Simple and very delicious Vegan Apple Cake! Loaded with fresh apples, light and fluffy, with a super crunchy, sugar and flaked almond top. No mixer required!
PREP TIME: 20 minutesminutes
COOK TIME: 1 hourhour20 minutesminutes
TOTAL TIME: 1 hourhour40 minutesminutes
Servings: 12servings
Ingredients
3 cups (375grams)all purpose flour, (plain flour in the UK)
2½teaspoonsbaking powder
½teaspoonbaking soda, (bicarbonate of soda in the UK)
2teaspoonsground cinnamon
¼teaspoonground nutmeg
½teaspoonfine sea salt, not table salt
½ cup + 2 tablespoons (144grams or 150 mls)vegan yogurt, vanilla or plain, preferably unsweetened
¾ cup + 2 tablespoons (180grams)sugar , cane, white granulated or light brown
1 cup (240ml)unsweetened plant milk
5 tablespoons (75ml)neutral liquid oil, for oil-free see the FAQs
1 teaspoon (5ml)apple cider vinegar , or lemon juice
1 tablespoon (15ml)vanilla extract
5 mediumapples, about 700g (1.5 lb) of apples weighed before peeling/coring
For the topping
¼ cup (50grams)coarse sugar, like turbinado or demerara
¼ cup (25grams)flaked almonds, OPTIONAL (omit for nut-free)
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 360 °F (182 °C) and make sure you have a shelf placed in the middle of the oven.
Grease a 9-inch springform cake pan that's at least 3 inches deep or a 9 x 13 dish/pan. If using a cake pan cut a circle of parchment paper and put it in the bottom.
To a large bowl add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Whisk them up to combine.
In another bowl, add the yogurt, sugar, milk, oil, vinegar and vanilla. Whisk them all up until well combined.
Peel, core and chop the apples into chunks of about ¼ inch.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir them together. Don't over mix or beat it vigorously. Just stir gently until you can no longer see any dry flour.
Pour in the apple chunks and fold them gently and evenly through. Again don't over mix.
Spoon into the prepared pan and level the top with a spatula. Sprinkle over the flaked almonds and the coarse sugar and place immediately in the oven on the middle shelf.
If in a cake pan bake for around 1 hour and 15 minutes. It might need up to 1 hour 20 minutes. Insert a toothpick or skewer into the centre of the cake. If it comes out clean then the cake is ready. If you see any signs of wet batter return to the oven for another five minutes. If baked in a 9 x 13 pan/dish check it at about 55 to 60 minutes. It might take a little longer though. The time will vary depending on whether you've used a metal pan or ceramic. Insert a toothpick or skewer into the centre of the cake. If it comes out clean then the cake is ready. If you see any signs of wet batter return to the oven for another five minutes.
Once cooked, remove from the oven and leave for at least 15 to 20 minutes in the pan to settle. Before attempting to remove from the pan carefully run a knife or long spatula around the edges to free up any sugar or caramelized apple pieces that might have stuck to the side. Leave the cake to cool on a wire rack. If you baked it in a 9 x 13 pan/dish, allow it to cool in the pan/dish and serve straight from the pan/dish.
NOTES
Storage & freezing - Once baked and cooled completely this cake will keep well for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container at room temperature. I don't recommend refrigeration for unfrosted cakes because it changes the texture of the sponge and dries them out. The cake will also freeze well. Wrap thoroughly and freeze for up to 3 months.