I am so excited to share with you my easy and healthy Apple Cake (it is paleo friendly)!
This recipe is adapted from a box of old recipes from my great aunt. The original recipe claims to be an Irish Apple Cake recipe, but when I did some research most Irish Apple Cakes have a custard sauce and I wanted this to be a simple healthy treat cake that used A LOT of apples:)
Adjustments I made to make this healthier Apple Cake
- The flours – I tested this recipe with a blend of regular and whole wheat flour as well as the new Bob’s Red Mill Paleo Flour Blend. Â You can buy it in bulk on Amazon or at Whole Foods (it was on sale this week!). Â I must say I like the Paleo blend better, it is a little more moist.
- Sugar was replaced with maple syrup and cut from 2 cups to 3/4 cup and it was plenty sweet!
- Oil was reduced by a half of a cup and I added applesauce to enhance the apple flavor.
- I added some spices and omitted the nuts to simplify the chopping process and make it a full allergy friendly cake option!
Why I love this Easy and Healthy Apple Cake
- No Peeling! I tested this recipe out with and without peeling and you could not tell the difference.  The kids ate it both ways!  The apples were chopped slightly smaller when I didn’t peel them.  I did this because my children complained the chunks were too big in the first version (with peeled apples).  I would recommend about 1/2 – 1 inch size pieces.
- Comes together with NO MIXER! Â I used one bowl to mix the dry ingredients and a liquid measuring cup to mix the wet ingredients. Â Then combined them into one large bowl.
- I love this cake, because it is allergy friendly and a great option to bring to a gathering.  Although, I will say we did sample one of the versions with whip cream and it is definitely a fun addition if you do not have a dairy allergy or you are not on a paleo diet.  I actually think this is a great holiday cake if you do not like pie and with the addition of whip cream it would feel holiday special 🙂
- This cake is filled with a lot of apples with the skin on plus apple sauce so you can ream all of the nutritional benefits from apples.
- It is a great recipe for kids to help out with. Â Savanna enjoyed cutting the apples, mixing and sprinkling the sugar on top! Â You can check out the video she helped me with below!
Ingredients
- 4 diced apples you do not have to peel!
- 3/4 cup Oil I used Avocado
- 3/4 cup real maple syrup or honey use maple syrup for paleo version
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 3 cups of flour blend of your choice see note below
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp apple pie spice or 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg & 1/4 tsp cloves
- 1 tbsp raw sugar or cinnamon sugar for sprinkling on top optional
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 and prepare a 9 inch springform pan with oil or a spray
- Add all of your dry ingredients into a large bowl (flour, salt, baking soda and spices)
- Whisk to combine
- In a large measuring cup or medium bowl combine all of your wet ingredients (oil, maple syrup, eggs, applesauce and vanilla)
- Whisk together your wet ingredients
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and whisk to combine
- Fold in your diced apples
- Add your batter to your prepared springform pan
- Sprinkle raw sugar on top (optional)
- Bake for 45min - 1 hour (until a toothpick comes out clean)
Video
Notes
Flours: I tested this 2 ways:
- 2 cups whole wheat flour + 1 cup all purpose
- 3 cups of Bob's Red Mill Paleo Blend
Did you make this recipe?I would love to see your creations! Snap a picture and tag @kristanwatson or #foodplaygo on Social Media!