• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Simple Vegan Desserts
  • About
  • Recipes
    • Vegan Baking Recipes
    • Vegan Breakfast Recipes
    • Vegan Gluten Free Recipes
    • Vegan Healthier Recipes
    • Vegan No-Bake Recipes
    • Vegan Quick & Easy Recipes
  • Contact

Vegan Treats Blogger

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Spring
  • About
  • Contact
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipe Index
    • Spring
    • About
    • Contact
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Vegan Baking Recipes

    Published: Jan 31, 2023 · Modified: Dec 30, 2024 by DJ · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

    Best Ever Vegan Apple Walnut Crumble Cake

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Apple crumble fans will absolutely adore this vegan apple crumble cake as in many ways, it is very similar to an actual apple crumble. It's filled with super sweet Granny Smith apples and topped with a super toasty streusel topping.

    Another great thing about this cake recipe is that it takes less than 30 minutes to make. That's a very short amount of time, considering how tasty this cake is. I think you'll really enjoy it!

    A thick slice of cake with powdered sugar added to the top of the toasty crumble topping. this recipe

    I sometimes like to serve this apple cake while it is still warm with dairy-free custard. This increases those delicious apple crumble vibes. Dairy-free ice cream is another mouth-watering option. Otherwise, you can eat the cake on its own which is my favorite way.

    Be sure to also see my vegan apple cinnamon cake, vegan apple oatmeal cake and vegan apple cinnamon muffins which are three classic apple recipes that I have made. I also love to add apples to my vegan ginger cake from time to time to spice it up a little.

    Jump to:
    • Why You Will Love This Cake
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Substitutions & Variations
    • How To Make An Apple Walnut Crumble Cake
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More Vegan Cake Recipes
    • Best Ever Vegan Apple Walnut Crumble Cake

    Why You Will Love This Cake

    • Amazing Texture - These loaf cakes have three main textures which all compliment each other fantastically. Firstly there is the cake itself is so soft and fluffy. Secondly there is the baked, juicy apples into the center. Finally, there is the crumbly streusel which takes inspiration from my vegan blueberry lemon cake and vegan orange almond cake. It sits elegantly on top of the cakes.
    • So Many Flavors - The flavors in this apple walnut cake recipe taste even better during the fall time! The cinnamon is quite strong but when combined with those sweet baking apples, it works so well and adds a whole new dimension.
    • Easy to Make - Making these cakes is so simple. Make the streusel and chop the apples first and set aside, then make the batter by folding the dry cake ingredients into the wet ingredients. Fold the apples into the cake batter, then pour it into the tins. Sprinkle the streusel on top and bake.
    • Allergy Friendly & Plant Based - This vegan apple walnut crumble cake recipe is entirely vegan and dairy free.

    Ingredient Notes

    The recipe ingredients that you will need to make my vegan apple crumble cake laid out over a white, marble background.
    • Brown sugar - Demerara sugar plays a big part in the outcome of the cakes as it is used in both the cake batter and the streusel. What I love about this kind of sugar is the fact that it contains molasses, whereas ordinary granulated sugar doesn't. This gives the cakes a gorgeous sweetness.
    • Salted vegan butter - Using a vegan butter spread such as, Vitalite will work perfectly this recipe. Dairy-free butter blocks will work too if they have been softened at room temperature. If it isn't soft, it will be difficult to bind the streusel ingredients together.
    • Ground cinnamon - This beautiful spice, as well as the nutmeg really enhance this recipe and take it to a new levels. As plenty of cinnamon is added, this cake always feels autumnal and cozy.
    • Walnuts - Apples and walnuts are great together. In fact, they're one of my favorite combinations. It's almost like they were made for each other!
    • Large Granny Smith cooking apple - These are some of the best types of apples that you can use for baking. If you love apples which are very sweet and tart, these will be your new favorites.
    • Apple cider vinegar - You need to stir the vinegar into the soy milk to create your vegan buttermilk. This mixture is very important as it reacts with the leavening agents to create a wonderful, light texture.
    • Canola oil - This is the same thing as rapeseed oil. This oil is named different things in different English-speaking countries and can sometimes cause a little bit of confusion. Like you'll see in other cakes such as, my vegan chocolate orange cake and eggless red velvet cake loaf, this oil gives them such a soft and delightful texture.

    See recipe card for full information on individual ingredients and quantities.

    Substitutions & Variations

    • If Granny Smith apples aren't your usual go-to choice for making apple desserts, you can totally use a different kind of apple. Some other tasty options include Braeburn apples and Pink Lady apples which both make excellent substitutions. They both stay firm after being in the oven which is most important thing.
    • Use a different dairy-free milk if you wish. I love using soy milk for most of my bakes like my vegan banana chocolate chip muffins and vegan sticky toffee pudding, as it contains natural binding agents such as soy lecithin, but other plant milks like almond milk and oat milk also have great effects on the cakes.

