Apple Cider Doughnut Cake

With a crunchy cinnamon-sugar coating and fresh apple flavor, this apple cider doughnut cake tastes just like the famous doughnuts from U-Pick orchards! But there's no need to boil cider or peel any apples for this simple stir-together apple dessert. If you can't find apple cider in your local market, cloudy or unfiltered apple juice makes a worthy substitute for this fall cake. Share a slice of this Bundt cake with friends over a cup of coffee or serve it as a special cake for holidays!

What is an apple cider doughnut cake?

This cake is inspired by the popular doughnuts sold at apple orchards when families, friends, and apple enthusiasts flock to the farms to pick their own. The doughnuts are usually made, not with chunks of apples, but with boiled cider. This cake adaptation keeps the buttery, cinnamon-sugar-coated tradition alive by not being as apple-forward as other apple cakes. This cake gets its clean, juicy apple flavor from a combination of apple cider and chunky applesauce; no peeling required! It is also made in a Bundt pan, giving it a hole in the center, just like a doughnut!

What kind of applesauce is in an apple cider doughnut cake?

Some apple cider doughnut cake recipes might call for applesauce, chopped apples, sauteed apples, grated apples, or no apples at all. This recipe calls on chunky applesauce for the best of both worlds. It adds mouthwatering moisture to the cake, reducing the amount of oil required for a soft cake. Along with apple cider, applesauce flavors the cake with a sweet, apple flavor, leaving small, tender chunks of apple throughout the cake. If you can’t find chunky applesauce, regular sweetened applesauce or homemade applesauce will still work well.

What does apple cider do to a cake?

While its rich, warm, tangy flavor is reason enough to add apple cider to a cake, there are a few more reasons to use this liquid in your cakes! Apple cider adds moisture in the form of water content and sugar, making the cake tender and soft. Much like other favorite wet ingredients—buttermilk is a great example—apple cider is acidic. Acidic ingredients are crucial in baking because they react with leaveners like baking soda that help the cake rise, giving it that light, fluffy texture everybody loves.

Do Bundt cakes need frosting?

Moist, tender, and stunning on their own, Bundt cakes do not necessarily need frosting. While a lot of these cakes benefit from a glaze, this doughnut Bundt keeps it simple with a brushing of butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar. However, for any frosting fanatics, a little dab of cream cheese frosting would be divine.

How do you store apple cider doughnut cake?

Cover the cake in plastic or place it in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to two days.

Can you freeze apple cider doughnut cake?

Yes, this cake freezes well. Once the cake has completely cooled, wrap it in a layer of plastic, then a layer of foil. Freeze for up to three months. Let the cake thaw in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for about two hours before serving.