This Apple Coffee Cake is a delicious gluten-free cake made with almond flour, apple cider vinegar, fresh apples, and warm spices. It is a healthier refined-sugar-free cake, similar to an apple crumble, that’s perfect for fall! Easy to make and is delicious served with a scoop of ice cream.
The Secret Ingredient for the Best Apple Cake
Ever wonder why I add apple cider vinegar to my cakes and other bakes? A splash of it isn’t just for flavor—it adds that perfect tangy-sweet note and helps create a light, fluffy texture.
The natural acids in apple cider vinegar react with baking soda and baking powder, giving your cakes, muffins, and even pancakes a gentle lift. It’s one of my favorite tricks for vegan and gluten-free baking—especially when you want a soft crumb without relying on extra eggs.
This little step is why recipes like this almond flour apple cake and my apple oat muffins turn out tender and airy every time.
More Baking Tips
Use the apple cider vinegar. That small tablespoon makes a big difference. It reacts with baking soda and powder to give your cake a lighter, fluffier crumb—especially helpful in gluten-free baking.
Don’t overmix the batter. Once the wet and dry ingredients are combined, stir gently. Overmixing can make the cake dense, especially with almond flour.
Add the vinegar toward the end. Mix it in with the applesauce and spices after combining the wet and dry ingredients. This ensures the leavening agents activate at the right time, giving your cake that nice rise.
Bake soon after mixing. Once the vinegar is in, the magic starts. Don’t let the batter sit too long—get it into the oven quickly to capture that lift.
Almond Flour Coffee Cake Ingredients
Below is an overview of the ingredients and recipe. Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details and nutrition information.
For The Cake
- Almond flour mix – We use a blend of fine blanched almond flour and tapioca flour or oat flour to create a light, fluffy texture that holds its shape.
Flour Swaps. Tapioca makes the cake a little lighter and chewier, while oat flour gives it a denser but still soft, tender bite.
- Coconut sugar or raw sugar – Coconut sugar creates a slightly nutty taste. Adjust the amount of sweetener used to suit your preferences.
- Eggs – Use room-temperature eggs to create a richer batter and help the cake hold its shape.
- Non-dairy milk – Any non-dairy you like best works well for this recipe as long as it is not flavored.
- Applesauce or plain yogurt – Make sure you use unsweetened applesauce or yogurt! If you’re using yogurt, let it come to room temp so it blends smoothly into the batter.
- Apple cider vinegar – As mentioned above, this helps the cake rise to create that light, fluffy texture we all love, but lemon juice works, too!
- Chopped apple – For the sweetest flavor, use red apples such as Jonagold, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady.
Pro Tip: Honeycrisp apples will hold their shape best in the cake once baked.
- Baking essentials – baking soda, baking powder, kosher salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and vanilla extract for taste and texture.
For The Topping
- Almond flour or gluten-free flour – Used to form the base of the topping.
- Melted butter or refined coconut oil – If preferred, feel free to use naturally refined coconut oil or avocado oil for a dairy-free option.
- Raw sugar – To add extra crunch and sweetness to topping.
How to Make Almond Flour Apple Coffee Cake
Before you begin, preheat your oven to 350°F, and line a square baking pan with parchment paper.
- Sift flours together into a large bowl. Stir in sugar, baking soda, spices, salt, and baking powder.
Why sift? It helps break up any clumps and gives you that light, fluffy crumb.
- Whisk eggs, vanilla, and milk in a separate bowl. Add the yogurt or applesauce and apple cider vinegar, then gently mix again until well combined.
- Combine. Gently combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients until smooth and fully combined. Then gently fold in chopped apples.
- Spread the batter into the lined pan. Add a few apple slices or extra diced apples on top if you like.
- Make the Crumble. Mix melted butter and sugar, then add flour to form a crumbly texture. Sprinkle on top. Double it if you love extra crumble!
