Is homemade apple cake ultra-processed?

No. This recipe uses 10 ingredients — all NOVA 1 (apples, eggs, milk, lemon) or NOVA 2 (flour, sugar, oil, baking powder, vanilla). Zero UPF markers. You control the exact sugar quantity. Mr Kipling’s apple pies, by contrast, contain 4 UPF markers and 3 different sugar types.

How does Mr Kipling compare to homemade?

Mr Kipling Bramley Apple Pies contain 18 ingredients (vs 10 homemade), 4 UPF markers (flavouring, glycerine, potassium sorbate, dextrose), and 3 sugar aliases (sugar, glucose syrup, dextrose). The sugar content is 23g per 100g with 58.5g carbs. The preservatives (potassium sorbate, sodium metabisulphite) exist solely to extend shelf life.

Glucose: Medium10 ingredients

Apple Cake Recipe — Ingredient Analysis: NOVA Scores, Hidden Sugars & Glucose Impact

We analysed this easy apple cake recipe. 10 whole ingredients. Mr Kipling’s version? 18 ingredients with glucose syrup, dextrose, glycerine, and 3 preservatives.

Original recipe by

Easy Apple Cake by Daniela Apostol at My Gorgeous Recipes · @mygorgeousrecipes

SpikeSaver Ingredient Analysis

Ingredient	Qty	NOVA	Hidden Sugars	Glucose	Protein
Cooking apples	3 medium	NOVA 1	None	Low	0.9g
Self-raising flour	100g	NOVA 2	None	Medium	10g
Milk	100ml	NOVA 1	None	Low	3.4g
Caster sugar	100g	NOVA 2	sugar	High	—
Vegetable oil	2 tbsp	NOVA 2	None	Negligible	—
Vanilla extract	1 tsp	NOVA 2	None	Negligible	—
Baking powder	1 tsp	NOVA 2	None	Negligible	—
Lemon juice	From 1 lemon	NOVA 1	None	Negligible	—
Eggs	2	NOVA 1	None	Negligible	13g
Icing sugar	For dusting	NOVA 2	sugar	High	—

Per serving (8 servings)

195

Calories

3.4g

Protein

30g

Carbs

Fat

1.5g

Fibre

Overall verdict

All NOVA 1–2: whole fruit with processed culinary ingredients1 hidden sugarGlucose: Medium

A straightforward bake using 10 ingredients — all NOVA 1 (apples, eggs, milk, lemon) or NOVA 2 (flour, sugar, oil, baking powder). You control the sugar quantity exactly. Zero UPF markers. The shop-bought alternative paints a very different picture.

The swap comparison

What happens when you swap from-scratch ingredients for shop-bought shortcuts?

Homemade apple cake (10 ingredients, controlled sugar)

→

Mr Kipling Bramley Apple Pies 6 Pack

NOVA 44 UPF markers3 sugar aliases18 ingredients

Lens	From Scratch	Shop-Bought	Delta
NOVA/UPF	NOVA 1–2, 0 UPF markers	NOVA 4, 4 UPF markers (flavouring, glycerine, potassium sorbate, dextrose)	+4 UPF markers including a preservative and humectant
Hidden Sugar	1 known sugar (caster sugar, measured)	3 aliases: sugar, glucose syrup, dextrose — sugar-disguising flag	+2 new sugar types; 3 forms disguise total sugar
Glucose Impact	Medium (controlled sugar)	23g sugar/100g, 58.5g carbs/100g	Very high sugar and carb load
Protein/Macros	10 ingredients including eggs	3.2g protein, 13.3g fat, 370kcal, 18 ingredients	Higher fat and calories; glycerine as humectant

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