This apple cider cake is hands-down one of the best fall desserts. With its bold apple flavor, cinnamon spice, and that irresistible cider glaze, it’s everything you want in a cozy autumn bake. And the best part? It’s easy enough for anyone to make at home.
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Apple Cider Cake Recipe
Apple Cider Cake is a moist, flavorful cake inspired by the taste of apple cider donuts. It typically combines apple cider with warm spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg, resulting in a cake that is tender and aromatic.
The cake often features a cinnamon sugar coating on the outside and topped with an apple cider glaze for a sweet and spiced profile. It’s a comforting treat popular in autumn, especially around Thanksgiving and Halloween.
This apple cake pairs beautifully with drinks like warm apple cider, spiced rum, or brandy. You can try hot toddy, mulled wine, espresso, or coffee-based cocktails, like an espresso martini. Tea is also a good choice.
Here’s how to make the apple cider cake:
Apple Cider Cake
Nutrition
Ingredients
For the cake
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp cloves optional
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt or sour cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 small apple peeled and grated (about 1/2 cup)
Topping
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon mixed
Instructions
- Simmer 1 cup cider in a small saucepan until reduced to 1/2 cup (takes ~10–12 minutes). Let cool.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 10-cup bundt pan.
- Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
- In another bowl, whisk melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, yogurt, vanilla, and the reduced cider. Stir in grated apple.
- Add dry mixture to wet ingredients and stir just until combined. Don’t overmix.
- Pour batter into the greased bundt pan. Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack. While still warm, brush with melted butter and sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture generously over the top.
Notes
- Use a light metal bundt pan for even baking.
- Great for holidays, bake sales, and gifting.
- Keeps well at room temp for 2–3 days, or refrigerate up to 5.
SIMILAR RECIPES:
Variations
Here are some notable types and variations of the Apple Cider Donut Cake:
- Caramel Apple Cider Cake
- Add 1/2 cup chopped apples and swirl in store-bought caramel sauce before baking.
- Drizzle more caramel on top after baking.
- Mini Apple Cider Donut Cakes
- Use a mini bundt or donut pan instead of a large bundt.
- Bake for 15–20 minutes, then roll warm cakes in cinnamon sugar.
- Apple Cider Glazed Version
- Skip the cinnamon-sugar topping.
- Mix 1 cup powdered sugar + 2–3 tbsp apple cider and drizzle over cooled cake.
- Chai-Spiced Infusion replaces the spices with 1 tsp chai spice mix or your own blend (cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, allspice).
- Apple Cider Pecan Cake
- Add 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans to the batter.
- Optional: sprinkle extra nuts on top with the cinnamon sugar.
- Lemon Addition adds 1 tsp lemon zest to the batter and a lemon cider glaze (powdered sugar + lemon juice + cider).