Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Simple Apple Cake with Hibiscus Syrup


  • Author: Joscelyn Abreu
  • Total Time: 40 mins
  • Yield: 810 servings 1x

Description

A delicious and easy apple cake that’s free of dairy, eggs, and refined sugar. Also includes a gluten-free alternative.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (or for gf: 1 1/2 cups gluten-free cup for cup blend + 1/2 cup almond flour)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup melted butter or coconut oil (use refined coconut oil for less coconut flavor)
  • ⅔ cup maple syrup or honey (I used a combo of both)
  • ¾ cup almond milk or other milk of choice
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 large or 4 medium apples, peeled, cored, halved, and sliced thin
  • turbinado sugar or raw sugar, for sprinkling on top of cake (optional)

Pink Hibiscus Glaze: (optional)

  • 1/4 cup loose hibiscus tea or 2 hibiscus tea bags, or more as needed
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 34 tablespoons maple syrup or honey

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF and lightly grease a 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.
  2. Mix together flour(s), baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add melted butter, sweetener, milk, and vanilla. Beat 2-3 minutes or until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed.
  3. Scoop batter into the springform pan and smooth evenly throughout the pan.
  4. Core apples and cut in half. Slice each half thinly and arrange slices onto the batter in the pan.
  5. Place springform pan onto a baking sheet and place on the middle rack in the preheated oven.
  6. Bake for 40–50 minutes or just until cake is lightly brown and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs.
  7. Let cool slightly and run a knife around the edges to loosen the cake from the sides of the pan. Remove the outside of the springform pan and carefully separate the bottom of the cake from the metal bottom with an offset spatula. Carefully transfer to the serving plate. Yields 8-10 servings.

To make hibiscus glaze: (adds color, but can also be made without it)

  1. Boil water and steep tea for several minutes, until desired color is reached. Should be deep red. Strain loose tea/ bags, pressing out as much water as possible.
  2. Place tea in a shallow dish and add peeled apple slices. Let soak for 10–15 minutes, or until apples are dyed pink.
  3. Lightly shake off apples and place on top of cake batter in the pan. Sprinkle with turbinado sugar, optional. Bake cake for 40–50 minutes or until center is set.
  4. Meanwhile, boil remaining tea until liquid is reduced and more concentrated (I added a little more loose tea to depend the color) Add sweetener and continue to boil for a few minutes, until thickened. Remove syrup from heat and cool. Brush syrup over cooled cake and serve.
  • Cook Time: 40 mins
  • Category: Dessert, Cake