamon apples, then stop your journey. You have arrived. This perfectly imperfect cake transitions from light and fluffy to moist and dense in the middle for a delicious experience. It’s fancy enough for gatherings, but has a taste, texture, and unapologetically messy vibe that shouts homemade.

    Cinnamon Apple Cake Recipe - Fluffy, Moist, and Amazing all in One! Naturally dairy-free, nut-free, and soy-free. No butter of any kind needed!

    Cinnamon Apple Cake is Fluffy, Moist, and Amazing all in One

    This cake has a fairly simple, naturally dairy free, totally butterless recipe, but I do have answers to a few FAQs for this type of cake.

    • To Grease or Not to Grease? When using a springform pan, it’s best not to grease the sides. This allows the cake to “crawl” up the sides without sliding back down. When you release the nonstick springform, the cake should easily separate from the sides. But you can grease the bottom, or better yet, cut a parchment paper circle to fit the bottom.
    • Can I Use the Apples I Have on Hand? Google them first! Make sure it’s a baking or pie friendly apple. Many types of apples can turn mushy when baked. And I don’t think you want an applesauce cake. Honeycrisps are the recommended apples, for taste and texture, but many other types hold up well.
    • Can I Bake this Citrus Free? Yes! The orange juice adds a little zest to the taste, but it isn’t completely needed. You can substitute milk beverage or even water, in a pinch.

    For other free-from cinnamon apple cake tips, see the Special Diet Notes below.

    Cinnamon Apple Cake Recipe - Fluffy, Moist, and Amazing all in One! Naturally dairy-free, nut-free, and soy-free. No butter of any kind needed!

    Special Diet Notes: Cinnamon Apple Cake

    By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, and vegetarian. We haven’t tested this recipe without gluten, but it might work well with your favorite gluten-free flour blend. I’ve heard King Arthur works very well.

    For an egg-free and vegan apple cake, I recommend making Hannah’s Vegan Rosh Hashanah Cake. It is delicious with the apple filling in the recipe below, and can be baked in a round springform pan.

    Dairy-Free Cinnamon Apple Cake
     
    Print
    Prep time
    20 mins
    Cook time
    50 mins
    Total time
    1 hour 10 mins
     
    Sweet Honeycrisp apples are made for baking. But if you can't find any, feel free to use another type of sturdy apple, like golden delicious or gala.
    Author: Culinary.net
    Recipe type: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Serves: 16 servings
    Ingredients
    • 3 cups Honeycrisp apples, peeled, cored and diced
    • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
    • 2 cups + 6 tablespoons sugar, divided
    • 3 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 tablespoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup oil
    • 4 eggs, beaten
    • ¼ cup orange juice
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • Dairy-free icing (optional; see below)
    Instructions
    1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
    2. In a medium bowl, stir together the apples, cinnamon, and 5 tablespoons sugar until the apples are evenly coated.
    3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, 2 cups sugar, baking powder, and salt until combined. Form a well in the middle of the dry mix. Add the oil, eggs, orange juice, and vanilla and whisk until combined.
    4. Pour half of the batter into a springform pan. Add the apple mixture evenly atop the batter. Pour the remaining batter over the apple mixture. Sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar evenly over batter.
    5. Bake the cake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and tester inserted into the cake comes out clean and dry.
    6. Allow the cake to cool completely before releasing the pan.
    7. Serve drizzled with icing, if desired.
    Notes
    Dairy-Free Icing: In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon dairy-free milk beverage or water, and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth. Whisk in 1 to 2 tablespoons of additional milk beverage or water to make a drizzly icing.
    Nutrition Information
    Serving size: 1 slice Calories: 357 Fat: 15g Saturated fat: 2.1g Carbohydrates: 54.1g Sugar: 34g Sodium: 164mg Fiber: 1.9g Protein: 4g
    3.5.3229

    More Naturally Dairy-Free Cake Recipes

    Chocolate Olive Oil Cake

    Dairy-Free Chocolate Olive Oil Cake Recipe with Chocolate Ganache - also nut-free with egg-free and vegan option

    Vegan Spice Cake

    Vegan Spice Cake Recipe that's Butterless, Eggless, and Low Fat

    Basic Sponge Cake

    Basic Dairy-Free Sponge Cake Recipe, Ready for Your Favorite Toppings

    Alisa Fleming
    • Website

    Alisa is the founder of GoDairyFree.org, Food Editor for Allergic Living magazine, and author of the best-selling dairy-free book, Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living, and the new cookbook, Eat Dairy Free: Your Essential Cookbook for Everyday Meals, Snacks, and Sweets. Alisa is also a professional recipe creator and product ambassador for the natural food industry.

    6 Comments

    1. Lorraine on September 10, 2022 1:03 am

      Can I substitute the eggs?

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on September 10, 2022 10:02 am

        See the special diet notes right above the recipe Lorraine. We usually offer some type of egg-free option, if needed.

        Reply
    2. Margaret Kirsch on August 13, 2022 1:59 pm

      The inside was raw. It smells delicious though but it is inedible. Are you certain it’s one tablespoon of baking powder? I’m nit sure what I did wrong.

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on August 13, 2022 2:52 pm

        Hi Margaret, that’s very odd. Did you bake until your tester came out clean? A few things could be wrong:
        You baking powder isn’t fresh. This can even happen with baking powder that isn’t expired. You can test it by just adding a little hot water to some. It should bubble and fizz.
        You might just need to cook it longer in your oven. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. You can still pop it back in the oven now!
        The apples might be extra juicy, which could warrant a longer baking time.

        Reply
    3. Wendy Walton on March 26, 2022 3:57 am

      What size pan do you use to bake your dairy free apple cake

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on March 26, 2022 2:55 pm

        A standard 9-inch is used for this recipe.

        Reply

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