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    BeeyondCereal » Recipes » Cake Recipes

    Vegan Apple Upside Down Cake

    Modified: Oct 18, 2023 Published: Aug 14, 2021 by Nicole Durham This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    This Vegan Apple Upside Down Cake is so delicious you won't mind that it's missing a few ingredients (like eggs and milk). It's fabulously moist and perfect for any occasion, especially Fall.

    Recipe: $2.22 | Per Serving: $0.28 | Servings: 8

    a single layered vegan apple upside down cake on a brown striped plate.

    This eggless apple upside down cake is so delicious that the non-vegans never noticed anything was missing. This cake is moist for days and a perfect treat for the Autumn months when all things apple spice just sound nice.

    The warmth and coziness of apple upside-down cake make it a classic treat that is perfect for any occasion. The soft, cakey crumb has a subtle sweetness that perfectly balances the pronounced apple flavor.

    If you're looking for another vegan apple recipe idea, check out my Spiced Vegan Apple Bundt Cake. It's a wonderful cake as well but let's not overlook the simplicity of this upside-down cake.

    Jump to:
    • 🍯 Why This Recipe Works
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions for Vegan Apple Upside Down Cake
    • 🍴 Recipe Tips
    • 💭 Recipe FAQs
    • ❤️ More Delicious Vegan Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🍯 Why This Recipe Works

    1. It's delicious. Serve it as-is or with vanilla ice cream because we all know warm apple cake is great with ice cream. Yum!
    2. You can use your favorite apples. Make it with your favorite sweet or tart baking apples (or a combination of them), and enjoy a dessert that's both easy to make and impressive to look at.
    3. You won't notice the missing milk and eggs. This is one of those recipes that tastes so good you won't even notice what's missing. Perfect for sharing with everyone! Kind of like our Eggless Banana Bread.

    🥘 Ingredients

    Ingredient Notes:

    Vegan butter- You'll need some dairy-free plant-based butter to help cook and saute the apples.

    Brown sugar- Adding a little brown sugar to the apple slices will help them to caramelize.

    Apple- Use your favorite baking apple for this cake. You can use a sweet or tart variety, depending on which you choose. If you still have apples, be sure to try our No Bake Apple Donuts and Vegan Banana Bread with Applesauce.

    For specific ingredients and measurements, please see the recipe card below.

    🔪 Instructions for Vegan Apple Upside Down Cake

    Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and grease the inside of an 8-inch cake pan. Set the pan aside.

    Step 2: In a skillet on the stove, warm your apple slices and butter with brown sugar until the apple slices are soft and hot. Set the pan aside to cool.

    Step 3: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until well mixed.

    Step 4: Stir in the vanilla, vegetable oil, vinegar, and water until no flour streaks remain.

    Step 5: Pour your apple slices into the prepared cake pan and try to make it an even layer so every slice will get apple pieces. It's okay if some apple slices overlap.

    Step 6: Pour the cake batter over the top of the apple slices.

    Step 7: Bake for 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees F or until a toothpick can be inserted and come out clean.

    Step 8: Wait about 10 minutes before flipping the cake onto a plate to reveal the apple slices on top. This helps the syrup to set.

    Slice and serve.

    a slice being cut and pulled away from the whole apple upside down cake.

    🍴 Recipe Tips

    1. Slicing Consistency- To ensure even cooking and a uniform texture, aim for apple slices that are about ¼ inch thick. Thicker slices will take longer to cook through.
    2. Using an Apple Cutter- For quick and uniform slicing, consider using a metal apple cutter and corer. This tool typically yields about 8 evenly-sized slices per apple. After coring, halve each slice to achieve a total of 16 uniform apple slices.
    3. Precooking Importance- Cooking the apple slices in a skillet before assembling the cake is essential to prevent them from rising to the top during baking. Undercooked apples may disrupt the cake's texture.
    4. Cooking Time- Cook the apple slices in the skillet until they are warmed through and slightly softened, but not overly cooked. Aim for a subtle change in appearance, ensuring they are no longer fresh-looking but still retain some firmness.

    💭 Recipe FAQs

    How to store apple upside down cake

    After this cake has cooled completely, keep it stored in an airtight container in the fridge. This will help it to stay fresh for days and still be enjoyable. If you allow it to sit on the counter for a few days, the apples will cause the cake to become soggy, and the apples will smell fermented. These are two things that we want to avoid.

