Apple cider cake is a moist and tender cake filled with apple cider and a blend of classic fall spices. This apple cider bundt cake is coated in an apple cider butter and cinnamon sugar. Top this cozy apple cider donut cake with an easy to make apple cider glaze for the perfect, simple and easy to make fall cake.
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Why Should You Make This Recipe
One of my all time favorite fall treats is a warm cup of apple cider to enjoy with my apple cider donut. Two of my favorite apple cider recipes are my Apple Cider Cookies and Apple Cider Donut Muffins. I am so excited to add this apple cider cake recipe to the blog.
- Layers of flavors and textures. From the soft, moist and tender apple cider filled bundt cake soaked in an apple cider butter to the crunchy cinnamon sugar coating and the bright apple cider glaze, this cider donut cake will delight your senses. This cake has a taste of fall in every bite.
- Easy to make. This cider and apple cake is very easy to make. Simply mix up the cake batter in one bowl, bake, glaze with apple cider butter, coat in cinnamon sugar and top with an apple cider glaze.
Ingredients
Make sure you have these ingredients ready to go to make the best apple and cider cake.
Apple Cider Cake
- Dry Ingredients: Gather purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.
- Wet Ingredients: Gather oil, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and unsweetened applesauce.
Apple Cider Butter, Cinnamon Sugar And Apple Cider Glaze
Gather melted butter, apple cider, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, powdered sugar and vanilla extract.
Substitutions
Here are my recommended substitutions to make this nothing bundt cake inspired carrot cake as easy as possible.
- All purpose flour: To make this apple cider cake gluten free, use a good 1-1 gluten free flour. I recommend using the one from Bob’s Red Mill. Make sure the gluten free flour contains xanthium gum, as this acts as a replacement for gluten. Measure the flour in grams (360 grams) versus cups.
- Baking Powder and Baking Soda: Both of these are leaveners for the cake. Use both if possible.
- Ground Spices: This moist apple cider donut bundt cake is full of the perfect blend of aromatics to make this cake really shine. Feel free to use 2 - 3 teaspoons apple pie spice in this recipe in place of the cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.
- Oil: Feel free to use your preferred neutral tasting oil such as avocado, canola or vegetable.
- Light Brown and Granulated Sugars: A blend of both sugars is what is recommended for this most apple cider apple cake. However, I love using maple sugar as a refined sugar free option. Maple sugar bakes very similarly to light brown sugar.
- Eggs: This recipe has not been tested without eggs.
- Vanilla Extract: This gives a lovely background flavor to this fall bundt cake.
- Unsweetened Applesauce: This ingredient creates a lovely moist crumb. Use an equivalent amount of cinnamon applesauce, sour cream or greek yogurt as a substitute if needed.
- Apple Cider: Feel free to use unpasteurized apple juice or pasteurized apple juice in place of the apple cider. Do not use apple cider vinegar.
Variations
- Mini Apple Cider Bundt Cakes: Make the apple cider cake batter as written in the recipe. Grease two 6 count mini bundt pan or a 12 count mini bundt pan. Transfer the moist cake batter into each cavity of the mini bundt pan. Make sure to fill each cavity abut ½ full. Bake the mini apple cider cakes for 15 - 25 minutes, depending on the type of pan. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out with a few moist crumbs. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, invert onto a cooling rack and cool to room temperature before coating the cakes in the apple cider butter and cinnamon sugar.
- Apple Cider Loaf Cake: This cake can easily be made in two loaf pans. If you would like to follow the recipe as written, divide the apple cake batter into (2) 8x 4 or 9 x 5 loaf pans. Bake at 350 F (177 C) for 35 - 45 minutes. Cool the apple cider donut loaf cakes in the pan for 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature and the follow the rest of the recipe as written to apply the apple cider glaze and cinnamon sugar.
- Apple Cider Cake with Cake Mix: Whisk 3 eggs, ½ cup (120 ml), 1 cup (240 ml) apple cider and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract with a 15.25 oz. boxed spice cake mix until well combined. Pour into a 9 x 13 pan and bake for about 35 minutes. Once cooled, brush the top of the cake with butter and top with cinnamon sugar and apple cider glaze.
How To Make
Learn how to make apple cider cake in a few easy steps.
- Preheat the oven to 350 F (177 C). Preheat the oven to 350 F (177 C). Grease a 10-inch (12 cup capacity bundt pan). Whisk the all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves until well combined.
- In another bowl, whisk the oil, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, eggs, applesauce and vanilla extract until well combined. Mix in the dry ingredients, alternating with the apple cider until just combined.
- Evenly pour the apple cider apple cake batter into the prepared bundt pan. Bake the cider bundt cake for 40 - 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean and the edges of the cake pull slightly away from the edges of the pan. The center of the cake should bounce back quickly when lightly pressed. Cool the bundt cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert the cake onto a cooling rack or serving plate to cool to room temperature.
- While the bundt apple cake cools, make the apple cider butter, cinnamon sugar and apple cider glaze. In a bowl, whisk the melted butter and apple cider together until well combined. In another bowl whisk the sugar and ground cinnamon together until well combined. Brush the entire cake with apple cider butter until all of it is gone. Apply the cinnamon sugar to the cake by gently tilting one side of the cake and pressing the cinnamon sugar onto the side lifted into the air. Rotate and repeat until all the sides and top of the cake are coated in cinnamon sugar.
5. Enjoy the cake as is for more of an apple cider donut flavor and texture. For even more fall flavor, mix together the powdered sugar and apple cider until well combined. Drizzle the glaze on top of the cake, slice and enjoy.
How To Store, Freeze, Thaw and Store
- Store: This apple cider cake is super moist and will do just fine when stored in the fridge. Keep the cake in an airtight container or covered in plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 4 - 5 days. If you plan on serving the cake the within one day of being made, it can be kept at room temperature for 1 day.
