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    Home » Diet » Allergy Friendly (Top 8 Allergen Free)

    AIP Gooey Apple Cake

    Mar 29, 2021 · 27 Comments

    March 29, 2021 by Beth 27 Comments

    388 shares
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    piece of AIP Gooey Apple Cake on plate with fork

    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.

    AIP Gooey Apple Sheet Cake on plate

    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.

    AIP Gooey Applke Sheet Cake pieces on plates with forks

    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.

    Piece of AIP Gooey Apple Sheet Cake on plate with fork

    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

    Love seeing my delicious recipes? You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’m up to.

    piece of apple cake on white plate with fork
    Print Recipe
    5 from 8 votes

    Gooey Apple Sheet Cake

    This AIP Gooey Apple Cake is gluten and refined sugar free. Most of the sweetness and gooeyness comes from the fruit. It’s a sweet and delicious cake that serves a crowd. This recipe suits the AIP (includes reintroduction) and Paleo diets.
    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time1 hr
    Total Time1 hr 20 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 370kcal
    Author: Beth Chen

    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

    Serving: 1piece | Calories: 370kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 235mg | Potassium: 256mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 1mg

    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.

    « AIP Diet Spring Recipes
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Di says

      January 16, 2023 at 8:22 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Beth says

        January 19, 2023 at 6:34 pm

        I agree, it's definitely on the sweeter side. But I'm glad you'll be making this one again.

        Reply
    2. Florence says

      October 03, 2022 at 9:50 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Beth says

        October 06, 2022 at 6:51 pm

        Yeah for your introductions. I hope the substitutions work for this cake!

        Reply
    3. Ellen says

      April 12, 2022 at 7:16 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Beth says

        May 12, 2022 at 4:09 pm

        5 stars
        I'm so glad you were able to find it again. And it is the perfect sweet treat for Easter!

        Reply
    4. Robin says

      January 05, 2022 at 6:04 am

      5 stars
      There is baking powder listed in the ingredient list. Is this a special AIP friendly baking powder?

      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Beth says

        January 05, 2022 at 5:56 pm

        5 stars
        Thanks for bringing this to my attention. That's a typo. It should say baking soda. I'll change it now.

        Reply
    5. Margaret says

      October 22, 2021 at 11:04 pm

      5 stars
      Apple anything is good and this is a winner.

      Reply
    6. Jenny says

      October 20, 2020 at 12:04 am

      Hi! Can I add more apple sauce if I can't do bananas?

      Reply
      • Beth says

        October 20, 2020 at 8:50 pm

        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.

        Reply
    7. Kathleen Barber says

      September 17, 2020 at 4:05 pm

      What size pan is used for this cake?

      Reply
      • Beth says

        September 17, 2020 at 4:18 pm

        It's a 9x13 glass baking dish. I just updated the recipe. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

        Reply
    8. Jessica says

      June 13, 2020 at 4:57 am

      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...

      Reply
      • Beth says

        June 13, 2020 at 4:00 pm

        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.

        Reply
    9. Ellen Sontos says

      April 26, 2020 at 11:03 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Beth says

        April 29, 2020 at 2:32 pm

        Good to know! Coconut oil for the win!

        Reply
    10. Jenn says

      March 13, 2020 at 6:49 pm

      Is there something to substitute for eggs? I haven't reintroduced them yet

      Reply
      • Beth says

        March 14, 2020 at 3:55 pm

        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.

        Reply
    11. Emilia says

      January 10, 2019 at 7:00 am

      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!

      Reply
      • Beth says

        January 10, 2019 at 5:56 pm

        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.

        Reply
    12. karrie @ Tasty Ever After says

      April 19, 2016 at 2:16 am

      Let's eat is right! Loving this gooey apple cake and the fact that you've lightened it up. Trying it very soon 🙂

      Reply
      • Beth says

        April 19, 2016 at 6:39 pm

        Let me know how you like it!

        Reply
    13. Karen @ Seasonal Cravings says

      April 18, 2016 at 4:19 pm

      Looks super moist and gooey - the perfect cake combination!

      Reply
      • Beth says

        April 18, 2016 at 8:32 pm

        It's not your average cake but it's delicious!

        Reply
      • Margaret says

        October 08, 2016 at 3:15 am

        From the time Beth could reach the stove, she wanted to "cook something different." This delicious cake is proof of her successful endeavors.

        Reply
        • Beth says

          October 08, 2016 at 3:47 am

          Thanks mom.

          Reply

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    Beth Chen from Bon Aippetit

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    If you're looking for AIP, Paleo or Allergy friendly recipes then you've come to the right place. Here you'll find lots of nutritious and delicious recipes with the occasional clean living lifestyle tips. Just because you have food restrictions doesn't mean that you can't enjoy life. BON AIPPETIT!

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