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Cozy Apple Cider Donut Bundt Cake: Easy Homemade Recipe

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This Cozy Apple Cider Donut Bundt Cake captures the nostalgic flavor of apple cider donuts without the deep frying. The secret is reducing apple cider to a concentrated syrup, creating a tender, buttery cake with a cinnamon-sugar crust that’s perfect for fall gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup apple cider (unfiltered preferred)
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (315 grams)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly grated preferred)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick, softened)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar (200 grams)
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar (100 grams)
  • 2 large eggs (room temperature)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup buttermilk (room temperature, or ½ cup milk mixed with 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice)
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter (melted, for coating)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar (for coating)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon (for coating)

Instructions

  1. Reduce the apple cider: Pour 1 cup apple cider into a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Let it bubble gently until reduced to about ¼ cup, 12-15 minutes. Watch carefully toward the end to avoid burning. Set aside to cool.
  2. Preheat and prep the pan: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Generously spray a 10-cup bundt pan with non-stick baking spray that contains flour, getting into all the grooves.
  3. Mix the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together 2 ½ cups flour, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon cloves, and ½ teaspoon salt. Whisk for about 20 seconds.
  4. Cream the butter and sugars: In a separate large bowl, beat ½ cup softened butter with 1 cup granulated sugar and ½ cup packed brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides halfway through.
  5. Add the eggs and vanilla: Add 2 eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and the cooled cider reduction. The batter may look curdled; that’s normal.
  6. Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk: With mixer on low, add about one-third of the flour mixture, then half of the buttermilk, mixing just until combined. Repeat with another third of flour, the remaining buttermilk, and finish with the last of the flour. Stop mixing as soon as no dry streaks remain.
  7. Fill the pan and bake: Pour batter into prepared bundt pan and spread evenly. Tap the pan gently on the counter to release air bubbles. Bake for 45-55 minutes, until a wooden skewer inserted near the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. The top should be golden and spring back when touched.
  8. Cool in the pan: Let cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for exactly 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, place a cooling rack on top and carefully invert. Lift the pan off slowly. If any pieces stick, let it cool another 5 minutes and try again.
  9. Apply the coating while warm: While the cake is still warm (but not hot), brush the entire surface with ¼ cup melted butter. Mix ½ cup sugar and 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon in a shallow bowl, then generously sprinkle over the buttered cake. Use your hands for best coverage.
  10. Cool completely before serving: Let the coated cake cool completely on the rack. The coating will set into a crackly shell. Slice and serve at room temperature.

Notes

Watch the cider reduction carefully; it can burn quickly. Room temperature ingredients are important for proper creaming and batter consistency. Do not overmix the batter. The 15-minute cooling time in the pan is critical for easy release. For a thicker crust, apply the cinnamon sugar in two layers: brush butter, sprinkle sugar, then brush a tiny bit more butter and add another light dusting. The cake can be made ahead and coated on the day of serving. Freezes well for up to 3 months (uncoated).

Nutrition

Keywords: apple cider donut bundt cake, fall bundt cake, apple cider cake, cinnamon sugar bundt cake, easy bundt cake recipe

Find it online: https://piperplate.com/cozy-apple-cider-donut-bundt-cake-easy-homemade-recipe/