Description
This Chai Spiced Apple Sheet Cake is a moist, flavorful dessert that combines the warmth of chai spices with the natural sweetness of apples. Made with gluten-free ingredients and topped with a luscious chai maple icing, it’s perfect for cozy gatherings or a delightful treat during the apple season.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Ingredients
- 2 medium-sized baking apples (Honeycrisp & Gala recommended)
- ⅓ cup salted butter, melted
- 1 ⅔ cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1 cup apple butter
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 Stash Tea, Double Spice Chai Black Tea tea bags
- 1 ⅔ cup gluten free all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup finely chopped dried apples
Chai Maple Icing
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon salted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon milk
- ¼ teaspoon Stash Tea, Double Spice Chai Black Tea leaves
- ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Generously grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan and set it aside to ensure the cake doesn’t stick.
- Prepare Apples: Peel, core, and shred one apple using the large holes of a box grater over a bowl, capturing all the juices. Set aside this shredded apple.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter, dark brown sugar, apple butter, lightly beaten eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
- Add Tea Leaves and Dry Ingredients: Cut open the 4 chai black tea bags and add the tea leaves directly to the wet mixture. Then whisk in the gluten-free flour, baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt until just combined.
- Fold in Apples: Gently fold the shredded apple along with its juices and the finely chopped dried apples into the batter, maintaining a light texture.
- Assemble in Pan: Pour and spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. Thinly slice about half of the remaining apple and arrange these slices artfully on top of the batter.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes or until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Prepare Icing while Baking: While the cake is baking, combine the powdered sugar, melted butter, maple syrup, milk, chai tea leaves, and vanilla extract in a bowl. Whisk thoroughly until smooth and free of lumps.
- Ice the Cake: Once the cake is out of the oven and still hot, immediately pour the chai maple icing over the top. Use an offset spatula or butter knife to spread the icing evenly.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cake to cool completely on a wire rack. Just before serving, dust with ground cinnamon for an extra hint of warmth and spice.
Notes
- Honeycrisp and Gala apples are preferred for baking due to their balanced sweetness and texture.
- Gluten-free all-purpose flour ensures this cake is suitable for those avoiding gluten.
- The chai tea leaves add warm spice notes; be sure to use the Double Spice Chai Black Tea or a similar chai blend.
- The cake is best served at room temperature and can be stored covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute the butter in the icing and cake with plant-based margarine and use a non-dairy milk alternative.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of cake)
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 26 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
Keywords: chai spiced apple cake, gluten-free apple cake, chai spice dessert, autumn desserts, maple icing, apple sheet cake
