Healthy Apple Oatmeal Cake
This Healthy Apple Oatmeal Cake is soft, moist, and packed with juicy apples and cozy cinnamon spice. Made with oats, whole wheat flour, Greek yogurt, and protein powder, it’s a wholesome and satisfying cake that’s perfect for breakfast, snacking, or a healthier dessert.
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- Wholesome and satisfying – Oats, whole wheat flour, apples, and Greek yogurt provide fiber, protein, and staying power.
- Higher in protein – Greek yogurt, an egg, oats, and protein powder give this cake an extra protein boost.
- Easy to make – It’s a simple, no-mixer cake that comes together quickly with everyday ingredients.
If you are looking for more healthy cake recipes, try my Orange Date Cake, Healthy Lemon Loaf, and Orange Almond Flour Cake.
Ingredients you’ll need:
- Quick oats – Add whole-grain goodness and fiber while giving the cake its hearty, tender oatmeal texture.
- Whole wheat flour – Provides structure while adding more fiber and nutrients than refined flour.
- Protein powder – Gives the cake an easy protein boost without significantly changing the flavor.
- Baking powder & baking soda – Help the cake rise and keep its hearty oat-based texture from becoming too dense.
- Cinnamon & nutmeg – Add warm, cozy spice that complements the apples beautifully.
- Olive oil – Adds just enough fat to keep the cake soft and tender.
- Egg – Provides structure, richness, and moisture while helping bind the ingredients together.
- Vanilla extract – Adds warmth and enhances the apple and cinnamon flavors.
- Greek yogurt – Keeps the cake moist and tender while adding extra protein.
- Maple syrup – Adds natural sweetness, moisture, and a subtle maple flavor.
- Coconut sugar – Adds sweetness and a slightly caramel-like flavor that pairs especially well with apples and cinnamon.
- Milk – Adds moisture and helps soften the oats as the cake bakes.
- Apples – Provide natural sweetness, moisture, fiber, and plenty of fresh apple flavor.
How to make healthy apple oatmeal cake:
(The full written and printable recipe is further below.)
Step #1) In a medium bowl, toss together the quick oats, whole wheat flour, protein powder, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt.
Step #2) In a large bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, milk, maple syrup, brown sugar, olive oil, egg, and vanilla.
Step #3) Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until almost combined. Fold in the chopped apples until just combined.
Step #4) Transfer the batter into a 9×9″ greased pan. Bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes.
🌟 Expert tips:
- Dice the apples into small pieces so they soften completely and distribute evenly throughout the cake. Peeling them is optional.
- Use a protein powder that you enjoy the taste of on its own. Vanilla or unflavored protein powder works especially well with the apple and cinnamon flavors.
- Let the batter sit for about 5 minutes before baking. This allows the oats to begin absorbing the liquid and creates a softer, more cohesive cake.
Storing & freezing instructions:
Storing – Keep the cake covered at room temperature for up to 1 day, then refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freezing – Wrap individual slices and store them in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or warm individual pieces briefly in the microwave.
Recipe FAQs:
Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady, and Golden Delicious are all great choices. You can also combine a sweet and tart variety.
No. Finely diced apple peel softens as it bakes, but you can peel the apples if you prefer a smoother texture.
Quick oats work best for a soft cake texture. If you only have old-fashioned rolled oats, pulse them briefly in a food processor before measuring.
Yes. Substitute an equal amount of all-purpose flour for a slightly lighter and softer cake.
If you’ve tried this Healthy Apple Oatmeal Cake Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Healthy Apple Oatmeal Cake
Ingredients
- 1¾ cups quick oats
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- ¼ cup protein powder
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup coconut sugar, or brown sugar
- ½ cup milk of choice
- 2 apples, finely chopped
optional topping:
- 1 Tbsp coconut sugar
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and grease a 9×9" baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, toss together the quick oats, whole wheat flour, protein powder, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, milk, maple syrup, brown sugar, olive oil, egg, and vanilla.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until almost combined. Fold in the chopped apples until just combined.
- Transfer the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar if desired.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Notes
Recipe adapted from The Cooking Foodie
