This easy homemade apple cider cake combines the favorite flavors of Fall – warmly spiced, tangy apple cider, and sweet caramel – creating a moist and flavorful treat that steals the spotlight at any Fall gathering!
Hey, Cousins! Happy Fall, y’all! So, slide in close and listen up because I’m about to spill the tea (or…, should I say the cider? 😉) on a recipe that’s about to change your Fall dessert game: a caramel apple cider bundt cake! This is the kind of cake that makes your whole family go, “You made this?! For real?!” Yep, this is the one!
Fresh Apple Cider Cake is the MVP of Autumn
So, why will this caramel apple cider cake make you the family favorite? Well, it’s like that cozy sweater you’ve been waiting to wear. That favorite Fall candle you’ve been dying to light. A trip to the apple orchard for a family day out. Comforting, familiar, and downright snuggly. It’s packed with iconic Fall flavors that make you feel warm and cozy, watching the leaves fall with a mug of hot apple cider in your hand.
If you’ve ever grabbed freshly made apple cider donuts from your local farmers’ market, this delicious bundt cake is like a giant apple cider donut. It’s a super moist cake, thanks to the addition of fresh apple cider to the cake batter. The glaze is a sweet combination of apple cider and caramel drizzle for flavors that taste exactly like those one-of-a-kind county fair caramel apples.
We’ve all seen an apple cider bundt cake recipe on Pinterest and drooled at the thought of making our own version of the perfect Fall dessert. But with THIS recipe, you won’t suffer a Pinterest Fail. Not gonna happen, Cousins – I won’t allow it!
So, if you’re ready to be the talk of the family (for good reason, this time 😉), let’s get our bake on. With this homemade caramel apple cider cake, you’re not just serving dessert – you’re serving up a whole Fall MOOD. Let’s do this, fam!
Ingredients for Homemade Apple Cider Cake
This is the perfect time of year to make this delicious cake, y’all. It has all the right warm spices, a sweet and slightly tart glaze, and the perfect caramel finish. And best yet – you don’t need any wild ingredients to make it! For the complete ingredient list and measurements, scroll on down to the recipe card. Here’s your shopping list:
- Your Basic Cake Ingredients: white sugar, butter, eggs, all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder are some of the most basic baking ingredients you’ll need for this homemade cake.
- Spices: ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves are the trifecta of Fall flavor.
- Apple Cider: the key ingredient in this cake to give it that delicious apple flavor and unbeatable moisture.
- Vanilla Extract: just like the spices, vanilla adds that touch of warmth to the cake batter.
- Powdered Sugar: the base of the apple cider glaze that tops this tasty cake.
- Caramel Sauce: just a drizzle of store-bought caramel sauce is the perfect finishing touch.
Simple Ingredient Substitutes for Apple Cider Cake:
- Butter: Out of unsalted butter? Use salted, but go easy on the added salt.
- Eggs: Allergic? A mix of ground flaxseed and water can work wonders.
- Apple Cider: Apple juice can step in, but maybe add a splash of apple cider vinegar for that tang.
- Flour: Got gluten issues? Grab a gluten-free blend or alternative like oat flour or almond flour, and watch for consistency.
Can I swap in or add apple sauce to this apple cider cake recipe?
If you have allergies or health problems, unsweetened apple sauce is an acceptable swap for ingredients like melted butter or vegetable oil. However, it’s not an ideal swap, so I’d recommend leaving it out of this recipe for the best results. The apple cider provides plenty of delicious apple flavor to cover the bases.
How to Make Homemade Caramel Apple Cider Bundt Cake
Making this delicious Fall treat isn’t much different than a typical cake, so rest assured that it’s a stupid simple recipe! In no time, you’ll be sittin’ on the porch swing with a cup of coffee and a slice of this sweet caramel apple spice cake!
- Prep your bundt pan! I love a good non-stick spray, but the classic butter-then-flour move works, too (be sure to get into all those nooks and crannies).
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Slowly add the eggs one at a time. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to make it easier on your hands.
- In a separate bowl, mix your dry ingredients – flour, salt, baking powder, and spices.
