Warm layers of caramel, sweet-tart apples, and vanilla cake, this Caramel Apple Cobbler is the best dessert of fall! This version has a vanilla-cake like topping rather than biscuits and is gluten free and refined sugar free.
*This post is sponsored by SunButter, a sunflower seed spread perfect for allergy-safe baking and cooking! Thanks for supporting the brands that keep Sunkissed Kitchen running.
Contents
Upgrade your Apple Cobbler with Caramel Sauce!
When I think of fall flavors, pumpkin spice is hard to ignore, but I am honestly more into apple desserts.
Caramel apple, specifically.
I recently saw someone make an apple cobbler with a vanilla cake mix. The result looked too good! I had to remake it healthier, with an almond flour based cake, and a SunButter caramel sauce drizzle.
If you’re having guests over this fall, pop this in the oven right before they arrive. The smell of apple cobbler >> any fall candle!
This is different than an apple crisp. An apple crisp has a saucy apple base, with an oatmeal cookie style topping. If you’re looking for a classic Apple Crisp recipe, I have one. I also have this upgraded version, a Persimmon Apple Crisp.
Some cobblers have a biscuit like topping. This one has a light and fluffy vanilla cake.
If you’re looking for something with a bit of a twist, this is more like an apple cake, heavy on the apples. It’s the perfect fall dessert.
Top with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream, and drizzle with more caramel sauce = heaven 😍
To give it that luscious buttery caramel flavor, I made a SunButter caramel sauce — it’s just 3 ingredients whisked together! No need to melt sugar and butter to achieve this delicious flavor.
SunButter is one of my favorite ingredients for healthier baking. This caramel sauce has protein and healthy fats and gives the caramel sauce such a wonderful flavor and texture!
The SunButter caramel makes a delicious apple dip all on it’s own. I make a double batch for this recipe — half of it goes into the cake pan, and the other half I drizzle over the ice cream when I serve it!
Hop on over to SunButter’s website to see where it’s sold near you!
What are the best apples for cakes and cobblers?
The best baking apples are ones that have a tart flavor and a more crisp texture. My favorite apples to use are honey crisp apples, but Pink Lady, Gravenstein, and granny smith are also good choices.
Apples that shouldn’t be used are ones that are softer in texture and have a sweet flavor without the tartness, such as golden delicious, red delicious, Fuji, and gala apples.
While I prefer to use fresh apples, frozen and thawed apples work if you freeze them during apple season to use all winter!
What You’ll Need
Caramel Apple Layer
- Honeycrisp Apples (or other sweet tart apple, like granny smith apples, pink lady, or gravenstein.)
- Cinnamon
- Lemon Juice
- SunButter No Sugar Added
- Maple Syrup
- Coconut Oil (or sub melted butter)
- Sea Salt
Vanilla Cake Cobbler Topping
- Almond Flour
- Arrowroot Powder
- Baking Powder
- Sea Salt
- Eggs
- Maple Syrup
- Coconut Oil (or melted butter)
- Vanilla Extract
- Coarse Sugar & Cinnamon
How to Make a Caramel Apple Cobbler
Prior to beginning, preheat oven to 400º F.
Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together the SunButter, maple syrup, coconut oil, and a pinch of sea salt, until a smooth caramel sauce is formed. *I recommend making extra and reserving half to drizzle on top!
Step 2: Peel, core, and thinly slice apples. *If you don’t want to peel your apples, just make sure you very thinly slice them and the skin won’t be as noticeable!
Step 3: Add apple slices to a large bowl, and toss with lemon juice and cinnamon.
Step 4: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the almond flour, arrowroot, baking powder, and sea salt. Stir to combine well.
Step 5: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, melted coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla.
Step 6: Add the almond flour mixture into the wet mixture, and stir until a batter is formed. This is similar to a cake batter, not a biscuit-type cobbler mixture.
Step 7: Into a 6 x 9 baking dish (or 8×8 or 9×9), add the caramel sauce, and spread into a thin, even layer.
Step 8: Add the apple mixture on top of the caramel layer.
Step 9: Pour the cake batter over the top, gently spreading into an even layer without pushing too much through into the apple slices.
Step 10: Sprinkle the top of the cobbler with the cinnamon and sugar mixture.
Step 11: Cover the baking pan with foil, and bake for 40 minutes covered. Remove the foil and continue baking for 10 more minutes, until the top is golden brown and set in the center.
