This Almond Flour Vanilla Cake is light, fluffy, and has the perfect amount of sweetness! Your friends and family will never guess it's made simple, healthy ingredients. Perfect for Birthdays, Valentine's Day, or any special occasion!

Holding up slice of vanilla cake with raspberries on top.

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Why I love this Vanilla Cake recipe
🍴Ingredient Notes
🍴Step by Step Instructions
Baking Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
How to store leftovers
Recipe
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💬 Reviews

Why I love this Vanilla Cake recipe

This Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake is a lot lower in sugar than traditional cake recipes! Each slice has about 3 grams of sugar, 4 grams of fiber, and 9 grams of protein. Plus, it's made with simple ingredients like almond flour, unsweetened applesauce, and coconut sugar!

🍴Ingredient Notes

Overhead shot of ingredients for vanilla cake.

Eggs - I have not tried using an egg replacement for this recipe.
Unsweetened Applesauce - Any applesauce will work for this recipe. I like using unsweetened to cut down on added sugar. I also have a simple homemade recipe that's super easy to make!
Vanilla Extract - You'll need a little more than a typical dessert recipe to create a rich vanilla flavor.
Coconut Sugar - You can sub with Lakanto Golden Monkfruit or any granulated sugar.
Apple Cider Vinegar - This helps to activate the baking soda. (You won't taste it!)
Almond Flour - I would not recommend subbing almond flour for any other flour. My favorite almond flour brands are Bob’s Red Mill, and Blue Diamond. Both have a finely ground blend that doesn’t come out clumpy!
Baking Soda & Baking Powder - You'll need both to create the perfect texture.

🍴Step by Step Instructions

Step 1: Making the cake batter

Start by adding the almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a mixing bowl. Use a whisk or fork to blend until fully combined. (Make sure to break up any flour clumps.)
Next, add the eggs, applesauce, coconut sugar, vanilla extract, and apple cider vinegar into a separate bowl. Whisk together.
Pour the dry mixture into the wet mixture, and fold together with a spatula until all of the flour is absorbed.

Step 2: Baking & Cooling

Add the cake batter to a 9" cake pan. (Grease or use parchment paper at the bottom of the pan.) Bake at 350° for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Let the cake cool to room temperature before removing. Gently flip the cake over onto a plate to remove from the cake pan. Serve with your favorite frosting and fresh fruit on top!

Baking Tips

Do not pack the almond flour into the cup. Use a spoon to scoop it into the measuring cup and scrape off the excess with a knife.
Line the bottom of your cake pan with parchment paper for easy removal. You can use pre-cut round parchment paper or cut it yourself!
Top the cake with fresh strawberries, raspberries, or cherries! It adds color and another layer of flavor!
To make a layer cake, you can double the recipe or use two smaller 6" cake pans.
My favorite brands of pre-made dairy-free frosting are Simple Mills and Miss Jones.
Make sure the cake cools completely before frosting.
Store the cake in the refrigerator until you're ready to cut and serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this vanilla cake recipe to make cupcakes?

I have not personally tried it, but I believe it would work! Make sure you use parchment paper cupcake liners.

Can I swap for gluten-free 1-1 flour?

No, I would not recommend swapping for any other gluten-free flour.

How to store leftovers

The cake with or without frosting stores best in the refrigerator. After about 5 days I would transfer any leftovers into an airtight glass container in the freezer. To defrost, just place the frozen cake in the refrigerator the night before.

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Recipe

Almond Flour Vanilla Cake

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 20

Chilling 30

Total Time 1 20

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings

Calories 225 kcal

Equipment

Glass Baking Dish
Whisk or Fork
Mixing Bowls
Small Cups or Mini Glass Mason Jars

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

2+½ Cups Almond Flour
1+½ Teaspoons Baking Powder
½ Teaspoon Baking Soda
¼ Teaspoon Salt

Wet Ingredients

2 Eggs, Room Temperature
½ Cup Unsweetened Applesauce
½ Cup Coconut Sugar You can sub with Lakanto golden monkfruit.
1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
3 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

Instructions

Vanilla Cake

Start by adding the almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a mixing bowl. Use a whisk or fork to blend until fully combined. (Make sure to break up any flour clumps.)
Next, add the eggs, applesauce, coconut sugar, vanilla extract, and apple cider vinegar into a separate bowl. Whisk together.
Pour the dry mixture into the wet mixture, and fold together with a spatula until all of the flour is absorbed.

Baking

Add the cake batter to a 9" cake pan. (Grease or use parchment paper at the bottom of the pan.) Bake at 350° for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Let the cake cool to room temperature before removing. Gently flip the cake over onto a plate to remove from the cake pan. Serve with your favorite frosting and fresh fruit on top!

Notes

** Nutrition facts do not include frosting.

Baking Tips

Do not pack the almond flour into the cup. Use a spoon to scoop it into the measuring cup and scrape off the excess with a knife.
Line the bottom of your cake pan with parchment paper for easy removal. You can use pre-cut round parchment paper or cut it yourself!
Top the cake with fresh strawberries, raspberries, or cherries! It adds color and another layer of flavor!
To make a layer cake, you can double the recipe or use two smaller 6" cake pans.
My favorite brands of pre-made dairy-free frosting are Simple Mills and Miss Jones.
Make sure the cake cools completely before frosting.
Store the cake in the refrigerator until you're ready to cut and serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 225kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 9gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 237mgPotassium: 30mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 64IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 125mgIron: 2mg

Keywords almond flour vanilla cake, gluten-free vanilla cake, healthy vanilla cake, low sugar vanilla cake

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