This Vegan Apple Cake tastes like Fall and is sure to become a staple dessert recipe come apple season! Best of all, it’s super easy to make in 1 bowl. Full of fresh diced apples with an optional caramel drizzle.
We are taking a quick detour from all of the pumpkin recipes I’ve been posting lately to celebrate apples. While I’m sad to see Summer go, Fall and Winter foods are my absolute favorite. Comfort foods like soups and potatoes are the best, as well as Fall flavored desserts like this Apple Cake.
This Vegan Apple Cake is like no other cake I’ve had. It is almost more apples than cake and it’s very rich! A small piece will satisfy your sweet craving. It’s the kind of cake your kids and grandkids will remember, and want you to make every year at least once.
You are going to love this apple cake! It’s:
- Full of fresh diced apples
- Cinnamon-y
- Moist and rich
- Easy to make in 1 bowl!
- Topped with a simple caramel drizzle that seeps into the cake
How to make vegan apple cake:
It’s so easy! First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9 x 13 inch pan.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Then pour in some melted coconut oil, applesauce and vanilla. Mix with a large spoon; the batter will be very thick, not like regular cake batter. This is because the apples add a ton of moisture when the cake bakes.
Fold in the apples and walnuts, using your hands if needed to incorporate them. Then press into your pan, and bake for 45-50 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
All that’s left to do is make the optional caramel drizzle and pour it over the cake.
(SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR FULL INGREDIENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS)
How long will apple cake keep?
Store leftover cake in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. At room temperature it will only last about 2 days.
Can it be frozen?
Yes, you can freeze apple cake. Freeze individual pieces or the whole cake. Just make sure to let it cool completely first, and wrap well or place in freezer friendly containers.
Possible substitutions:
- Whole wheat pastry flour can be used instead of white flour
- Too sweet? Cut back the sugar to 1 or 1 1/2 cups.
- Another oil or melted vegan butter can be subbed for coconut oil, such as canola oil
- You might be able to sub gluten free flour mix for the white flour, but I haven’t tried it myself
- Nut allergy or don’t like nuts? Just leave them out, no problem.
Want more Fall dessert recipes?
Recipe adapted from Southern Kitchen.
1 Bowl Vegan Apple Cake
Ingredients
Apple Cake
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup melted coconut oil*
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups peeled and diced apples
- 1 cup chopped walnuts*
Optional Caramel Drizzle
- 4 tablespoons melted vegan butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons non-dairy milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease a 9 x 13 inch pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
- Now pour in the melted coconut oil, applesauce and vanilla and stir until combined. The dough will be very stiff, not like most cake batters. This is because the fresh apples will provide a lot of moisture as the cake bakes.
- Fold in the diced apples and nuts. Use your hands if needed to get them incorporated.
- Press the cake batter into the pan, evenly. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let the cake cool while you prepare the caramel drizzle.
- Make the caramel drizzle: In a small pot on the stove, add the vegan butter, brown sugar and non-dairy milk. Heat over medium heat until the butter melts. Bring to a boil and stir constantly, being careful not to let the mixture overflow. Continue to boil for 2 minutes, stirring, then remove from heat.
- After the cake has cooled for about 20 minutes, drizzle the caramel sauce over it. Let cool for 10 more minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- Instead of coconut oil, you may use another oil such as canola or melted vegan butter. If you do not like coconut flavor, make sure to use refined coconut oil.
- You could substitute whole wheat pastry flour for the white flour, if desired. This may work with a gluten free mix, but I haven't tested it.
- You can use walnuts or pecans, or leave the nuts out entirely.
- Serve with a dollop of vegan whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, if desired.
This is a delicious cake- I made it for my family, including my vegan daughter-in-law and it received such a positive response. It is so moist and tasty. I will be making this again. Thank you.
You are welcome, Delma. This cake is a favorite in my family! I’m thrilled that you guys loved it! Thanks for sharing your awesome review and feedback! Wishing you lots of happy cooking!
I used only 1 cup of sugar, and it was perfect!
My family loves this cake, it’s the only cake they ask for by name!.Thank you for sharing. I don’t you the drizzle and did reduce sugar but it’s still delicious! 😋
Hi Joyce. I’m so glad the cake is a hit with your family! It is perfect for so many occasions! Thank you for your wonderful words! Happy Cooking!
Wowee! This was so good. I didn’t have any applesauce and I saw the comment about yogurt so I used that instead. It was delicious. Also, I found this to be plenty sweet without the drizzle. My daughter asked me to make it again as her birthday cake. A++
Hi Remi. This is one of my FAVORITE cakes! I’m so glad you and your daughter loved it! Thanks for your fabulous review and feedback! Wishing you lots of happy cooking!
My family said this is the BEST CAKE they have ever eaten. Whoa! It’s that amazing! Thank you, Nora, for helping me to become proficient in the kitchen! <3
Hi Meg! How wonderful that you are feeling confident in your kitchen making good food! That is always fun! I appreciate you using my recipes, and am so glad they are helpful to you! I’m thrilled that your family loved the apple cake! It really is a favorite of mine! Thank you for your stellar review! Happy cooking to you!
Amazing. Moist. Easy. Appely. This is a keeper. I was worried about the fairly dry paste but the end result was just an amazingly delicious apple cake.
Hi Frank. I’m thrilled you loved the cake! It’s one of my favorites for flavor and simplicity to bake! Thanks for your stellar review! Happy cooking to you!
This is the best cake I’ve ever made. Literally every time I make it, people ask for the recipe. I do have a question: I’m snowed in a the moment and can’t get out to buy applesauce. Do you think I could use yogurt instead?
Hi Ian. I’m so glad you are enjoying the cake! Yes, I think using yogurt would be fine. Be safe in the snow!
I made this cake for the second time today. I used some whole wheat flour and added an extra cup of frozen blueberries because I was trying to use them. It came out great! I love this recipe because only using one bowl is something I strive for thank you Nora so much for your recipes.
Delicious! Do you think this could be made in mini loaf pans? If so, how many?
This came out amazing, everyone loved it! Do you think it would work okay to refrigerate the batter overnight and bake it the next day?
I think so! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
I’m wondering if applesauce would work well here as an oil replacement. I’ve used it before to good effect though I welcome your thoughts.
I love your apple cake recipe! It easily adapts to gluten free flour.
We use the Artisinal flour mix from the Bronski cookbook (Artisinal gluten free cooking) and I use it for all of your baking with consistently great results!
Hi Dianna. Thanks for taking time to share your great review, as well as your ideas and recipe experience! I’m so glad you are loving the cake! Happy cooking!
I thought the 2 cups of granulated sugar was a typo, but I followed the recipe as written.
The cake was moist and looked amazing, but it was way too sweet.
Would this work as a layer cake? Sounds so yummy and I love your other vegan layer cake recipes!
It’s a bit heavy for a layer cake so I’m not sure it will work well. It might though! Thanks for loving my cake recipes!
This is the best dessert I have ever made. It’s going to be what I bring to social functions. Feel free to use dairy butter/milk in the caramel sauce- works great.
Fabulous cake, absolutley delicious and so easy to make. I added a sprinkle of demerara to the top before baking.
Fully obsessed with this recipe! I have to wait to make it for a special occasion otherwise I eat the whole thing myself 🙂
Question: if I want to use the technique in the apple upside down cake in this recipe, should I use an extra apple to decorate the bottom of the pan, or keep the amount of apples the same?
Hmm I’m not sure, I’d have to test it. You could use an extra apple I suppose for the bottom. Glad you love this recipe, thank you!