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Keto Apple Cake with Coconut Flour is utterly moist, tender, sweet and delicious! Nut-free, Gluten-free and Primal, this cake is such a fun fall and winter treat, but also great year round.
I was inspired to make Keto Apple Cake with Coconut Flour when I found little crab apples at the market! They were SO cute and special; I couldn’t resist. The little apples were only used to garnish the cake — but they get the credit for the inspiration.
Maybe it’s just me, but I find this a really fun recipe to make. It made me feel excited about fall, instead of sorry to see summer go. I love the little bit of molasses in this cake and the dark, beautiful batter that results. When you crumble that crumb topping over the richly hued batter in the baking dish, and place the whole thing in the oven, I hope you’ll feel as I do when I make this recipe — satisfied, calm, happy and excited to eat and serve the cake to the ones you love.
Ingredients in Keto Apple Cake with Coconut Flour
The ingredients in Keto Apple Cake come together in just the right ratio to make such a special “crumb”. The texture of this cake is like those we all enjoy — utterly moist! Here are the details:
- eggs — Almost always needed with coconut flour, eggs create a light, leavened cake.
- coconut flour — A great easy choice for Keto and grain-free baking! (Here‘s why I love it.)
- diced zucchini or apple — For Low Carb, use diced, peeled zucchini in place of apple; you won’t even know the difference. For Primal and Gluten-free, use diced apple.
- sweetener of choice — Granulated: erythritol for Keto and Low Carb, maple or coconut sugar for Primal.
- butter — It makes the best tasting cake!
- coconut cream and cream cheese — These rich, high fat ingredients are really important for creating the right “crumb” in this tender, moist cake. Coconut Cream can also be replaced with heavy cream, if preferred, for Keto and Gluten-free.
- vanilla and apple extracts — Vanilla is expected. The apple extract is optional and not necessary for the Gluten-free and Primal versions of the cake. But the Keto and Low Carb version of this cake is benefited by the apple flavor. Optional.
- baking soda and sea salt — For the rise and pronounced flavor.
How to make Keto Apple Cake with Coconut Flour
Early heads up:
Have certain ingredients at room temperature (or softened if your kitchen is cool). This assures an even texture when beating together the butter, cream cheese, coconut cream, sweetener and eggs.
Your batter may look slightly curdled, more so if you use cold ingredients. I have found that the cake turns out well even if you use cold eggs, for example, but best to have all at room temperature.
Classic cake assembly
Keto Apple Cake with Coconut Flour is made pretty simply. We beat together the solid fats (butter and cream cheese), add the sweetener and then add all of the remaining ingredients: dry ingredients, diced zucchini or apple and the eggs.
Then stir together the quick crumb topping (less than 5 minutes for this!).
The cake batter is poured into a greased cake pan and topped with the crumb topping.
PAN SIZE
Which pan size to use? A 9″x 9″ square pan or a 9″ round pan work great. If you want to unmold it and serve it whole, you can use a leakproof, 9″ round cheesecake pan.
This cake bakes at the low temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit, so it doesn’t brown too quickly on the top before the inside is done baking.
How to store leftovers of Keto Apple Cake
You can keep the cake covered and sealed on the counter for up to 2 days. But it’s great cold, and keeps well in the fridge for 5 days.
After that, freeze: Pre-slice into individual servings. Seal well. Freeze for up to 3 months.
To defrost, simply leave out on the counter for 4 hours or overnight. You can also transfer to the fridge for a slower overnight defrost.
How to garnish or what to serve with Keto Apple Cake
Here are some fun ideas!:
- This cake is great on its own, with hot coffee or tea. Terrific for an afternoon tea.
- For breakfast, serve with meat on the side: like sausages — or other protein, like an omelette or scrambled eggs. It’s great brunch fare! So serve with any good egg casserole.
- To serve for dessert, whip up fresh whipped cream, and serve with a large dollop. So special and homey.
- Garnish Keto Apple Cake with Coconut Flour — with powdered sweetener, fresh berries, crab apples, cinnamon sticks, cloves, fresh orange slices, even cranberries at Christmas time.
- You can also serve this cake with a cheese platter. I love it like this. I’m super partial to good cheeses, especially high fat, triple cream Bries, sheep’s milk blues, nutty ones like Manchego, aged classics like white cheddar and buttery ones like Port Salut. Apple Cake and cheese go so great together — yes, like people who put cheddar on their apple pie. Or my mom, who always ate an apple and cheese slices for lunch. It’s a great way to add protein and fat to your sweet cakey treat. Sophisticated and homey, both.
- Lastly, you can also leave off the crumb topping, bake this cake in 9″ round cake pans and make a layer cake with Buttercream Frosting. If you want a big, beautiful layer cake, double the recipe.
Keto Apple Cake with Coconut Flour (nut-free)
Equipment
- 9" x 9" square pan, 9" round pan or use a leakproof cheesecake pan if you want to serve the cake whole on a cake plate so it unmolds easily without being turned upside down.
