• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Veggie Desserts
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Vegan Recipes
    • Vegan Cake and Desserts
    • Vegan Dinner
    • Vegan Breakfast
    • Vegan Guides
  • Cookbook
    • About My Cookbook
    • Buy Veggie Desserts + Cakes
  • About Me
    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Press
    • Newsletter
  • Subscribe
  • Instagram Posts
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Tumblr
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • About Me
  • Cookbook
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Contact
    • About Me
    • Cookbook
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Vegetable Desserts

    Apple Kale Cake with Apple Icing

    Published: Sep 6, 2021 by Kate Hackworthy · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Jump to Recipe
    This bright green Apple Kale Cake is naturally coloured with pureed kale! It has a delicate apple-flavoured sponge, topped with a zesty apple icing. Although there is quite a bit of kale, the flavour doesn't overpower the other ingredients. Hundreds of readers have made it and loved it! #kalecake #vegetabledessert #vegetablecake #kale

    Kale cake? Yes! You can't taste the kale in this delicious vegetable cake, but it gives this cake a bright green color and leaves some goodness behind. Hundreds of readers have made it and loved it.

    A cake and a piece of cake sitting on top of a table.
    Kale Cake! From Veggie Desserts + Cakes published by Pavilion Books. Image: Clare Winfield

    I know, you're thinking kale? In cake? But trust me. It's awesome.

    This naturally bright green cake (I swear, no editing with these pictures - the cake is really this green!) is colored by kale, but the flavor of it fades away.

    I love this kale cake so much, that I've included it in my debut cookbook, Veggie Desserts + Cakes, all about vegetable cake recipes and vegetables in other desserts!

    It has long been popular on this blog and hundreds of readers have written to me to tell me how much they've loved it.

    I hope you love this vegetable cake too. Find out more about my vegetable cake cookbook.

    This is the most popular vegetable cake recipe on my blog, with countless readers making it time and again.

    Kale has risen up the ranks to become the world's trendiest leafy green, but I've shunned the usual kale chips and smoothies, and made it naughty by baking it into a cake.

    This post was originally published on January 18 2014, and updated on September 6 2021 with new photos, revised method and step by step images.

    Jump to:
    • Reader Testimonials
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-step Tutorial
    • Tips
    • Vegan Kale Cake
    • More Vegetable Cake Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Reader Testimonials

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "This was great - and I entered it into a competition and won first prize! Thanks!" - Mark

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I made this for St. Patrick's Day. Such an amazing green cake!" - Tina

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I made this again today for a kids' dinosaur party cake. Everyone loved it." - Susa

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I made it and it was so amazing!!!! I'm going to make another for my bbq. I love this cake!" - Amanda

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Making it again this weekend. It went down so well with my work colleagues!" - Shauna

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "It was fun to keep people guessing as to why it was green. Needless to say, the cake received lots of compliments and there was none left. Several people asked where I found the recipe." - Megan

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I just made this cake.. It’s delicious!!!!! Will definitely make it again" - Caroline

    Why you'll love this recipe

    This cake is naturally green with no food coloring.

    It's perfect for a dinosaur cake, monster cake or just a fun bright green cake recipe!

    This kale cake has a delicate apple-flavoured sponge, topped with a zesty apple icing and, although there is quite a bit of kale, the flavour doesn't overpower the other ingredients.

    I've added applesauce to this veg cake, so less oil needs to be used.

    This kale cake is sweet without being too sugary and has moist texture, as vegetable cakes often do.

    For the icing, instead of the usual buttercream I beat the powdered sugar with applesauce and just a little butter to solidify it. The tangy-sweet icing compliments this vegetable cake well.

    I know that you're still skeptical. Heck, I would be if I hadn't tried it.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients on a table.

    Kale - get fresh, bright green kale and discard the woody stems.
    Eggs - to help bind the cake.
    Vegetable oil - go for a neutral-tasting oil like sunflower or canola.
    Vanilla extract - adds richness and sweetness.
    Applesauce - replaces half the oil for a healthier cake.
    Sugar - white granulated sugar.
    Apples - any apples will do, but I usually go for sweet eating apples.
    Flour - plain, all-purpose flour.
    Baking powder - to help the cake to rise.
    Salt - to balance the flavors.

    Please see the recipe card below for quantities.

    Step-by-step Tutorial

    Wondering how to make this kale cake recipe? It's easy! Just follow this step-by-step photo tutorial. Then, scroll down for the recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe method.

    Rinsing steamed kale.

    Steam the kale for a few minutes until soft, then rinse in cold water and drain.

    Kale, eggs, sugar, oil and applesauce in a blender.

    Add the kale to a blender (or a large bowl and use a stick blender) with the eggs, oil, vanilla, applesauce and sugar.

    Blended ingredients.

    Blend until it's smooth.

    Mixing bowl of kale batter plus grated apples.

    Pour the blended kale mixture into a mixing bowl and stir in the grated apple. 

    Tip: be sure to squeeze excess moisture out of the grated apple.

    Sifting in the dry ingredients.

    Sift in the flour, baking powder and salt and gently combine

    Batter in pans ready to bake.