    How To Make An Apple Walnut Crumble Cake

    For the full method, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    The cake pans have been greased with vegan butter.

    1: Grease two rectangular cake tins with vegan butter.

    The vegan buttermilk curdling inside a jug.

    2: Make the vegan buttermilk and let it curdle.

    The ingredients for the walnut streusel inside a small plate.

    3: Add all the crumble ingredients to a small bowl.

    The streusel has now been made and is crumbly.

    4: Make the streusel. It should be crumbly like this.

    A Granny Smith apple has been cored.

    5: Remove the core from the Granny Smith apple.

    The skin has been removed and the apple has been chopped into cubes.

    6: Remove the skin and then chop into cubes.

    The dry cake ingredients combined inside a large, pyrex bowl.

    7: In a large mixing bowl, mix together the dry cake ingredients.

    The wet cake ingredients have been added.

    8: Mix in the buttermilk and the other wet ingredients until smooth.

    The apple cubes have been folded in.

    9: Fold the apples into the cake batter.

    The cake batter has been poured into the two greased cake tins.

    10: Pour the batter into the cake tins.

    The streusel has been sprinkled on top.

    11: Sprinkle on the walnut crumble mixture and bake.

    The two vegan apple crumble cakes have been baked and are cooling.

    12: Let the cakes cool and serve.

    Expert Tips

    Use good baking apples - As I briefly mentioned previously, the apples that you choose to use for this recipe is a crucial step. Many apples are better suited to being baked at high temperatures than others. Baking-specific apples are the ones that you need. There are many types so choose you favorites.

    Place the crumble inside the fridge - Make the streusel crumble before you make the cake batter then place it into the fridge until you need it later on. This way, it will be nice and firm when you sprinkle it onto the cake batter.

    A whole apple cake on a slate platter. It is golden brown and super crumbly.

    Recipe FAQs

    What kind of apples should I use for baking?

    I love to use Granny Smith apples for this cake as I love their texture and flavor when cooked. Braeburn apples also work very well.

    Why did my apples sink inside my cake?

    I often like to dust mine in a little flour before I add them to the batter. This can help this problem.

    How can I store this apple cake?

    Store your cakes either at room temperature or in the fridge for up to three days, inside an airtight container.

    More Vegan Cake Recipes

    • An almost-whole vegan chocolate bundt cake on a slate serving board covered in peanut butter glaze. One slice is missing.
      Best Vegan Chocolate Bundt Cake with Peanut Butter Glaze
    • A close up image of a loaf of my vegan cranberry orange cake. Powdered sugar sifted on top.
      Super Moist Vegan Cranberry Orange Cake with Streusel
    • A close up shot of a full vegan black forest cake loaf. Lots of cherries on top making the buttercream pink.
      Soft Vegan Black Forest Cake (Black Forest Gateau)
    • A close up shot of a glazed vegan carrot cake loaf. Walnuts sprinkled on top.
      Best Vegan Carrot Walnut Loaf Cake

    If you tried this Vegan Apple Walnut Crumble Cake Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!

    A large slice of vegan apple crumble cake sat on a wide, brown-rimmed plate. You can see the chopped Granny Smith apples inside.

    Best Ever Vegan Apple Walnut Crumble Cake

    This vegan apple crumble cake is everything you want in a baked treat. It's full of flavor and is best served with vegan custard. 
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Apple Walnut Crumble Cake
    Diet: Vegan
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 Slices
    Calories: 206kcal
    Author: DJ

    Ingredients

    For the walnut crumble:

    • 30 g all-purpose flour
    • 25 g brown sugar demerara
    • 1.5 Tablespoons salted vegan butter softened
    • 0.25 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 30 g walnuts chopped

    For the cake batter:

    • 1 large Granny Smith cooking apple
    • 200 ml soy milk
    • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
    • 190 g all-purpose flour sifted
    • 150 g brown sugar demerara
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • 0.5 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
    • 0.5 teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • 50 ml canola oil rapeseed
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon maple syrup
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    Preparation:

    • Preheat your oven to 177 Celsius (350F).
    • Grease two 20cm x 10cm cake tins with vegan butter. Set aside until later. 

    Make the streusel:

    • In a small bowl, mix together all the crumble ingredients. Use your hands to combine it together until the texture is crumbly.
    • Cover the crumble topping and place it into the fridge until you need it.

