Spiced Apple Cider Cake (Print Version)
A moist bundt cake with apple cider and warm spices, ideal for fall and cozy afternoons.
# What You Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1 teaspoon salt
05 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
→ Wet Ingredients
09 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
11 - 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
12 - 3 large eggs, room temperature
13 - 1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature
14 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
15 - 1 1/2 cups apple cider, reduced
→ Add-ins
16 - 2 medium apples, peeled and finely diced
→ Optional Glaze
17 - 1 cup powdered sugar
18 - 2 to 3 tablespoons apple cider
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 10-cup bundt pan thoroughly.
02 - Simmer apple cider over medium heat until reduced to 3/4 cup, about 15 minutes. Let cool.
03 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves in a medium bowl.
04 - In a large bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes.
05 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in sour cream and vanilla extract.
06 - Add dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with cooled reduced apple cider, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix just until combined.
07 - Gently fold diced apples into the batter until evenly distributed.
08 - Pour batter evenly into prepared bundt pan and smooth the top. Bake 45 to 55 minutes until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
09 - Let cake cool in pan for 15 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely.
10 - Whisk powdered sugar with apple cider until smooth and pourable. Drizzle over cooled cake before serving.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The cake stays impossibly moist for days because the reduced cider seeps into every crumb.
- One bite tastes like a cozy afternoon, with real apple pieces and spices that feel generous, not stingy.
- It looks stunning on the table without requiring any fancy decorating skills.
02 -
- The reduced apple cider is non-negotiable and transforms the cake from good to unforgettable, so don't try to rush this step or substitute it with regular cider.
- Room temperature eggs and sour cream are not a suggestion, they are essential, or your batter will separate and your cake will have a dense, tight crumb.
03 -
- A tablespoon of apple brandy in the glaze elevates it from homey to something you'd find at a fancy bakery, but only if you have it on hand.
- If your bundt pan is older or not well-seasoned, butter it twice and dust with a mixture of flour and cinnamon instead of plain flour, which gives you extra grip against sticking.