The Ultimate Easy Apple Cider Donut Bundt Cake: Your New Favorite Fall Dessert

As the leaves begin to turn vibrant hues of red and gold, and a crisp coolness fills the air, there’s nothing quite like the comforting embrace of fall flavors. Among these cherished seasonal treats, apple cider donuts hold a special place in our hearts. Their soft, spiced crumb and irresistible cinnamon-sugar coating evoke memories of apple orchards and cozy gatherings. What if you could capture that magic in a stunning, shareable cake? This easy apple cider donut cake recipe is precisely that – the ultimate fall dessert that brings all the beloved flavors of those iconic donuts into a magnificent Bundt cake, making it one of the best apple cider Bundt cake recipes you’ll ever try!

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If you’re anything like me, you eagerly await fall not just for the vibrant foliage and cooler weather, but for the comforting flavors that come with the season. This apple cider donut cake is a celebration of autumn, delivering everything you love about those classic apple cider donuts in an easy-to-make Bundt cake form. It’s truly one of my favorite apple cider Bundt cake recipes, designed to bring joy to any occasion, whether it’s a casual family brunch or a festive holiday gathering. This moist, buttery pound cake captures the essence of fall in every bite, making it an instant classic.

And if you love this easy apple cider cake recipe, be sure to explore more of my fall-inspired delights! Try my Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling for a decadent breakfast, my Deep Dish Caramel Apple Pie for a classic dessert with a twist, and my Baked Apple Chips for a healthier, crispy apple snack!

Crafting the Perfect Easy Apple Cider Donut Cake from Scratch

If the mere thought of a warm, spiced apple cider donut makes your mouth water, then you are in for a serious treat with this apple cider donut cake from scratch! Imagine a pound cake, renowned for its dense yet exquisitely soft and buttery crumb, infused with the quintessential flavors of autumn. This cake boasts a harmonious blend of warm spices like fragrant cinnamon, earthy nutmeg, and a hint of zesty ginger. It’s the kind of cake that instantly transports you to a crisp fall day, surrounded by apple orchards, with the aroma of freshly baked goods filling the air.

Beyond the spices, this cake is literally bursting with all your favorite fall flavors. We’re talking about the bright, crisp notes of fresh shredded apples, the sweet and tangy depth of real apple cider, the rich caramel undertones of brown sugar, and the comforting aroma of pure vanilla. The combination creates a complex yet familiar taste profile that’s utterly addictive. And let’s not forget the clever touch – because it’s baked in a Bundt pan, this cake naturally forms a beautiful, donut-like shape, making it as visually appealing as it is delicious. It’s an effortless way to serve a crowd-pleasing dessert that feels both gourmet and homey, perfect for gathering friends and family around the table.

What Makes Apple Cider Donuts So Irresistible? (And Why This Cake is the Perfect Alternative)

For those who might not have had the pleasure, apple cider donuts are a beloved autumn staple, particularly in regions with strong apple-picking traditions. These aren’t your typical light and airy yeast donuts; they are a type of cake donut, celebrated for their tender, moist texture. Their batter is generously enriched with real apple cider, which imparts a subtle tang and a distinctive fruity depth, alongside a medley of warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and sometimes allspice or ginger. Traditionally, they are fried to golden perfection and then rolled in a generous coating of cinnamon sugar, creating that iconic crunchy exterior and soft interior that we all adore.

However, getting your hands on fresh apple cider donuts isn’t always easy, especially if you’re not near a bustling orchard or a local farmers’ market. And making individual donuts at home can be a bit of a project, involving deep frying and more hands-on time. That’s precisely where this incredible apple cider donut Bundt cake comes in! It offers all the quintessential flavors and textures you crave from your favorite apple cider donuts, but in an elegant, easy-to-slice cake format that’s perfect for feeding a crowd without the fuss. Imagine the delightful aroma filling your kitchen without the hassle of a deep fryer. Enjoy it as a standalone dessert, or pair it with other delightful fall treats like homemade apple chips or sweet maple candy for a truly autumnal spread. It’s a versatile centerpiece for any fall celebration.

