Vegan Apple Cake Recipe
This Vegan Apple Cake is the perfect fall treat, combining tart Granny Smith apples with the warmth of cinnamon. If you love the taste of bread pudding, this cake will make an excellent dessert for you and your family. Made entirely plant-based and free of dairy, it's an ideal dessert for anyone, especially those looking for a vegan apple dessert that’s both simple and satisfying. Whether you're vegan or just looking for a delicious apple cinnamon cake, this recipe fits the bill.
As a Registered Dietitian with over 25 years of experience, I specialize in creating flavorful, from scratch recipes that meet specific dietary needs, including those with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Each year, I dedicate numerous hours to continuing education on CKD to ensure I stay up-to-date with the latest research and guidelines. My recipes, such as this Apple Cinnamon Cake Vegan, are designed to be both nutritionally balanced and satisfying, consistently receiving praise for their taste and adherence to dietary requirements.
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This Plant Based Apple Cake is a great option for those with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) as it avoids high-potassium ingredients like dairy and bananas, and uses plant-based alternatives like almond milk. The recipe is low in sodium and uses heart-healthy fats, making it a better choice for those managing kidney health. Plus, the use of tart apples and cinnamon brings plenty of flavor without the need for heavy salt or processed ingredients.
We all love kidney friendly desserts, and others you might want to try are the strawberry rhubarb bars and the mixed berry galette. So delicious and easy to make for a crowd.
For More Recipes and Ideas --->> Get Your Free Meals and Recipes That Are Perfect for Pre-Dialysis Diets, Pre-Dialysis with Diabetes, or Dialysis Diets.
Ingredients
This Apple Cinnamon Cake Vegan combines simple, wholesome ingredients to create a dessert with the comforting texture of bread pudding. The tart apples and warm cinnamon add a perfect balance of flavor, making each bite rich and satisfying.
- Almond milk – A plant-based milk that provides moisture while keeping the cake dairy-free and vegan.
- Sugar – Adds sweetness to the cake and helps create a caramelized apple topping.
- Canola oil – A neutral-flavored oil that keeps the cake moist while being a heart-healthy fat.
- Flour – The base ingredient that provides structure to the cake.
- Baking powder – A leavening agent that helps the cake rise and become fluffy.
- Cinnamon – Adds a warm, spiced flavor that complements the apples beautifully.
- Granny Smith apples – Their tartness balances the sweetness of the cake, with some apples used in the batter and others for the decorative topping.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Making this Apple Cake Recipe Vegan is simple and straightforward. With just a few steps, you'll create a delicious dessert with a soft, bread pudding-like texture and beautifully arranged apple topping.
1. Using a cake pan that is 8-9 inches in diameter, spray the sides and bottom of the pan with canola oil spray. You can add a piece of parchment paper on the bottom to help with removing the cake later.
2. Preheat the oven to 350'F. Cut, remove skin and core 2 apples into small pieces (approximately 1.5-2 in by ¼ in thick.) Core, remove skin, and thinly slice the other two apples for the top of the cake.
3. Add the almond milk, sugar, and oil to a mixing bowl and whisk together.
4. Add the dry ingredients - flour, baking powder, cinnamon - to another bowl and mix together.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the almond milk mixture, and mix with a hand mixer to combine. The mixture will be somewhat thick.
6. Add the smaller apple pieces into the batter and stir with a rubber spatula to combine.
7. Pour into the cake pan and spread it out evenly.
8. Cover the top of the cake with the thinly sliced apples, into a circular pattern around the cake - starting at the edges is easiest. Do this in an overlapping fashion until all of the top of the cake is covered. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoon of sugar on top.
9. Bake the cake for 50 - 60 minutes until cooked through. Test using a toothpick in the center to see if it comes out clean. Take out of the oven to cool.
Hint: If the cake is browning too quickly on top, loosely cover it with foil during the last 10-15 minutes of baking.
Substitutions
If you'd like to make some swaps in this Vegan Apple Dessert, here are a few CKD-friendly ideas. You can use oat milk instead of almond milk if you're looking for a more neutral flavor or an allergy-friendly option. To add more fiber, swap some of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour. Finally, if you're avoiding refined sugar, you can use coconut sugar as a natural alternative.
Variations
Looking to switch things up with this Vegan Apple Cinnamon Cake? For a sweeter, less tart flavor, you can use Gala or Fuji apples instead of Granny Smith. You could also substitute sugar with a low-glycemic sweetener like monk fruit or even toss in some raisins to naturally boost the sweetness.
Storage
To store your cake, let it cool completely and then cover it tightly with plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container. It will keep at room temperature for up to 2 days, or you can refrigerate it for up to 5 days to extend its freshness. For longer storage, slice the cake and freeze individual pieces, wrapped well, for up to 3 months; simply thaw and enjoy!
Top tip
For an extra hint of flavor, you can add a touch of vanilla extract to the wet ingredients before mixing.
FAQs for Apple Cake Recipe Vegan
Yes! You can use any apple variety you like, but Gala or Fuji apples will give a sweeter flavor compared to the tartness of Granny Smith.
Absolutely! You can substitute the regular flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
The cake is ready when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, which usually takes about 50-60 minutes of baking.
Other Kidney Friendly Desserts
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Other Kidney Friendly Recipes
These are my favorite dishes we've recently added to our blog for kidney friendly recipes:
If you tried this Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a star rating and let me know how it goes in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
PrintVegan Apple Cake
This Vegan Apple Cake is a moist, spiced dessert with tart apples and a soft, bread pudding-like texture. Perfect for anyone following a plant-based or CKD-friendly diet, this cake is easy to make and sure to please!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
1 cup almond milk
¾ cup sugar + 2 tbsp for apple layer on top
¼ cup canola oil
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
3 teaspoon cinnamon
4 medium Granny Smith apples - 2 apples for the filling and 2 apples for the topping
Instructions
1. Using a cake pan that is 8-9 inches in diameter, spray the sides and bottom of the pan with canola oil spray. You can add a piece of parchment paper on the bottom to help with removing the cake later.
2. Preheat the oven to 350'F. Cut, remove skin and core 2 apples into small pieces (approximately 1.5-2 in by ¼ in thick.) Core, remove skin, and thinly slice the other two apples for the top of the cake.
3. Add the almond milk, sugar, and oil to a mixing bowl and whisk together.
4. Add the dry ingredients - flour, baking powder, cinnamon - to another bowl and mix together.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the almond milk mixture, and mix with a hand mixer to combine. The mixture will be somewhat thick.
6. Add the smaller apple pieces into the batter and stir with a rubber spatula to combine.
7. Pour into the cake pan and spread it out evenly.
8. Cover the top of the cake with the thinly sliced apples, into a circular pattern around the cake - starting at the edges is easiest. Do this in an overlapping fashion until all of the top of the cake is covered. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoon of sugar on top.
9. Bake the cake for 50 - 60 minutes until cooked through. Test using a toothpick in the center to see if it comes out clean. Take out of the oven to cool.