- electric beaters (or mix by hand)
- oven
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs ideally at room temperature (if you use cold eggs, your batter will look more curdled but will bake up fine)
- 1 cup coconut cream melted if solid and cooled to room temperature, or heavy cream
- 1 cup erythritol (the brown sugar version is preferred, but not necessary) granulated (OR coconut sugar/maple sugar for Primal)
- ¾ cup zucchini , peeled and diced, for Keto/Low Carb; for Primal: diced apple
- ⅔ cup + ¼ cup coconut flour
- ½ cup butter room temperature
- 2 ounces cream cheese ¼ cup, room temperature
- 1 Tablespoon molasses (does not add much in the way of carbs at all!)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
- 1 teaspoon apple extract optional (ideal for the Keto/Low Carb version of this recipe that uses zucchini)
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon baking soda sifted
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Crumb Topping
- ¼ cup coconut flour
- ¼ cup coconut cream warm or soft room temperature, or heavy cream
- ¼ cup granulated sweetener: erythritol for Keto/Low Carb OR maple sugar/coconut sugar for Primal and Gluten-free
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9" cake pan (square or round). Set aside.
Crumb Topping
- In medium-small size bowl, stir together the dry ingredients. With a fork, smash and stir the coconut cream in, until the mixture is fully mixed and evenly crumbly. (It will be kind of pasty, not fully crumbly.) Set aside.
Keto Apple Cake with Coconut Flour
- Combine coconut flour, cinnamon, baking soda and sea salt in small mixing bowl.
- In large mixing bowl, beat together butter and cream cheese, for 20 to 30 seconds. Add sweetener and beat again until mixed in well, about 20 to 30 seconds. Next, add coconut cream, molasses, vanilla and optional apple extract, and mix again until incorporated, about 20 seconds.
- Pour dry ingredients into wet ingredients. Also add diced zucchini (or apple) and eggs. Use electric beaters on lowest speed to mix briefly but completely. Don't over-mix. Use a spatula to fold in and scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl as well.
- Scrape into prepared pan. Using your fingers, crumble the crumb topping evenly over the surface. (Shown below in square dish.)
- Bake until golden brown and slightly puffed in the middle, about 35 minutes, depending on pan size. A toothpick inserted in the center will come out clean or with a couple crumbs adhering. Cool in the pan on a rack for about 15 minutes if you want to serve it warm. Otherwise, cool completely. (Round cake [pan] shown below cooling. Note: The photo below also shows this cake without the crumb topping, so the cake can be layered with frosting and served as a layer cake.)
Nutrition
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Stacey Crawford says
The zucchini with the apple extract makes this cake so yummy that I feel like I’m cheating!
Megan says
Great, Stacey, I’m so glad to hear it! 😉 Thanks for coming back to comment. 🙂
Jean Choi says
Oh wow, this looks amazing! I love that it’s nut free. Need to try this!
Megan says
Great, Jean. I think you’ll like it, super moist, reliable and easy to make! 🙂
ChihYu says
Every bite has delicious apple and is so moist! And that crumb on top! Yummy!
Donny says
Love how you think of all the options people might want. I can’t wait to make the paleo version of this!
Jennifer Fisher says
Ha! Love how you snuck the zucchini in there! sounds amazing . . .and I don’t even feel bad about saying . . “and moist too”
Jenny Smith says
I have everything but cream cheese… what can I use instead? Greek yogurt? More heavy cream? Thanks!
Megan says
Hi Jenny, both of those sound like good options, but I haven’t tried either to know for sure. I would try the Greek yogurt first. I’d love to hear how it turns out. 🙂
Lourdes says
Made this tonight and added ground flaxseed which made it even moister. Made a batch with the crumble on top and one without. Prefer the one without. Crumble made it too sweet to my taste. Thank you for a wonderful recipe. Very filling.
Megan says
I’m so glad you enjoyed the Apple Cake, and thank you for sharing your variation!
Malcolm says
Love the recipe but very confused with the inexact cup measures that don’t readily convert to grams! Heeeelp
Megan says
Thanks, Malcolm, I’m so glad you love the cake! Here’s a conversion site that might be helpful? https://www.thecalculatorsite.com/cooking/cups-grams.php I don’t cook in grams or have experience with converting, sorry.
Memee says
This looks great, and I will make it for my husband as soon as Amazon delivers the apple flavoring. One note is that this is labeled nut-free, but coconut is commonly considered A nut for those with tree nut allergy. I know there is some scientific controversy about this, but with tree nut allergy it is better to be cautious. (My grandson has a life-threatening tree nut allergy, and his allergy physician says absolutely nothing coconut.)
Megan says
Thanks for that insight, Memee; I haven’t heard that before. In the Paleo community, nut-free does not include coconut. I appreciate you pointing that out! And, I hope you love the cake! 🙂
JoAnn says
This recipe sounds delicious! One question: In the ingredients, it says “⅔ cup ¼ cup coconut flour” is that ⅔ cup “plus” ¼ cup coconut flour?
Megan says
Hi JoAnn, yes, for some reason your screen isn’t showing you the plus sign, but I do have one in there. Correct. Enjoy!
Laura says
Made this tonight with the apples we just picked – amazing and super moist!
Megan says
Great, Laura, thanks so much for sharing your results and so happy you enjoyed so much! Yay for freshly picked fall apples, too!
JoAnn says
I made this today. OMGosh — it is delicious!!! Thanks for the recipe!!!!
Megan says
Yay, JoAnn! Thanks for sharing; I LOVE your enthusiasm and am so happy you love the apple cake! 🙂 I love this recipe too. My pleasure!