This Apple Cinnamon Bundt Cake is moist and delicious, an absolute must for fall baking. Drizzle with my date sweetened chocolate sauce for a sweet treat any time of year! A Healthy Apple Cake Recipe that’s vegan and made with simple ingredients is hard to find…and this one is easy to make, loaded with cozy spices and perfectly sweetened with honey. I bet you even have a bundt pan collecting dust from inactivity…pull it out and USE IT! And, if you’re looking for an apple cake for Rosh Hashanah, this is it!
This post was updated from the original published September 5, 2018.
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A moist honey cake recipe is a must in your repertoire and perfect for the Jewish high holy days. Eating apples and honey on Rosh Hashanah is a tradition, and I also serve this cake for Break Fast and Sukkot!
Ingredient Notes
I took a recipe I had for a traditional apple honey cake, and modified the ingredients to create a healthier version and no one’s any wiser. Apple sauce does double duty, replacing the refined oil and also making a sweet cake without the need for refined sugar. Fresh chopped apples help to keep the cake moist without the addition of oil. I opted for extra spices instead of extra oil and sugar…and you know what? I think my cake is tastier than the original!
Step by Step
Preheat the oven to 350 and prepare a bundt cake pan. Either grease and flour your pan, use a cooking spray, or if you have a tube pan with removable bottom, line the bottom of the prepared pan with parchment paper. If you only have a 9-inch cake pan or a springform pan…no problem. Even a square pan will work. See the recipe card for bake times.
First put everything but the apples into the bowl of a food processor. Wet ingredients and dry ingredients can be added at the same time.
Process until everything is fully blended. The cake batter will be super thick. Keep blending until everything is well incorporated.
Mix in the chopped apple by hand. Whatever kind of apples you have, small dice or even grated apples work best in this recipe. The apples will release moisture as the cake bakes, so don’t worry if the batter seems pasty.
Use a rubber spatula to scoop batter into prepared bundt pan. Bake 40 minutes in preheated 350 degree oven.
Cake tester or toothpick inserted into center of cake should come out clean. Depending on your oven, it could take another 2-3 minutes.
Let the cake cool in the baking pan for 20 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack. Cool completely before moving on to store or drizzling the top of the cake with chocolate sauce.
Date Sweetened Chocolate Drizzle
I suppose the chocolate date drizzle for this healthy honey apple cake could be optional….but I suggest you don’t opt out. I even suggest you make a double batch because….well CHOCOLATE. Raw cacao is high in antioxidants and trace minerals, protects nerve cells, improves circulation and increases energy….not to mention that chocolate is yummy! You won’t miss the sugar either because those dates are sweet and full of fiber, antioxidants, nutrients which provide a wide range of health benefits. Can you imagine all of the wonderful things you’ll want to dip into this sauce?
Make the chocolate sauce: Blend dates, almond milk and cacao in food processor until smooth and creamy.
Drizzle chocolate glaze over top of the apple bundt cake, letting it drip down the sides and the center. If you used a regular baking pan, spread a thin layer of the chocolate sauce over the entire cake.
Debra’s Pro Tips
- Use a bundt pan with removable bottom or easy release.
- Make ahead and freeze unfrosted….glaze before serving.
- Let cake cool completely before drizzling with chocolate glaze.
- Line your plate or cake stand with unbleached parchment or wax paper before glazing. Pull out paper for a clean plate post drizzle.
- Make cake in advance and wrap tightly with plastic wrap. Drizzle with glaze before serving.
- No need to peel apples, but cut into SMALL dice for best results.
- Use soft medjool dates for the chocolate sauce. Soak dates in warm water if they’re hard.
- Buy dates with the pits still in….they will be the most moist….and remove just before using.
- Make this recipe in a 9×13 rectangle baking pan lined with unbleached parchment for brownie style squares of cake….check for doneness at 30 minutes.
For those who celebrate, I wish you a sweet new year, filled with good health, prosperity, plenty of time with loved ones and revealed blessings for all. If you need more healthy recipes for the holiday, check out my Rosh Hashanah Recipes Post.
