This Apple Cider Cake wraps up the flavours of fall in one slice-apple cider and warm spices combine into a tender, moist cake, topped with a subtle glaze that accentuates the apple-cider sweetness. Whether you bake it for brunch or dessert, it delivers that cozy, seasonal comfort you're after.
We tested this cake a couple of different ways until we settled on this recipe. Testing cake recipes is become a passion of mine, hence all of these cake recipes! This bundt cake has apple cider, applesauce, and shredded apples for that triple apple threat! The cake is moist, tender, soft, and has a great crumb. It's reminiscent of those classic fall apple cider donuts. If you love this autumn apple cake, check out my Apple Dapple Cake for a caramel-soaked twist.
Apple + Cider + Warm Spice = Winning
- Apple Cider: Adds moisture and an apple flavour base without needing large amounts of chopped apples.
- Warm Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, and possibly cloves/ginger bring the seasonal depth to this cake.
- Oil or Butter + Eggs + Flour + Leaveners: Together they create texture: rich, tender but properly risen.
- Cinnamon Sugar Coating. A light brushing of melted butter for the cinnamon sugar to stick to makes this cake irresistible.
Featured Review
"Made this cake, and my husband said it's the best cake he's ever had! Since then, he's asked for it at least twice a week!! I'll make it for him this weekend again lol!!!!"
Debbie
The apples are missing in this photo, you will need two!
For ingredient quantities please reference the recipe card below. On the recipe card there is a button for US or M (Metric) measurements.
Mix, Bake & Glaze Your Way Into Fall
There you have it, this perfectly spiced fall apple cake.
Tips for Success
- Use room temperature ingredients, to ensure everything evenly combines.
- Don't over mix the cake batter or you will over develop the gluten, creating a tougher cake.
- Let the cake cool for ten minutes then place a wire rack on top of the bundt cake and flip it over to inver the cake out of the bundt pan. If you let the cake rest in the pan for too long you risk it getting stuck in the pan.
★★★★★ Please let me know if you make this recipe by leaving a star rating and comment below!
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PrintRecipe Card
Spiced Apple Cider Cake for Autumn
This Apple Cider Cake wraps up the flavors of fall in one slice-apple cider and warm spices combine into a tender, moist cake, topped with a subtle glaze that accentuates the apple-cider sweetness. Whether you bake it for brunch or dessert, it delivers that cozy, seasonal comfort you're after.
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12-14 Slices 1x
Ingredients
Apple Cider Cake
- 375 grams (3 Cups) All-Purpose Flour/ Plain Flour
- 1 ½ Teaspoons Baking Soda
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- ½ Teaspoon Ground Cloves
- ½ Teaspoon Ground Ginger
- 8oz (1 Cup) Unsalted Butter, softened to room temperature
- 150 grams (¾ Cup) Light Brown Sugar
- 150 grams (¾ Cup) Granulated Sugar
- 3 Large Eggs, at room temperature
- 8oz Apple Cider
- 4oz (½ Cup) Applesauce
- 2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- 250 grams (2 Medium) Shredded Cooking Apples*, Granny Smith or Honeycrisp are my favorite
Cinnamon Topping
- 2oz (¼ Cup) Apple Cider
- 2oz (¼ Cup) Melted Butter
- 50 grams (¼ Cup) Granulated Sugar
- 2 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F/180C and grease a 10-cup bundt pan make sure to get every nook and cranny!
- In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger.
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment beat the butter and sugars together for 3 minutes or so on medium speed. You want the mixture to get very light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add one egg and mix until combined then add the remaining two eggs, one at a time.
- In a medium size bowl mix together the apple cider, applesauce, vanilla extract and grated apples.
- Add the ⅓ of the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mix until just combined, add half of the apple cider mixture and mix until just combined, then repeat with more dry then wet, finishing with the dry. Make sure not to over mix, that can create a tough cake.
- Pour apple cake batter evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Depending on the shape of your bundt pan your cake may be wider or taller, a wider cake pan will bake quicker than a taller bundt pan. Let cool in cake pan for 10 minutes then invert into a wire rack.
Cinnamon Topping
- In a small pot over low-medium heat cook the apple cider for a minute or two to reduce it by half. This will leave you with 1oz or 2 tablespoons of apple cider. Reducing the cider concentrates the flavor.
- In a small bowl mix together the apple cider and melted butter. In another bowl mix together the sugar and ground cinnamon.
- Use a pastry brush to brush the melted cider/ butter mixture all over the bundt cake, after a few brushes take some of the cinnamon sugar and press it into the cake. Repeat until all of the cake is covered. Store the cake in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Notes
*Cooking Apples: Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, Fuji, Gala, Braeburn, Cortland
Freezing: You can totally freeze the apple bundt cake. To freeze the cake let it cool completely then wrap in plastic wrap, tightly, then wrap it again. This helps avoid any freezer burn. Let the cake thaw on the counter overnight. You can also freeze individual slices of cake the same way. Wrap in plastic wrap tightly, twice, then store in a freezer-safe container like a plastic bag. To thaw let a slice sit on the counter at room temperature for a couple of hours.
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 45 Minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Debbie Br says
Great recipe! Just to clarify, do you mean if you plan to freeze, put the toffee sauce on just before you serve it, not freeze it with the toffee sauce on it before you freeze it?
Thanks
Elizabeth Waterson says
HI Debbie, sorry for the confusion there is not toffee sauce on this recipe! That was a copy mistake from my other apple bundt cake recipe. You can freeze this cake with the cinnamon sugar topping or without! Please report back if you try the recipe! XX Liz
Debbie Br says
Made this cake, and my husband said it’s the best cake he’s ever had! Since then, he’s asked for it at least twice a week!! I’ll make it for him this weekend again lol!!!!
Elizabeth Waterson says
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Debbie! So happy your family enjoyed this cake!! Happy Baking XX Liz
Staci Dial says
Hi everyone!
I’m going to tell you, baking scares me! However I always feel comfortable with Elizabeth’s amazing recipes. I made this apple spice cake for Thanksgiving and it was amazing! Everyone loved it! Not dry and so flavorful and her instructions we the easiest ever. You have to try it! You will be in heaven!
Elizabeth Waterson says
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Staci! So happy your family enjoyed this cake!! Happy Baking XX Liz
Christy Matthews says
I've baked a lot of cakes over the years but this is by far the best one I've made. The texture is moist and slightly dense without being heavy and the flavor is divine. I can't wait to make it again!
Alice says
This is one of the most delicious cakes I have made. Went down a triumph. Highly recommended ☺️ thank you!
Elizabeth Waterson says
Thank you so much for the 5- star review Alice! I am so happy you enjoyed this cake, one of my faves this time of year!! Take care. XX Liz
Johnna says
Love this recipe! Best flavor and moist cake. Everyone loved it.