Delicious Apple Cider Donut Cake: Your Ultimate Fall Baking Companion
There’s a special kind of magic that autumn brings, and for many, it’s intrinsically linked with the warm, spiced scent of apple cider donuts. While the joy of a fresh donut from your favorite local shop is hard to beat, recreating that perfection at home can often feel like an elusive quest. But what if you could capture all the beloved flavors, the comforting aroma, and the nostalgic charm of an apple cider donut in a beautifully simple, home-baked cake? Enter the Apple Cider Donut Cake – a delightful bundt cake that delivers everything you love about its fried counterpart, without the fuss. This recipe transforms your kitchen into a sanctuary of fall, filling it with the irresistible fragrances of simmering cider and baking spices. It’s the ideal treat for cozy gatherings, holiday brunches, or simply enjoying with a cup of coffee on a crisp autumn morning.
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Why This Apple Cider Donut Cake is Your New Fall Favorite
Unlike traditional donuts, which require deep-frying and can be quite time-consuming, this Apple Cider Donut Cake offers a wonderfully convenient alternative without compromising on flavor. The texture is moist, tender, and cakey, while the robust apple cider reduction and a generous dusting of spiced sugar perfectly mimic the essence of an authentic apple cider donut. It’s a sophisticated twist on a classic, making it suitable for a wider range of occasions. The process itself is part of the charm; from the moment you begin reducing the cider on the stove, your home will be enveloped in a fragrant, autumnal embrace. This cake isn’t just a dessert; it’s an experience, a celebration of the season that brings warmth and comfort to every bite. Prepare to impress your family and friends with this easy-to-make yet incredibly flavorful fall masterpiece.
Essential Ingredients for a Perfectly Spiced Cake
Achieving a truly exceptional Apple Cider Donut Cake relies on a few thoughtful steps and quality ingredients. I firmly believe in taking those extra moments to elevate the flavor profile, ensuring each bite is rich and memorable. This means going beyond the basics, such as browning the butter to unlock its nutty depth and meticulously crafting a spiced sugar blend with fresh nutmeg and a hint of salt. These small details are the secret to transforming a good cake into a truly GREAT one, adding layers of complexity and aroma that stand out.
Another crucial tip for baking success is ensuring all your cold ingredients, especially eggs and Greek yogurt, are brought to room temperature before you begin mixing. This seemingly minor step plays a significant role in achieving a smooth, well-emulsified batter and a consistent, tender crumb. Cold ingredients can cause the batter to seize up, preventing proper mixing and potentially leading to a dense cake. Simply take them out of the refrigerator about 30 minutes to an hour before you plan to start baking, allowing them to gently come to temperature. This small act of patience will be greatly rewarded in the final texture and quality of your cake.
One ingredient you can certainly prepare in advance, and which I highly recommend doing in a larger batch, is the apple cider reduction. It takes a little time to simmer down, but its concentrated flavor is absolutely essential for this cake. Because this cake is such a seasonal favorite, I often reduce an entire carton of cider at the beginning of fall and store it in the fridge. This makes it incredibly convenient for subsequent batches, saving you time and ensuring you always have that intense apple cider flavor ready to go. The reduction can be stored for up to a month, making your future baking endeavors much smoother.
For precise ingredient measurements and detailed step-by-step instructions, use the JUMP TO RECIPE button at the top of this post, or scroll down to the bottom to find the complete recipe card.
Crafting Your Apple Cider Donut Cake: A Step-by-Step Guide
The journey to creating this delectable Apple Cider Donut Cake begins with infusing maximum flavor. Our first step is to create a potent apple cider syrup, also known as a reduction. Pour your chosen apple cider into a saucepan along with a few cinnamon sticks. Bring this mixture to a rolling boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer gently until its volume has decreased by half. This concentration process intensifies the natural sweetness and tartness of the cider, creating a powerful flavor base that will deeply permeate the cake, giving it that authentic apple cider donut taste we crave.
Preparing the Luxurious Cake Batter
With your cider reduction cooling, it’s time to build the cake batter. In a large mixing bowl, combine the room-temperature eggs and granulated sugar. Using an electric mixer, whip these ingredients together vigorously until the mixture transforms into a pale, light, and wonderfully fluffy consistency. You’ll notice the eggs becoming significantly lighter in color and developing numerous small bubbles, indicating that air has been properly incorporated. Continue whipping until the mixture feels thick and ribbons form when lifted, usually about 2 minutes. This aeration is key to a light and tender cake.
