Apple cider doughnuts remind me of being a little girl and going apple picking with my family. One bite takes me back to running around the orchard, feeding the goats and falling asleep on the drive home from a bellyache of apple cider and lots of sweets. It wasn’t apple picking without bringing home at least a dozen doughnuts. And, I am happy to say the tradition continues to this day, including the bellyache.
This recipe was created in trying to bring those happy memories into the kitchen. This is definitely more of a cake than the traditional apple cider doughnuts, but I tested my recipe multiple times and made adjustments until that one bite transported me back to the orchard. I hope this recipe warms your heart as much as it does mine!
Apple Cider Doughnut Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 8 tbsp butter room temperature
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 1 cup apple cider
- 3/4 cup apple sauce
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp apple cider
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Apple Cider Glaze
- 1 cup confectioners sugar
- 4 tsp apple cider
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 °F.
Cake
- In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon together.
- In a large bowl whisk the butter and sugar together. Then whisk in the eggs, apple cider, apple sauce and vanilla extract.
- Spray the bundt pan and dust with granulated sugar. Add the batter to the pan and bake for 40-45 minutes or until cooked through. Test doneness with a toothpick. If the toothpick comes out without any wet batter, it is done.
- Remove from heat and let the pan rest for 10 minutes. Then turn the cake over on a cooling rack and release the pan. Let the cake cool completely before adding the cinnamon sugar topping and glaze.
Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- Mix the melted butter with the apple cider. Brush the butter mixture all over the cake. Mix the cinnamon and sugar together. Dust the cake with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Apple Cider Glaze
- Mix the confectioners sugar with the apple cider until smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the cake.
