Apple Cider Donut Cake

If you love fresh apple cider donuts from the apple orchard, you are going to love this easy Apple Cider Donut Cake! This moist and flavorful Bundt cake is made with apple cider, applesauce, fresh Granny Smith apple, warm fall spices, and a buttery cinnamon sugar coating that makes every bite taste like a classic apple cider donut.

One of my absolute favorite things to do during fall is visit our local apple orchards. And while I love picking fresh apples, sipping apple cider, and enjoying all the beautiful fall views, let’s be real—the fresh apple cider donuts are always one of the best parts!

That’s exactly what inspired me to make this Apple Cider Donut Bundt Cake. I wanted all those cozy apple orchard flavors in an easy homemade cake that I could enjoy with a hot cup of coffee on a crisp fall morning.

And y’all, it did not disappoint!

This cake is moist, rich, packed with apple and cinnamon flavor, and covered in the most delicious buttery cinnamon sugar coating. Plus, it’s surprisingly simple to make. If you’re looking for an easy fall dessert for Thanksgiving, a fall brunch, or just a cozy weekend at home, this apple cider cake needs to be on your baking list!

Keep reading for the full Apple Cider Donut Cake recipe below!

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Why You’ll Love This Apple Cider Donut Cake

If apple cider donuts are one of your favorite fall treats too, this cake is basically fall in Bundt cake form! Here are a few reasons you’ll love it:

• Full of fall flavor: Apple cider, fresh apple, cinnamon, and apple pie spice give this cake plenty of cozy apple flavor.
• Moist and tender: Applesauce, apple cider, and shredded Granny Smith apple help keep the cake wonderfully moist.
• Easy to make: You get all the flavor of homemade apple cider donuts without having to fry individual donuts.
• That cinnamon sugar coating: Melted butter and cinnamon sugar create the classic apple cider donut finish.
• Perfect for fall entertaining: Serve it for brunch, Thanksgiving dessert, Halloween parties, or any fall gathering.
• Delicious with coffee: A slice of this cake and a freshly brewed cup of coffee is the ultimate cozy fall combination!

Ingredients for Apple Cider Donut Cake

You only need a handful of simple baking ingredients to make this delicious apple cider Bundt cake.

For the Apple Cider Cake:

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsp apple pie spice
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup apple cider
• 3/4 cup apple sauce
• 1 cup unsalted butter softened
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract (I use my homemade vanilla extract for this)
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup peeled and shredded Granny Smith apple

For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating:

• 2-3 Tbsp unsalted butter melted
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon

What Kind of Apple Should I Use?

I love using a Granny Smith apple for this recipe because its tart flavor balances the sweetness of the cake and cinnamon sugar coating perfectly.

Granny Smith apples also hold up well when baking. Since we’re shredding the apple before adding it to the batter, you get little bits of fresh apple flavor throughout the entire cake.

If you don’t have Granny Smith apples, you could also try another firm baking apple, such as Honeycrisp or Pink Lady.

How to Make Apple Cider Donut Cake

First, preheat your oven to 350°F and generously spray a Bundt cake pan with cooking spray.

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, apple pie spice, cinnamon, and salt. Set the dry ingredients aside.

In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the apple cider and applesauce. Set this mixture aside as well.

Next, add the softened butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract to the bowl of a stand mixer. Cream everything together until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Lower the mixer speed and begin alternating between adding the flour mixture and the apple cider mixture. Continue until everything is combined, making sure to begin and end with the flour mixture.

Mix just until you no longer see any large lumps. You don’t want to over mix your cake batter.

Gently stir the peeled and shredded Granny Smith apple into the batter by hand. Pour the batter evenly into your prepared Bundt cake pan and smooth the top.

Bake the cake for approximately 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

My Easy Bundt Cake Baking Hack

Whenever I bake a Bundt cake, I like to place the cake pan on top of a baking sheet before putting it in the oven.

That way, if any batter happens to spill over while baking, the baking sheet catches it instead of the batter dripping onto the bottom of your oven. Such a simple trick, but it can save you from a big mess!

Once the cake is finished baking, place the pan on a wire cooling rack and allow the cake to cool in the pan for approximately 30 minutes.

