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Spiced Apple Cider Donut Cake Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 145 reviews

This Spiced Apple Cider Donut Cake is a moist and flavorful bundt cake infused with apple cider and warm spices. Perfect for fall gatherings, it has a tender crumb made from a yellow cake mix combined with apple cider, applesauce, and cinnamon sugar topping that mimics the classic donut flavor. The cake is finished with a generous brushing of melted butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar for a sweet and spiced crust.

Ingredients

Scale

For the cake batter:

  • 1 box yellow cake mix (Betty Crocker preferred)
  • 3/4 cup apple cider
  • 1/2 cup sweetened applesauce
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 tbsp melted butter
  • 1 tbsp packed brown sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the topping:

  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Generously grease and flour a 10 or 12 cup bundt pan to prevent the cake from sticking, then set it aside while you prepare the batter.
  2. Make the Cake Batter: In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer on low speed to combine the yellow cake mix, apple cider, sweetened applesauce, eggs, and melted butter until just incorporated. Then add the packed brown sugar and vanilla extract and mix well until the batter is smooth and uniform, being careful not to overmix for a fluffier cake.
  3. Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 40-50 minutes, checking at 45 minutes by inserting a toothpick into the center; the cake is done when the toothpick comes out clean.
  4. Cool and Remove the Cake: Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Then carefully invert the bundt pan onto a cooling rack or parchment paper to release the cake. Allow it to cool completely before adding the topping.
  5. Mix the Cinnamon Sugar Topping: In a small bowl, mix the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon until well combined to create the classic cinnamon sugar topping.
  6. Brush with Butter and Add Cinnamon Sugar: Once the cake is completely cooled, brush the entire surface with melted butter, then generously sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture over the top and sides of the cake. For extra flavor, brush a little extra melted butter on the cake before adding more cinnamon sugar.

Notes

  • For a fluffier texture, avoid overmixing the batter after adding all ingredients.
  • Use a toothpick to test doneness around 45 minutes to prevent overbaking.
  • Ensure the cake is completely cooled before adding the cinnamon sugar topping to prevent melting.
  • You can use either a 10 or 12 cup bundt pan; just adjust baking time as needed.
  • Brush extra melted butter on the cake before the final sprinkle of cinnamon sugar for an extra tasty crust.

Keywords: apple cider cake, spiced cake, bundt cake, fall dessert, cinnamon sugar topping, donut cake, apple dessert

Find it online: https://kitchenwithkai.com/spiced-apple-cider-donut-cake-recipe/