How to Serve Apple Cobbler
We served this apple cobbler right out of the oven (it’s so good HOT!).
- Serve with scoop of ice cream, frozen yogurt, or even Greek yogurt.
- Drizzle with extra SunButter Caramel sauce!
- Sprinkle with more coarse sugar & cinnamon
- With homemade whipped cream (add very cold heavy whipping cream to a mixer and beat until it’s thick and fluffy. Sweeten with a little monk fruit sweetener, allulose, or sugar.)
Substitutions
Caramel Sauce: If you’d prefer a more classic caramel flavor or don’t have SunButter, try this Homemade Vegan Salted Caramel Sauce.
Vegan Apple Cobbler: There is no substitute for the eggs in this almond flour cake recipe. However, you can use the recipe for the biscuit style topping in my Peach Cobbler recipe on top of the caramel and apple layer here!
Other Nut Butters: I love the SunButter caramel because it has a salty/sweet/caramelly flavor without being overly sweet. Cashew butter is a good substitute for SunButter.
How to Store Leftover Apple Cobbler
Once the apple cobbler has cooled, wrap the pan in foil and refrigerate until ready to serve again.
This cake is best served hot (the caramel sauce will harden when it’s cold because of the coconut oil). Preheat the oven to 400º F, and bake the cake covered in foil for about 15 minutes to heat it throughout.
Individual slices can also be popped in the microwave or in a toaster oven!
To freeze Apple Cobbler: Add the cobbler to an airtight container, and freeze up to 3 months. Allow to thaw, and then reheat at 400º F for 15 minutes in a baking dish covered tightly with foil.
Other Fall Dessert Recipes
- Gluten Free Apple Pie
- Gluten Free Monster Cookies or Monster Cookie Bars
- Pear Crisp with Cranberries
Save this easy Apple Cobbler recipe on Pinterest to save for later!
I’d love to connect with you on social media! Find me on Facebook or Instagram where I post daily healthy eating and lifestyle inspiration!
Caramel Apple Cobbler
Ingredients
SunButter Caramel (double and reserve half for drizzle!)
- 1/4 cup SunButter No Sugar Added
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil melted
- pinch sea salt *if using Organic SunButter or a sub without salt
Cinnamon Apples
- 3 pounds honey crisp apples
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Almond Flour Vanilla Cobbler Topping
- 1 1/2 cups almond flour
- 3 tablespoons arrowroot powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 3 eggs
- 6 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons coarse sugar mixed with 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
SunButter Caramel
- In a small bowl, whisk together the SunButter, maple syrup, coconut oil, and a pinch of sea salt, until a smooth caramel sauce is formed. *I recommend making extra and reserving half to drizzle on top!
Cinnamon Apple Mixture
- Peel, core, and thinly slice apples. *If you don’t want to peel your apples, just make sure you very thinly slice them and the skin won’t be as noticeable!
- Add apple slices to a large bowl, and toss with lemon juice and cinnamon.
Vanilla Cobbler Topping
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the almond flour, arrowroot, baking powder, and sea salt. Stir to combine well.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, melted coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla.
- Add the almond flour mixture into the wet mixture, and stir until a batter is formed. This is similar to a cake batter, not a biscuit-type cobbler mixture.
Caramel Apple Cobbler
- Preheat oven to 400º F.
- Into a 6 x 9 baking dish (or 8×8 or 9×9), add the caramel sauce, and spread into a thin, even layer.
- Add the apple mixture on top of the caramel layer.
- Pour the cake batter over the top, gently spreading into an even layer without pushing too much through into the apple slices.
- Sprinkle the top of the cobbler with the cinnamon and sugar mixture.
- Cover the baking pan with foil, and bake for 40 minutes covered. Remove the foil and continue baking for 10 more minutes, until the top is golden brown and set in the center.
- Serve hot!
Video
Notes
How to Serve Apple Cobbler
We served this apple cobbler right out of the oven (it’s so good HOT!).- Serve with scoop of ice cream, frozen yogurt, or even Greek yogurt.
- Drizzle with extra SunButter Caramel sauce!
- Sprinkle with more coarse sugar & cinnamon
- With homemade whipped cream (add very cold heavy whipping cream to a mixer and beat until it’s thick and fluffy. Sweeten with a little monk fruit sweetener, allulose, or sugar.)
Leave a Reply