Gluten Free Irish Apple Cake – A Cozy Comfort Dessert

Autumn · Cakes & Cupcakes · Desserts & Sweets

ByAlison Needham Posted onAugust 11, 2022August 26, 2026 Updated onAugust 26, 2026

If you’ve ever been torn between apple pie, coffee cake, and apple crisp, this Gluten-Free Irish Apple Cake lands somewhere deliciously in the middle. It’s a rustic, not-too-sweet cake packed with fresh apples and warm spices, then topped with a buttery brown sugar streusel that gets beautifully golden brown in the oven.

It’s exactly my kind of cake—simple, cozy, a little crumbly around the edges, and perfectly acceptable with a cup of coffee for breakfast. Dress it up with a warm custard sauce or a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and suddenly it’s a very respectable dessert.

And yes, it’s especially lovely for St. Patrick’s Day, though I certainly don’t wait until March to make it.

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What Is Irish Apple Cake?

Irish apple cake is a rustic cake traditionally made with plenty of apples and simple pantry ingredients. Depending on the family or region, recipes can vary quite a bit. You may also see versions called Kerry apple cake, often made with cooking apples and served with custard.

My gluten-free version has a soft, tender cake underneath loads of juicy apple pieces and a crunchy streusel topping made with gluten-free flour, oats, walnuts, brown sugar, and cold butter.

Is this claiming to be the one and only authentic Irish apple cake? No. Like so many beloved Irish recipes, there are plenty of variations. This is my gluten-free take on a traditional favorite—and it’s a very good one.

What are the best apples for a Gluten-Free Apple Cake?

The best apples for baking are ones that hold their shape and have enough acidity to balance the sweetness of the cake.

I especially love Granny Smith apples because they’re firm and wonderfully tart. Combining Granny Smiths with slightly sweeter Honeycrisp apples or Pink Lady apples gives you a nice balance of flavors.

If you’re in Ireland or the UK, Bramley apples are another classic choice. They’re very tart and soften more as they bake.

Really, it comes down to personal preferences. If you love tart apples, use mostly Granny Smith. Prefer sweet apples? Add Honeycrisp or Pink Lady.

Whatever you choose, use firm, juicy apples rather than varieties that turn to mush in the oven.

For this recipe, I peel the apples and cut them into chunky apple pieces rather than thin apple slices. Those bigger chopped apples give the finished cake its wonderfully rustic texture.

Why You’ll Love This Gluten-Free Irish Apple Cake Recipe

For such a flavorful cake, the ingredient list is surprisingly short. There are no complicated techniques or fussy decorations. You’ll make a simple cake batter, fold in plenty of apples, spread everything into a springform pan, then scatter buttery streusel over the top of the cake.

It’s one of those simple cakes that feels much more special than the effort involved. The cake itself isn’t overly sweet, which is exactly why I love it. The apples stay front and center, cinnamon brings in those cozy warm spices, and the buttery streusel adds just enough sweetness and crunch.

Here’s what you need to make an apple cake:

Apples – I like to either use a combination of Granny Smith, Honeycrisp apples or Pink Lady apples. It all depends on if you like tart apples or sweeter apples. If you prefer the latter, you can even try using gala apples. This recipe calls for three large apples, peeled and cut into chunks.
All Purpose Flour Blend – I like Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1
Baking Powder, Cinnamon, and Sea Salt
Salted or Unsalted Butter – I almost always used salted butter in my baking recipes (don’t tell anyone). Of course, you can also use vegan butter if you choose.
Sugar – I use regular sugar in the cake batter and brown sugar in the crumble topping
Eggs – this recipe calls for two eggs and they should be at room temperature
Heavy Cream – just a splash (three tablespoons)

Tips for making this apple cake

Before you begin, bring your butter and eggs to room temperature. Room-temperature ingredients combine more evenly and help create a lighter, more tender crumb.
I use a stand mixer or electric hand mixer to cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then beat in the eggs one at a time.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: gluten-free all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture along with the cream and vanilla, then fold in the chopped apples.
Don’t be alarmed by the amount of fruit. There are a lot of apples compared to cake batter, and that’s exactly the point. This is an apple-heavy cake rather than a plain cake with a few decorative apple bits floating around inside.
Spread the thick batter into your prepared pan and smooth it out with the back of a spoon or spatula.

I’ve adapted this easy recipe from one of my favorite blogs, The View From Great Island.

Making the Streusel Topping

The streusel might be my favorite part.

In a medium bowl, combine gluten-free flour, oats, brown sugar, and walnuts. Add pieces of cold butter and work them into the flour mixture with your fingers or a pastry cutter until you have a coarse, crumbly texture.
Scatter the streusel evenly over the top.

As the cake bakes, the apples soften, the cake becomes tender and moist, and the topping turns beautifully golden brown. The combination is somewhere between cake and apple crisp, and I am absolutely not complaining about that.

Do I Need a Springform Pan?