- Freeze: Make sure the cake is fully cooled. Do not apply the apple cider butter or the cinnamon sugar. Freeze and thaw the cake and then coat the cake in the apple cider butter and cinnamon sugar. The cake can be wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in an airtight, freezer safe container for up to 2 months.
- Thaw: Thaw frozen apple cake in the fridge overnight. Bring to room temperature before applying the apple cider butter and cinnamon sugar. Enjoy from the fridge or at room temperature.
M’s Expert Tips
- Use a non-stick spray: Prevent the cake from sticking to the bundt pan by generously greasing the pan. If needed, take a pastry brush or even a clean paper towel and work the spray into all the grooves of the pan.
- Bring cold ingredients to room temperature. This allows the ingredients to mix together more evenly.
- Cool the cake in the pan for no longer than 10 - 15 minutes. If you try to remove the cake before 10 minutes, the cake may still be too hot to remove without falling apart. Removing the cake after 15 minutes may cause the cake to stick to the pan more easily.
- Fully cool the cake before applying the apple cider butter and cinnamon sugar. This usually takes about 30 - 45 minutes after the cake has been removed from the pan or about an hour after the cake has been removed from the oven.
FAQs
What does apple cider do in baking?
Apple cider is an acidic liquid that reacts to baking soda to give cakes a lighter, fluffier texture. Apple cider also provides lots of rich apple flavor. Do not confuse apple cider with apple cider vinegar or this recipe.
Can I get even more apple cider flavor in this cake?
For even more fall flavor, use 2 cups of apple cider. In order keep the liquid and dry ingredients in the correct ratio, the extra cup of apple cider needs to be reduced to 1 cup. Pour the apple cider in a sauce pan and simmer over medium-hugh heat for about 15 minutes or until the 2 cups is reduced down to 1 cup.
How to get the apple cake out of the bundt pan?
Make sure to generously grease all the nooks and crannies of your bundt pan. Cool the cake for about 10 minutes. Invert the cake onto a cooling and gently tap the bottom of the pan to help loosen the cake. If the cake doesn’t easily come out, place a steaming tea towel on top of the cake to help loosen any stuck pieces of cake. If this doesn't work, fully cool the cake, transfer the cake to the freezer and freeze. The cake should easily slip out once it has cooled and begun to freeze.
Other Apple Cake Recipes To Try
If you try this Apple Cider Cake recipe please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Doing so helps other readers decide if this is a great recipe to bake. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using @olivesnthyme so I can see what you’re baking! Happy Baking! - M
Apple Cider Cake Recipe
Apple cider cake is a moist and tender cake filled with apple cider and a blend of classic fall spices. This apple cider bundt cake is coated in an apple cider butter and cinnamon sugar. Top this cozy apple cider donut cake with an easy to make apple cider glaze for the perfect, simple and easy to make fall cake.
Equipment
- 1 10 inch (12 cup) capacity bundt pan
- 2 large mixing bowls
- 3 small mixing bowls
- 1 whisk
Ingredients
Apple Cider Cake
- 3 cups (360 g) all purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 cup (240 ml) oil
- 1 cup (200 g) light brown sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (226 g) applesauce, room temperature
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons (10 ml) vanilla extract
- 1 cup (240 ml) apple cider
Apple Cider Butter
- 4 tablespoons (57 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) apple cider
Cinnamon Sugar
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Apple Cider Glaze
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F (177 C). Preheat the oven to 350 F (177 C). Grease a 10-inch (12 cup capacity bundt pan).
- Whisk the all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves until well combined.3 cups (360 g) all purpose flour, 1½ teaspoons baking powder , ½ teaspoon baking soda, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves , ½ teaspoon salt
- In another bowl, whisk the oil, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, eggs, applesauce and vanilla extract until well combined. Mix in the dry ingredients, alternating with the apple cider until just combined, ending with the dry ingredients. Evenly pour the apple cider apple cake batter into the prepared bundt pan.1 cup (240 ml) oil , 1 cup (200 g) light brown sugar, ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar, 1 cup (226 g) applesauce, room temperature, 3 large eggs, room temperature, 2 teaspoons (10 ml) vanilla extract , 1 cup (240 ml) apple cider
- Bake the cider bundt cake for 40 - 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean and the edges of the cake pull slightly away from the edges of the pan. The center of the cake should bounce back quickly when lightly pressed. Cool the bundt cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert the cake onto a cooling rack or serving plate to cool to room temperature.
- While the bundt apple cake cools, make the apple cider butter, cinnamon sugar and apple cider glaze. In a bowl, whisk the melted butter and apple cider together until well combined. In another bowl whisk the sugar and ground cinnamon together until well combined.4 tablespoons (57 g) unsalted butter, melted, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) apple cider , ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Brush the entire cake with apple cider butter until all of it is gone. Apply the cinnamon sugar to the cake by gently tilting one side of the cake and pressing the cinnamon sugar onto the side lifted into the air. Rotate and repeat until all the sides and top of the cake are coated in cinnamon sugar.
- Enjoy the cake as is for more of an apple cider donut flavor and texture. For even more fall flavor, mix together the powdered sugar and apple cider until well combined. Drizzle the glaze on top of the cake, slice and enjoy.1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon apple cider
Notes
Store: This apple cider cake is super moist and will do just fine when stored in the fridge. Keep the cake in an airtight container or covered in plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 4 - 5 days. If you plan on serving the cake the within one day of being made, it can be kept at room temperature for 1 day.
See Variations section of the blog post to make this apple cider cake as mini bundt cakes, as a loaf cake or using boxed cake mix.
did you make this recipe?tag @olivesnthyme on Instagram
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