- Bake in the oven, covering with foil after 20 minutes to prevent over-browning. It’s done when golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
If you’re using tapioca flour instead of oat flour, you may need to bake it a little longer depending on your oven and pan. Tapioca flour doesn’t soak up moisture as quickly as oat flour does.
- Cool on the counter for 10 minutes, then chill the pan in the fridge for 20 minutes to help the cake firm up.
More of Our Favorite
Coffee Cake Recipes
Almond Flour Apple Coffee Cake Recipe
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 8–10 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Spiced Apple Coffee Cake is a delicious gluten-free snack cake made with almond flour, apple cider vinegar, fresh apples, and warm spices! Dairy-free friendly.
Ingredients
- 1 ⅔ cup blanched almond flour (around 185 g)
- 3 –4 Tablespoons (28–30 grams) tapioca flour or gluten-free oat flour (use oat flour for a firmer texture)
- ½ cup fine coconut sugar or raw sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- Pinch of kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup non-dairy milk
- ¼ cup applesauce or plain yogurt (room temperature works best)
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ⅓ cup chopped apple plus extra apple for topping
Topping:
- 2 –3 Tablespoons melted butter or dairy-free butter
- 4 Tablespoons raw sugar for topping
- 4 Tablespoons almond flour or gluten-free flour
- Optional pinch of cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a baking pan (8×8 or 9×9) with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, tapioca (or oat) flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.
- In another bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, vanilla, yogurt (or applesauce), and apple cider vinegar until smooth and well combined.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir gently until the batter is smooth and evenly mixed. If it seems too thick, add a tablespoon or two of extra milk.
- Gently fold in the chopped or diced apple pieces. Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan and smooth the top. (Optional: arrange thinly sliced apples on top.)
- Make the crumble topping: In a small bowl, stir together melted butter and sugar. Add flour and mix until a crumbly texture forms. Sprinkle over the top of the batter (it won’t cover the whole surface—double the topping if you prefer extra).
- Bake for 28–35 minutes, covering loosely with foil after about 20 minutes to prevent over-browning. The cake is done when the top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Note- If using tapioca, you might need to go closer to 33–35 minutes, depending on your oven and pan.
- Let the cake cool in the pan at room temperature for 10 minutes. Then transfer the pan to a towel-lined shelf in the fridge for 20 minutes to help it set before slicing.
- Enjoy warm or at room temperature. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for 5–7 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Notes
Room Temperature Tip: Room-temp wet ingredients, such as milk, eggs, and yogurt or applesauce blends more easily with the batter, creating a smoother texture.
Flour Options: Tapioca or oat flour both work well — Tapioca makes the cake a little lighter and chewier, while oat flour gives it a denser but still soft, tender bite.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 30 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 15.9 g
- Sodium: 91.9 mg
- Fat: 10.8 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 22.7 g
- Fiber: 2.2 g
- Protein: 5.8 g
- Cholesterol: 44.3 mg
Hello! Would it be ok to double the amount of apple in the recipe, or would that mess it up? I have a lot of apples to move through, but prefer this to a crumble or pie. Thanks!
Hi Kellin! It might make them too moist, especially with the almond flour. May be try making two batches instead? Or you could make the coffee cake and these muffins and apple bake!
https://www.cottercrunch.com/flourless-apple-oatmeal-muffins/
https://www.cottercrunch.com/caramelized-apple-cider-hot-fruit-bake/
I made this today and it was absolutely delicious! This will be a recipe I come back to you again and again. Thank you
I’m so glad! Thanks for feedback Gina!
This recipe was SO delicious. I used yogurt, coconut flour instead of tapioca and coconut oil instead of butter for the crumble. It’s so tasty, easy and looks/tastes a lot more indulgent than it truly is.
So glad to hear you loved it Dina!
What can be used as a substitute for coconut sugar? Stevia? Erithritol?
Yep! Totally! Ive used xylitol before too.
I am a huge fan of apple cakes and baked goods made with almond flour. This cake was so SO good. Definitely adding into the rotation. Thanks!
