I had half a dozen apples in the fridge. I browsed the index for recipes with apples and found this vegan apple cake recipe. The recipe was very simple, used only one egg, so easy to substitute the egg. The cake came out very well. It was very moist and fluffy, but over the top sweet.
The original recipe used 1 cup sugar and the apples I used were sweet too, so the cake became very sweet. So I have changed the recipe to ¾ cup of sugar. I was wondering what to do with the cake, then got this (wonderful) idea. I was not sure whether it would work, but I was totally surprised and happy with the result.
Check the My Notes section to see what I did. But this vegan apple cake recipe is definitely a keeper for its easy prep and unbelievably moist and fluffy texture for a vegan cake.
This is yet another recipe from the Taste of Home Baking Book.
Recipe
Vegan Apple Cake
This apple cake recipe bakes such a moist and fluffy cake that it's hard to believe that its a vegan cake.
Need To Convert Measurements?Check out the Baking Measurement Chart!
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons Softened Butter (I used Earth Balance - 4 teaspoons)
- ¾ cup Sugar
- 1 and ½ teaspoons Ener-G (in place of 1 Egg)
- 2 tablespoons Water
- 3 tablespoons Soy Milk (if using Ener-G)
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 cup All Purpose Flour (I used Whole Wheat Pastry Flour)
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon (I used ¼ teaspoon)
- ½ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg (I did not use)
- 3 cups Apples Peeled And Diced
- ¼ cup Walnuts (I used ½ cup Chopped)
- As Needed Whipped cream/Ice cream (Optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven at 350F for 15 minutes. Grease an 8-inch square baking dish.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Since the quantity of butter is very less, the creamed mixture was dry and resembled coarse crumbs.
- In a blender/food processor blend together Ener-G, water, soy milk and vanilla extract until nice and foamy.
- Add the Ener-G mixture to the creamed butter/sugar and beat everything together with the hand mixer until thoroughly combined. This mixture looks creamy like a white sauce.
- In another bowl combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg (if using). Add this to the wet ingredients. The batter will be thick.
- Stir in apples and nuts. Mix it thoroughly.
- Spread the batter in the prepared pan and bake for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with just a few crumbs. Mine was done around 38 minutes. You can also see that the cake starts pulling from the edges.
- This cake can be sliced directly from the pan while its still warm, so no need to wait for the pan to cool to invert it and then slice it.
My Notes
- The original recipe mentioned only 3 tablespoons butter. Since I had only 4 tablespoons (½ a stick) remaining from a stick, I used it entirely. Did not want to keep the balance 1 tablespoon in the fridge. I think that extra tablespoon of butter helped to get the amazing texture for the cake.
- The apples were required to be diced, but I grated it because I was not sure if my son would eat the cake if it had chunks of apples in it. He usually eats all fruits and especially apples and pears are his favorite. But I can never guess him. The apples were really invisible, so if you have a picky eater sneak the apples by grating.
- I was wondering what to do about the sweetness. If it's not sweet enough you can always sprinkle some powdered sugar, have it with vanilla ice cream etc. But how to reduce the sweetness. Then I got this idea of coating the cake with unsweetened chocolate so that the bitterness would offset the sweetness. I wanted to try it immediately but did not have it at home. Sent my husband immediately to the grocery store and he got the Baker's unsweetened baking chocolate.
- It's a pack of 8 individually wrapped squares of plain chocolate. I wanted to test very little first. So melted 3 squares in the microwave oven. Cooled it a little bit. I decided to shaped the cake into small balls and dip it in the melted chocolate so that it would resemble truffles. Since the cake was slightly warm and moist I was able to proceed with the idea and shaped them into small balls. Dipped the cake quickly into the melted chocolate and placed it in a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. I had a perfect slice of cake as well. My husband dipped 3 sides of the cake in the chocolate. I placed the baking sheet in the fridge for the chocolate to set. I couldn't contain my excitement to taste it. Managed to wait until the next day morning. The chocolate had set perfectly and I took a bite of the apple cake truffle and was literally doing the happy dance. It tasted so good! The bitterness of the unsweetened chocolate took care of the sweetness perfectly. The taste was phenomenal. I'm very glad that I tried this vegan apple cake.
