This easy Gluten Free Apple Crumb Cake is incredibly moist and full of warm and wonderful flavors. The tender cake, filled with chopped apples and nuts, and topped with cinnamon streusel and sweet glaze, is a must bake!
Jump to:
Apples are a favorite snack in our house and I try to always keep some on hand. And while we enjoy all the various sweet and tart flavors, I don’t often think about baking with apples.
When I found this recipe for crumb cake on the blog, Bake or Break, I was inspired. Although the recipe calls for several cups of all-purpose flour, it was easily modified with a gluten free flour blend.
What Kind of Apples Should I Use?
In the Pacific Northwest we have an abundance of apple varieties so it can be difficult to choose which apple to use. You'll want to select a good baking apple like Braeburn, Gala, or Golden Delicious. These varieties all have a firm texture and good apple flavor.
While the Red Delicious and Fuji can be good choices for eating, they don't work well for baking. The Red Delicious become mushy and overly sweet, and the Fuji are too firm and don't break down enough in the short 30 minutes needed to bake this cake.
This crumb cake is not overly sweet, but if you prefer a hint of tartness, using Granny Smith apples is another option. Granny Smith apples have the right texture for baking, and their tartness would work well in this recipe.
Why this Recipe Works
- The butter, cinnamon, and vanilla add warmth and richness.
- Using a mixture of white and brown sugar adds the perfect amount of sweetness.
- The cinnamon crumb topping gives texture to the cake.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
For the Crumb Topping
- Gluten free flour blend - I use a 1 to 1 gluten free baking flour.
- Brown sugar - Light or dark brown sugar will work.
- Cinnamon - Ground cinnamon.
- Salt - Table salt.
- Butter - Cold unsalted butter.
For the Cake
- Gluten free flour blend - The 1 to 1 gluten free baking flour I use contains xanthan gum.
- Baking powder - Always check the expiration date to make sure your baking powder is still fresh.
- Cinnamon - Ground cinnamon.
- Salt - Table salt.
- Butter - Softened unsalted butter.
- Brown sugar - Light or dark brown sugar.
- Sugar - White granulated sugar.
- Eggs - 4 large eggs.
- Vanilla - Pure vanilla extract.
- Milk - I use 2% milk because that’s what I usually have on hand, but you can substitute whole milk.
- Apples - I like to use Gala and Golden Delicious.
- Nuts - In this recipe I use walnuts, but you can use pecans if you prefer.
For the Glaze
- Powdered sugar - Also known as confectioner’s sugar, the powdered sugar gives the glaze a silky consistency.
- Milk - I use 2% milk in the glaze, but you can substitute whole milk if you prefer.
How to Make Apple Crumb Cake - Step by Step
(For ingredient amounts see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.)
This recipe is easily broken down into three parts: crumb topping, cake, and glaze. The glaze can be omitted if you prefer a less sweet cake.
Make the Crumb Topping
In a medium bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
Add the butter and mix with a pastry blender until the mixture forms crumbs.
Refrigerate the crumb topping while you prepare the cake batter.
Make the Cake
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Grease a half sheet pan.
In a medium bowl, stir together the gluten free flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs, two at a time, and continue to beat until thoroughly combined. Mix in the vanilla.
Turn the mixer speed down to low. Add ⅓ of the flour mixture and mix until combined.
Add ½ of the milk and mix until combined. Alternate adding ⅓ flour mixture, ½ milk, ⅓ flour mixture, and mix until just combined.
Stir in the apple cubes and chopped walnuts.
Transfer the cake batter to the prepared pan. Spread the mixture evenly around the pan.
Sprinkle the crumb topping over the top of the cake mixture.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool the cake, in the pan, on a wire rack.
Make the Glaze
In a small bowl, stir together the powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of milk until completely combined. Add additional milk, if needed, to get the desired consistency.
Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cake. Serve and enjoy!
More Gluten Free Apple Recipes
Recipe Tips and FAQs
- Check the ingredients in your gluten free flour blend. I use Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Baking Flour, which contains xanthan gum, so I don't need to add any gum. If your blend doesn't contain xanthan gum, try adding 1 teaspoon to the cake batter ingredients.
- After making the crumb topping, place the mixture in the refrigerator to keep the butter chilled. Keeping the crumb topping cold will prevent it from melting into the cake while it's baking.
- If you prefer a hint of tartness in your cake, try using Granny Smith apples. This apple cake is somewhat sweet. To offset the sweetness, you may want to use a tarter apple or omit the vanilla glaze.
It’s up to you if you want to peel the apples. Apple peels may get chewy when baked, but they also add texture.
I usually leave the peels on to save time when I make the cake.
Store any leftover cake, at room temperature, in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
If you’re looking for an easy gluten free apple coffee cake recipe, give this cake a try! It’s great for breakfast or dessert.
More Gluten Free Cake Recipes to Try
- Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Easy Apple Cake
- Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake
- Lemon Loaf Cake with Lemon Glaze
- Chocolate Icebox Cake
- Easy Cinnamon Roll Cake
If you tried this recipe or any other recipe on the blog, don't forget to leave a star rating and let me know how it turned out in the comments below. I really enjoy hearing from you!
You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to see more of the delicious food I'm making!
Save this recipe for later and add it to your gluten free Pinterest board.
Recipe
Gluten Free Apple Crumb Cake
Ingredients
Crumb Topping:
- 1 ½ cups gluten free flour blend
- ¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup cold, unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch cubes
Cake:
- 3 cups gluten free flour blend
- 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- ¾ cup sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup milk
- 3 cups chopped apples, cut into ½ inch pieces (2-3 apples)
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Glaze:
- 1 ¼ cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk
Instructions
Make the Crumb Topping:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
- Add the butter and mix with a pastry blender until the mixture forms crumbs. Refrigerate the crumb topping until you've prepared the cake mixture.
Make the Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a half sheet pan.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the gluten free flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
- With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, two at a time, and continue to beat until thoroughly combined. Mix in the vanilla.
- Turn the mixer speed down to low. Add ⅓ of the flour mixture and mix until combined. Add ½ of the milk and mix until combined. Alternate adding ⅓ flour mixture, ½ milk, ⅓ flour mixture, and mix until just combined.
- Stir in the apple cubes and chopped walnuts.
- Transfer the cake mixture to the prepared pan. Spread the mixture evenly around the pan.
- Sprinkle the crumb topping over the top of the cake mixture.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until cake is golden brown and a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan on a wire rack.
Make the Glaze:
- In a small bowl, stir together the powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of milk until completely combined. Add additional milk, if needed, to get the desired consistency.
- Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cake. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Check the ingredients in your gluten free flour blend. I use Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Baking Flour, which contains xanthan gum, so I don't need to add any gum. If your blend doesn't contain xanthan gum, try adding 1 teaspoon to the cake batter ingredients.
- After making the crumb topping, place the mixture in the refrigerator to keep the butter chilled. Keeping the crumb topping cold will prevent it from melting into the cake while it's baking.
- If you prefer a hint of tartness in your cake, try using Granny Smith apples. This apple cake is somewhat sweet. To offset the sweetness, you may want to use a tarter apple or omit the vanilla glaze.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information provided is an estimate and will vary based on products and brands you use. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the ingredients you are using with your preferred nutrition calculator.
This post was originally published in 2018. It was updated in 2023 with updated images, additional text and FAQs.
Lynette says
Absolutely delicious!!!
Laveda Nichols says
Wow, anyone who shy's away from a recipe that says gluten free need not shy away from this one. Fantastic taste and texture. Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!