Vegan French Apple Cake

Ingredients

• 185 grams ( 1 1/4 cups) all-purpose flour
• 50 grams ( 1/2 cup) ground almond flour
• 1.5 tsp baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 100 grams (1/2 cup) sugar
• 70 grams (1/4 cup) almond butter (or another nut/seed butter)
• 150 grams (1/2 cup) unsweetened applesauce
• 125 ml ( 1/2 cup) plant milk (almond or other plant-based milk)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 lemon, juice and zest
• 3 medium apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or another firm variety)
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds (for topping)
• Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 350°F (175 °C). Grease...: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175 °C). Grease and flour a 22cm (9-inch) round cake pan or line it with parchment paper.

2. 2

   Peel, core, and slice the apples thinly. Set...: Peel, core, and slice the apples thinly. Set aside.

3. 3

   In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the...: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, almond flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

4. 4

   In a separate bowl, combine the sugar, almond...: In a separate bowl, combine the sugar, almond butter, applesauce, almond milk, vanilla extract, lemon juice, and zest. Whisk until smooth and well combined.

5. 5

   Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry...: Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; the batter should be thick but smooth.

6. 6

   Pour half of the batter into the prepared...: Pour half of the batter into the prepared cake pan and spread it evenly. Arrange half of the apple slices on top of the batter in a circular pattern.

7. 7

   Pour the remaining batter over the apples and...: Pour the remaining batter over the apples and spread it out gently. Arrange the remaining apple slices on top and sprinkle with the sliced almonds.

8. 8

   Bake the cake in the preheated oven for...: Bake the cake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown.

9. 9

   If the almonds start to brown too quickly,...: If the almonds start to brown too quickly, cover the cake loosely with aluminum foil during the last 15 minutes of baking.

10. 10

    Allow the cake to cool in the pan...: Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

11. 11

    Before serving, dust the cake with powdered sugar...: Before serving, dust the cake with powdered sugar if desired.