Yaayy! Glad to hear that Sam! You’re welcome!
I was looking for a gluten free recipe to help use up apples that we got when we went apple picking! This turned out so good! Loved it!
Yaayy! So glad to hear this Suzy! Thanks for your feedback!
Everyone at my house really loved this! so good!
Thanks, Toni!
I love baking with almond flour! These look amazing!
Me too! Thanks, Laura!
I love how you worked apple cider vinegar into this delicious tart! It is so, so good!
Thank you!
I love the use of yogurt in this recipe. It adds so much moisture! This crumble is so tasty!
Thank you, Katie!
Coffee cake is my absolute favorite! This looks incredible. Thanks for a delicious recipe!
You’re welcome, Lauren!
I agree in 100%. You have put it all together.
Yay for apple spice and ACV for anti-inflammatory health!! Seriously how crazy is it how much stress and worrying can do to your system. All the more reason to eat apple cider crumble. I’ll be making this for Dave, he’s been struggling lately with his gut health again, he’s been having major bloating and indigestion with foods that weren’t causing problems before. Needless to say some ACV and spices will certainly be making their way into his diet! Thanks for always reminding me of the power of food and positive thinking 🙂
OH man,i’m sorry! tell Dave I can relate! Is he on digestive enzymes?
confession: I rarely cook with apple cider vinegar or use it but you have convinced me I need to! This sounds delish and I loooove apples and an apple ‘bake’ sounds perfect. Much love my friend, always in my prayers.
i like convincing you to do stuff! haha. <3
This reminds me of the apple crumble pie I made last week, but even better. I’m not a fan of making pastry/crust so this seems like a much easier and individual-sized is great for portion control.
Apple cider is amazing! We used to eat it all the time and use it recipes, but I took it out due to my battle with candida and eczema. Not sure if or when I will try it again, but these sure look good! xoxo Michelle
at you can still drink Kombucha, right? glad michelle is healing so well too! <3
I have apple cider vinegar and it has been sitting there unopened because I didn’t know where to start with it. This looks so good!
It’s so true! Diet and nutrition plays an ENORMOUS part in our overall well-being, but I definitely feel the healthiest when I’m getting enough sleep and am not stressed.
Also – love ACV. It’s got great probiotics benefits AND the health benefits of vinegar, so win/win!
I rather enjoy Friday confession posts and I think factoring in you and your own nutritional needs into your recipes is a welcome and refreshing sight. It’s super important to put yourself first because if you don’t have your stuff together, it’s awful hard to take care of someone else.
I’ve also found over the years in relationships, one person tends to be strong for the other. When that other person gets their strength, the person propping them up tends to suddenly suffer because it’s their turn to be nurtured as opposed to the one doing the nurturing. It’s a weird cosmic balance thing in relationships. At least that’s my take on it.
thanks friend, i know you get this. and i so love your honesty and encouragement.
Love that you’re taking care of you, because YOU deserve it <3 I definitely know how difficult it can be to shift more of our focus on ourselves, though — I struggle with the same kind of thing.
Girl you are killing it in the kitchen! These look amazing! If only I had enough time to make all the things my heart desires… These would be so perfect as I need comfort food right now. It’s cold (37 right now here) and we have had two hard days of memorials and another tomorrow and if my mom had everything here at her house to make these I would stay up tonight and make them.
OH and yes I’m an apple cider vinegar fan! Actually I was going to make my own but didn’t have the screens and went to get them and questioned the peels when I got back so I didn’t but my dad has some going he made and we are going to test it tomorrow!
oh friend, i am here for you! You are one amazing wife, mom, and daughter. know that!
What a fantastic recipe on the day I decided to drop by. And my favorite kind…apple crumble. Yes, mindset and attitude play a huge role achieving success in any area of life 🙂
you just made my day! Miss you! love you! thank you
Perfect warm-me up for cool Fall-like day 🙂
Cannot wait to try this! Your pictures are absolutely gorgeous!
well you are kind and for that i will save you one! haha
As always, this recipe looks amazing – and so do your photos! I love apple crisps and crumbles so much this time of year. And good for you for taking care of yourself!