    Pour into the prepared pans and bake for 20-25 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

    Tips

    • Readers have had success using flax eggs to make a vegan kale cake.
    • Use any apples that you like to eat, gala, cox etc...
    • Fresh kale can produce a more vibrant colour, though supermarket bags of chopped kale still work well.
    • Don't be tempted to add more kale to get a brighter colour or the flavour will come through too much.
    • Check out my other naturally green vegetable cakes!
    • I previously had the method written telling readers to puree the kale, then beat it into the batter. However, some people didn't puree it enough so the color wasn't so green. I've been testing and now amended the recipe to puree the kale with the other wet ingredients in a blender. That ensures the kale is fully pureed and the kale is very green!

    Vegan Kale Cake

    And a reader successfully made it into a vegan kale cake:

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Delicious! I made it with flax “eggs” – came out great! Thank you for the beautiful recipe." - Lyd

    How to make a flax egg.

    Close up of a cake with a slice out.

    More Vegetable Cake Recipes

    If you're looking for more unusual vegetable cake recipes, try these:

    • Sweet Vanilla Pea Cake with Lemon Frosting
    • Tomato Soup Cake
    • Lemon Stinging Nettle Cake
    • Cauliflower Banana Bundt Cake
    Slice of cake on a plate.
    Veggie Desserts Cookbook by Kate Hackworthy

    Check out the Veggie Desserts + Cakes cookbook on Amazon

    If you make this kale and apple cake recipe, please tag it with #veggiedesserts on Instagram or other social media. I LOVE seeing your recreations of my recipes! Also, pop down to the comment and let me know how you got on with the recipe. It’s always great to hear from my readers.

    📖 Recipe

    A cake and a piece of cake sitting on top of a table.

    Kale Cake with Apple Frosting

    Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts
    This Kale Cake with Apple Frosting is a moist and fluffy layer cake that's naturally green! You can't taste the kale, but it leaves a vibrant green colour.
    4.79 from 57 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    SaveSaved!
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine British
    Servings 12
    Calories 349 kcal

    Equipment

    • Blender
    • mixing bowl
    • Grater
    • 8" round cake pans

    Ingredients
     

    • 3 cups loosely packed, (200g) kale raw, woody stalks discarded)
    • 3 eggs
    • ½ cup (100ml) vegetable oil
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • ½ cup (100g) applesauce (see notes on how to make your own)
    • ¾ cup (175g) granulated sugar
    • 2 apples peeled and grated
    • 2 cups (250g) plain flour
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    For the Apple Icing (double to frost the sides as well as the top and middle)

    • 2 cups (250g) icing sugar
    • 2 tablespoons butter softened
    • 2 tablespoons applesauce smooth, puree if necessary
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F. Grease and line 2 x 8”(20cm) round cake pans with baking paper.
    • Tear the kale leaves into bite-sized pieces and boil or steam for 3-5 minutes until tender. Refresh by running under cold water, drain and squeeze out the excess liquid.
    • Add the kale to a blender (or a large bowl and use a stick blender) with the eggs, oil, vanilla, applesauce and sugar and whiz until smooth.
      Note: if you've made this kale cake recipe before, you'll have been instructed to puree the kale with a stick blender, then stir it into a bowl of beaten egg, oil, applesauce, vanilla ,and sugar. I've tested it again many times and although you can do it that way, it's easier to blend the kale with the liquid ingredients.
    • Pour the blended kale mixture into a mixing bowl. Squeeze the excess moisture out of the grated apple, then add the apple to the bowl and stir to combine.
    • Sift in the flour, baking powder and salt and gently combine, taking care not to overmix at this stage.
    • Pour into the prepared pans and bake for 20-25 minutes or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. 
    • Cool for 2 minutes in the pans and then turn onto a wire rack to cool completely.

    For the apple frosting

    • Beat the butter, apple sauce and vanilla, then sift in the powdered sugar and beat until thick and smooth. If necessary, add a little more powdered sugar to thicken, or a tablespoon of milk to thin.
    • Frost the completely cooled cake. And, if desired, decorate the top wiht blueberries.

    Notes

    • If you don't have applesauce, just peel, core and slice some apples, steam until soft and puree.
    • Readers have had success using flax eggs to make a vegan kale cake.
    • Use any apples that you like to eat.
    • Fresh kale can produce a more vibrant colour, though supermarket bags of chopped kale still work well.
    • Don't be tempted to add more kale to get a brighter colour or the flavour will come through too much.
    • NOTE: I previously had the method written telling readers to puree the kale, then beat it into the batter. However, some people didn't puree it enough so the color wasn't so green. I've been testing and now amended the recipe to puree the kale with the other wet ingredients in a blender. That ensures the kale is fully pureed and the kale is very green!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 349kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 4gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 137mgPotassium: 225mgFiber: 1gSugar: 39gVitamin A: 1800IUVitamin C: 21.5mgCalcium: 65mgIron: 1.5mg

    The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @kateveggiedesserts or tag #veggiedesserts! I love seeing your recreations.

