If there was ever a gluten free apple dessert that screams deliciousness, it’s this Gluten Free Apple Cider Donut Cake—made with fresh apples, apple cider, cinnamon, and nutmeg. There’s nothing not to love about this warming spiced dessert. Finish the cake with melted butter and a generous sprinkle of cinnamon spice for a true apple cider “doughnut” cake. It’s the perfect way to enjoy cooler weather.

WHAT IS AN APPLE CIDER DOUGHNUT (DONUT) CAKE

An apple cider doughnut cake is a dessert that combines the flavors of apple cider doughnuts with the texture of a cake. It features boiled-down, non-alcoholic apple cider, warm spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg, and fresh apples, creating the flavors of traditional apple cider doughnuts in a moist and flavorful cake.

THE INGREDIENTS

This is a gluten free dessert made with almond flour. The moisture in this doughnut cake comes from apple cider, fresh apples, and the almond flour. Here are the ingredients;

Apple cider
Apple
Almond flour
Eggs
Gluten free measure for measure flour blend
Baking powder
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Salt
Sugar (brown and white)
Butter

THE TOOLS

High-speed blender or food processor
10-cup bundt pan
Measuring cups and spoons
1 bowl
Spatula
Saucepan

APPLE CIDER DOUGHNUT CAKE RECIPE DETAILS

You will find that this is one of the easiest apple desserts to make.

STEP ONE

Simmer the apple cider in a saucepan for 12 – 15 minutes until reduced to 1 cup. Set aside to cool.

STEP TWO

Place a cored, roughly chopped apple into a highspeed blender or food processor and blend for about 30 seconds. Add the reduced apple cider and process until smooth. Add the eggs and mix until combined.

STEP THREE

Whisk the dry ingredients, the two flours, spices, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the apple mixture and mix to combine.

STEP FOUR

Prepare the bundt pan. For the cake to slide out easily, you must generously grease and lightly dust the entire bundt pan with flour. Next, pour the batter into the pan and bake.

STEP FIVE

Cool the cake in the pan for 20 minutes, then place a serving platter over the pan and flip the cake onto the platter. The cake should slide out easily.

STEP SIX

Melt the butter and make the cinnamon spice. Brush the butter over the cake and sprinkle with cinnamon spice. Enjoy!

APPLE JUICE VS APPLE CIDER

Processing:

Apple Juice: Typically undergoes more filtration and processing to remove solids and extend shelf life. It is often pasteurized for safety.

Apple Cider: It is generally less processed and may be unfiltered and unpasteurized. It retains a more natural apple flavor and may appear cloudy due to sediment.

Sweetness:

Apple Juice: It can be filtered and sweetened and often has a clear appearance.

Apple Cider: Tends to have a richer, more robust flavor with a bit more sweetness.

SUBSTITUTIONS

As with most gluten free desserts you can change some of the ingredients or the shape of the baking pan. I used a bundt pan because it is shaped like a large doughnut. Here are some choices:

Almond flour – you can use another nut flour like walnut or pecan. Place nuts into a food processor and process until you reach flour texture to make nut flour. Be careful not to overprocess, or the texture will become very oily.

Another flour you can use is certified gluten free oat flour. Oat flour can be made from rolled oats the same way as the nut flour. In this recipe, replace 1 1/4 cups (150 g) of oat flour + 3 tablespoons of olive oil for 1 cup of almond flour. The doughnut cake will be slightly dryer and denser.

Apple cider – you can use apple juice. The cake flavor will not have the same rich apple flavor but will still taste delicious.

The spices – here are some choices: cardamom, ginger, cloves, and you can always add vanilla.

Butter – the best replacement for a dairy-free option is vegan butter such as Earth Balance

Bundt Pan – the best replacement is a 9 x 9 x 2 inches square pan. You may need to adjust the baking time.

High-speed blender or food processor – if you don’t have either of these appliances, here is what you can do. Finely grate the apples and whip up the liquids with a manual whisk.

Cinnamon spiced topping – another one of my favorites is a lemon glaze. To make the glaze, whisk together 1 cup powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice. Add water 1 teaspoon at a time for desired consistency. Or, keep it simple and dust a cooled cake with powdered sugar.

The eggs are a must in this gluten free apple cider doughnut cake because they add height and keep the cake light.

LET’S REVIEW GLUTEN FREE APPLE CIDER DOUGHNUT CAKE

This dessert is called an apple cider doughnut cake because it is inspired by the flavors and characteristics of traditional apple cider doughnuts, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and apple cider. The cake is gluten free, and a dairy-free option is included.

I love this apple dessert because the recipe is very simple, the apples are nutritious, loved by most, and is budget-friendly. The cake is also rich in dietary fiber and protein. And finally, it’s a creative way to merge two popular desserts into a single delicious treat, such as this apple cider doughut cake.

Need more gluten free apple recipes? Check out our favorites.

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Many thanks!

Kristina x