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📖 Recipe
Apple Cinnamon Bundt Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 tblsp apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoon ground flax
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 ½ cups diced apples
Chocolate Date Drizzle
- 6 medjool dates
- 1 cup almond milk
- 2 tablespoon raw cacao powder
Instructions
For the Apple Cake
- Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour bundt pan*.
- Put all ingredients, except apples in food processor and process until well blended. Cake batter will be smooth and creamy. If not, process some more.
- There's no need to peel the apples, but core and dice into small cubes. Stir apples, by hand, into cake batter.
- Pour mixture into prepared pan.
- Bake for 40 minutes. Toothpick should come out clean when inserted into cake. Cool in the pan for 20 minutes. Run a knife along the edge to loosen and then place a wire rack against the top of the pan. Carefully flip. Let cool completely.
- If you're making the cake in advance, cool completely and then use plastic wrap to cover tightly, all around. Use a layer of aluminum foil on top of that, if you're freezing.
For the Choclate Drizzle
- Remove pits from the dates. If they are dry, soak in warm water for 30 minutes and then completely drain before proceeding.
- Place dates, almond milk and cacao into blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy, with thick, but drippy consistency.
Decorate Cake
- Place apple cake on serving plate or pedestal.
- Use a small spoon to drizzle sauce over top of cake and let it drip down outsides and center.
Notes
MEAL PREP AND STORAGE
- SERVE: Cake tastes best at room temperature.
- PREP AHEAD: Bake cake, cool completely and wrap carefully with plastic wrap. Store in the fridge for 5 days. Drizzle with chocolate glaze before serving. Chocolate sauce can be made up to 5 days ahead.
- STORE: Store glazed cake at room temperature for 3 days, or in the fridge for 5 days, covered well or store slices of cake in an airtight container.
- FREEZE: Unglazed apple honey cake can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Cool cake completely. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then cover in aluminum foil.
Nutrition
Note
The nutrition calculations were done using online tools. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in any given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients you used. You are ultimately responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information is accurate, complete and useful.
Amy Liu Dong
I always love to make a delicious and healthy recipe for my kids and this one is perfect for them.
Saving this as my reference.
Debra Klein
Excellent…my kids love this cake recipe.
Jere Cassidy
Just went to the orchards for some of their early apples and needed a recipe. I love all of the ingredients you used, and the applesauce instead of oil, and the honey. The chocolate date frosting is genius.
Debra Klein
Thank you!
Emily
This cake has the most wonderful texture! It’s so tasty and perfect for fall!
Colleen
Delicious, healthy, easy to make. You can’t go wrong!
Erin
Yummy!
Debra Klein
100%
Angela
The perfect apple recipe for fall baking.
Chef John
I like apples. Thanks for the pie recipe. I will definitely try.
Debra Klein
Great…if you like apples, this is a great cake recipe for you!
Carole
Will the difference between 9 x 13 (117 sq in) and a 9″ (81″) be a problem? Has anyone made the cake in either of these sizes… I don’t have a Bundt but have the other two. Looks like the perfect Sabbath dessert!
Debra Klein
I have make it in both of those sizes and it came out great…start checking for doneness at 30 minutes. And yes, it’s perfect for Shabbat. Enjoy.
barbara selsky
Came out great, yummy, plenty sweet with 1/2cup honey , made a lemon drizzle on top
.
Debra Klein
Excellent….lemon drizzle is a great choice!
Lisa
This is delicious. I made it vegan with ground flax seed, and swapped the white flour for oat flour, along with the oatmeal as directed. For the top, I used powdered sugar with a little water to make a drizzle frosting. I did not peel the apples which was noticeable but it felt good to get all the fiber.
overall, this is a delicious moist, vegan, gluten free cake with the substitutes and it taste amazing.
Debra Klein
Nice! Great way to make the subs you need to enjoy!
Chef Dennis
what a perfect cake for the season! I’ll be making this as soon as I pick up some whole wheat flour
Debra Klein
Yes, though I do make this one all year round. You can use whatever flour you have…this cake isn’t tempramental!
