Vegan Apple Fritter Cake with Cinnamon-Sugar Crumble

There’s something about apple season that makes me want to bake everything. This Vegan Apple Fritter Cake hits all the cozy notes: soft, tender cake layered with juicy apples, a nutty cinnamon-sugar crumble, and finished with a sweet maple glaze. It’s basically like an apple fritter in cake form — perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a cozy dessert that doubles as a showstopper on your table.

And yes — it’s fully plant-based, but you can use dairy if that’s your vibe. Either way, the flavors are next-level.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Soft, tender cake: Browned vegan butter + maple yogurt give it a rich, moist texture.

• Juicy spiced apples: Cinnamon-sugar coated apples layered throughout for pockets of flavor.

• Crispy crumble topping: Adds texture and nutty sweetness, just like a classic apple fritter.

• Maple glaze finish: Sweet, glossy, and irresistible.

• Flexible & forgiving: Vegan or dairy — it works either way.

Cinnamon-Sugar Crumble

• ½ cup light brown sugar

• 2 tsp ground cinnamon

• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour (or 1:1 gluten-free baking flour)

• 1/8 tsp sea salt

• 3 tbsp salted vegan butter, melted and cooled

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Mix all ingredients together until crumbly. Set aside.

Brown Butter Vanilla Bean Cake

• ¾ cup salted vegan butter

• ¾ cup granulated sugar

• ½ cup light brown sugar

• ¾ cup dairy-free Culina Maple yogurt, room temperature

• 1 tbsp vanilla extract or vanilla paste

• ¼ tsp sea salt

• 1½ tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 3 cups all-purpose flour (or 1:1 gluten-free baking flour)

• 2/3 cup vegan buttermilk, room temperature

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 9×9 pan.

2. Prep vegan buttermilk.

3. Brown the vegan butter until nutty and fragrant.

4. Whisk browned butter with sugars, yogurt, vanilla, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.

5. Fold in flour and vegan buttermilk until smooth.

Apples

• Toss diced apples with brown sugar + cinnamon. These get layered inside the cake for juicy, spiced pockets of flavor.

Layer & Bake

1. Layer half the cake batter in the prepared pan.

2. Add half the apples and half the crumble.

3. Repeat: remaining batter → apples → crumble.

4. Bake 42–47 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.

5. Let cool slightly.

Maple Glaze

• 2 cups powdered sugar

• 2 tbsp maple syrup

• 2 tbsp vegan heavy cream

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Whisk together until smooth.

2. Drizzle over the slightly cooled cake for that perfect sweet finish.

This cake is everything you want in a fall or winter dessert: soft, spiced, apple-filled, and drizzled with maple goodness. Perfect for brunch, coffee hour, or a cozy slice after dinner.

If you make this, tag me @whatrobineats! I love seeing your recreations and sharing your cozy kitchen vibes.

Vegan Apple Fritter Cake with Cinnamon-Sugar Crumble

This Vegan Apple Fritter Cake is soft, cozy, and packed with spiced apples, a buttery cinnamon-sugar crumble, and a sweet maple glaze. Inspired by classic apple fritters, it’s the perfect plant-based cake for brunch, dessert, or a cozy afternoon treat.

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Servings 9 servings

Ingredients

  

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Cinnamon-sugar crumble

• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour OR gluten-free 1-to-1
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 3 tbsp salted vegan butter, melted and cooled
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Brown butter vanilla bean cake

• 3/4 cup salted vegan butter
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar or classic monkfruit for sugar-free
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar or brown monkfruit sweetener
• 3/4 cup Culina maple plant-based yogurt, or thick yogurt or choice
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3 cups all-purpose flour OR gluten-free 1-to-1
• 2/3 cup vegan buttermilk, (plant-based milk whisked with 1 tsp apple cider vinegar) room temp (or use regular)

Apples

• dice 2-3 apples and toss with a little brown sugar + cinnamon. These get layered inside the cake for juicy, spiced pockets of flavor.

Maple glaze, whisk together until smooth

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 2 tbsp vegan heavy cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 9×9 pan. Prep vegan buttermilk.
• Brown the vegan butter until nutty and fragrant.
• Whisk browned butter with sugars, yogurt, vanilla, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
• Fold in flour and vegan buttermilk until smooth.
• Layer half the cake batter in the prepared pan. Add half the apples and half the crumble. Repeat: remaining batter → apples → crumble.
• Bake 42–47 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool slightly then drizzle on glaze!

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!