    More Vegetable Dessert Recipes

    • Lime Avocado Popsicles
    • Sweet Potato Latte
    • Lemon and Cucumber Cake
    • Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins
    • Tweet
    • Share
    • Email

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sabrina

      October 04, 2022 at 9:49 pm

      can you substitute with gluten free flour? thanks!

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        October 05, 2022 at 11:09 am

        Hi, it should work fine with your usual gluten-free cake blend. Be sure that any baking powder or other ingredients are also gf.

        Reply
    2. Angie

      March 17, 2021 at 5:59 pm

      Can I use baby kale? If so, should I remove the stems?

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        March 18, 2021 at 10:32 am

        Hi, that should still work. Just remove any tough stems that won't puree after cooking.

        Reply
      • Thea

        April 12, 2021 at 9:15 am

        My cake turned out bland with bits of green from kale but not a green coloring of the cake. . What wenr wrong ?

        Reply
        • Kate Hackworthy

          April 12, 2021 at 3:18 pm

          Hi Thea
          If the cake didn't get a green colour, then it would have been that the kale just wasn't pureed enough. Sorry that you didn't have any luck with this.

          Reply
      • Teri

        September 28, 2021 at 8:29 pm

        Hi Kate!

        What happens if I use purple kale? Have you tried this?

        Thanks,

        Reply
        • Kate Hackworthy

          September 29, 2021 at 12:07 pm

          Hi Teri, I haven't tried it with purple kale. I'm intrigued to know what color it will turn out, so be sure to let me know if you do!

          Reply
          • SC

            October 20, 2021 at 8:48 pm

            5 stars
            I used purple kale and the colour was similar to that of a carrot cake. I did not blend the kale fully either, which gave it a nutty texture like carrot cake. It as very moist and delicious. I will definitely make it again. Thank you

            Reply
    3. Dianne Carpenter

      December 06, 2020 at 10:57 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent recipe!

      Reply
    4. Sam

      May 06, 2020 at 12:24 am

      Hi
      Can I use curly kale for this recipe? Tia

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        May 06, 2020 at 11:05 am

        Hi, absolutely! Any kale will work. I hope you enjoy it.

        Reply
        • Sam

          May 07, 2020 at 4:43 am

          5 stars
          Absolutely delicious.
          The only change (mistake) I did was not cook the kale before blending it. So it did have a mild kale smell. I'm hoping my kids(picky eater) will enjoy it and I will be super happy to get some veggies into them... Thanks heaps for the brilliant recipe and immediate response. Gonna try your others ones soon.

          Reply
    5. Kathy K

      March 15, 2019 at 3:19 pm

      5 stars
      I made these as mini cupcakes, but used a Two Sisters Cinnamon Buttercream frosting instead. Decadent, I know, but I was looking for a frosting that I could use to make the cupcakes look pretty! Anyhow, they are getting raves! The cake is very moist!

      Reply
    6. Kelsey

      February 19, 2019 at 5:59 pm

      5 stars
      These are great! Just a hint of kale. I did a half recipe and got 12 cupcakes baked for 21 minutes. I prefer the icing a little less sweet, but otherwise awesome.

      Reply
    7. Tas

      January 29, 2019 at 12:56 pm

      5 stars
      Hi Kate, just found you, and have become an instant fan. I tried this cake today, and it came out a little doughy although the family thought it was great. Does yours? Or should I have left it in the oven for longer? It passed all the ‘done’ tests: was brown around the edges, which came away from the sides, and the skewer came out clean. I do have a fan forced oven though and it usually converts 180 Celsius to 160 Celsius ... is your recommended oven temp for a fan forced oven? Really want to perfect this - I’m a dietitian and really want to recommend your website to patients too! Thankyou x

      Reply
    8. Anna Rumming-Pain

      October 30, 2018 at 4:41 am

      I really want to try this! Is the apple sauce shop bought? If so, where can I get it? Or is it homemade? If so, how do I make it? Sorry, complete novice!

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        April 25, 2019 at 11:30 am

        Hi! I sometimes buy applesauce (it's with other condiments like mint sauce etc...), or else I make my own. Peel and core apples, then slice thinly and put into a pan with a tablespoon of water. Cook until the apples are soft, then puree.

        Reply
    9. Janice

      August 27, 2018 at 8:58 pm

      5 stars
      What a wonderful recipe! It's so unusual and looks absolutely delicious

      Reply
    10. Amanda

      May 29, 2018 at 6:37 am

      5 stars
      I made it and it was so amazing!!!! Im going to make another for my bbq. I love this cake!

      Reply
    11. Tina

      March 28, 2018 at 4:04 pm

      5 stars
      I made this for St. Patrick's Day. Such an amazing green cake!

      Reply
    12. YVETTE VAN DER BERG

      March 27, 2018 at 8:20 am

      In my country we dont have applesauce or I dont seem to know where. I googled subsitutes for applesauce and it said oil. Considering there is already oil in this recipe what else do I put in then?

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        March 27, 2018 at 10:48 am

        Hi Yvette, it's really simple to make your own applesauce. Just peel, core and slice two apples and heat them in a saucepan with 1 tbsp of water until soft. Then puree with a hand held stick blender until smooth. Then just use the amount called for in the recipe. I hope that helps!