    Make the cake:

    • Remove the core and skin from the Granny Smith apple then chops into 1cm cubes. Set aside.
    • Next, make your vegan buttermilk mixture by mixing your apple cider vinegar with the soy milk. Let it curdle for 8 minutes. You can measure out the other cake ingredients while you wait.
    • To a large mixing bowl, add the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir together.
    • Pour in the curdled soy milk, canola oil, vanilla extract and maple syrup. Fold your cake batter until the flour is completely combined.
    • Finally, fold the chopped apple cubes into the mixture.
    • Pour the apple cake batter into the prepared loaf cake tins. Sprinkle the walnut streusel equally onto the top of the two cakes. Bake your loaf cakes in center of the oven for 20 minutes. A skewer will come out of them clean when they’re ready.
    • Let the apple walnut cakes cool in their tins for 15 minutes. Then transfer to a cooling rack.

    Video

    Notes

    • The apples that you choose to use for this recipe is a crucial step. Many apples are better suited to being baked at high temperatures than others. Baking-specific apples are the ones that you need. There are many types so choose you favorites.
    • Make the streusel crumble before you make the cake batter then place it into the fridge until you need it later on. This way, it will be nice and firm when you sprinkle it onto the cake batter.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Sodium: 339mg | Potassium: 94mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 75IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag Me Today!Mention @vegan_treats_blogger or tag #vegantreatsblogger!

    More Vegan Baking Recipes

    • Three double fudge brownies stacked on a white plate. They are topped with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.
      Double Fudge Brownies (With Ice Cream)
    • A large piece of my sticky date pudding on a white plate. It is topped with ice cream and homemade caramel sauce.
      Best Sticky Date Pudding Cake
    • A soft slice of vegan strawberry shortcake cake on a white plate with a thick layer of whipped cream frosting and streusel on top.
      Vegan Strawberry Shortcake Cake
    • A dessert glass filled with caramel fudge brownie sundae. They layers are topped with lots of caramel and a cherry.
      Caramel Fudge Brownie Sundae

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Janet says

      December 30, 2023 at 6:52 pm

      Hi, just to note that rapeseed oil is not healthy for human consumption. Thanks. Janet

      Reply
      • DJ says

        February 04, 2024 at 5:37 pm

        Thanks for your insightful comment, Janet.

        Reply
    2. Sue says

      February 25, 2023 at 8:51 pm

      5 stars
      One of the yummiest cakes I’ve ever tried! 😍

      Reply
    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm DJ. Welcome to Vegan Treats Blogger!

    I'm a self-taught baker and all the recipes which are developed for this website are fully plant-based, dairy-free and egg-free.

    Delicious vegan sweet treats are what we're all here for, right?

    You're in the right place and here, you will have everything you need to satisfy those cravings.

    More about me →

    Vegan Spring

    • A large creamy slice of vegan blueberry pie on a white plate. The rest of the cream pie is in the background.
      Vegan Blueberry Cream Pie (No-Bake)
    • One of my golden brown strawberry cheesecake tacos on a white plate over a dark wooden background. It is filled with cream and bright red strawberry compote.
      Crunchy Strawberry Cheesecake Tacos With White Chocolate
    • A large slice of vegan strawberry lemon cake on a white plate. It is filled and topped with strawberry jelly and lemon buttercream frosting.
      Vegan Strawberry Lemon Layer Cake
    • Vegan lemon curd inside a meson jar. It is dripping down the sides.
      Easy Vegan Lemon Curd
    • One of my vegan raspberry bars on a white plate. The filling is dripping out from the centre.
      Vegan Raspberry Crumble Oatmeal Bars
    • Three vegan carrot cake muffins on a white plate. They are golden in colour.
      Easy Vegan Carrot Cake Muffins with Lemon Glaze

    Popular Recipes

    • A close up shot of caramel drizzling.
      Vegan Dulce De Leche Caramel
    • A shot of a golden brown vegan biscoff cookie. Melted biscoff spread is dripping down the front side.
      Chewy Vegan Biscoff Cookies
    • A stack of vegan banana protein pancakes. Decorated with maple syrup and chopped bananas.
      Fluffy Vegan High Protein Banana Pancakes
    • Four vegan bounty bars on a white plate. One is sliced open revealing the coconut filling.
      Copycat Vegan Chocolate Bounty Bars (No-Bake & Gluten Free)
    • A close up shot of a perfectly round vegan dalgona candy with a star shape imprinted into the centre.
      South Korean Dalgona Honeycomb Toffee Candy (2-Ingredients + Vegan)
    • A slice of my vegan almond lemon cake on a white serving plate. It is topped with toasty flaked almonds and streusel.
      Vegan Almond Lemon Cake

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Contact

    • Contact

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • About
    • Accessibility Policy

    Copyright © 2025 Vegan Treats Blogger

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie SettingsAccept
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.