Everyone falls in love at first bite with my crazy good, ultra moist nourishing apple cake with cinnamon walnut crumb topping. THE fall dessert or breakfast treat! Made with almond flour, maple syrup, applesauce, and fresh chopped apples, it tastes as delish as the classic (but is packed with nutrients and has no refined sugar, shhh!).
This show-stopping gluten free apple cake is stupid easy to make and a slice brightens up my day like no other. Whenever I make this beat for friends, they RAVE. It's so good it's silly. And for real, it could not be easier to make!
Have you noticed good-for-ya cakes are kind of my thing? Five-star Healthy Carrot Cake, my Incredible Healthy Zucchini Cake...but I must say, when it comes to fall desserts, my poor healthy Apple Muffins with Almond Flour were kinda on an island. No longer!
To all my friends who celebrate, this would be a beautiful dessert for Rosh Hashanah. I can smell it now!
The low down on key ingredients
- Almond flour: She's the hearty base of all my cake recipes that I so adore. I've found in recipe testing that the healthy fats add unparalleled moisture and texture which means we don't need as much butter. I buy Kirkland brand at Costco.
- Flax: It was clear in testing that helps bind the bread and optimize the texture. I did test a version of this with oat flour instead of flax (plus a little more applesauce to make up for less moisture) and it worked great.
- Apples: I built this recipe with crisp, sweet-tart apples like Fuji, Pink Lady, or Honeycrisp. No need to peel unless you prefer it that way (hello, fiber). I tested this recipe with more apple and it didn't hold together well, so be sure to measure out 1 cup, which is equivalent to 1 small to medium apple.
- Eggs: The secret weapon for structure and rise in almond flour recipes, so don't skip it! I don't recommend flax eggs here since it was clear it testing how critical eggs are for structure.
- Coconut sugar: Unrefined sugar with caramel notes that's perfect for the topping. I tested this recipe with brown sugar and that works too.
Let's make it!
Whisk dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
Whisk in wet ingredients. Easy!
Fold in juicy chopped apples.
Pour into baking dish.
Top with crumble topping and bake for 25 min. Cool, slice and devour!
This little tip matters!
To me, cutting the apples into small, quarter inch pieces to distribute all that delish apple flavor makes all the difference. (It also helps it it stays together since we're using gluten free flours!)
I hope you're as obsessed with this apple cake recipe as I am!
I'd be super grateful if you'd take a moment to leave a quick star rating and review below. Comments mean the world to me and your honest feedback helps me to continue to share recipes you'll crave!
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Moist Healthy Apple Cake (lower sugar!)
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 pieces 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Impress everyone with my ultra moist + crazy simple nourishing apple cake with cinnamon sugar walnut crumb topping. THE fall dessert or breakfast treat! Made with almond flour, maple syrup, applesauce, and fresh chopped apples, it tastes as delish as the classic (but is packed with nutrients, shhh!).
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cups super fine blanched almond flour
- ¼ cup ground flaxseed*
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- 6 tbsp pure maple syrup
- ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup sweet crisp apple (like Fuji, Honeycrisp or Pink Lady), diced small
Cinnamon sugar topping:
- ¼ cup coconut sugar
- ⅓ cup almond flour
- ¼ cup walnuts, finely chopped (can sub pecans)
- 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Grease an 8x8 in baking dish with cooking spray.
- Melt butter (you'll need 3 tbsp total including the topping) using the microwave or stovetop and set aside. Chop apple (smaller versus larger pieces better distribute the flavor and will be softer!).
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk almond flour, flax, cinnamon, baking soda and salt until combined.
- Add maple syrup, applesauce, eggs, vanilla, and 2 tbsp of the melted butter. Whisk until combined, then fold in apple. Pour batter into prepared pan.
- Make topping by stirring together in a small bowl the coconut sugar, almond flour, walnuts, cinnamon, and 1 tbsp melted butter. I like to use my hands! Sprinkle topping onto cake.
- Bake for 25 minutes. Cool completely pan on a wire rack before slicing into 9-12 pieces (I refrigerate to speed it up). The cake is much easier to cut once fully cooled. Store on the counter for a day and then transfer any leftovers to the fridge since it's so moist!
Notes
*I have made this with oat flour instead of flax and it was delicious. Just add a couple more tbsp applesauce since it's more dry.
You'll notice most photos don't show walnuts in the topping--I didn't add them until my final test but preferred the version with nuts!
I don't recommend freezing this cake since the apples release moisture.
Andrea says
I made this yesterday and I'm trying not to eat the whole thing myself! It is light, moist, delicious. Very easy to make. Another amazing recipe Alexis!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Awwww I'm so thrilled to hear this, thank you Andrea! It's a fave for me, too.
Molly says
Easy to make and delicious! I subbed coconut oil instead of butter to make dairy free and used oat flour instead of flaxseed with 2 extra tablespoons of applesauce to keep moist.
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Wow sounds EPIC--I'm thrilled this apple cake was such a hit, Molly! Thank you!
Catherine says
Can I just use applesauce and omit the maple syrup?
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
It won't be sweet but if you're ok with that I don't see why not?
Sherry says
Followed the recipe step-by-step, made it for a special dinner for four. Everyone loved this cake and there wasn't a crumb left before night was over. Everyone ask I make it again and double the recipe. Thank you for sharing a delicious apple cake
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Ahhhh yayyyy! This cake is such a winner; I'm thrilled you tried it, Sherry!
Aria says
This cake was sooo good! My husband said it was the best cake he’s ever had. Then my dad came over and he also loved it. So delicious!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
OMG this is the best, you made my day Aria--thank you!!
Karen says
Excellent Apple Cake
This was easy to make and came out excellent. Rave reviews from all!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Amazing, I appreciate it so much Karen!
Elle says
This was SOOO good, tasted like an apple fritter in cake form. The topping with nuts was such a great addition. I used a Bundt pan and baked for the same time and it was amazing.
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Yesss apple fritter vibes is the ultimate compliment, thank you so much Elle! Amazing idea to do the topping on the bottom for the bundt pan. Off to buy one hehe!
Joanna says
I have a whopping zucchini to go through - do you think I could sub apples for zucchini?
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
I wouldn’t for this, I’d just make my zucchini cake: https://www.hummusapien.com/healthy-zucchini-cake/
Amanda says
Wondering how I might double this recipe.. do you think using a 9x13 pan with doubling the recipe would work and how about bake time? TIA!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Doubling in a 9x13 should work! I would start checking it for doneness around 32ish min and would guess it would take 35ish-40 min?
Thalita says
Hey, can I use a flax eggs substitute?
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
I don't think flax eggs will work in this recipe since I have not tested it. I'm not sure how well the cake would rise or if it would rise properly, but lmk if you experiment!
Allison says
My husband was obsessed with this cake and he rarely gets excited about dessert. He’s already asking me to make it again.
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
OMG husband of the year!!
Rhian says
Could the flaxseed be replaced with egg? If so, how many eggs would you recommend?
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
I would suggest replacing the flax with more almond flour. I think the cake would be too moist without the flax and with an added egg but I haven't tried it so I can't say for sure. LMK if you try it!
Nina says
Just made for the first time! Yummmmmmm
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Yayyy so glad you liked it!
Dylan says
Amazing! Love this variation of the cake. I just made again for the third time 🙂
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Yayyy so excited you love it!!