        Reply
    13. Kyla Matton Osborne | 24 Carrot Diet

      February 16, 2018 at 7:51 pm

      THis is such a pretty cake, and I LOVE the idea of making a cake with kale. But 200 g of kale? That's a HUGE amount! I'm going to have to find a better (and cheaper) source of greens if I want to try this recipe. Kale is like $3-4 for a handful here 🙁

      Reply
    14. Susa K

      December 01, 2017 at 9:04 pm

      5 stars
      I made this again today for a kids dinosaur party cake. everyone loved it.

      Reply
    15. Sues

      October 30, 2017 at 1:11 am

      5 stars
      omg I loved this cake. So much fun and the color was amazing!

      Reply
    16. Sam | Ahead of Thyme

      October 29, 2017 at 8:57 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! This looks delicious! So creative that you used kalee!

      Reply
    17. Helene

      October 29, 2017 at 8:19 pm

      5 stars
      Wooah that cake is really deep green! I never used kale in cake but after seeing yours I might be adventures to give it a go.

      Reply
      • Jessica

        July 12, 2022 at 5:25 pm

        May I know if I can substitute with kale powder? And if so, what other liquid or powder do I have to add to substitute for the absence of raw kale.

        Reply
        • Kate Hackworthy

          July 13, 2022 at 4:17 pm

          Hi Jessica, I haven't tested this with kale powder, so I'm not sure how to turn the powder into a thick paste that would replicate the pureed kale in the recipe. Perhaps you could use a regular apple cake recipe and swap out a little of the flour for the kale powder? That might work better!

          Reply
          • Jessica

            July 25, 2022 at 3:59 pm

            5 stars
            I used a combination of milk and kale powder for this recipe and they turned out great! I also used coconut oil and molasses~ how do I store these without the icing and with the icing? And for how long can I store them for?

            Reply
    18. Elizabeth

      October 29, 2017 at 1:37 pm

      5 stars
      I've tried, and loved, quite a few of your recipes, but I can't believe I've never tried making this one yet! It's on the list!

      Reply
    19. Brandi

      October 28, 2017 at 4:23 pm

      5 stars
      I have never seen kale in cake! How creative it looks gorgeous.

      Reply
    20. sue | theviewfromgreatisland

      October 28, 2017 at 4:05 pm

      I believe in eating the rainbow, but that usually doesn't include desserts ~ this is fabulous!

      Reply
    21. Julia

      October 28, 2017 at 1:40 pm

      5 stars
      Whaaat? A kale cake? I have to try this - love the flavor combo!

      Reply
    22. Razena

      October 28, 2017 at 1:27 pm

      5 stars
      I must confess I don’t particularly love chewing kale so I rarely buy it for cooking. I find baby kale more palatable and have added it to fritters and smoothies. I would never have thought of using it in a cake but this will be an excellent way to get some good green veg into my nephews ????

      Reply
    23. Natalia

      October 28, 2017 at 11:13 am

      5 stars
      This is such a creative way to incorporate more kale in our diet. Once I've made a spinach cake and my kids loved its green colour (an unusual colour for a cake!). I'm sure they will love the kale cake too! Looks delicious and super healthy!

      Reply
    24. Ewelina

      October 04, 2017 at 1:40 pm

      1 star
      Hello,
      Made this cake twice and must say huge disappointment!! It didn't bake inside is hard and glue 🙁 I did everything like in instruction:( and still don't know why it didn't grow:(

      Reply
      • Ewelina

        October 04, 2017 at 2:30 pm

        Do you think the problem could be that I beat the eggs until smooth and fluffy and then added the rest of the ingredient?

        Reply
        • Kate Hackworthy

          October 04, 2017 at 6:48 pm

          Hi, that's such a shame! I've made this many many times and it's always worked fine. I find that often the problem with cakes failing is that the baking powder is a bit old and therefore doesn't work properly and the cake doesn't rise as it should. Might that be the case? If you try with a new pot of baking powder and follow the instructions exactly then it should work.
          I hope you have better luck if you try again.

          Reply
    25. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry

      August 20, 2017 at 10:52 pm

      5 stars
      Seriously, I love everything about this cake.

      Reply
    26. Kate Hackworthy

      October 05, 2016 at 10:40 am

      Hi, I'm so sorry that you've had trouble making the cake. I've made it myself many times and I've had hundreds of readers get in contact to say that they've made it as well and many have made it again and again.
      The reason that it wasn't green is that the kale wasn't pureed enough. A hand held stick/emersion blender words the best to get into a puree.
      I'm really not sure why the cake didn't rise for you. Perhaps the baking powder wasn't fresh? The recipe as it is is enough for two layers.
      I'm not sure what went wrong for you - such a shame!

      Reply
    27. sandra

      September 29, 2016 at 10:34 am

      Hi, any idea if I could omit the eggs? and substitute it with something else? Pls recommed. Thanks.

      Reply
    28. Samantha

      July 31, 2016 at 11:13 pm

      Hi! So love the flavor of this cake but quick question... I used coconut flour and it is pretty dry. I am not sure where to change amounts of ingredients any suggestions to compensate for the denseness of the coconut flour? maybe more applesauce? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        August 02, 2016 at 1:54 pm

        Hi, I haven't tested this cake with coconut flour, so if you're used to substituting it in cakes then I suppose just adapt it how you normally would. Using standard flour this is a very moist cake - definitely not dry. Let me know how you get on.

