Description
This Apple Cider Doughnut Cake is a moist, spiced bundt cake infused with apple cider and cinnamon flavors. It combines the ease of a boxed cake mix with the warm, comforting tastes of fall, topped with a buttery cinnamon sugar coating for a deliciously nostalgic treat perfect for gatherings or cozy afternoons.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Batter
- 1 15.25 ounce box Yellow cake mix or Spice Cake Mix
- 1 cup apple cider (NOT apple juice or vinegar)
- ½ cup cinnamon apple sauce (not chunky)
- 3 large eggs (room temperature)
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon (adjust based on preference)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the cake.
- Mix Batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry cake mix, apple cider, cinnamon apple sauce, and eggs. Beat until smooth. Add in ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, brown sugar, and vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly to incorporate all ingredients evenly.
- Prepare Pan: Grease and flour a bundt pan well, preferably using a non-stick spray with flour such as Baker’s Joy, to prevent sticking.
- Bake Cake: Pour the cake batter into the prepared bundt pan, smoothing the top. Place the pan on the center rack of the oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center; it should come out clean when the cake is done.
- Cool Cake: Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for about 20 minutes to set before handling.
- Mix Cinnamon Sugar: While the cake cools, mix together 2 tablespoons cinnamon and ¼ cup sugar in a separate bowl to create the cinnamon sugar topping.
- Coat Cake: Once the cake has cooled slightly, brush the entire surface generously with the melted butter. Immediately rub the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the buttered cake surface to coat completely.
Notes
- For a stronger cinnamon flavor, increase the cinnamon quantity in the batter and topping to your preference.
- Use real apple cider rather than apple juice or vinegar to ensure authentic flavor and proper acidity.
- Cinnamon apple sauce adds more flavor; avoid chunky varieties for smoother batter texture.
- Letting the cake cool for 20 minutes prevents the cinnamon sugar layer from melting off.
- You can experiment by using a spice cake mix for even more warm spice notes.
