Gluten Free Apple Pumpkin Cake

This dessert is packed full of flavor, and a healthier option when reaching for a sweet treat.

A perfect cake to celebrate with everyone! This cake is easily altered to become a vegan treat.  With the use of coconut flour, pumpkin and apples, there is flavor bursting from every corner of the pan!

The dessert is not only delicious; it is also healthy- packed full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.  Keep the skin on the apples, this will provide more fiber!

Instead of buying a simple can of apple pie filling, make your own.  Depending on the time of year, use fresh or canned pumpkin.  Keep the recipe fresh, and delicious.

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Gluten Free Apple Pumpkin Cake


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  • Author: Terra Baltosiewich
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 16

Description

A gluten free dessert that can easily become a vegan treat. This dessert is packed full of flavor, and a healthier option when reaching for a sweet treat.


Ingredients

Units
  • 4 medium apples diced
  • 3/4 cup (180g) unsalted butter (use Earth Balance for vegan version)
  • 1 cup (180g) brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 1/2 tsp (2.5mL) cardamom
  • 1 tsp (4.9mL) cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp (15g) cornstarch (use 2-3 tsp xanthum gum for vegan version)
  • 2 cups (240g) gluten free flour (I used - 1 cup coconut flour, 1/2 cup arrowroot flour, 1/2 tapioca flour)
  • 1 cup (200g) sugar
  • 1 tsp (4.9mL) baking powder
  • 1 tsp (4.9mL) baking soda
  • 1/2 (2.5mL) tsp salt
  • 1 cup (240g) pumpkin
  • 3/4 cup (180mL) canola oil
  • For icing
  • 3 cups (300g) powdered sugar
  • 8 tbsp (120mL) almond milk
  • 1 packet vanilla sugar
  • 1 tbsp (15mL) pumpkin

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease 9 x 13 pan with butter, and lightly flour.
  2. In sauce pan, on medium heat, cook apples, butter, brown sugar together until softened. Add cardamom, and cinnamon. In small bowl mix together cornstarch and 2 tbsp water, add into cooked apples. Turn sauce pan down to simmer, let sauce thicken.
  3. In medium bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  4. In large bowl, mix together sugar, pumpkin, and oil. Add in cooked apples and mix well.
  5. Mix together wet ingredients with dry ingredients.
  6. Spread out evenly in greased pan.
  7. Bake for 25-30 minutes depending on oven. Let cake cool.
  8. In small bowl, mix together powdered sugar, vanilla sugar, almond milk, and pumpkin. Spread out over cake.
  9. Enjoy!

Notes

  • When using a gluten free flour, use 3-4 different flours in the dessert.
  • Vanilla sugar is a packet of vanilla flavored sugar in the baking isle.
  • Any apple will work in the recipe, but granny smith would be the best option for flavor.
  • Instead of cardamom you can use nutmeg.
  • Prep Time: 45 mins
  • Cook Time: 25 mins
  • Category: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 350

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make this cake vegan?

It’s easily altered for vegans: replace the 3/4 cup (180 g) of unsalted butter with Earth Balance, and swap the 2 tbsp of cornstarch for 2–3 tsp of xanthan gum to bind the batter. All other ingredients are already plant-based.

Why does this recipe use a blend of three gluten-free flours?

When using gluten-free flour you should use 3–4 different flours together. I combine 1 cup coconut flour, 1/2 cup arrowroot flour, and 1/2 cup tapioca flour — each contributes different binding and texture properties that together approximate the structure wheat flour provides.

Should I peel the apples?

Keep the skin on the apples to add more fiber to the dessert. I also recommend Granny Smith apples for the best flavor, though any apple will work.

What is vanilla sugar and where do I find it?

Vanilla sugar is a packet of vanilla-flavored sugar found in the baking aisle of most grocery stores. I use it in the icing alongside 3 cups of powdered sugar, 8 tbsp of almond milk, and 1 tbsp of pumpkin.

Terra Baltosiewich
About the Author
Terra Baltosiewich

Terra is the author of the food blog "CafeTerraBlog." She shares healthy recipes, along with a few "unhealthy" treats. Not only is she a food blogger, she is also a romance author. In each romance book she shares recipes made by the characters, you can find out more about her romance books at TerraKelly.com. She and her husband live in Charlotte, NC with two cats and a dog that loves leftovers.

Terra Baltosiewich has been a contributor to Honest Cooking since 2011.

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