A 9-inch springform pan is my favorite choice because the sides release easily once the cake has cooled slightly. Spray your springform cake pan well with gluten-free cooking spray before adding the batter.

If you don’t own one, you can use a deep regular cake pan lined with parchment paper, though removing the finished cake may be a little trickier.

After the baking time is finished, let the cake cool in the pan for about five minutes. Run a thin knife around the edge before releasing the sides, then allow it to cool further on a wire rack.

How to Serve Irish Apple Cake

Irish apple cake is wonderful served warm or at room temperature.

Traditionally, this style of cake is often paired with a homemade custard sauce. A simple vanilla custard sauce—similar to crème anglaise—takes this humble cake firmly into special-dessert territory.

That silky custard is typically made with egg yolks, sugar, whole milk or cream, and vanilla, cooked gently over medium-low heat until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.

And if making custard feels like one task too many, I fully support serving your slice with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce.

No judgment from this kitchen.

Gluten Free Irish Recipes to Try

Irish Fifteens – A No Bake Gluten Free Dessert Recipe

Irish Fifteens are the culinary equivalent of a warm hug from a slightly tipsy aunt at a family gathering. This delightful, no-bake treat hails from the Emerald Isle, where simplicity and ingenuity in the kitchen are celebrated virtues. Traditionally, Irish Fifteens consist of digestive biscuits, marshmallows, cherries, and coconut, all held together by the magic of sweetened condensed milk.

Get the gluten free Irish dessert recipe

Gluten Free Chocolate Stout Cake

Imagine a cake that whispers sweet nothings of rich, dark chocolate with a hint of (gluten-free) stout so bold, it could tell tales of Irish folklore with each slice. Now, pair that with a Bailey’s buttercream so luxuriously creamy, it’s like finding the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. You’re going to love this gluten-free “Guinness” Cake with Bailey’s Buttercream!

Get the gluten free Irish dessert recipe

gluten free guinness cake with baileys buttercream

How to Store Gluten-Free Irish Apple Cake

Let the cake cool completely before storing it.
Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container and keep it at room temperature for up to three days.
I think it’s especially good the next morning with a cup of tea or coffee. You can also gently warm individual slices before serving.

This is one of those apple desserts that works for almost any occasion: brunch, an autumn afternoon, Thanksgiving, or St. Patrick’s Day.

It’s humble and homey, packed with apples, and topped with enough buttery crumble to make everyone come back for another slice—which is pretty much everything I want from a cake.

Happy baking (and happy eating).

Love gluten free apple treats? Here are a few more gluten free delicious apple recipes to try:

Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a comment and star rating below (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐). It means a lot and helps my content get seen! Post a picture and tag us on Instagram! Thank you!

Easy Gluten Free Irish Apple Cake Recipe

Alison Needham

If you aren’t sure whether you’re on “team apple pie” or “team apple cake,” not to worry. This recipe for Gluten Free Irish Apple Cake is kind of somewhere in the middle. Loaded with cinnamon laced chunky apples, and topped with a nutty crumble, this gluten free cake is what autumn dreams are made of. I love it because it’s not overly sweet – which means that it’s equally suitable for breakfast or dessert (or anything in between).

4.86 from 14 votes

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Prep Time 30

Total Time 30

Course Dessert

Cuisine American, Irish

Servings servings

Calories 406 kcal

Equipment

9" Springform Pan
Stand Mixer or hand mixer

Ingredients

For the cake:

1/2 cup salted butter at room temperature 113 g
1/2 cup granulated sugar 100 g
2 large eggs room temperature
3 tablespoons heavy cream 45 mL
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all purpose gluten free flour blend 150 g
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 large Granny Smith or Pink Lady apples peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks.

for the streusel topping:

3/4 cup all purpose gluten free flour blend 96 g
1/4 cup gluten free old fashioned rolled oats 25 g
1/2 cup brown sugar 100 g
6 tablespoons salted cold butter cut in small pieces 85 g
1/2 cup chopped walnuts 75 g

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 9-inch springform pan with gluten free cooking spray
Using a stand or hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
In a small bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the butter/sugar mixture, along with the cream and vanilla. Stir in the apples.
Spoon the batter into your prepared pan, and smooth out evenly.
Prepare the Streusel. Put the flour, oats, and brown sugar in a medium bowl and whisk together. Add the butter and using your hands, or a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it turns into coarse crumbs. Stir in the walnuts. Sprinkle over the top of the cake.
Bake for about 50 minutes to an hour, until the top is lightly browned and a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then run a knife around the edge of the pan and release the sides. Serve warm or at room temp with vanilla ice cream or salted caramel sauce (or both). Wrap tightly to store at room temperature for up to three days.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 406kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 5gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 216mgPotassium: 129mgFiber: 4gSugar: 28gVitamin A: 638IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 73mgIron: 1mg

Keywords Gluten free cake recipe, Gluten Free Irish Apple Cake, Gluten-Free Apple Cake, Gluten-Free Cake

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