        Reply
    29. Kellie

      May 31, 2016 at 7:52 pm

      Hello! I really want to make this cake. Have you ever tried making it with whole wheat flour, oat flour or coconut flour? Would the ratio's change? Any guidance on either of the options i listed would be helpful, i just am trying not to use white flour! TIA!!!

      Reply
      • Julietta Patnick

        January 23, 2020 at 2:47 pm

        Hi, I bake with wholemeal flour regularly as one family member needs high fibre. But there’s so much fibre in this that white flour was ok. If using wholemeal flour, I usually have to add extra liquid and sometimes n extra egg

        Reply
    30. Nikki

      April 16, 2016 at 1:30 am

      Hi- I can across your recipe on my local farmer's market newsletter. It was def intriguing- in fact, the cake is cooling now! I do have one question- 200g or 2 cups packed: my 2 cups packed was only 100g. I ended up adding more kale, but wanted to check with you. And thank you very much for the recipe.

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        April 20, 2016 at 12:26 pm

        Hi, I suppose it depends on how dense and big the kale leaves are - larger ones could be heavier as they're a bit tougher. But I hope it worked out for you!

        Reply
    31. Hester McQueen

      March 17, 2016 at 12:20 am

      Love to make this as we do struggle for different ways to use kale!

      Reply
    32. Melissa Crowe

      March 13, 2016 at 11:33 am

      lovely ideas thankyou

      Reply
    33. Ash

      March 04, 2016 at 5:11 am

      Have you tried replacing the sugar with mashed bananas? Would I need to add more flour?

      Also, could I use vegan butter instead of real butter? I'm baking a cake for a vegan friend!

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        March 04, 2016 at 1:05 pm

        Hi Ash,
        It would be fine to use vegan butter, and you could replace the eggs with flax 'eggs'. I'd perhaps be wary about removing all of the sugar if you're making all of the other changes, but you could always try. Let me know how you get on!

        Reply
    34. rlwebster

      February 26, 2016 at 12:27 am

      I couldn't really get my kale to do what I considered "puree." But it looks okay, as it's cooling now. I'm just wondering, do you think you store this cake in the refrigerator until it's all gone or just leave it on the counter?

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        February 26, 2016 at 10:44 am

        Hi! Kale can be tougher at some times of year and a bit more difficult to puree, but hopefully your cake will be nice and green. I leave mine in a tin on the counter, rather than the fridge. I hope you like it!

        Reply
    35. Sylvia M.

      February 15, 2016 at 9:36 pm

      Help! Can you tell me what I did wrong? My cake is not even slightly green. It's a normal cake color with the separate, green kale pieces. Each layer is only 1/2 an inch thick and the icing is only enough to cover one layer. I am so disappointed. I know it should work because it has turned out for other people.

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        February 16, 2016 at 12:44 pm

        Hi Sylvia. If the cake isn't green and the kale is in pieces, then I'd say that you needed to puree the kale more. As for it not rising, perhaps the baking powder was old? That can sometimes be the case. I've made this recipe quite a few times, plus I've had loads of readers tell me that they've enjoyed it, so perhaps try again? Sorry that it didn't work out for you.

        Reply
        • Shauna

          May 08, 2017 at 7:38 pm

          I made this cake and it tasted amazing but did not rise at all sadly. Although my baking powder was old so it could well have been that woopsy

          Reply
          • Kate Hackworthy

            May 10, 2017 at 11:09 am

            Oh no! Old baking powder is usually the cause of a flat cake, sadly. Definitely pick up a fresh tub of it for the next cake!

            Reply
            • Shauna

              May 18, 2017 at 6:46 pm

              5 stars
              Making it again this weekend. It went down so well with my work colleagues!

    36. Johnna

      October 23, 2015 at 3:13 am

      I try this cake and the cupcake. I loved the cupcakes but my cake did not rise

      Reply
    37. Laurel

      September 08, 2015 at 6:34 am

      5 stars
      It was very tasty! I substituted 2 cups grated zucchini for the apple. I also used white whole wheat flour and baked it in a bundt pan. My frosting separated a bit but other than that everything worked fine. Thank you!

      Reply
    38. Lyd

      June 26, 2015 at 4:00 am

      Delicious! I made it with flax "eggs" - came out great! Thank you for the beautiful recipe.

      Reply
    39. Lucy While

      March 24, 2015 at 10:02 am

      Hi. I plan to try this recipe. Is the suggested oven temperature based on a fan oven or not?

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        March 24, 2015 at 12:37 pm

        Hi Lucy

        The temperature is for a standard oven, so please adjust for fan. I hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    40. Sadhna Grover

      March 13, 2015 at 9:25 pm

      5 stars
      I have never seen such a nice, soft cake with kale and apple, and awesome light icing.
      I would love to try, can you suggest any replacement for egg.
      Your blog is fantastic, visiting first time.

