Apple Cider Cake is a moist Bundt cake made with spice cake mix, apple cider, and applesauce, then brushed with melted butter and coated in cinnamon sugar. It has all the cozy apple and cinnamon flavors of fall in an easy cake that starts with a boxed mix.
This is one of my favorite cakes to make during apple season because I can use fresh apple cider without making a cake completely from scratch. The cinnamon-sugar coating reminds me of an apple cider donut, especially while the cake is still fresh and soft.
Why I Love Apple Cider Cake:
About the Ingredients ⭐
- Spice Cake Mix: Gives the cake its warm fall spices and makes this recipe quick and easy.
- Apple Cider: Adds apple flavor and replaces some of the liquid normally used in a boxed cake mix.
- Unsweetened Applesauce: Adds more apple flavor while helping keep the cake moist.
- Vegetable Oil: Adds moisture and helps give the cake a soft texture.
- Eggs: Give the cake structure and help hold everything together.
For topping
- Unsalted Butter: Brushed over the cake so the cinnamon sugar sticks to the outside.
- Granulated Sugar: Creates the sweet coating inspired by an apple cider donut.
- Ground Cinnamon: Adds warm cinnamon flavor to the sugar coating.
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below
How to Make Apple Cider Cake
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 10-inch bundt pan, ensuring that all sides and crevices are well-coated to prevent sticking.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the spice cake mix, apple cider, applesauce, vegetable oil, and eggs. Use an electric mixer to beat on medium speed for 2 minutes until the batter is smooth and well combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan, spreading it evenly.
- Place the bundt pan in the preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes.
- Carefully invert the pan onto a wire rack and gently tap the bottom of the pan to release the cake. Allow the cake to cool completely on the wire rack.
For the cinnamon sugar coating:
- Once the cake has cooled, brush the melted butter all over the bundt cake.
- Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and coat the cake with the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Slice the Apple cider bundt cake and serve it as is or with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!
Tips I Found Helpful 💙
- Use apple cider, not apple juice: Apple cider has a stronger, more concentrated apple flavor that works especially well in this cake.
- Grease the Bundt pan well: Make sure you get into all the grooves so the cake releases cleanly after baking.
- Don’t overmix the batter: Mix just until the ingredients are combined to keep the cake soft and tender.
- Let the cake cool before removing it: Give it a little time in the pan before turning it out so it’s less likely to break.
- Add the coating while the cake is still slightly warm: Brush with melted butter and add the cinnamon sugar so it sticks well to the outside.
Frequently Asked Questions
More Fall Dessert Recipes I Love 💙
Yield: 1 Cake
Apple Cider Cake
4.5 Stars (2 Reviews)
Apple Cider Cake is a moist spice Bundt cake made with apple cider, applesauce, and a cinnamon-sugar coating.
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
45 minutes
Total Time
1 hour
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 Box Spice Cake Mix (approximately 13.25 Ounces)
- 1 Cup Apple Cider
- ½ Cup Unsweetened Applesauce
- ¼ Cup Vegetable Oil
- 3 Large Eggs
For the cinnamon sugar coating:
- ¼ Cup Unsalted Butter Melted
- ¼ Cup Granulated Sugar
- 2 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 10-inch bundt pan, ensuring that all sides and crevices are well-coated to prevent sticking.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the spice cake mix, apple cider, applesauce, vegetable oil, and eggs. Use an electric mixer to beat on medium speed for 2 minutes until the batter is smooth and well combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan, spreading it evenly.
- Place the bundt pan in the preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes.
- Carefully invert the pan onto a wire rack and gently tap the bottom of the pan to release the cake. Allow the cake to cool completely on the wire rack.
For the cinnamon sugar coating:
- Once the cake has cooled, brush the melted butter all over the bundt cake.
- Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and coat the cake with the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Slice the Apple cider bundt cake and serve it as is or with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!
Notes
Grease the Bundt pan well to prevent sticking. Let the cake cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before turning it out, then cool completely before brushing with butter and adding the cinnamon-sugar coating.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1 SliceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 297Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 58mgSodium: 341mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 1gSugar: 27gProtein: 3g
