Apple Walnut Cake (grain-free + dairy-free)

Ali Segersten
GRAIN-FREE DAIRY-FREE APPLE-WALNUT CAKE-2

One of the most powerful things you can do on a daily basis for your long-term health and well-being is to cook most of your meals at home with whole food-based ingredients. The second step in taking control of your health and using food as medicine, is to remove the foods or food groups that are irritating your immune system. Gluten and dairy are two of the largest dietary contributors to immune system over-activation. It can take up to six months or longer for antibodies made to gluten to leave your system; this is why it is very important to remove gluten 100% from your diet if you want to experiment with how you feel without wheat, rye, or barley. If you are suffering from an autoimmune disease, chronic inflammation, hormonal imbalances, chronic IBS symptoms, anemia, chronic headaches, infertility, an inability to lose weight, or severe weight loss, then challenging yourself to a six-month gluten-free and dairy-free diet can be extraordinary illuminating.

This apple cake recipe uses blanched almond flour, an array of antioxidant-rich spices, fresh apples, a small amount of tapioca flour, walnuts, eggs, and a touch of maple syrup to create a nutrient-dense grain-free cake! Serve it with a cup of Dandelion Root Chai Tea after a balanced meal!

The holidays are a time of enjoying sweet treats, so why not make them nutrient-dense? This way you are not left feeling depleted and on a blood sugar roller coaster. Replacing traditional baking ingredients like sugar and flour with nutrient-rich alternatives like almond flour, coconut flour, buckwheat flour, oat flour, brown rice flour, nut butters, pure maple syrup, coconut sugar, and fresh dates will leave you feeling satisfied, but not depleted. Additionally, consuming less sugar and using smaller amounts of natural sweeteners in baked goods when you do make them....will cause you to crave less sugar!

Our membership portal has plenty of other cake and dessert recipes made with nutrient-dense ingredients, with new recipes added monthly. 

Recipe from our Meal Planner

Apple Walnut Cake (grain-free + dairy-free)

GRAIN-FREE DAIRY-FREE APPLE-WALNUT CAKE-1
GRAIN-FREE DAIRY-FREE APPLE-WALNUT CAKE-2
Servings
8 slices
Cook Time
30 minutes
Prep Time
10 minutes

Serve this healthy apple walnut cake as part of your next holiday gathering, or simply serve it after a nutrient-dense autumn meal. It can be baked in an 8x8-inch baking dish, round cake pan, or easily doubled and baked in a 9x13-inch baking dish. The walnuts add a delicious crunchiness, but they can also be omitted if desired. The best apples to use in this cake recipe are those that break down faster during baking such as Golden Delicious, McIntosh, and Granny Smith varieties.

Tip

It's very important to dice the apple into small pieces so it cooks and softens during the baking time!

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

1½ cups blanched almond flour
⅓ cups tapioca flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoons sea salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoons ground ginger
½ teaspoons ground cloves
¼ teaspoons ground nutmeg

Wet Ingredients

⅓ cups maple syrup
¼ cups avocado oil
2 large eggs
1 tablespoons vanilla extract

Other Ingredients

1 medium apples finely diced
½ cups raw walnuts chopped
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper, or line the bottom of an 8-inch or 9-inch round cake pan with parchment (trace a circle using the bottom of the cake pan and then cut it out). If you are doubling the recipe, use two cake pans or one 9x13-inch baking dish. 
  2. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.
  3. Add the wet ingredients and vigorously whisk together. 
  4. Fold in the diced apple and chopped walnuts. 
  5. Scoop batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for approximately 30 minutes. 
  6. Cool cake in the pan for about 10 to 15 minutes, and then gently remove cake and place onto a plate or platter to continue cooling. Wait until the cake has cooled to slice and serve it. 

Use this recipe in our Meal Planner

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Posted In
holidays holiday baking Thanksgiving Recipes holiday dessert cakes grain-free baking grain-free paleo paleo dessert apple recipes dessert recipe
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About the Author

Alissa Segersten, MS, CN

Alissa Segersten, MS, CN, is the founder of Nourishing Meals®, an online meal-planning membership with over 2000 nourishing recipes and tools to support dietary change and better health. As a functional nutritionist, professional recipe developer, and author of The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook, Nourishing Meals, and co-author of The Elimination Diet, she helps people overcome health challenges through food. A mother of five, Alissa understands the importance of creating nutrient-dense meals for the whole family. Rooted in science and deep nourishment, her work makes healthy eating accessible, empowering thousands to transform their well-being through food.

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