Just like my cherished apple cider donuts, this apple cider donut Bundt cake recipe achieves that perfect balance: a wonderfully soft and moist interior, a beautiful golden-brown crust, and an utterly irresistible cinnamon and sugar coating that provides a delightful textural contrast. Every forkful is a symphony of autumn, from the initial crunch of the sugar to the tender, apple-spiced cake within. It’s the quintessential way to savor the vibrant, fresh apple cider flavor any time of year, making it a versatile and much-loved recipe in any baker’s repertoire.

And here’s the secret ingredient that truly elevates this cake: once your apple cider donut cake has cooled to perfection, you’ll gently brush its entire surface, including all those beautiful nooks and crannies of the Bundt shape, with rich melted butter. This creates the perfect canvas for dusting it with the most irresistible cinnamon-sugar coating. The butter helps the cinnamon sugar adhere beautifully, forming a sweet, slightly crisp crust that mirrors the exterior of a fried donut. The result is a cake that not only looks like your favorite apple cider donuts but tastes uncannily similar, with every bite delivering that familiar, comforting spice and sweetness. It’s truly a perfect fall treat, wonderfully versatile for feeding a crowd, serving as an impressive dessert, or even enjoying as a special breakfast or brunch item.

The Secret Ingredient: How Apple Cider Transforms Your Cake Batter

You might be wondering what exactly makes apple cider such a magical addition to a cake batter. The answer lies in its multifaceted contributions to both flavor and texture. Firstly, apple cider infuses the cake with a deep, authentic apple flavor that is both sweet and wonderfully tangy, far more complex than just using apple juice. This natural fruit sweetness enhances the overall profile of the cake, making it truly delicious and uniquely autumnal, giving it that signature “donut” taste.

Beyond flavor, apple cider is also an incredible source of moisture for our cake. Its liquid content ensures a consistently moist crumb, preventing the cake from drying out during baking and keeping it tender for days. But there’s a subtle science at play too: apple cider naturally possesses a slight acidity. This acidity is key, as it helps to gently break down the gluten in the flour. The result? A remarkably soft, tender, and fluffy texture that is characteristic of a great pound cake, making this apple cider donut Bundt cake recipe truly exceptional. The acid also reacts with the baking powder, contributing to a lighter rise. For more insights into cake types and their unique characteristics, you might also find my post on the differences and similarities between pound cake vs Bundt cake quite informative!

Essential Ingredients for Your Homemade Apple Cider Donut Bundt Cake

Creating this irresistible apple cider donut cake from scratch relies on a blend of classic baking staples and vibrant fall produce. You’ll likely find many of these ingredients already stocked in your pantry, making this recipe even more convenient to whip up for an autumn treat. Each component plays a vital role in achieving the perfect flavor and texture.

