Caramel Apple Oatmeal Cake

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This Caramel Apple Oatmeal Cake doubles as a breakfast and dessert in one. A delicious cross between baked oatmeal and a caramel apple cake, it’s made with fragrant spices and the most AMAZING date caramel sauce. 🍎

It’s gluten-free and can easily be made vegan (all vegan alternative options listed in the recipe below)!

This recipe begins with a base of oat flour, almond flour, oats, and fragrant spices. Applesauce and maple syrup give the cake a moist, delicious flavor and texture. The top and bottom of the cake are covered with a layer of sliced apples and date caramel sauce.

And, trust me—if you’ve never made date caramel before, you MUST give it a try! I honestly prefer it to regular caramel sauce. It has the most delicious flavor and a slightly nuttier, richer taste, and the texture is just like caramel sauce. 

Watch the Caramel Apple Oatmeal Cake Video:

Caramel Apple Oatmeal Cake

Makes 1 cake (6-8 servings)

Ingredients:

For the date caramel:

• 1 cup pitted medjool dates

• 1/2 cup Full fat coconut milk 

• 1/4 cup Maple syrup 

• 1 tsp Vanilla extract 

• 1/4 tsp salt 

For the apple oatmeal cake:

• 1 1/2 cups gluten-free oat flour

• 1/2 cup almond flour

• 1 cup gluten-free rolled oats 

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon 

• 1/2 tsp salt 

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1/4 cup pecans  

• 1/4 tsp ginger

• 1/4 tsp nutmeg 

• 1/4 tsp cloves

• 1/4 tsp cardamom

• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce

• 1 cup oat milk

• 1/4 cup melted butter or vegan butter, such as Earth Balance 

• 1/4 cup maple syrup 

• 1 egg or 1 tbsp chia seeds + 2 tbsp water for a vegan version

• 1 tsp vanilla (I didn’t add this to the actual recipe) 

• 2-4 apples, thinly sliced (I recommend using a crisp, tart variety such as Macintosh, Cortland, or Fuji)

• Yogurt or ice cream for serving (optional)
  

To make:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a springform pan or cake pan with butter, vegan butter, or baking spray.

2. Make the date caramel. Add the dates, coconut milk, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt to a food processor and blend on medium speed until completely smooth (it should form a caramel-like consistency).

3. In a medium bowl, combine the oat flour, almond flour, rolled oats, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, pecans, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom. Mix well.

4. To a large bowl, add the applesauce, oat milk, melted butter, maple syrup, egg or chia and water mixture, and vanilla. Whisk well to completely combine. If you’re using chia, let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes so the chia seeds can soak and thicken into an egg-like consistency.

5. Gradually stir the dry mixture into the wet ingredients and mix until completely combined.

6. Spread a thin layer of date caramel on the bottom of the pan. Add a single layer of apple slices.

7. Add the cake batter mixture into the pan and use a spatula to smooth out the top. Arrange another layer of apple slices on the top. Spoon the date caramel sauce over the top of the apples and use a spoon or spatula to gently smooth it out into an even layer. If you have any leftover date caramel, you can serve it alongside the cake.

8. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

9. Serve warm either on its own, or with a dollop of yogurt (for breakfast) or ice cream (for dessert). Enjoy!!

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