This Gooey Apple Cake is gluten and refined sugar free. It gets most of its sweetness and gooeyness from the fruit. It’s a sweet and delicious cake that serves a crowd.
Years ago when I first started to learn how to cook; I made what Paula Dean called gooey cake. This was so long ago that Paula Dean had just started her cooking show, facebook wasn’t a household name and iphone’s hadn’t been invented yet.
The cake was super sweet and amazingly good. However, true to Paula Dean, it contained about a pound of sugar and another pound of butter. I haven’t made it since then because it was just too addicting. I still crave it. It’s been well over a decade and I still think about that cake. That cake was the inspiration for this recipe.
Additionally, this recipe was initially posted a few years ago. That was before I had my son, which, was also before I became acutely ill and ultimately started the AIP diet.
My original version was lighter on the sugar and dairy/egg free but it was full gluten. I’ve been thinking about gooey cake again and in a botched AIP ‘corn bread’ recipe found my AIP version.
The true test of an AIP recipe is if your non-AIP peeps love it. After I made this recipe, I handed it out to friends and neighbors along with my Apple Cider Kombucha (click here for the recipe). Only one was AIP and everyone was unanimous. It’s delicious! I have a Paleo Carrot Cake without Nuts that is also very popular. It's nut free (including coconut) but does require eggs which is a AIP reintroduction.
Is Vanilla allowed on AIP?
Vanilla is tricky. I used vanilla powder for this recipe which is allowed during the elimination phase of the autoimmune protocol. But vanilla extract is not. To make vanilla extract vanilla beans are mixed with alcohol. The alcohol the reason why it is not allowed during the elimination stage.
Are bananas AIP?
Yes, bananas are allowed during the elimination phase of the autoimmune protocol along with apples which are both used in this recipe.
Is baking soda allowed on AIP?
Yes, baking soda is allowed during the elimination phase of the protocol. Please note that baking powder is not AIP. Those two are easily confused. Baking powder has corn in it so steer clear.
How to make AIP Gooey Apple Sheet Cake
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine all the dry ingredients in a medium size bowl and then stir to combine. Combine all wet ingredients in a large bowl and ten stir to combine.
3. Pour the dry ingredients into the large bowl with the wet ingredients then stir to combine.
4. Fold the diced apples into the batter. Pour the batter into the pan.
5. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until knife comes out clean.
Tips for making the best AIP Gooey Apple Sheet Cake
- This recipe does use eggs. Eggs are a reintroduction; so please make sure to reintroduce them before you try this dessert.
- I have not tried this recipe using gelatin eggs. I’m not sure if it would be a good substitution for this ingredient.
- If you would like to substitute vanilla extract (AIP reintroduction), you’ll need to use about 1 teaspoon.
If you like this AIP cake, try these AIP dessert recipes.
- Vietnamese Tapioca Pudding (che chuoi chung)
- AIP Baked Cassava Cake
- AIP Grilled Peaches
- AIP ‘Chocolate’ Chip Cut Out Cookies
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Gooey Apple Sheet Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup Coconut Flour
- 1 cup Cassava Flour
- 2 1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 3/4 teaspoon Cream of Tarter
- 1/2 teaspoon Cardamom
- pinch Ground Cloves
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Powder
- 3 Eggs AIP Reintroduction
- 1 cup Coconut Oil or Avocado Oil
- 1 cup Maple Syrup
- 2 cups Applesauce
- 1/2 cup Banana mashed
- 3 Apples 1 peeled and sliced and the other 2 peeled and diced 9 (about 2 cups)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine all the dry ingredients in a medium size bowl and then stir to combine. Combine all wet ingredients in a large bowl and ten stir to combine.
- Pour the dry ingredients into the large bowl with the wet ingredients then stir to combine.
- Fold the diced apples into the batter. Pour the batter into a 9x13 glass baking dish.
- Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until knife comes out clean.
Notes
- This recipe does use eggs. Eggs are a reintroduction; so please make sure to reintroduce them before you try this dessert.