Next, gently drizzle in the warm brown butter, mixing on low speed until it is fully incorporated into the airy egg and sugar mixture. Brown butter adds an incredible depth of nutty, caramel-like flavor that elevates this cake beyond a simple baked good. Once the wet ingredients are perfectly combined, it’s time for the dry components. Add your all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt, ground cinnamon, and fresh nutmeg to the bowl. Mix gently until just combined, being careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a tough cake. A few small lumps are perfectly acceptable; the goal is to have no visible streaks of flour remaining, yielding a smooth and cohesive cake batter.
Baking and Finishing Your Donut Cake
Once your batter is ready, carefully pour it into a buttered 6-cup bundt pan. For an extra layer of flavor and a delightful slightly crisp crust, dust the buttered pan with some of your prepared spiced sugar. This not only aids in preventing sticking but also adds a fantastic textural element to the cake’s exterior. Bake in a preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, typically between 40-45 minutes. The cake will be beautifully golden brown and fragrant. Once baked, resist the urge to immediately unmold it. Allow the cake to rest in its pan for about 10 minutes; this crucial cooling time helps it firm up and prevents it from breaking when inverted. After resting, carefully turn the cake out onto a wire cooling rack.
The final step truly transforms this cake into a donut-like experience. While the cake is still warm from the oven, generously brush it with the remaining apple cider reduction. This syrup soaks into the warm cake, infusing it with even more concentrated apple flavor and adding a lovely moistness. Immediately after, dust the entire cake with your spiced sugar. I find that tossing the sugar at the cake from a measuring cup helps it adhere beautifully to both the top and sides, mimicking the iconic sugary coating of a fresh apple cider donut. This not only enhances the flavor and texture but also gives the cake an incredibly inviting, rustic appearance. Serve warm or at room temperature, and savor every spiced, apple-infused bite.
Expert Tips and Tricks for Baking Success
This Apple Cider Donut Cake is so irresistibly good, you’ll find yourself wanting to bake it repeatedly throughout the fall season. To streamline your baking process and maximize flavor, consider making a large batch of the apple cider reduction in advance. Reducing a whole carton of cider at once takes the same effort as a small amount and can be stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to a month. This foresight will save you considerable time on future baking days and ensures you always have that concentrated apple essence ready.
When working with a bundt pan, proper preparation is key to a flawless cake release. Beyond just buttering, I highly recommend brushing every nook and cranny of the pan with softened butter, then dusting it thoroughly with some of your spiced cinnamon sugar mixture. This technique serves a dual purpose: it creates a slightly crisp, flavorful outer layer on the cake, much like a donut’s crust, and acts as a fantastic non-stick barrier, ensuring your beautiful cake slides out of the pan effortlessly and intact every time.
Don’t let any leftover spiced cinnamon sugar go to waste! Store any excess in an airtight container in your spice cabinet. This versatile blend is fantastic for a variety of uses beyond this cake. Try dusting it over your morning French Toast for an autumnal twist, or use it to rim the glass of your festive Sparkling Pumpkin Juice for an extra touch of seasonal cheer. It’s also wonderful sprinkled on oatmeal or even stirred into coffee.
Creative Adaptations and Ingredient Swaps
While the recipe is crafted for optimal flavor, don’t hesitate to experiment with substitutions to suit your preferences or what you have on hand. My personal favorite cider to use for this recipe is Honeycrisp apple cider, as its bright and balanced flavor truly shines through. However, you are welcome to use any apple cider variety you enjoy; a good quality cider is the most important factor. I’ve even considered making this cake with some of the delightful Pumpkin Spice Apple Cider I recently discovered, which would add an exciting seasonal twist!
For the dairy component, I typically reach for Greek yogurt because it’s a staple in my kitchen and adds a wonderful tang and moisture to the cake. However, if Greek yogurt isn’t readily available or if you prefer an alternative, sour cream makes an excellent substitute. It provides a similar richness and acidity, contributing to a tender crumb. Both options work beautifully, so feel free to use whichever you prefer or have on hand.
