This beautiful Gluten-Free Apple Upside Down Cake is a show-stopping holiday dessert with perfectly layered apple slices on a tender almond and quinoa-flour cake.
Sure, many homes have apple pie for Thanksgiving and holiday meals.
It's an American classic.
But it's not the only dessert that uses seasonal produce!
This gluten-free apple cake is a delicious and stunning way to mix up your fall dessert game. It's baked upside down and flipped just before serving to wow guests with an impressive buttery apple topping.
If you're looking for a new apple dessert recipe to bring to the table this year, look no further!
How to Make Gluten Free Apple Upside Down cake
There are two components to this beautiful dessert: the fluffy gluten-free cake and the caramelized apple topping.
Start by making the apple mixture and arranging it in the baking pan.
Then, in a mixing bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients. Incorporate the dry ingredients to make a smooth and thick cake batter. Finally, pour the cake batter over the apples and bake.
When the cake is set, remove it from the oven and let it cool fully at room temperature. Then carefully invert the cake onto a flat serving platter and enjoy!
Equipment
You don't need any special equipment for this recipe like a stand mixer. or even a springform pan. Just a large bowl, a wooden spoon, and a 9-inch round cake pan.
Ingredients
Here's what you need to make this impressive gluten-free cake:
- Coconut oil. Use slightly softened coconut oil to grease the cake and make sure the apples release easily from the pan.
- Coconut sugar. You could also use a pure cane or brown sugar if you prefer.
- Apple. Use your favorite baking apple, such as Granny Smith or gala.
- Olive oil. This adds a rich, delicious flavor to the apple cake. Plus it makes your cake fully dairy-free!
- Honey. You can also use maple syrup if you prefer.
- Eggs. To add structure to the cake and help it rise in the oven.
- Quinoa and almond flour. These powdery gluten-free flours have a rich, nutty flavor that's delicious with apples.
- Baking powder. To add height and airiness to your cake.
Serving Suggestions
You want to make sure the cake is fully cool before attempting to remove it from the pan. Otherwise, your apples may stick to the cake pan and you'll miss the impressive presentation.
After you've inverted the cake, slice it and serve it at room temperature with a dollop of whipped ream or soft vanilla ice cream.
You can also add a dusting of cinnamon on top of each slice for added warming spice.
Or, if you want to get really decadent, try drizzling the cake with soft caramel sauce and a sprinkling of chopped pecans.
What Apple is Best for Cake?
I recommend using tart apples for this recipe. They'll get nice and sweet as they cook, but tend to hold their texture well. Any of these apples will work:
- Granny smith
- Honeycrisp
- Braeburn
- Pink lady
More Gluten-free Dessert Recipes to Try
- Perfect Gluten-Free Vegan Apple Crumb Pie
- Perfect Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie
- Gluten-Free Fig Cake
If you make this Gluten-Free Apple Cake Recipe, be sure to let me know what you think with a comment below and a tag on Instagram!
Gluten-Free Apple Upside Down Cake
Ingredients
for the apples:
- 3 tablespoons softened coconut oil
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar
- 1 large apple
for the cake:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3 eggs
- 1 1/4 cups almond flour
- 1/4 cup quinoa flour
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9" cake pan with cooking spray.
- Beat together the coconut oil and sugar. Once combined, transfer into the baking pan.
- Use your hands to spread the mixture out as evenly as possible along the bottom of the pan (it's okay if there are some "holes").
- Arrange the apple slices on top of this mixture in any shape or pattern you'd like. Set the pan aside.
- In a mixing bowl, beat together the olive oil, honey and eggs. Whisk in the dry ingredients until you have a smooth batter.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
- Pop the cake in the oven for 25 - 30 minutes, until its golden brown and cooked through (use the cake tester method to check). If it starts to brown too quickly on top, cover it with foil.
- Remove the cake from the oven then let it cool completely. Loosen the sides of the cake with a knife then flip it onto a plate. Slice and serve!
Notes
Nutrition