I used to drink ACV all the time in grad school to keep my immunity up (teaching college students and sharing a small office with 20 grad students=oh so many germs). I need to start that habit back up, so thank you for the reminder!
oh man, i bet you needed all the immunity you could get! Drink up! haha.
This looks so good. I want to eat all of it now that the temperatures are dropping in Chicago. There’s a freeze warning tonight!
that’s crazy because it’s 95F here now .. melting
Sooooo much easier to just tell other people what to do, right? Meh.
I’d eat this no matter what though. And you KNOW I love the ACV. We just for to Florida and we’ve planned a grocery trip to buy some. Silly TSA doesn’t like me to cary it on. 😉
i totally thought of you with this post! ACV lovers! i mean lover. ;p
This sounds heavenly! I am a big fan of apples in the fall. I love almost all things apple, but I’ve been craving homemade apple sauce for days!
You seem like a very caring person, and I can see how that means taking care of others usually comes first 🙂 I’m learning that I need not only think of my clients wellbeings but my own. If I jam-pack my schedule without downtime or me-time, I don’t perform as well as I would if I was more balanced 🙂
And also, this looks so so good. I love apple recipes in the fall and winter!
We use ACV a good deal in our household. So I’m always up for new ways to use it, especially if it’s a fantastically yummy looking dessert!
for sure! now we just need cooler weather, right? gah
Yay for taking care of YOU. <3 Then you can proceed (and thrive at) taking care of others because you know you've taken care of yourself too 🙂
And I seriously love this recipe. I want to have a party just so I can serve these cute little dishes to everyone. (Your cable sweater ramekins! LOVE. I'm a little over-observant sometimes, maybe…) 😉
haha you are so observant and i love it!
ohmygoodness, I need this in my life!! We have so many apples in our house. I’m going to make this this weekend!
let me know what flour you use! i think oat flour would too!
pinch me im dreaming! this is actually heaven!
pinch pinch, wake up! xxoo
I can imagine what a shift it has been for you these last months. It’s easy to overlook our own health and make something else the priority. I sure do know that but it’s important to take care of ourselves first and foremost. Cheers to taking care of you friend! Now hand me a spoon so I can devour this!
Confession: I am seriously impressed by the amount of creative recipes you are posting each week.
haha well… i do like feeding people. Come visit!
I love ACV. I put it in my oats, all of my baking, and so on. But what I want to say is that I’m glad you are taking some time to concentrate on “me” as well as “we” and not just “him” or “them.” About damn time!
haha i love you. thanks for always being blunt with me. <3 I mean, supportive
Yes! This has my name written all over it! BONUS that it’s single-serve. Too much of it would probably be dangerous to having sitting around the kitchen. 🙂
ya, one big crumble is DANGEROUS!
Noted Lindsay, and always good to be reminded of the fact to “not focus SOLELY on diet to keep you healthy. Honestly, stress and negative thinking can do more damage.” ::-)
And these Apple Cider Crumble Bakes just look so amazing. Stewed a load of apples last Saturday and made a crumble too. Think I prefer yours though 😉
well I think I’d prefer your stewed apples!
I can relate to your confessions in the sense that when I’m not working toward a training goal it feels strange to focus on my own health! I transfer is to my kids, I guess our personalities are comfortable taking care of people!
Also agree negative thinking is killer, and I battle with that all the time.
On a happy note, this recipe, and the photos, look perfect and I want this for breakfast now!
it’s the nurture side of us. But at least we have each other to remind us to nurture our own health! <3 right?
Looks like a delicious winner to me!
I am all for making confessions, especially if you can learn and grow from them, which it seems that’s exactly what you are doing.
My fav apple dessert is not that creative, I have always had a love affair with apple crisp, which is why I know I will love this recipe.