More Irresistible Fall Favorites to Enjoy
If you’ve fallen in love with the flavors of this Apple Cider Donut Cake, you’ll definitely want to explore these other cherished fall recipes from my collection:
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookies
- Honeycrisp Apple Slab Pie
- Pumpkin Custard French Toast
- Caramel Apple Crisp Cheesecake
- Whiskey Wassail
- Maple Bourbon Pumpkin Pie
- Homemade Apple Butter
Did you whip up this delightful Apple Cider Donut Cake? I’d absolutely love to hear about it! Please share your experience by leaving a review or comment below. And for more delicious recipes and baking inspiration, be sure to sign up for my newsletter. You can also follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook! Your creations always make my day!
📖 Recipe
Apple Cider Donut Cake
25 minutes
45 minutes
1 hour 10 minutes
This Apple Cider Donut Cake has all the flavor and nostalgia of the donut, in a far more enjoyable home bake! Perfect for fall celebrations.
Ingredients
- 2 C Honeycrisp Apple Cider
- 1-2 Cinnamon Sticks
- â…“ C Granulated Sugar
- ½ t Cinnamon, ground
- ¼ t Nutmeg, fresh grated
- 10 T Unsalted Butter
- 2 lg Eggs
- ½ C Greek Yogurt
- 1 t Vanilla Extract
- ¾ C Granulated Sugar
- 1 ½ C All-Purpose Flour
- 1 t Baking Powder, heaping
- ½ t Baking Soda
- ½ t Kosher Salt
- 1 t Cinnamon Ground
- ½ t Nutmeg, fresh ground
Instructions
- First, set the cider on the stove in a small saucepan with the cinnamon sticks and reduce it by half to 1 cup. This intensifies the apple flavor.
- In a small bowl, mix the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg for the spiced sugar coating. Grease your cake pan (especially a bundt pan) with pan spray or butter, then dust it thoroughly with a small amount of this spiced sugar. Set aside until ready to bake.
- Preheat your oven to 325ËšF (160ËšC).
- Once the cider is reduced, measure out â…” cup of the concentrated cider and let it cool for 5 minutes. Reserve the remaining cider in a separate small bowl; this will be used for brushing on the warm cakes after baking.
- Using the same saucepan used for the cider, melt the stick of butter over low heat. Continue cooking until the butter is lightly browned and emits a fragrant, nutty aroma. Stir a tablespoon of this brown butter into your reserved reduced cider.
- In a large bowl, whisk the room-temperature eggs and ¾ cup granulated sugar together until the mixture is pale and fluffy, typically about 2 minutes. Whisk in the melted brown butter until fully incorporated. In a separate small bowl, whisk the Greek yogurt and vanilla into the ⅔ cup of cooled reduced cider, stirring to combine. To the large bowl with the egg and butter mixture, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt, ground cinnamon, and fresh nutmeg. Begin whisking the dry ingredients into the butter mixture while slowly drizzling in the cider/yogurt mixture. Whisk everything together until fully incorporated and no lumps remain. The batter might appear thin, but it will thicken as it cools and the butter solidifies.
- Scoop the batter into your prepared 6-cup bundt pan. Ensure the pan has been thoroughly brushed with butter into every crevice and generously dusted with the spiced cinnamon sugar (from step one), tapping out any excess sugar.
- Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 45-50 minutes for a bundt cake. If adapting, this mixture can also make 12 standard muffins (bake for 30-35 minutes) or 1 9×5 inch loaf (bake for about 1 hour). A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean.
- When the cake finishes baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. This allows the cake to set, making it easier to gently tip out of the pan onto a wire cooling rack.
- Lightly warm the reserved cider/brown butter mixture, if needed, to ensure the butter is melted. Generously brush the top and sides of the still-warm cake with this mixture until it’s all absorbed. Finally, dust the entire cake liberally with the remaining spiced sugar and allow it to cool completely before serving for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
Notes & Tips
Make your apple cider reduction in a large batch to save time for future baking; it stores well in the fridge for up to a month. When using a bundt pan, ensure it’s thoroughly buttered and dusted with spiced cinnamon sugar for a perfect release and an extra crisp outer layer. Store any extra spiced cinnamon sugar for other uses like French Toast or rimming festive drinks.
Substitutions
While Honeycrisp cider is preferred, any quality apple cider will work. For the Greek yogurt, sour cream is an excellent alternative that provides similar moisture and richness.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6 servings
Serving Size:
1 slice
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 504Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 114mgSodium: 327mgCarbohydrates: 72gFiber: 3gSugar: 45gProtein: 8g
This is an estimated caloric value, actual numbers may differ based on the ingredients used.
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