Healthy Apple Cake
This healthy apple cake is made with almond flour and oat flour, filled with fresh apple pieces, and topped with a sweet cinnamon pecan crumb. The texture is soft and moist, making it a perfect dessert for fall. It has just the right balance of sweetness and warm spice.
When the weather starts to cool down, apple desserts become a favorite in many homes. This cake is a great way to use fresh apples and enjoy a comforting baked treat. It can be served on its own or paired with a scoop of ice cream for an extra special dessert.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS APPLE CAKE
This cake is packed with fresh apples and warm cinnamon flavor, making it perfect for the fall season. The crumb topping adds a light crunch that pairs well with the soft cake.
It is made with simple, wholesome ingredients. The blend of almond flour and oat flour keeps it gluten-free while giving the cake a tender texture. Greek yogurt helps keep the cake moist without needing too much oil.
This cake is sweet enough for dessert, but it is also light enough to enjoy as a breakfast treat with coffee or tea.
INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED
Almond flour – A light, gluten-free flour that works well in baking. Blanched almond flour is best because it has a fine texture and gives a softer result.
Oat flour – Another gluten-free option that adds fiber. You can use store-bought oat flour or make your own by blending rolled oats.
Cinnamon – Adds warm flavor that pairs perfectly with apples.
Salt – Enhances all the flavors in the cake.
Baking soda – Helps the cake rise and stay light.
Eggs – Hold the ingredients together and give the cake structure.
Greek yogurt – Keeps the cake moist and soft. Plain, full-fat yogurt works best for a rich texture.
Coconut oil – Adds moisture. Make sure it is melted before mixing.
Vanilla extract – Adds extra flavor.
Maple syrup – A natural sweetener that blends smoothly into the batter. Use pure maple syrup for the best taste.
Apples – The main ingredient. Firm apples like Honeycrisp or Pink Lady work very well, but any type can be used. Chop them into small, even pieces for the best texture.
Topping – A simple mix of almond flour, coconut sugar (or dark brown sugar), chopped pecans, cinnamon, and coconut oil. This creates a sweet and crumbly layer on top.
SUBSTITUTIONS AND NOTES
Eggs: Flax eggs or chia eggs may work as a plant-based substitute, though the texture may change slightly.
Flour: The mix of almond and oat flour keeps the cake gluten-free. Using only one of these flours may slightly change the texture. Other flours have not been tested, so results may vary.
Greek yogurt: Dairy-free plain yogurt can be used if needed. Unsweetened applesauce may also work as a substitute.
Maple syrup: Honey or agave syrup can likely be used instead. Replacing it with dry sugar is not recommended, as it can change the consistency of the batter.
Pecans: You can replace pecans with walnuts or almonds, or leave them out completely if needed.
Coconut oil: Melted butter, ghee, avocado oil, or light olive oil can be used instead.
HOW TO MAKE THIS APPLE CAKE
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
In a small bowl, mix all the topping ingredients together with a fork until crumbly. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine the almond flour, oat flour, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, Greek yogurt, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, and maple syrup until smooth.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until fully combined. Gently fold in the chopped apples.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly. Sprinkle the crumb topping over the batter.
Bake for 40–50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let the cake cool in the pan for 15–20 minutes. Then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.
HELPFUL TIP
Check the cake after about 30 minutes of baking. If the topping is turning too brown, loosely cover the top with foil to prevent it from burning.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW SHOULD YOU CUT APPLES FOR APPLE CAKE?
Chop the apples into small, even pieces, about 1/4-inch in size. Keeping the pieces similar in size helps them bake evenly throughout the cake.
Here are a few more delicious dessert recipes you might want to try:
- Cottage Cheese Cookie Dough
- Chocolate Dates Snickers
- Protein Overnight Oats
- Healthy Homemade Samoas
- Fudgy Black Bean Brownies
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Healthy Apple Cake
Ingredients
FOR THE CAKE
- 1 cup finely ground almond flour
- 1 ½ cups oat flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup plain full-fat Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup melted coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 cups apples chopped into small ¼-inch pieces
FOR THE CRUMB TOPPING
- ½ cup almond flour
- ¼ cup coconut sugar
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup solid coconut oil not melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, mix all the topping ingredients together using a fork. Stir until the mixture becomes crumbly, then set it aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine the almond flour, oat flour, salt, cinnamon, and baking soda. Stir well so everything is evenly mixed.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, Greek yogurt, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, and maple syrup until smooth.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir gently until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Fold in the chopped apples, making sure they are evenly spread through the batter.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and smooth out the top. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the batter.
- Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few soft crumbs. After about 30 minutes, check the cake. If the topping is getting too dark, loosely cover the pan with foil to prevent over-browning.
- Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 15 to 20 minutes. Then move it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
- Cut into squares and serve.
Notes
- EGG SUBSTITUTE: Flax eggs or chia eggs may work as a plant-based option, though the texture may be slightly different.
- FLOUR OPTIONS: Using only almond flour or only oat flour is possible, but the texture may change slightly.
- YOGURT SUBSTITUTE: A plain dairy-free yogurt can be used instead of Greek yogurt. Unsweetened applesauce may also work.
- MAPLE SYRUP SUBSTITUTE: Honey, agave syrup, or monk fruit maple-style syrup can be used instead.
- NUT OPTIONS: Pecans can be replaced with walnuts or almonds. If needed, they can be left out completely.
- OIL SUBSTITUTE: Melted butter, ghee, avocado oil, or light olive oil can be used in place of coconut oil.
Nutrition
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