- I have not tried this recipe using gelatin eggs. I’m not sure if it would be a good substitution for this ingredient.
- If you would like to substitute vanilla extract (AIP reintroduction), you’ll need to use about 1 teaspoon.
Nutrition
Helpful Info for All Recipes
- I always use extra virgin olive oil in all of my recipes unless stated otherwise.
- I always use Himalayan sea salt or Celtic sea salt, unless otherwise noted.
- The majority of my recipes are strict AIP or include notations for reintroductions. However while I make every effort to label non-AIP ingredients and recipes sometimes they slip past me. If you have questions, please ask in advance.
Did you make this recipe? I love hearing your thoughts on my recipes so please rate and comment below.
Sweet dessert type cake. Tastes awesome but definitely more for occasional treat and not every day because of the amount of sweetener added. Keeping the recipe handy for holidays, etc for those of us who are Paleo/GF/DF though. I can see it being devoured at the next family event. Thank you!
I agree, it's definitely on the sweeter side. But I'm glad you'll be making this one again.
Hi!
I am super excited to try this cake! I am very slowly starting to reintroduce items back into my diet. Whenever a recipe calls for eggs I separate eggs and use the yolks (2 yolks=1 whole egg). So far I have been successful with other things! My family (not on AIP) then use the whites in various things (we hate to waste anything if it can be avoided)
Thank you so much!
Yeah for your introductions. I hope the substitutions work for this cake!
It’s been a few years since I made this, and I went searching for it again so that I have something delicious to eat while my family eats Easter candy. It’s delicious!
I'm so glad you were able to find it again. And it is the perfect sweet treat for Easter!
There is baking powder listed in the ingredient list. Is this a special AIP friendly baking powder?
Thank you!
Thanks for bringing this to my attention. That's a typo. It should say baking soda. I'll change it now.
Apple anything is good and this is a winner.
Hi! Can I add more apple sauce if I can't do bananas?
I've never tried it so I'm not sure it would work. Let me know if it works for you. I'm curious and it would be helpful for others to know substitutes. Thanks for commenting.
What size pan is used for this cake?
It's a 9x13 glass baking dish. I just updated the recipe. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
The ingredients list says vanilla powder (which all seems to contain corn sugar), the link goes to vanilla bean powder which is ridiculously expensive. Any thoughts for what I can use there that is more moderately priced? Maybe reduce the liquid and use vanilla extract instead? I feel a lot more comfortable with the alcohol than the corn sugar...
Yes, the vanilla powder I recommend is expensive but it's AIP compliant. Other powders like you mention are not. Vanilla extract is not AIP compliant. If you'd like omit the vanilla, you can do so. It may change the flavor slightly but I think it will still taste good. If you've been able to reintroduce vanilla extract then it won't be a problem.
I made this with coconut oil and LOVED it. Then I made it with avocado oil and HATED it. FYI - coconut oil for the win! It was my first time using avocado oil - blech. Right in the garbage. But I'll definitely make again with coconut. It was divine.
Good to know! Coconut oil for the win!
Is there something to substitute for eggs? I haven't reintroduced them yet
I haven't tried the recipe with anything but eggs. I think you could try gelatin eggs but I'm not sure you'd get the same texture. If you try it, please let me know how it goes by leaving another comment. I think other people would appreciate substitution suggestions.
Hello 🙂 is it possible to omit maple syrup, or substitute it somehow? I would like to sweeten it just with the fruits.
Thank you very much!
I haven't tried it without maple syrup. However, if I were then I'd try adding 1/2 cup more banana and another 1/2 cup of applesauce. Let me know if you try this version. I'm curious to see if it would work out.
Let's eat is right! Loving this gooey apple cake and the fact that you've lightened it up. Trying it very soon 🙂
Let me know how you like it!
Looks super moist and gooey - the perfect cake combination!
It's not your average cake but it's delicious!
From the time Beth could reach the stove, she wanted to "cook something different." This delicious cake is proof of her successful endeavors.
Thanks mom.