Emily Woodward
loved it!
Amy
Loved this cake. It was so moist and most of love that it has no refined sugar in it!
Sue
I love apple cake and your substitutions make it guilt free and still delicious. But that Chocolate drizzle – OMG. I can’t believe how amazing it is, and all the sweetness comes from the dates. WOW
Debra Klein
Where there’s a will, there’s always a way!
Amanda Marie Boyle
This cake is so good. I just switched it up and used a caramel drizzle instead (because I love apples and caramel) and it was a hit!
Debra Klein
Oh….that sounds like a delicious swap!
Alexandra
Absolutely delicious and lovely texture.
dawn
in the ingredient list there’s an asterisk near the milk but it’s not mentioned in the notes section. what milk did you use?
Debra Klein
I used almond milk. Thanks for pointing that out…I updated the notes to reflect.
Dana
Apple Honey Cake. The name alone is so crave-worthy—let alone the sight of it! This looks so tender, and it looks like the perfect cake to go along with a nice fall-inspired spiced tea. And that chocolate date drizzle sounds heavenly. I seriously love that refined sugar has no place in this recipe. Kudos for that, girl <3
Debra Klein
So much natural sweetness, you won’t even miss the sugar! I’m enjoying a piece right now with a cup of chai….just perfect!
Sues
You had me at “you can eat this for breakfast guilt-free” because I feel like a slice of it would go so perfectly with my morning coffee! Of course, I’d also probably make it SOLELY for the fact that it would make my house smell so divine. But obviously, I wouldn’t be able to resist digging in as soon as it was out of the oven!
Debra Klein
My thoughts exactly! I store it in the freezer so it will be less tempting to over indulge!
Annemarie
Good luck on setting up the kitchen! Your honey cake looks divine. I love honey cake and always get a craving about this time of year since I always see recipes for Rosh Hashanah and a healthy honey cake means I can indulge a little and make one. As for the chocolate drizzle, I will take your advice and make it along with the cake. How could I resist chocolate anyway? 🙂
Debra Klein
Thank you, and enjoy!
Carmy
This looks like a delicious dessert! I’m all about cakes and love a good healthy alternative. The dates for the drizzle is such a delicious alternative to sugar!
Debra Klein
My thoughts exactly. Makes it sweet enough that kids like it….but no sugar so Moms love that.
Amanda
I have had such a huge craving for apple cake lately, but have also been watching my dessert intake, so I haven’t indulged. So glad to find this healthy Apple Honey Cake recipe! I love how versatile apple sauce is for making healthier baked goods. That chocolate date drizzle on top sounds amazing, too. Then natural sweetness of the dates must pair so well with the cake!
Debra Klein
That chocolate date sauce is so tasty…..we use it on other things….tastes great on sliced apples, and I also use it to “frost” other types of cakes…even carrot muffins. Just the right amount of natural sweetness.
Marisa Franca
I love a good dessert that is healthy for you too. With apple season just around the corner this will be a great treat for me to offer family without feeling guilty that I’m overloading them with sugar. Can’t wait to make it.
Debra Klein
Great idea. I’m sure they will love it.
Lisa
Don’t even get me started on silver polishing… I have a solid 2 hours of polishing ahead of me before the holidays — and that doesn’t even include the flatware… Ugh. At least this beautiful cake can be my reward for the effort. Thanks for making this so healthy, too. My family and I are cutting back on the good stuff (I mean, the bad stuff) and we are definitely missing dessert time. This looks like an ideal treat for us.
Debra Klein
You won’t even miss the sugar in this cake!
Gloria
With apple season just around the corner, this looks like a great recipe to use them in. Love bundt cakes. They are so rustic…and I don’t have to spend hours decorating them. This is perfect for brunch, dessert or after school snacking too.
Debra Klein
Yes….make this cake and serve it all those times. Enjoy!!
Joy
Hi this looks great! can I use eggs in this recipe instead of.flax seeds?
Debra Klein
I don’t see why not, though I haven’t tried it. Please report back to let us know how it comes out!