• Salted Butter: For your cake batter, room-temperature salted butter is essential. The “room temperature” part is crucial – it should be soft enough to leave a slight indent when pressed, but not so soft that it appears greasy or melted. This consistency is perfect for creaming with sugar, ensuring a light and airy cake structure as it incorporates air effectively.
• White and Brown Sugar: This dynamic duo provides more than just sweetness. Granulated sugar contributes to the cake’s delicate, fine crumb, while dark brown sugar adds a richer, molasses-like flavor, a beautiful golden hue, and an extra layer of moisture that keeps the cake tender for days. The brown sugar also deepens the autumnal notes.
• Eggs: Always use room-temperature large eggs! Cold eggs can cause the butter mixture to curdle and lead to a less cohesive batter, which can affect the final texture of your cake. If you’re in a hurry, simply submerge your eggs in a bowl of slightly warm water for about 15 minutes to bring them to temperature quickly.
• Vanilla Extract: A generous touch of high-quality pure vanilla extract is the perfect complement to all those lovely fall spices and apple flavors. It rounds out the sweetness and adds depth. For an even more rewarding baking experience, consider checking out my post on how to make vanilla extract at home with just two simple ingredients!
• Sour Cream: This unassuming ingredient is a secret weapon in many pound cake recipes. Sour cream dramatically enhances the cake’s moisture content and adds a subtle tang that balances the sweetness, contributing to a truly rich, velvety, and tender crumb that keeps the cake fresh longer.
• Fresh Apple Cider: This is the star of the show! Make sure to use real, unfiltered apple cider (not apple juice) for the most authentic and robust autumn sweetness and flavor. It’s absolutely necessary for that unmistakable apple cider donut essence and contributes significantly to the cake’s unique character and tang.
• Shredded Apples: We’re incorporating two medium shredded apples directly into the cake batter. This not only intensifies the fresh apple flavor but also contributes significantly to the cake’s overall moisture and adds delightful pockets of fruit that remain tender after baking. For the best results, I highly recommend using tart baking apples such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji, as their firmness holds up well during baking and their tartness provides a wonderful counterpoint to the cake’s sweetness. For another fantastic fall apple recipe, you’ll adore my Apple Pie With Graham Cracker Crust!
• Cake Flour: While all-purpose flour can work in a pinch, using cake flour in a pound cake recipe like this is a game-changer. Its lower protein content results in a softer, more delicate, and fluffier crumb, even with the characteristic dense texture of a pound cake. It creates a tender texture that melts in your mouth.
• Warm Fall Spices: Our core blend includes classic ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. These spices are the heart of the “donut” flavor, providing that warm, comforting, and aromatic experience. For a convenient shortcut without sacrificing flavor, you can easily substitute your favorite pre-mixed apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice blend for this apple cider Bundt cake.

Essential Equipment for a Flawless Bundt Cake Experience

While this apple cider donut cake recipe is surprisingly straightforward, having the right tools on hand will ensure a smooth baking process and a perfectly executed cake. You won’t need an arsenal of complicated gadgets, but a few key pieces of equipment are indispensable for achieving that tender crumb and signature Bundt shape. Proper equipment sets you up for baking success.

• Mixing Bowls and Mixer: You’ll definitely need a large mixing bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer) to cream together your butter and sugars, and to beat in your eggs. An electric mixer, whether a powerful hand mixer or a robust stand mixer, is highly recommended for achieving the light and fluffy texture that forms the foundation of this pound cake. You’ll also need smaller mixing bowls for separate ingredients.
• Bundt Pan: A good quality 10-12 cup Bundt pan is absolutely critical for this recipe. Its fluted design not only gives the cake its distinctive “donut” appearance but also helps it bake evenly. Ensure your pan is in good condition with a reliable nonstick coating; a scratched pan is a sticking hazard.
• Sifter: Sifting your dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, spices) isn’t just a recommendation; it’s a crucial step for a light cake. It helps to evenly distribute the leavening agents and spices, preventing clumps and ensuring a consistently light and tender cake texture.
• Rubber Spatula: A flexible rubber spatula is perfect for gently folding in ingredients without deflating the air you’ve worked so hard to incorporate into the batter, preserving the cake’s delicate structure.
• Pastry Brush: This little tool becomes your best friend for the finishing touch. You’ll want a pastry brush to evenly coat your warm cake in melted butter before dusting it with the cinnamon sugar mixture, ensuring every crevice gets its share of that glorious topping.
• Wire Rack: A sturdy wire rack is essential for allowing your apple cake to cool completely and evenly after baking, preventing the bottom from becoming soggy due to trapped steam.
• Measuring Cups, Spoons, and Food Scale: Accurate measurements are undeniably key to baking success. Have your reliable measuring cups and spoons ready. For even greater precision, especially with flour and butter, a high-quality food scale is a fantastic investment that can elevate your baking results.

Step-by-Step Guide: Baking Your Perfect Apple Cider Donut Cake from Scratch

Baking this delightful apple cider donut cake is a rewarding experience, and following these detailed steps will ensure a beautifully moist and flavorful result. Precision and gentle handling of the batter are key to achieving that tender, pound cake-like crumb and perfect rise.

