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Apple cider bundt cake coated with cinnamon-sugar is the best fall cake! Simple and delicious, this easy spiced apple bundt tastes like freshly baked apple cider donuts. Made with softened butter, apple cider, and unsweetened applesauce, each bite is moist, tender, and perfectly spiced.
As the air gets crisp in the fall, there’s nothing more delicious than homemade apple desserts. This cake is one of my favorites: the batter comes together in minutes and the cake releases cleanly from the pan, making an impressive fall dessert.
I love using homemade applesauce and apple cider for the best apple flavor (see detailed notes below). As a timesaver, you can usually find organic apple cider at the farmers’ market or local apple orchard.
Brushed with melted butter and sprinkled with cinnamon-sugar, this moist and cozy apple cider donut cake is perfect for the season. Try it with vanilla ice cream and homemade caramel sauce!
More favorite fall bundt cake recipes: Easy snickerdoodle bundt cake and spice bundt cake with butterscotch topping!
Ingredient Notes
A mix of ground cinnamon, ginger, and cloves enhance the apple cider flavor. My go-to cinnamon for baking is Vietnamese cinnamon (strong, rich, and sweet). If you’re using a different cinnamon, feel free to bump up the amount to 1 1/2 or 2 teaspoons.
Applesauce gives this cake a wonderfully moist, old-fashioned texture. If you’re using store-bought applesauce (which is often thin and watery!), strain off some of the excess moisture through a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth first. Measure out 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce after straining. This works beautifully in my apple cinnamon muffin recipe too.
How to Make Homemade Apple Cider
To make your own apple cider, combine 2 cups pure apple juice with 1 apple (cut into 1/2-inch wedges) and 4 teaspoons of mulling spices in a heavy saucepan. It’s also delicious with some fresh orange peel, cinnamon sticks, or whole cloves.
Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Strain the cider into a glass bowl or measuring cup and let cool to room temperature before using in the cake.
More apple recipes you’ll love:
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Cozy Moist Apple Cider Bundt Cake
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
Apple cider bundt cake is the best fall bundt cake! Simple and delicious, this easy spiced apple bundt cake tastes like freshly baked apple cider donuts. Made with softened butter, apple cider, and unsweetened applesauce, each bite is moist, tender, and perfectly spiced.
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp cloves
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 10 Tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 cup apple cider
- 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Topping
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Make cake: Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt in a medium bowl.
- Beat butter and sugar in a large mixer bowl on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Reduce speed to low and add eggs one at a time. Combine apple cider, applesauce, and vanilla in a small bowl. Beat in dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with wet ingredients (begin and end with flour mixture), just until incorporated.
- Spray a 10-cup bundt pan generously with nonstick spray. Spoon batter into prepared bundt pan and smooth with an offset spatula. Tap pan sharply to reduce air bubbles.
- Bake cake for 45 to 50 minutes, until cake is golden, springs back to the touch, and a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few crumbs attached. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes; carefully invert onto rack.
- Cinnamon sugar coating: Place wire rack with cake over a piece of wax paper or parchment. Combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Brush warm cake with melted butter and sprinkle generously with cinnamon sugar mixture. Let cake cool completely before serving.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 days.
Notes
Spices: I used my favorite blend of ground cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. If you like nutmeg, you can also add 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg. For ease, you can also use 2 teaspoons of apple pie spice in the cake.
Applesauce: If you’re using store-bought applesauce, strain off some of the excess moisture through a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth. Measure out 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce after straining.
Homemade Apple Cider: Combine 2 cups pure apple juice with 1 apple (cut into 1/2-inch wedges) and 4 teaspoons of mulling spices in a heavy saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat and let simmer for 20 minutes. Strain into a glass bowl or measuring cup and let cool to room temperature before using in the cake.
Thank you so much!!
Hello! Can this be made into apple cider donuts and what changes should be made?
Hi Sandra! I actually have a baked apple cider doughnut recipe: https://tutti-dolci.com/baked-apple-cider-doughnuts/
Happy baking! 🙂
I made this cake last night and it turned out lovely. Very nice spice balance that was not overwhelming. It had a moist texture and my family gobbled it down!
So happy you tried this recipe, Karen! 🙂
This turned out so well! Mine isn’t as beautiful as the pictures with a plain bundt pan, but the taste and texture are spot on! I live in Florida, so I appreciate at least having some Fall flavors. Thanks for sharing this delightful recipe!
Thanks so much, Megan! I’m so glad you tried this cake! 🙂
Love this cake so much! My girls and I make it in a flower or pumpkin bundt pan a few times every fall. We all LOVE it! I make it vegan with Miyoko’s butter and Namaste egg replacer. Thank you so much for sharing this!
Hi Holly, thank you so much! I’m so glad you all love this cake! 🙂
I loved this! It’s a perfect Fall dessert. Not too sweet and tastes amazing. The cake was gorgeous and the sugar coating added the perfect touch of sweetness to the cake. Will definitely make it again.
Thanks so much, Lindsay! So glad you tried this recipe! 🙂
So excited to try this! Have you tried mini versions as well? I’m considering making mini was to bring to work. Thinking it will bake faster and I’ll just need to keep an eye on it?
Hi Lauren! Love the idea of mini bundts – yes, the baking time will be faster and the recipe will yield 10 to 12 mini bundts, depending on the size of your pan. Here’s another mini bundt post with guidance on baking time: https://tutti-dolci.com/brown-butter-pumpkin-spice-cakes/
Let me know how things turn out! 🙂
I loved this recipe! The cake was gorgeous, and delicious! The sugar coating on the outside was also a nice and inventive, I’d never tried a cake with that technique before. Thanks so much!
Thank you so much, Theresa! So glad you tried this recipe! 🙂
This sounds delicious. Can i use unsweetened apple juice for the apple cider?
Hi Cindy, you can make your own apple cider from unsweetened apple juice. Add mulling spices, one sliced apple, and one sliced orange. Bring to a boil, then let simmer for about 20 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh sieve and let cool to room temperature before using. I have another apple cider cake recipe coming up this week that includes the recipe for homemade apple cider. 🙂
Super easy to make with a great payoff! I made this today and half of it is already gone. I added just a smidge more spices than the recipe called for and loved the result. This is now part of my autumn baking repertoire!
Thank you so much, Jessica! 🙂 Happy fall baking!
This was perfection! Made it yesterday for dinner guests, met with rave reviews. You nailed it!!
Thank you so much, Margaret! That’s so wonderful to hear! 🙂
Ok…and what about a recipe for that great looking caramel sauce too! 😋 this is on my list. Thanks Laura. Joan
Thanks Joan! 🙂 Here’s the recipe for the caramel sauce (I can’t stop making it!): https://tutti-dolci.com/homemade-salted-caramel-sauce/