How to Make the Cinnamon Sugar Coating

Now for arguably the best part—the cinnamon sugar donut coating!

In a small bowl, mix together:

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Melt 2–3 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a separate bowl.

Carefully flip the cooled cake out of the Bundt pan and place it onto a baking rack.

Brush the outside of the cake with melted butter, making sure to coat as much of the surface as possible.

Then, generously press the cinnamon sugar mixture onto the buttered cake.

Fair warning: this part can get a little messy! But it’s completely worth it.

Continue brushing and coating until the outside of the Bundt cake is covered with plenty of cinnamon sugar.

Don’t skimp on the cinnamon sugar! This buttery coating is what really gives the cake that classic apple cider donut taste.

Tips for the Best Apple Cider Donut Bundt Cake

For the best results, make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature before you begin baking. This helps everything combine more evenly and creates a better cake texture.

Be sure to grease your Bundt pan thoroughly, too. Bundt pans have plenty of little grooves where cake can stick, so you want to make sure every area is coated.

And when combining the wet and dry ingredients, mix only until everything is incorporated. Overmixing cake batter can result in a denser cake.

Finally, don’t rush the cooling process. Letting the cake cool in the pan for about 30 minutes makes it much easier to remove without breaking.

What to Serve With Apple Cider Donut Cake

This Apple Cider Donut Cake is delicious all by itself, especially with a hot cup of coffee or a glass of cold apple cider.

But if you really want to make it decadent, try serving a slice with:

• Vanilla ice cream
• Homemade whipped cream
• Warm caramel sauce
• A sprinkle of extra cinnamon
• Hot coffee
• Warm or cold apple cider

A warm slice with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce would make an incredible Thanksgiving dessert too!

How to Store Apple Cider Donut Cake

Store leftover Apple Cider Donut Cake in an airtight container at room temperature. Keeping the cake covered will help prevent it from drying out.

For the best texture and flavor, enjoy the cake within a few days.

Can You Make Apple Cider Donut Cake Ahead of Time?

Yes! This is a great make-ahead fall dessert, especially if you’re planning a party, brunch, or Thanksgiving dinner.

You can bake the cake ahead of time and store it tightly covered. For the freshest cinnamon sugar texture, you can wait to add the melted butter and cinnamon sugar coating until closer to serving.

Apple Cider Donut Cake FAQs

Does Apple Cider Donut Cake taste like apple cider donuts?

Yes! The combination of apple cider, applesauce, fresh shredded apple, cinnamon, apple pie spice, and the buttery cinnamon sugar coating gives this Bundt cake many of the same flavors as a classic apple cider donut.

Can I use apple juice instead of apple cider?

For the best fall flavor, I recommend using apple cider. Apple cider generally has a stronger, richer apple flavor that works especially well in fall baking recipes.

Do I have to use a Bundt pan?

A Bundt pan gives this cake its beautiful shape and provides plenty of surface area for that delicious cinnamon sugar coating. If you use a different type of pan, the baking time and results may vary.

Can I make this cake for Thanksgiving?

Absolutely! This is a great easy Thanksgiving dessert, especially if you want to serve something besides traditional apple or pumpkin pie. The apple cider, cinnamon, and apple pie spice make it perfect for a fall or Thanksgiving dessert table.

The Perfect Apple Cider Donut Cake for Fall

Now, see how easy that is?!

You get a beautiful homemade Bundt cake with all the cozy flavors of a fresh apple cider donut without having to make individual donuts.

The moist apple cider cake combined with fresh Granny Smith apple and that buttery cinnamon sugar coating makes this one of my favorite fall cake recipes. It tastes like something you’d pick up during a trip to the apple orchard—and it’s even better with a cup of coffee!

Whether you make it for a fall brunch, Thanksgiving dessert, Halloween party, or simply because you’re craving an apple cider donut, I hope you love this recipe as much as we did.

If you try this Apple Cider Donut Cake recipe, be sure to leave me a comment below and let me know what you think!

And if you’re looking for more apple cake recipes, be sure to check out my Fresh Apple Walnut Cake With Caramel Glaze or my Easy Cinnamon Apple Coffee Cake Recipe too!