• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Cheeky Chickpea
  • Home
  • Instant Pot
  • Sign up
  • About Verna
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • All Recipes
  • Sign up
  • About
  • Contact
  • Instant Pot
  • 30 Minute Vegan Recipes
  • Breakfast & Baking
  • Desserts
  • Drinks
  • Gluten free
  • Mains
  • Salads
  • Sauces & Dressings
  • Snacks & Sides
  • Soups
  • Vegan Holiday Recipes
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • All Recipes
    • Sign up
    • About
    • Contact
    • Instant Pot
    • 30 Minute Vegan Recipes
    • Breakfast & Baking
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Gluten free
    • Mains
    • Salads
    • Sauces & Dressings
    • Snacks & Sides
    • Soups
    • Vegan Holiday Recipes
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Desserts

    1-Layer Vegan Apple Cake

    Updated: Nov 20, 2022 by Verna Rindler · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

    51 shares
    • Share
    • Yummly
    Jump to Recipe
    a slice of vegan apple cake on a plate

    This Vegan Apple Cake is full of chopped apples and tastes like fall! Topped with a brown sugar and vanilla glaze, it’s a sweet dessert you can bring to the holiday dinner or enjoy after a trip to the apple orchard.

    a slice of vegan apple cake on a plate

    Hello, moisture! This one-layer Vegan Apple Cake is a moist and tasty treat that’s full of your favorite fall flavors and plenty of apples. A perfect Thanksgiving dessert or to serve after a trip to the apple orchard.

    The extra moist and warmly spiced batter is easy to make in one bowl. Before the cake heads into the oven, it’s packed with chopped apples and walnuts for crunch and a well-balanced sweet and tart flavor profile. Top it off with the brown sugar vanilla glaze and enjoy!

    This vegan apple walnut cake is particularly delicious with the sweet glaze on top, but there are many other options to choose from, from whipped cream to cream cheese frosting. Or, for extra crunch, add candied pecans on top! It’s sure to be a crowd-pleasing dessert to enjoy with more fall-flavored treats, like my Vegan Pumpkin Pie and a glass of Vegan Eggnog.

    Jump to:
    • What kind of apples are best for apple cake?
    • Ingredients needed
    • How to make vegan apple cake
    • Variations
    • Storing
    • Looking for more vegan fall desserts?
    • 1-Layer Vegan Apple Cake

    What kind of apples are best for apple cake?

    When baking, you want to choose an apple that will hold its shape well under the heat. According to Bon Appetit, Granny Smith apples are the best for baking. They’re my top choice for this recipe, as well as my Vegan Apple Pie.

    Granny Smith apples taste tart and sweet, which means they complement the warm spices and brown sugar in apple cake perfectly. You can also use Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Pink Lady apples in this recipe but avoid McIntosh or Red Delicious apples. They’re too soft and not as flavorful as the other varieties.

    Ingredients needed

    • Dark brown sugar - This is the best sugar for this cake recipe because it has deep, molasses-like flavors. Perfect for this fall-themed cake and the cinnamon vanilla glaze on top!
    • Applesauce - Unsweetened applesauce adds moisture to the cake, helping it turn out moist and fluffy. 
    • Vegan yogurt - Use plain vegan yogurt, like coconut or soy yogurt.
    • Oil - Any kind of neutral oil or melted vegan butter will work just fine.
    • Vanilla extract
    • All purpose flour - For a more rustic flavor, use a 1:1 mix of all purpose flour and whole wheat flour. 
    • Baking powder
    • Baking soda
    • Cinnamon
    • Nutmeg - You can grate the fresh nutmeg yourself for even deeper flavors.
    • Salt
    • Instant coffee - Just like in vegan chocolate cake, instant coffee is used to enhance the rich flavors in every bite.
    • Apples - You need about 2 small apples for the cake. Dice or chop them right before making this recipe or else they could brown.
    • Walnuts - Chopped walnuts are the perfect pairing for warm spices and apples, and they also add a nice crunch! Instead of walnuts, feel free to use pecans or almonds.
    • Powdered sugar - You need powdered sugar to make the brown sugar and cinnamon glaze.
    • Plant milk - Any type of dairy free milk will work well here, like oat milk, almond milk, or cashew milk.
    ingredients for vegan apple cake being mixed in a bowl

    How to make vegan apple cake

    My vegan apple cake is a one-bowl, one-layer cake recipe. In other words, it’s an easy fall dessert that’s ready in under 1 hour:

    Step 1: Mix the wet ingredients. Whisk the brown sugar, applesauce, yogurt, oil, and vanilla together in a large mixing bowl.

    Step 2: Add the dry ingredients. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and instant coffee to the bowl with the wet mixture. Gently stir everything together until just combined.

    Step 3: Fold in the apples. Finish the batter by gently folding in the chopped apples and half of the walnuts.

    Step 4: Top with apples and nuts, then bake. Transfer the apple cake batter to a prepared cake pan. Sprinkle the remaining nuts on top. Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

    Step 5: Make the glaze. While you wait for the cake to bake, whisk the sugars, vanilla, milk, and cinnamon together in a bowl. Zap it in the microwave to dissolve the brown sugar.

