One of our favorite fall activities is picking apples. Creating new recipes to use them in is a fun challenge, and my new Gluten Free Honey Apple Cake is a success story I don’t mind sharing with you.
Whether you’re looking for new ways to use bushels of overly-ambitiously-picked apples or are in need of a truly delicious Rosh Hashanah recipe, this moist, flavorful gluten free cake will make everyone happy!
Honey is not only a wonderful baking ingredient (did you know it keeps cakes and breads soft and helps them stay fresh longer?) for a touch of sweetness, it’s also used in Jewish recipes at Rosh Hashanah to signify hope for a “sweet” new year.
Paired with apples, which ancient Jews believed had healing properties and which are mentioned as a symbolic fruit throughout the Bible, these two ingredients are not only delicious, they’re meaningful.
You can even bake this cake in a decorative honeycomb pan, apparently! How beautiful is this cake baked by reader Lynne K-L? She said the only key is to be sure to spray the pan well with oil and lightly flour (do not use oil sprays that already contain flour or starch, as they are NOT gluten-free!)
However and whenever you choose to make this cake, enjoy it in good health and may it bring you all sweet things in your new year.
Gluten Free Honey Apple Cake
This divine bundt is the perfect combination of honey and apple flavors tucked into a moist, just sweet enough cake drizzled with glaze that will only make you want a second slice.
Ingredients
Gluten Free Honey Apple Cake:
- 2 cups peeled & thinly sliced crisp apples like Fuji, Gala or Honeycrisp (~ 1-2 apples)
- 1 Tbs. lemon juice
- 2 Tbs. granulated sugar
- 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 3 ¼ cups gfJules™ All-Purpose Gluten-Free Flour (439 gr)
- 1 Tbs. + 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 3 eggs, room temperature (suggested egg substitution: 3 TBS flaxmeal plus 6 TBS warm water (let steep 10 minutes) plus 1 Ener-G egg replacer recipe)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup natural applesauce (no sugar added)
- ½ cup honey
- ¾ cup coconut oil, melted (or other vegetable oil)
- 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup apple cider or juice
Glaze ingredients:
- ¾ cup sifted confectioner’s sugar
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 1 Tbs. milk of choice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Oil a 10-inch Bundt or tube pan well, then set aside.
- Slice apples and place in a bowl filled with water and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Stir, then drain in a colander. Return to the bowl.
- Whisk 2 tablespoons of sugar with 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, then pour over the apples while stirring.
- In a separate bowl, measure then whisk together the gfJules flour, baking powder and salt.
- In another mixing bowl, beat together the eggs with granulated sugar, brown sugar, applesauce, honey, melted coconut oil and vanilla extract. Once incorporated, stir in the dry ingredients, mixing slowly and pouring apple cider on top. Continue mixing for one minute.
- Pour one third of the batter into the bottom of the Bundt pan. Arrange apple slices to cover the batter; pour more batter on top to cover the apples, then arrange the remaining slices on top of the batter and top with remaining batter. Make sure the batter covers all the apple slices.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a cake tester or skewer inserted into the center comes out clean (bake for up to 1 hr 20 minutes at high altitude).
- Remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool for 10-15 minutes. Gently turn the cake out onto a wire cooling rack and let the cake cool completely before icing.
- Whisk glaze ingredients together in a small bowl, adding more or less milk until the icing is able to be drizzled over the cake without being watery. Add more confectioner’s sugar if the icing gets too thin; add more milk if it’s too thick.
Notes
Bake for up to 1 hour 20 minutes for high altitude.
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Find more gluten free Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur recipes here on gfJules.com!
Can I substitute apple cider vinegar for the lemon juice?
Hi Jamie, yes you can!
~jules
I had an urge to make something special for tonight. This is an amazing cake. The flavor and the texture terrific. I can say this is the real thing, an apple cake!
Thanks so much!
I’m so glad you tried this recipe and loved it, Stu! Thanks so much for taking the time to let me know!!!
~jules
what are the changes to make this in a loaf pan or is there enough batter for two loaf pans? Temp and time for cooking
Metal or glass loaf pan. TIA
How far in advance can this cake be made, and what would be the best way to store it? (I want to make two days ahead of time.) can the glaze also be prepared in advance, so all I would have to do is drizzle and serve?
Hi Jenn, the cake may be made in advance and covered well to seal out air. If you can seal it well, you could refrigerate it or freeze. The glaze can be made in advance, refrigerated, and then brought to room temperature to drizzle and serve. Hope that helps!
~jules
Can someone tell me the nutritional values of this cake?
Hi Jules,
Did reader, Lynn K-L, who baked the gf Honey Apple Cake in the honeycomb pan share any baking times and/or layering instructions for the apples since this pan is so much more shallow? I have that pan, and I think it would be really lovely baked that way. I also like that each section would be a predetermined serving size 🙂
Thanks,
Karen
Hi Karen, unfortunately she did not, but perhaps there are general bake time guidelines that come with the pan? Definitely err on the under-done side and then start checking with a toothpick for doneness. Then come back and leave a comment here telling the rest of us how long to bake this recipe in the pan for next time!!!
Definitely a keeper! I didn’t get this made for Rosh Hashanah but made it today. We had to taste it before dinner – eat dessert first! We all loved it. This is the best apple honey cake I have ever eaten. I sent half home with my sone to his place but we kept the other half for mom and dad.
That is fantastic, Linda!!! And now you know for next time … but no need to wait for Rosh Hashanah to make this yummy cake, I quite agree!!! How nice of you to share! 🙂
~jules
Hi Jules – Is this cake batter supposed to be extremely sticky as I place it in the bundt pan? Boy, I had a hard time, but it baked up beautifully and I hope it tastes fantastic. It will be tonight’s dessert.
Hi Janet, it is a thick batter. I’m so glad it baked up well for you and that you kept going with the recipe and weren’t deterred by the consistency. I hope you loved the end results!
~jules