- In another small bowl, combine the apple cider and vanilla.
- Slowly alternate, adding the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients a little at a time to the bowl with the creamed sugar mixture until all the ingredients are added and combined well.
- Pour the cake batter into your prepared bundt pan, then bake the cake at 325 degrees F for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- When done baking, let the cake cool enough to touch, remove it from the pan, and cool completely on a wire cooling rack.
- While the cake bakes, make the apple cider glaze. Bring the apple cider to a boil in a small saucepan and reduce by half.
- Turn the heat to low and add the butter, cinnamon, salt, and powdered sugar. Add more powdered sugar until it reaches your desired thickness.
- Pour the glaze over the top of the cake (pro-tip: stick a sheet pan under the wire rack to catch any drippage). Let the cake sit for 30 minutes to an hour before serving.
Cousin Rosie Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Apple Cider Bundt Cake
- Bundt Pan Prep: This is essential! Due to the intricate designs of bundt pans, it’s crucial to prep it properly with a baking spray. This ensures your cake will slide out seamlessly after baking.
- Checking Doneness: The toothpick method is your best friend. Inserting a toothpick in the center should come out clean or with a few crumbs.
- Cooling is Key: Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 20 minutes. This lets it firm up a bit and minimizes the risk of breaking when transferring.
- Avoid Overmixing: When you alternate between dry ingredients and apple cider, make sure you mix just until combined to keep the cake tender.
- Add Depth of Flavor: If you want deeper, more rich flavor, swap out white sugar for light brown sugar and use brown butter. These are simple ingredient tweaks that kick the flavor up outta this world.
- Add Cinnamon Sugar: If you want to make this more like an apple cider donut cake with that classic cinnamon sugar mixture, create a simple mix of ground cinnamon and granulated sugar and sprinkle it over the apple cider glaze while it’s still wet.
- Homemade Caramel: Instead of buying a store-bought caramel sauce, make your own! Try my recipe for homemade salted caramel sauce!
Got Leftovers of This Delicious Caramel Apple Cider Cake? Say What?!
If by some miracle there’s cake left (because we know how we eat), pop that beauty in an airtight container or wrap it up tightly with plastic wrap. It’s good at room temperature for up to 3 days, but if you’re saving it for the next family gossip session, keep it in the fridge. If you want to freeze any cake, wrap it up and freeze it in individual slices.
More Tasty Homemade Cakes from I Heart Recipes
- Southern Cream Cheese Pound Cake
- Old Fashioned Sour Cream Chocolate Cake
- Southern Lemon Pound Cake
- Fresh Apple Cake with Maple Glaze
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Caramel Apple Cider Cake Recipe
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients:
- 3 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter softened
- 6 large eggs
- 3 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1 tsp vanilla
Glaze
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1/2 – 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 2 TBSP butter
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt
- 1/2 cup store-bought caramel sauce
Instructions
Cake Directions:
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Prep bundt pan with baking spray.
- Use an electric mixer to combine sugar and butter, beating until light and fluffy.3 cups sugar, 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter
- Slowly add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.6 large eggs
- Whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a medium bowl.3 cups flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- In a small bowl, mix apple cider and vanilla.1 cup apple cider, 1 tsp vanilla
- Alternately add the dry ingredients and cider-vanilla mixture to the butter-sugar-egg mixture, blending as you go.
- Pour batter into the prepped bundt pan.
- Bake for 70 minutes. Check with a toothpick to ensure cake is done.
- Allow to cool in the pan for 20 minutes, then transfer to a plate or cake stand.
Glaze Directions:
- Bring apple cider to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Reduce to low, simmer for 10 minutes or until reduced by half.1 cup apple cider
- Slowly add butter, cinnamon, salt, and 1/2 cup of powdered sugar, stirring to combine.2 TBSP butter, 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp salt, 1/2 – 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- Add additional powdered sugar as needed to reach your desired glaze thickness.
- Pour glaze over the cake, then drizzle with caramel sauce.1/2 cup store-bought caramel sauce
- Let the cake sit for 1 hour.
- Serve and enjoy!
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