1. Prepare Dry Ingredients: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and positioning an oven rack in the center. In a medium bowl, carefully sift together your cake flour, baking powder, and your chosen blend of spices (ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger). Sifting is more than just a formality; it ensures that all dry ingredients are perfectly combined and eliminates any lumps, leading to a smoother batter and a more uniform, delicate texture in the final cake. Set this mixture aside.
2. Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the room-temperature salted butter with both the granulated white sugar and the dark brown sugar. Keep your mixer speed no higher than medium. Beat them diligently for 3-5 minutes until the mixture transforms into a noticeably light, pale, and fluffy consistency. This crucial creaming process incorporates air, which is vital for the cake’s tender structure.
3. Incorporate Eggs and Vanilla: With your mixer still running on medium speed, add the room-temperature large eggs one at a time. Ensure each egg is fully incorporated into the butter-sugar mixture before adding the next. This slow, gradual addition helps maintain the fluffy texture you just created and prevents the batter from separating or curdling. Once all eggs are in, mix in the pure vanilla extract until just combined.
4. Alternate Wet and Dry Ingredients: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the room-temperature sour cream and apple cider until smooth and well-combined. Now, it’s time to incorporate this liquid mixture with your reserved dry ingredients into the butter-sugar-egg base. You’ll do this in alternating additions, starting and ending with dry ingredients:
   • Start by gently folding in approximately one-third of the sifted flour mixture until just streaks remain.
   • Next, add about half of the sour cream and apple cider mixture, folding gently until mostly incorporated.
   • Follow with another third of the flour mixture.
   • Then, add the remaining half of the sour cream mixture.
   • Finally, gently fold in the last third of the dry ingredients until just combined.

   During this step, use a rubber spatula and fold the batter very gently. Overmixing at this stage can overdevelop the gluten, resulting in a tough or rubbery cake. We want to preserve that fluffy, tender crumb!

5. Add Apples and Prepare to Bake: Once the batter is just combined and no dry streaks of flour remain, carefully fold in your grated apples. Their natural moisture and flavor will enhance the cake beautifully. Evenly spread the finished batter into your meticulously prepared 10-12 cup Bundt pan. Ensure the pan has been properly greased with baking spray (with flour) right before pouring in the batter to prevent sticking (refer to FAQ for detailed tips). Bake in your preheated oven for 55-65 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, indicating it’s perfectly cooked through.
6. Apply Cinnamon-Sugar Coating: While your cake cools slightly in the pan for 10 minutes, prepare the irresistible cinnamon-sugar coating. In a small bowl, combine granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and a dash of freshly grated nutmeg (if using). Mix well. After 10 minutes, carefully invert the cake onto a wire rack to cool completely. Once the cake has cooled sufficiently to handle but is still slightly warm, gently brush the entire outside surface, including the inner hole and all the fluted crevices, with melted butter. Immediately and generously sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture all over your apple Bundt cake. Use your hands to gently press the mixture into the cake, ensuring a beautiful and delicious coating that mimics a true apple cider donut! Serve slices warm or at room temperature.

Expert Tips & Frequently Asked Questions for Your Apple Cider Donut Cake

To ensure your apple cider donut Bundt cake turns out perfectly every time, here are some invaluable tips and answers to common questions:

More Decadent Pound Cake Recipes You’ll Love

If you’ve fallen in love with the rich, moist texture of this apple cider donut pound cake, then you’re in for a treat! Pound cakes are celebrated for their dense yet tender crumb and their incredible versatility, making them a fantastic choice for any occasion, from casual desserts to elegant gatherings. Here are some more of my favorite pound cake recipes that I think you’ll truly enjoy, each offering a unique flavor profile to explore:

• Chocolate Sour Cream Pound Cake – A chocolate lover’s dream, this cake is incredibly moist, intensely rich, and utterly satisfying.
• Jamaican Rum Cake with Brown Butter Glaze – Experience a taste of the Caribbean with this boozy, buttery cake finished with a delectable brown butter glaze.
• Lemon Sour Cream Pound Cake + Juneteenth Cookout 2021 – Bright, zesty, and perfectly tangy, this cake is a refreshing treat that’s ideal for spring and summer.
• Key Lime Pound Cake – A delightful citrus burst in every slice, reminiscent of your favorite key lime pie but in cake form.
• Marble Loaf Cake – The classic swirl of vanilla and chocolate, beautifully simple and satisfying for any time of day.

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