The smell of apple cider baking means fall is truly here, and I absolutely love it! There’s something so comforting about the warmth and sweet spice of apples. If you are looking for cozy fall treats, you are in the right place.
I’ve gathered two of my favorite apple cider baking recipes for you today. One is a big, impressive cake, and the other is a classic baked donut. Both bring that wonderful apple cider flavor right into your kitchen.
Jump to Recipe:
Apple Cider Donut Bundt Cake Recipe
This bundt cake tastes just like your favorite apple cider donut, but it’s baked into a beautiful cake. It’s a fantastic treat for gatherings or a special weekend breakfast.
Key Ingredients & Baking Tips
- Reduced Cider: Simmering your apple cider concentrates its flavor, making the apple taste much stronger in the cake.
- Bundt Pan Care: Make sure to really grease and flour your bundt pan well. This helps the cake slide out cleanly after baking.
- Cinnamon Sugar Coating: Don’t skip the butter and cinnamon sugar topping. It gives the cake that classic apple cider donut finish.
What You Need
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup apple cider, reduced to 1/2 cup
- 1/2 cup milk
- For topping: 1/4 cup melted butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
⏱️ Time: 1 hour 15 minutes🍽️ Yields: 1 Bundt cake (10-12 servings)
How to Make It
Step 1: Get Ready & Reduce Cider
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 10-cup Bundt pan. In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup of apple cider to a simmer. Let it cook until it reduces to about 1/2 cup. Set it aside to cool a bit.
Step 2: Mix Dry & Wet Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In a separate large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until they are light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, making sure each is mixed in before adding the next. Stir in the reduced apple cider and milk.
Step 3: Combine & Bake the Cake
Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix. Pour the batter evenly into your prepared Bundt pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
Step 4: Add the Donut Topping
Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then flip it onto a wire rack to cool completely. While it cools, mix the sugar and cinnamon for the topping in a shallow dish. Once the cake is cool, brush it all over with melted butter, then sprinkle or roll it in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Slice and enjoy!
📝 Final Note
For the best flavor, make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature before you start baking. This helps everything mix smoothly.
Classic Apple Cider Donuts Recipe
These baked apple cider donuts are fluffy and full of fall flavor. They are much simpler to make than fried donuts and perfect with your morning coffee.
Key Ingredients & Baking Tips
- Donut Pan Helper: Using a donut pan makes these really easy to shape and ensures they bake evenly.
- More Cider Flavor: Reducing the apple cider before adding it to the batter makes the apple taste more intense.
- Serve Warm: These donuts are best enjoyed slightly warm, straight from the oven, for the most comforting experience.
What You Need
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup apple cider, reduced to 1/4 cup
- 1/4 cup milk
- For topping: 1/4 cup melted butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
⏱️ Time: 30 minutes🍽️ Yields: 12 donuts
How to Make It
Step 1: Prepare & Reduce Cider
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 12-cavity donut pan. In a small saucepan, bring 1/2 cup of apple cider to a simmer and let it reduce to about 1/4 cup. Set it aside to cool.
Step 2: Make the Donut Batter
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, melted butter, egg, reduced apple cider, and milk until smooth. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
Step 3: Bake the Donuts
Carefully spoon or pipe the batter into the prepared donut pan cavities, filling each about two-thirds full. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the donuts spring back when gently pressed.
Step 4: Coat with Cinnamon Sugar
Let the donuts cool in the pan for a few minutes before moving them to a wire rack. While they are still warm, brush each donut with melted butter. In a shallow bowl, mix the sugar and cinnamon for the topping. Roll each buttered donut in the cinnamon sugar until coated. Serve warm.
📝 Final Note
If you don’t have a donut pan, you can bake this batter in a muffin tin for delicious apple cider muffin-donuts. Just adjust the baking time slightly.