    How long is apple upside down cake good for?

    If stored properly in the fridge, this cake can last about 3-5 days and still be great. You can always reheat a slice in the microwave or oven to warm it up before eating if you find you prefer it that way, though.

    Can I freeze apple cake?

    Yes, after this cake has been baked and cooled completely, you can freeze it as a whole or in slices in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter or in the fridge before eating.

    Slice of upside-down apple cake on plate, remaining cake on another.

    ❤️ More Delicious Vegan Recipes

    • a bowl filled with vegan dinner rolls.
      Easy Yeast Rolls for Beginners
    • fry bread pieces laying on a plate.
      Cherokee Fry Bread Recipe
    • two vegan bun slider burgers on a white plate.
      Vegan Slider Buns
    • a sliced loaf of homemade white bread.
      5 Ingredient White Bread Recipe

    If you tried this Vegan Apple Upside Down Cake, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your feedback in the 📝 comments section below. I would truly appreciate it!

    📖 Recipe

    apple upside down cake sliced on a plate.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    Vegan Apple Upside Down Cake

    This apple cake is so delicious you won't mind that it's missing a few ingredients (like eggs and milk). It's fabulously moist and perfect for any occasion, especially Fall. Serve it as-is or with vanilla ice cream because we all know warm apple cake is great with ice cream. Yum!
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 35 minutes mins
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 276kcal
    Cost Recipe $2.22 / Serving $0.28
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    Equipment

    • 8 inch cake pans
    • Whisk
    • Skillet
    • Mixing Bowl
    • Measuring Cups
    • Measuring Spoons

    Ingredients

    • 2 Tablespoon vegan butter ($0.25)
    • ¼ cup brown sugar ($0.11)
    • 1 whole apple, peeled and sliced thin ($0.88)
    • 1 ½ cups all purpose flour ($0.20)
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda ($0.01)
    • ½ teaspoon salt ($0.01)
    • 1 cup granulated sugar ($0.36)
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ($0.08)
    • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg ($0.02)
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ($0.03)
    • ⅓ cup vegetable oil ($0.23)
    • 1 Tablespoon vinegar ($0.04)
    • 1 cup water ($0.00)
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease the inside of an 8-inch cake pan. Set aside.
    • In a skillet on the stove over medium heat, cook butter, brown sugar, and sliced apples for a few minutes until soft. Set aside to cool.
    • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
    • Add in the vanilla, vegetable oil, vinegar, and water. Mix until combined.
    • Pour the apple slices into the prepared cake pan and arrange apple slices into an even layer, but some overlapping is okay.
    • Pour your cake batter over the top of the apple slices.
    • Bake at 350 degrees F for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted and come out clean.
    • Wait about 10 minutes before flipping the cake over and revealing the apple slices on the top of the cake.
    • Slice and serve.

    Notes

    • You can use apple cider vinegar or white vinegar for this recipe.
    • Consider doubling the recipe and using a 9x13-inch baking dish for larger portions.
    • Slice the apples to about ¼-inch thickness to ensure even cooking.
    • Cooking the apple slices in a skillet is important to prevent them from rising through the batter during baking.
    • The apple slices don't need extended cooking; just warm them through and slightly change their appearance.
    • After cooling, store the cake in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. Reheat before serving if desired.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1slice | Calories: 276kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 2.5g | Fat: 10.7g | Saturated Fat: 7.7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1.7g | Sodium: 255.5mg | Potassium: 39.8mg | Fiber: 0.8g | Sugar: 31.8g | Vitamin A: 28.7IU | Calcium: 14.9mg | Iron: 1.2mg
    Author Nicole Durham
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Diet Vegan, Vegetarian
    Tried this recipe?Mention @BeeyondCereal on Instagram and hashtag it #BeeyondCereal
    Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used. To view how this recipe was calculated you can visit my Pricing Disclosure Page for more information.

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    The proud owner and recipe developer behind BeeyondCereal. Here, I'm passionate about showing people how to navigate the kitchen with frugality in mind, whipping up family-friendly recipes that not only save money but also bring joy to every meal.

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