    Step 6: Decorate and serve. Drizzle the brown sugar glaze on top of the cake once it’s completely cool. Slice, serve, and enjoy! Full ingredients and instructions in printable recipe card below.

    step by step photos how to make a vegan apple cake
    a slice of vegan apple cake topped with whipped cream

    Variations

    There are several customizations you can make here to make this cake allergen-friendly or to play with the flavors:

    • Nut free - Simply omit the walnuts if you need the apple cake to be nut free.
    • Oil free - Replace the oil with ⅓ cup of yogurt, applesauce, or 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons of each.
    • Gluten free - I haven’t tested this recipe with gluten free flour, but a gluten free flour blend should work well.
    • Instead of the glaze - Decorate the cake with a dusting of powdered sugar or top the individual slices with vegan whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
    • Two-layer cake - You can easily make this a two-layer cake by doubling the recipe and baking it in two 8-inch cake pans. Add some Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting on top of one layer, place the second layer on top, and decorate the top and sides with the rest of the frosting. Decorate with apple compote, walnuts, or candied pecans, then enjoy!

    Storing

    Store: Refrigerate the apple cake or individual slices in an airtight container for 3 or 4 days. It will stay fresh at room temperature for about 2 days.

    Freeze: To freeze apple cake, wrap it or the individual slices (without the glaze) in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months.

    Looking for more vegan fall desserts?

    • Pumpkin Cheesecake
    • Vegan Pecan Pie
    • Pumpkin Bread
    • Peanut Butter Cups
    • Caramel and Pecan Shortbread Bars

    Enjoy everyone! Happy Day! Please feel free to comment below and give this recipe a rating. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

    Follow me on PINTEREST and INSTAGRAM for more tasty Plant Based  & Vegan Recipes❤️

    Subscribe here for free weekly recipes delivered right to your inbox! No need to scour the internet. Your one stop shop for recipes is here😊 No spam I promise!

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    a slice of vegan apple cake on a plate

    1-Layer Vegan Apple Cake


    ★★★★★

    5 from 1 reviews

    • Author: Verna Rindler
    • Total Time: 1 hour
    • Yield: 8 Servings
    • Diet: Vegan
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    This Vegan Apple Cake is full of chopped apples and tastes like fall! Topped with a brown sugar and vanilla glaze, it’s a sweet dessert you can bring to the holiday dinner or enjoy after a trip to the apple orchard.


    Ingredients

    • 3/4 cup dark brown sugar

    • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

    • 1/2 cup plain vegan yogurt

    • 1/3 cup oil, any neutral oil*

    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    • 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

    • 2 teaspoon baking powder

    • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

    • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

    • 1/2 teaspoon salt

    • 1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules, regular or decaf

    • 2 cups grated or diced apples (approx. 2 small peeled and cored apples)*

    • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, divided

    Glaze (optional):

    • 1/3 cup powdered sugar

    • 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

    • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

    • 2 tablespoons unsweetened plant milk

    • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon


    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350° Grease a 9 inch round baking pan. LIne bottom with a round piece of parchment paper and grease that as well.
    2. In a large mixing bowl whisk together the brown sugar, applesauce, yogurt, oil and vanilla

    3. Add in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and instant coffee to the wet ingredients. Whisk until completely combined. Fold in the apples and half of the nuts.

    4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top. Sprinkle over the remaining walnuts.

    5. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the tester comes out clean, should look puffed and lightly golden brown. Remove the pan to a cooling rack for 15 minutes then gently turn out the cake, nut side up onto the rack to cool completely.

    6. Whisk together the ingredients for the glaze in a bowl, microwave for 15 seconds to dissolve brown sugar, and drizzle over the cooled cake. Enjoy! For photos, tips and more see above post.

    Notes

    • Apples: My favorite apples are granny smith or honeycrisp for this recipe. See above post for more information.
    • Oil free: For oil free just add a bit more yogurt and applesauce to equal 1/3 cup
    • Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days or store covered on the counter for a couple of days. Freeze for up to 3 months wrapped well without the glaze.

    Nutritional chart calculated without the glaze.

    • Prep Time: 15 Minutes
    • Cook Time: 45 Minutes
    • Method: Oven
    • Cuisine: American, Canadian

    Keywords: vegan apple cake

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @cheeky_chickpea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #cheeky_chickpea_

    More Desserts

    • Vegan Snickerdoodles
    • Vegan Gluten Free Pie Crust
    • Vegan Pecan Pie
    • Vegan Black Bean Brownies (Gluten Free + No Oil)
    51 shares
    • Share
    • Yummly

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rita

      December 01, 2022 at 6:30 am

      Really good and moist

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna Rindler

        December 01, 2022 at 7:45 am

        Thanks so much!

        Reply
    2. Joyce A

      November 20, 2022 at 8:47 am

      How can I make this Vegan Apple Cake without oil?

      Reply
      • Verna Rindler

        November 20, 2022 at 8:50 am

        Check out the notes section Joyce, enjoy 🙂

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I’m Verna! Major foodie of all things vegan! Welcome to The Cheeky Chickpea; here, you’ll find hundreds of restaurant-worthy easy vegan recipes. Some oil-free and gluten-free, from veggie-powered plant-based comfort foods to decadent desserts. Lots of tricks and tips up my chef sleeve…Grab your apron let’s get cooking!

    More about me →

    • Mail
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Categories

    Popular Posts

    • The Best Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake
    • Best Vegan Meatballs! (Impossible Burger)
    • 5 Minute Vegan Ramen (Instant Noodles)
    • Ultimate Vegan Chili Recipe
    • Best Vegan Meatloaf Recipe! (Impossible Burger)
    • Sweet and Spicy Chili Garlic Noodles

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Nutritional Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • About
    • Contact
    • Affiliate and Photo Policy

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 The Cheeky Chickpea