Last Updated on December 5, 2024 by Sarah
Deliciously sweet, slightly tangy and perfectly moist, this Gluten Free Apple Cake French Style has it all. If you’re looking for a different way to use up apples this Autumn, try this twist on the classic French apple cake.
When I served this cake to my husband recently, he said that it reminded him of his Mom’s apple cake. There is no higher compliment, believe me! My mother in law (who is French) is a fantastic cook and her apple cake is delicious. It is packed full of apples and the cake batter remains soft and moist.
My challenge was to make that delicious cake gluten and dairy free so that everyone in my family could enjoy it. This recipe really came through for me – the cake has the same amazing sweet apple flavour and soft texture as a classic French apple cake. In fact, the addition of ground almonds makes it even more delicious, in my humble British opinion 😉
So whether you are on a gluten free diet or not, give this cake a go, you will not be disappointed!
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What is a Classic French Apple Cake?
A classic French Apple Cake contains flour and baking powder, sugar, butter or oil, eggs and, of course, apples. Many recipes also add vanilla extract and sometimes a splash of rhum or other alcohol as well.
As you can see, the ingredients list is not elaborate and the method consists simply of preparing the apples and mixing all of the ingredients together in one go. But the result is an amazingly flavoursome cake that hits the spot every time. It is perfect as an afternoon snack (or goûter as they say here in France) with a cup of tea or coffee.
I have stepped away from the traditional French apple cake by making it gluten and dairy free, but also by using a small amount of cinnamon in the topping. At this time of year, I love to use cinnamon as much as I can, don’t you?
Gluten Free Apple Cake French Style
Making gluten free versions of cakes is always rather perilous. Will it be soggy? Will it be too crumbly? Will it fall apart when serving? These are always my concerns.
With the amount of apples in this cake, the biggest concern was that it would be soggy. However, I think that the ratios of rice flour, almond flour and cornflour used in this recipe make for a perfect texture. It holds together well, while not being too dry.
Ingredients Needed to Make Gluten Free Apple Cake French Style
- 6 medium apples
- 180g rice flour
- 120g almond flour
- 50g maïzena (cornflour)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 120ml oil
- 4 eggs
- 225g sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
For the topping:
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Apples
These are the star of the show, so using fresh, in season apples will make all the difference. I prefer to use apples that have quite a sharp taste and soften well when cooked. Here, the variety that I prefer is Rubinette, but I also like to use Canada. In the UK, Braeburn apples would be a good choice. Using cooking apples might work, but you may need to increase the sugar as they tend to be very sour.
Apples to avoid would be Gala or Granny Smith or any other apple that doesn’t soften well when cooked.
Gluten Free Flours
For this recipe, I have used rice flour and maïzena in order to have a cake that keeps its shape well. I have added almond flour for the taste and also to give the cake a more moist texture. I really think adding the almond flour elevates the cake and makes it even more special.
Baking Powder
As with any gluten free baking, it is important to use gluten free baking powder. If you cannot get hold of any, you can use baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) instead.
Oil
You can use any oil you like for this recipe (although olive oil might affect the flavour). I personally like to use avocado oil, but I think melted coconut oil would also work well.
Eggs
The eggs we get here in France tend to be quite large. If your’s are small, you may need to use 5 eggs instead. I prefer to use organic.
Sugar
This may seem like a lot of sugar to you, but because the apples tend to be quite tart, we need the sugar to balance the flavours. You may prefer to use unrefined sugar.
Vanilla
I love the flavour that a little bit of vanilla brings to this recipe. You can use vanilla flavoured sugar if you don’t have vanilla extract. Try and find a natural flavouring if you can.
Salt
I always add a bit of salt to my cakes and desserts, I find that it really helps to bring out all of the flavours.
For the Topping
This is where I step away from the classic French recipe and add my little British twist of brown sugar and cinnamon. I love the little bit of crunch that it gives, and I always think that you can never have enough cinnamon when it gets to this time of year!
How to Make Gluten Free Apple Cake French Style
This is a very straightforward cake to make. There are no complicated steps to it, but it does take a little bit of time to prepare the apples.
Preheat your oven to 180°C, fan. Grease and line a 25 cm diameter spring form cake tin.
Peel and core your apples and cut them into approx1 1/2 cm cubes.
Mix together the flours, baking powder, sugar, salt, eggs, oil and vanilla essence. This can be done by had (it comes together very easily), with an immersion blender, or in a stand mixer.
Mix the apples and cake batter together and pour into the prepared cake tin.
Mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the top.
Bake in the oven at 180°C, fan for 50 mins. The cake should be cooked through with no runny bits in the middle. You can use a skewer to check that it is done but it is sometimes difficult to tell with so many apples in the cake.
Let the cake cool slightly in the tin then remove the spring form tin and transfer to a plate before it is cooled completely. You may prefer to use a ceramic or enamel flan dish and serve directly from the dish without transferring the cake to a plate. I find that if my apples are quite big, they make the cake so moist that it is difficult to remove from the cake tin.
How to Serve Gluten Free Apple Cake French Style
I love to serve this delicious Gluten Free Apple Cake warm with a scoop of ice cream or swirl of whipped cream for dessert, or cooled on its own with a steaming cup of tea or coffee for a mid-afternoon snack.
How about you? How will you serve your’s?
Gluten Free but Delicious
If you are just starting out on your gluten free journey, or if you have been on it for a while now, I hope that this cake will help to prove to you that gluten free cakes can be just as delicious as wheat flour cakes.
I think (and my French husband agrees!) that this apple cake is just as good (if not better, or is that going too far?) than a classic French apple cake. I hope you will enjoy it as much as we do!
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Let me know in the comment if you made this Gluten Free Apple Cake French Style, I love to hear from you 🙂
You may also enjoy this other fruity cake !
Take a look at all of my gluten and dairy free cakes here.
Gluten Free Apple Cake, French Style
Ingredients
- 6 medium apples
- 180 g rice flour
- 120 g almond flour
- 50 g maïzena cornflour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 120 ml oil
- 4 eggs
- 225 g sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
For the topping:
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180°C, fan. Grease and line a 25 cm diameter spring form cake tin.
- Peel and core your apples and cut them into approx1 1/2 cm cubes.
- Mix together the flours, baking powder, sugar, salt, eggs, oil and vanilla essence. This can be done by had (it comes together very easily), with an immersion blender, or in a stand mixer.
- Mix the apples and cake batter together and pour into the prepared cake tin.
- Mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the top.
- Bake in the oven at 180°C, fan for 50 mins. The cake should be cooked through with no runny bits in the middle. You can use a skewer to check that it is done but it is sometimes difficult to tell with so many apples in the cake.
- Let the cake cool slightly in the tin then remove the spring form tin and transfer to a plate before it is cooled completely. You may prefer to use a ceramic or enamel flan dish and serve directly from the dish without transferring the cake to a plate. I find that if my apples are quite big, they make the cake so moist that it is difficult to remove from the cake tin.
- Serve this delicious Gluten Free Apple Cake warm with a scoop of ice cream or swirl of whipped cream for dessert, or cooled on its own with a steaming cup of tea or coffee for a mid-afternoon snack.
It really is delicious
Thank you!