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        March 15, 2015 at 4:34 pm

        Hi Sadhna, I'd just try it with whichever egg replacement you normally use: flax, chia etc... Enjoy!

        Reply
    41. superfitbabe

      March 10, 2015 at 3:08 pm

      I've seen kale cakes that look so gross, and this is the epitome of DELICIOUSNESS!

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        March 15, 2015 at 4:31 pm

        Thanks! I'll freely admit that some of the early tests haven't been so delicious - but once I get the veg ratio right, they're fab!

        Reply
    42. Helen at Casa Costello

      January 07, 2015 at 4:49 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my goodness, this looks incredible! I love the colour. I will admit to letting several bags of bought-with-good-intentions kale go rotten but now I know what to do with it. Popping over from Tots100 StumbleWednesday - Feel free to add this to #Bakeoftheweek linky too x

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        January 11, 2015 at 11:06 am

        Thanks Helen! I hate letting vegetables go to waste, too. So put them in cake!

        Reply
    43. .

      December 04, 2014 at 9:39 am

      Any thoughts on a vegan version? Would a purchased egg sub like Ener-g work? Or maybe ground flaxseed and water?

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        December 07, 2014 at 8:59 am

        I haven't made this cake vegan, but I'd assume that any of your usual egg substitutes in cake might work. I haven't tried Ener-g, but flax egg usually works well. Please let me know what you try and how you get on as a lot of my readers are vegan.

        Reply
    44. Mark Charlton

      November 10, 2014 at 8:40 am

      5 stars
      This was great - and I entered it to a competition and won first prize! Thanks, guys! I stewed the apple (to make purée) with star anise and clove, which gave it an Autumny loveliness. Keep on baking!

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        November 15, 2014 at 7:14 pm

        WOW! That's amazing. I'm so pleased you won - and great idea for the spices!

        Reply
    45. Katya

      July 03, 2014 at 4:00 am

      Definitely going to try this...

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        July 03, 2014 at 1:03 pm

        I hope you get to! Let me know how it goes!

        Reply
    46. Megan

      May 04, 2014 at 1:02 pm

      5 stars
      Greetings from Maryland, USA. I made this cake (slightly adapted) for a breakfast on Saturday. It was fun to keep people guessing as to why it was green. Needless to say, the cake received lots of compliments and there was none left. The adaptations: baked in a single larger layer, added some millet for crunch, blended the kale stems as well and used less frosting as it was meant for breakfast. Several people asked where I found the recipe so I directed them to your blog.

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        May 04, 2014 at 1:56 pm

        I'm so glad that you all liked it! Your adaptions sound great. Millet - genius!

        Reply
    47. Anyonita

      April 10, 2014 at 7:25 pm

      5 stars
      Such a beautiful cake! 🙂

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        April 14, 2014 at 8:03 pm

        Thanks Anyonita. It tasted as good as it looked!

        Reply
    48. Kate Hackworthy

      April 09, 2014 at 10:26 am

      Thanks Jami! If someone takes the time to comment, the least I can do is reply!
      I hope you and your daughter like the cake. We love green smoothies in this house and any way of getting leafy greens has to be good.
      Let me know how you get on with the adjustments as I get a lot of comments from people with other dietary needs and it would be of use to them.
      Enjoy! 🙂

      Reply
    49. Sam

      February 27, 2014 at 10:41 pm

      Is step 7 essential cos it's missing

      Reply
      • Kate Veggie Desserts

        February 27, 2014 at 10:50 pm

        Hi Sam, there is no seventh instruction, I must have just hit enter. Hope you enjoy the cake!

        Reply
    50. Emily @amummytoo

      January 28, 2014 at 4:13 pm

      5 stars
      Can't get over how beautiful this is. And sound so yummy. Thanks so much for joining in with #recipeoftheweek. I've Pinned and Tweeted this post and there's a fresh linky live now for this week. Hope you can join in! x

      Reply
      • Kate Veggie Desserts

        February 26, 2014 at 7:30 pm

        Hi Emily, thanks so much - it was indeed yummy. And thanks for pinning and tweeting about it. 🙂

        Reply
    51. [email protected]

      January 27, 2014 at 1:09 pm

      5 stars
      I saw this over at Made With Love Mondays and, as a kale-oholic of long-standing, was intrigued. Super idea and fun colour. Pinning!

      Reply
      • Kate Veggie Desserts

        January 27, 2014 at 1:35 pm

        Thanks Kellie, I hope you get a chance to try it. If you do, let me know how it goes. The colour is amazing and even with all that kale in it you can't actually taste it. 🙂

        Reply
    52. Kirsty - Hijacked by Twins

      January 23, 2014 at 12:13 pm

      I'd be curious to try this one! #RecipeOfTheWeek

      Reply
      • Kate Veggie Desserts

        February 26, 2014 at 7:31 pm

        Hi Kirsty, it sounds strange, but it is really delicious. You can't taste the kale and it is such an amazing colour. I hope you give it a try. 🙂

        Reply
    53. Coombemill

      January 22, 2014 at 3:14 pm

      This looks truly original and a great way to get greens into kids! Love it. Stopping by from Made with love Mondays