Nutrition
Calories: 197kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 2gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 220mgPotassium: 84mgFiber: 2gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 160IUVitamin C: 2mgVitamin D: 0.1µgCalcium: 29mgIron: 1mg
Did You Make This?I love seeing what you made! Leave a review comment below and be sure to tag me at @EgglessCooking when you share a photo!
Rocci says
Hi! Did you put sugar on top? how do you get the thin chewy crust on the top?
Madhuram says
I did not sprinkle sugar on top. I guess the moisture from the apples and sugar gives that texture.
Rochi says
Hi, I made this cake and the taste is amazing. I couldn’t find whole wheat flour so I used all purpose flour. The color I got was much lighter than yours. But in the top of the cake I didn’t get the texture you got, did you sprinkle sugar on top?
Rochi says
I used 2 flax seed “eggs” instead of energy powder egg replacer
Madhuram says
I didn't sprinkle sugar on top, maybe if you leave it for a day or two the cake will release moisture from the apples and sugar and it will get that chewy texture. It's been a long time since I baked this one so unable to remember the details.
Andrea says
I tried this recipe. It came out like soup even after baking it for about 50 minutes. I don’t know where I went wrong.
Madhuram says
By any chance did you mess up with the measurements?
Teresa says
I'm trying this today but I'm replacing egg with mashed banana and using coconut oil and almond milk. Experimenting
Madhuram says
Tell me how it turns out Teresa.
KK says
Hi Madhuram, I will be making this cake without any frosting. Should I reduce the sugar level? Also, I dont have egg replacer on hand. Would flax seeds or yoghurt work? It doesn't need to be vegan.
Madhuram says
I have given the reduced sugar quantity in the recipe. Yes you can just do flax egg instead.
Marni says
I have a can of pumpkin puree that I need to use up. Can I substitute the egg and milk with this?
Madhuram says
Did you mean the egg replacer and milk? Yes it should work.
Elizabeth says
My 15 month old son LOVES this recipe. I am going to try applesauce instead of milk/egg and see how he likes that. I shred the apples and he tears it up.
Madhuram says
Thanks for the feedback Elizabeth.
Pragna Vijay says
Can Ener-G be replaced with flaxseed meal?
I have prepared Vegan blueberry Muffin using your recipe and it was delicious and great in texture!!! My friends demanded more and more of it!!! Thank you so much!!!
Madhuram says
Thanks Pragna. It can be but if using in cookies they will turn out chewy instead of crispy.
Lallchand Geeta says
Dear Madhuram
I am vegetarian.I do not have Ener-G. What can be used instead of Ener-G?
Thxs for letting me know
Regds
geeta
Archana says
Hi Madhu, Your recipe of making this cake into round shape and then rolling into choclate powder reminds me of the typical choclate cake that we get in Blore, India. there the apple cakes are in round shape and rolled in dessicated coconut. So we get good taste.
I want to try this however i hv few questions. Can i use hung curd or normal milk instead of soy milk? Secondly how to make the cake into small round balls? thanks in advance.
Madhuram says
I didn't know that you get that sort of cake in Bangalore. Interesting! The cake will be quite moist, so just scoop it out with a spoon and form them into balls.
Saranya Praveen says
Nice Madhu. My husband and baby likes it a lot.
Madhuram says
Thanks Saranya.
bobby says
You have one of the best blogs going. I have tried some of ur recipes and they all come out good. I want to prepare this cake for a friend who has diabetes. She just love cakes. Can I use atta (whole wheat flour) instead of WW pastry flour. Brown sugar 1/2 cup and flax seed mixture instead of ener G (we don't get it here). Will it make a difference. I'll really appreciate a reply as I saw this and promised to make it for her but wanted some questions answered. Thanks.
Madhuram says
Thanks for the compliments Bobby. The taste and texture of whole wheat flour is something that you have to get used to. I'm not sure if your friend would like the taste of it. So I would suggest using half all-purpose flour and half whole wheat flour.