There’s nothing better than a warm, caramelized gluten-free apple upside-down cake fresh from the oven! This classic dessert features tender, cinnamon-spiced apples layered over a soft and fluffy gluten-free cake, all topped with a rich, buttery caramel glaze. It’s the perfect treat for fall, holiday gatherings, or any time you’re craving a cozy, homemade dessert. Best of all, it’s easy to make with simple ingredients—no one will even guess it’s gluten-free!
flour to use
- Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Gluten-Free Flour works perfectly to create a light and fluffy texture in this cake while keeping it easy to make. Its blend of rice flour, starches, and xanthan gum helps mimic traditional flour, so you get a soft, tender crumb without any guesswork.
easy to bake
Yes! This gluten-free apple upside-down cake is easy to make with simple ingredients and no complicated steps. The caramelized apple topping comes together in minutes, and the cake batter is a one-bowl mix—just stir and bake!
ingredients
Here are a couple of ingredients you will need to make this if you have a few apples to use.
- Bob’s Redmill 1-1 Gluten Free Flour
- Butter
- Brown Sugar
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla
- Apples
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Milk
- Baking Powder
- Salt
Storing
To keep your gluten-free apple upside-down cake fresh, follow these storage tips:
Short-Term Storage (1–2 Days)
- Store the cake at room temperature in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap.
- Keep it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Refrigeration (Up to 5 Days)
- For longer freshness, store the cake in the fridge in an airtight container.
- Let it come to room temperature or warm it slightly before serving for the best texture.
Freezing (Up to 3 Months)
- Wrap individual slices or the whole cake tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag or container.
- Thaw in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for a few hours.
- Warm slices in the microwave for 20–30 seconds for a fresh-from-the-oven taste!
Since gluten-free cakes can dry out faster than regular ones, proper storage helps maintain moisture and texture. Another recipe that is in muffin form is my apple cinnamon crumble muffins.
Gluten Free Apple Upside Down Cake
Ingredients
Caramel
- 85 Grams Butter
- 100 Grams Brown Sugar
- 1 Gram Cinnamon
- 1 Gram Vanilla
- 3 Apples – peeled, cored and sliced
Cake
- 115 Grams Butter
- 100 Grams Sugar
- 100 Grams Brown Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 3 Grams Vanilla
- 15 Grams Milk
- 188 Grams Bob’s Red Mill 1-1 Gluten Free Flour
- 5 Grams Baking Powder
- 6 Grams Cinnamon
- 1 Pinch Salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F
Caramel
- To make flipping out the cake easier once it is baked and hot, I like to parchment paper a 8” cake pan.
- Arrange the peeled and cut apples on the bottom of the cake pan and set aside. You can do a pattern if you would like, or just throw them all at the bottom. This will be the top of the cake at the end.3 Apples – peeled, cored and sliced
- In a saucepan, add in butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla and wait until it has melted and bubbly caramel.85 Grams Butter, 100 Grams Brown Sugar, 1 Gram Cinnamon, 1 Gram Vanilla
- Pour this on top of the apples and set aside.
Cake
- In a Kitchenaid Stand Mixer, combine the brown sugar, sugar and softened butter until it is creamed together.115 Grams Butter, 100 Grams Sugar, 100 Grams Brown Sugar
- Add in 2 eggs and vanilla. Mix until well combined.2 Eggs, 3 Grams Vanilla
- Add in all the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.188 Grams Bob’s Red Mill 1-1 Gluten Free Flour, 5 Grams Baking Powder, 6 Grams Cinnamon, 1 Pinch Salt
- Remove the batter from the stand mixer and hand fold in the milk. This way you can use caution to not over mix it. If that batter feels thick like a muffin batter, add a splash more milk.15 Grams Milk
- Once completed, pour the batter (it will be like a thick pancake batter) on top of the apples and caramel. Once the oven is preheated, place the cake into the oven for 50 minutes.
- Insert a toothpick into it, if there are a couple of crumbs, you know it is completed.
- Remove it from the oven and let sit for 20 minutes. Flip it onto a plate and remove the parchment paper. Serve and Enjoy!
Did you make this recipe?
Lovely. Now let me know how you liked it and how easy it was to bake. Tag @laurabakesglutenfree on Instagram and hashtag it #laurabakesglutenfree.
While I have you here, may I suggest few you try next:
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