      Reply
      • Kate Veggie Desserts

        January 22, 2014 at 7:37 pm

        Thank you! My kids loved it, it really is a great way to feed them greens. 🙂

        Reply
    54. nutritious deliciousness

      January 22, 2014 at 2:02 pm

      5 stars
      that is amazing! would love a taste, I will definitely try it as I've always got kale in the fridge and need other ways to eat it! #recipeoftheweek

      Reply
      • Kate Veggie Desserts

        January 22, 2014 at 2:07 pm

        I hope you do try it, it's lovely and such a surprising way to use lovely kale! 🙂

        Reply
    55. Kate Veggie Desserts

      January 22, 2014 at 11:09 am

      Go on, Sarah, try it! It seems strange at first to be baking with vegetables, but we're all used to carrot cake so kale cake isn't that huge a step, really. Embrace the green cake! 🙂

      Reply
    56. Louisa, Eat Your Veg

      January 22, 2014 at 9:54 am

      5 stars
      Genius. Kale & Apple Cake, now I'd never have thought of that but what a great idea and so pretty too! I always seem to have a surplus of kale from my weekly veg boxes, so it's good to have a few ideas up my sleeve. I really really MUST try a green smoothie too, would be such a fab start to a day. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blog by the way and shall make every effort to drop by more often :))

      Reply
      • Kate Veggie Desserts

        January 22, 2014 at 11:18 am

        Thanks Louisa! So nice coming from a fellow veg-obsessive! Seriously, get on the green smoothie train. You can't even taste it and you feel so invigorated after drinking it. Then put the rest of the kale in cake! Yum!

        Reply
    57. Brittany

      January 22, 2014 at 5:10 am

      Cool! I googled veggie desserts and this amazing website came up. Do you substitute agave or something else for sugar? I want to try to eliminate refined white sugar from my baking but I'm no expert in how to adjust recipes for this

      Reply
      • Kate Veggie Desserts

        January 22, 2014 at 11:17 am

        Hi Brittany. I'm so glad you like the site. This is quite a 'wet' recipe already, so I'd substitute the sugar for 1/2 cup agave and add an extra 1/4 cup of flour. I hope that works, please let me know.

        Reply
        • Brittany

          March 02, 2014 at 6:22 am

          5 stars
          It turned out well. I diced the apples instead of grating them, which I think I like better. It wasn't too sweet since I went without the icing but I enjoyed it. I think that next time I will try to do it with pears instead

          Reply
          • Kate Veggie Desserts

            March 03, 2014 at 11:08 am

            I'm glad you liked the cake, Brittany. Pears sound lovely, as does making it with diced apples. 🙂

            Reply
    58. Caroline

      January 22, 2014 at 2:32 am

      5 stars
      I just made this cake.. It's delicious!!!!! Will definitely make it again 🙂

      Reply
      • Kate Veggie Desserts

        January 22, 2014 at 11:13 am

        I'm so glad you liked it Caroline! Thanks for dropping back to let me know how it went. 🙂

        Reply
    59. Javelin Warrior

      January 21, 2014 at 7:47 pm

      5 stars
      So wonderfully green! And I love the use of the applesauce for both the cake and the frosting. Very creative a great way to work in more fiber and less fat/sugar...

      Reply
      • Kate Veggie Desserts

        January 22, 2014 at 11:12 am

        Thanks. I'm all about easy ways to cut out the fat and sugar!

        Reply
    60. Capture by Lucy

      January 21, 2014 at 5:59 pm

      5 stars
      Ooh great to discover your blog - I love experimenting. I shall be here some time...! #recipeoftheweek #tastytuesdays

      Reply
      • Kate Veggie Desserts

        January 22, 2014 at 11:12 am

        I'm glad you like the blog, Lucy. I'm off to check yours out now. 🙂

        Reply
      • Scott

        November 02, 2016 at 7:11 am

        5 stars
        This just stopped my heart. So freaking beautiful. So freaking delicious sounding! I will share this recipe with my friends!

        Reply
    61. Honest Mum

      January 21, 2014 at 6:55 am

      5 stars
      This looks AH-mazing and my kids would love green cake! Thanks for linking up to #Tastytuesdays. This week's is now live!

      Reply
      • Kate Veggie Desserts

        January 22, 2014 at 11:11 am

        Thanks Vicki. My kids went pretty wild for it - and they're used to green everything! See you at #TastyTuesdays!

        Reply
    62. Kel

      January 20, 2014 at 8:33 pm

      5 stars
      That looks amazing, I am drilling at the thought of apple icing!

      Reply
      • Kate Veggie Desserts

        January 22, 2014 at 11:10 am

        Thanks Kel. The apple icing is great. Lowering the fat is a great bonus to a lovely appley flavour.

        Reply
    63. Jean

      January 20, 2014 at 5:13 pm

      It looks incredibly green!
      I am absolutely tempted to try making it because of its green-ness!

      Reply
      • Kate Veggie Desserts

        January 22, 2014 at 11:08 am

        Thanks Jean, you should really try it. It is so, so green!

