Cooking without dairy ingredients means less methane goes into the atmosphere which is always a good thing for the planet.

Vegan apple cake

INGREDIENTS: ​

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup soft brown sugar - or coconut sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup unsweetened apple sauce
• ½ cup melted vegan butter - or canola oil
• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 2 cups green apples - cored, peeled, chopped
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ginger

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Topping

• 1 green apple - cored, peeled, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons vegan butter - softened
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ⅓ cup sugar
• ½ cup sliced almonds
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

METHOD:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 9-inch x 13-inch pan with parchment paper and lightly oil paper. You can also use a 10-inch round pan, but the cake takes longer to bake and comes out thicker.
2. In a medium bowl, stir almond milk and apple cider vinegar. Set aside 5 minutes until it curdles. This is the vegan buttermilk.
3. In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
4. In another large bowl, whisk the vegan buttermilk made before, melted vegan butter, unsweetened apple sauce, and soft brown sugar.
5. Stir the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients until a smooth cake batter forms. Don't over-stir it.
6. Fold in chopped apples and transfer the cake batter into the prepared pan.
7. To make the toppings, place the softened vegan butter, vanilla, sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl. Press with a fork or crumble between your fingertips until it resembles a crumbly buttery mixture.
8. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar all over the top of the vegan apple cake.
9. Sprinkle slivered almonds and place some of the apple slices on the cake.
10. Bake on the centre rack of the oven for 50 to 80 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean. If the top browns too fast, tent the pan with a large piece of foil.
11. Let the cake cool down for 15 minutes in the pan before transferring it to a cooling rack.
12. Cool completely before slicing and decorate with icing sugar if desired.

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Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight cake box in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to one month in sealed containers.