        Reply
    64. Kristen

      January 20, 2014 at 3:19 pm

      5 stars
      I love your blog- its so wonderfully creative! So far I've looked at all your cake recipes and I think i'll make it a goal of mine to make each of them, they look great 🙂

      Reply
      • Kate Veggie Desserts

        January 20, 2014 at 3:46 pm

        Oh, that's so lovely, Kristen! Do pop back and let me know how they go. 🙂

        Reply
    65. Janie

      January 20, 2014 at 2:24 pm

      5 stars
      It looks stunning and so moist! Thanks so much for sharing with Tea Time Treats, could you please email me a photo for the round up as I seem to be unable to copy any of the images. Thank you!
      Janie x

      Reply
      • Kate Veggie Desserts

        January 20, 2014 at 3:45 pm

        Thanks Janie, I've sent it to you. x

        Reply
    66. Alison

      January 20, 2014 at 9:16 am

      Kale in a cake? I would never have thought of it. It looks lovely though

      Reply
      • Kate Veggie Desserts

        January 20, 2014 at 11:34 am

        I'm so obsessed by vegetable cakes that it doesn't seem strange at all to me anymore! 🙂

        Reply
    67. June @ Squeaky Kitchen

      January 20, 2014 at 6:24 am

      Very interesting combination!

      Reply
      • Kate Veggie Desserts

        January 20, 2014 at 11:40 am

        Thanks June 🙂

        Reply
    68. Jenny @ The Brick Castle

      January 19, 2014 at 10:06 pm

      I have a bag of kale and I really wasn't sure what to do with it - cake seems a great idea - my family won't believe it when I present them with a green cake! 😀

      Reply
      • Kate Veggie Desserts

        January 20, 2014 at 11:33 am

        I'm sure they'll be pleased! Though perhaps shocked at the fab bright green colour! 🙂

        Reply
    69. Nora

      January 18, 2014 at 6:41 pm

      I too am a convert of Kale green smoothies, I'm having one every morning and it has completely cleared my skin of acne! I can't wait to try this cake as a very healthy treat!

      Reply
      • Kate Veggie Desserts

        January 18, 2014 at 7:35 pm

        What a great bonus! I just feel far more revived than I do with coffee so I love it. I hope you get a chance to try the cake. Let me know how it goes. 🙂

        Reply
        • Olivia

          January 25, 2016 at 11:13 pm

          5 stars
          Computer wouldn't let me make my own comment but so far so good with this cake! I had a taste of the batter and wound up licking the whole spoon! Very yummy! I myself added about of teaspoon of cinnamon to the frosting to add some flavor. Nice to have a dessert not to feel guilty about!

          Reply
        • Nicole R

          March 17, 2016 at 11:10 pm

          Hi Kate! I am making this cake on Saturday for my mom (her birthday is on St. Patricks day!). A few questions -- you say to "Grease and line the tins", I get greasing it with oil, but what are you lining the tin with? Also, what kind of apples do you recommend (royal gala, granny green etc.). Thank you!

          Reply
          • Kate Hackworthy

            March 18, 2016 at 10:32 am

            Hi Nicole

            You could line the cake with baking paper, but it's fine not to. For the apples, just use your favourite eating apples. Granny Smith could be a bit too tart, but Royal Gala would be perfect. I hope you like it!

            Reply
        • Stéphanie M Roy

          September 18, 2016 at 2:45 am

          Hi, could I make this with rice flour?

          Reply
          • Kate Hackworthy

            September 18, 2016 at 1:26 pm

            Hi Stephanie

            I haven't tested it with rice flour, but if you're used to substituting rice flour for wheat flour in cakes, then just substitute it how you normally sub it. Please come back and let me know how it turns out!

            Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Kate Hackworthy in the kitchen

    Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. I hope you enjoy my vegetarian and vegan recipes. About Me

    Collage of press logos.

    Popular recipes

    • The BEST Easy Red Lentil Dahl
    • Easy Naan Bread Recipe (yeast-free)
    • Mini Baked Potatoes
    • Easy Lentil Soup

    Easter Recipes

    • Easter Rice Krispie Nests
    • Italian Easter Bread (Pane di Pasqua)
    • Mushroom Wellington
    • Nut Roast

    My cookbook

    Veggie Desserts and Cakes Cookbook cover.

    Check out my Veggie Desserts Cookbook, full of tasty desserts with vegetables!

    Kate Hackworthy in the kitchen

    Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. I hope you enjoy my vegetarian and vegan recipes. About Me

    Collage of press logos.

    Popular recipes

    • The BEST Easy Red Lentil Dahl
    • Easy Naan Bread Recipe (yeast-free)
    • Mini Baked Potatoes
    • Easy Lentil Soup

    Easter Recipes

    • Easter Rice Krispie Nests
    • Italian Easter Bread (Pane di Pasqua)
    • Mushroom Wellington
    • Nut Roast

    My cookbook

    Veggie Desserts and Cakes Cookbook cover.

    Check out my Veggie Desserts Cookbook, full of tasty desserts with vegetables!

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About me
    • Contact
    • Work with me
    • Press
    • Veggie Desserts Cookbook

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up for newsletter updates

    Disclaimers

    • Disclosures & Affiliate Policies
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Kate Hackworthy / Veggie Desserts