Apple cider donut cake is packed with apple cider, warm spices, and a cinnamon sugar coating! It’s all the cozy flavors of a classic apple cider donut in an easy, moist bundt cake.

Apple cider donut cake on a white cake plate with fresh apples and cinnamon sticks in the background.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy.

Apple Cider Donut Bundt Cake

This pretty apple cider donut cake takes the flavors of a classic apple cider donut and elevates it to a beautiful bundt cake. Made with apple cider, apple sauce, brown sugar, and cinnamon, it’s moist and tender, deeply spiced, and tastes just like fall.

We finish it with melted butter and a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar. As far as apple desserts go, it’s as easy as an apple dump cake and as warm and cozy as my easy apple cake recipe!

Why I Love This Recipe

  • The entire apple cider bundt cake is ready in 1 hour!
  • Robust apple flavor without having to peel and chop any apples.

Ingredients Notes

A flat lay of ingredients for apple cider donut cake including applesauce, apple cider, cinnamon and brown sugar.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • All-purpose flour: This apple cider cake has a soft, moist crumb—so be sure to measure your flour accurately to avoid a dense texture.
  • Spices: Cinnamon and nutmeg add warm flavor.
  • Baking staples: Salt, baking powder, baking soda, white and brown sugar, vegetable oil, vanilla extract.
  • Apple cider: Not apple juice (nor apple cider vinegar!). Cider is unfiltered and has a deeper apple flavor. If you want to try making homemade apple cider, you’ll love it!
  • Eggs: Bring them to room temperature before adding them to the cake batter.
  • Applesauce: I have a really nice crockpot applesauce recipe I make when I have an abundance of apples I need to use up. If using storebought, make sure it’s unsweetened and brought to room temperature.
  • For the topping: Melted butter, cinnamon, and sugar. I use unsalted butter, but either works.

How to Make Apple Cider Doughnut Cake

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.

In a separate large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the sugars and oil until well combined. Add the eggs and mix for another 2 minutes before adding the applesauce and vanilla.

Whisking dry ingredients in a bowl.
A bowl with wet ingredients showing a mixer adding dry ingredients.

Alternately add the dry ingredients and apple cider to the wet ingredients until the flour mixture is incorporated into the batter.

Pour it into the prepared bundt pan and bake in a preheated 325°F oven for 50 minutes.

Batter for apple cider donut cake in a bundt pan.
Brushing butter on apple cider donut cake.

Let it cool for 1 hour in the pan, and then flip it over and allow the cake to gently fall out. Place it on a wire rack or cake plate.

Once cooled, brush with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Use your hand to gently gather it on the top and sides of the cake, making sure it’s well coated.

A side view of apple cider donut cake.

Recipe Tips

  • Make sure to grease the bundt pan thoroughly, then dust it with flour. This helps the cake release easily after baking.
  • Allow cake to cool in the bundt pan first before trying to release it. It’ll come out much easier that way.
  • Brush melted butter onto the cake and let it sit for a few moments. This will give the cinnamon sugar mixture something to stick to, but won’t absorb straight into the cake.
  • Serve this cake with a maple glaze or cream cheese glaze instead of cinnamon sugar. Or use both!
A slice of apple cider doughnut cake being served.

More apple recipes to try include cinnamon apple muffins, apple crumble and easy apple crisp.

More Apple Recipes

Apple cider donut cake on a white plate on the counter with apples and fresh cinnamon sticks.

Apple Cider Donut Cake

4.95 from 19 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 18
Apple cider donut cake is packed with apple cider, warm spices, and a cinnamon sugar coating! It's all the cozy flavors of a classic apple cider donut in an easy, moist bundt cake.
Print Pin This! Rate

Video

Ingredients 

Apple Cider Cake

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup vegetable oil , or neutral flavored oil
  • 3 eggs , at room temperature
  • 1 cup apple sauce , unsweetened and at room temperature
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup apple cider , at room temperature

Cinnamon Sugar Coating

  • 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter , melted
  • 3 Tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Prepare and preheat: Spray a bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray and dust with flour. Preheat oven to 325°F.
  • Mix dry ingredients: Using a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together 3 cups flour, 1 Tablespoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons baking powder and 1 teaspoon baking soda.
  • Mix wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1 cup oil. Mix with a hand mixer until well combined. Add 3 eggs and continue to mix for 2 more minutes. Add 1 cup applesauce and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla and mix until well combined.
  • Alternate dry ingredients and cider into batter: Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients and mix on low speed. Add half the apple cider and continue mixing. Alternate the dry ingredients and cider until the flour is incorporated in the batter.
  • Bake: Add the batter to the prepared bundt pan and bake for 50 minutes. The cake will be done when a toothpick is inserted and comes out clean.
  • Cool: Cool cake for 1 hour in the bundt pan. Then, invert cake onto a cooling rack or cake plate.
  • Coat topping on cake: Brush the melted 3 Tablespoons of butter onto the cake with a pastry brush. In a small bowl, mix together the 3 Tablespoons sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Sprinkle the cinnamon/sugar mixture onto the top and sides of cake. Use your hands, if necessary.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Glaze: If you wanted to top this with a glaze you can, but it is plenty sweet. Simply whisk together a cup of powdered sugar with 2-3 Tablespoons apple cider. 
Storage: Store in a covered container up to 3 days, or wrap individual slices in plastic wrap and freeze up to 3 months. 

Nutrition

Calories: 320kcal, Carbohydrates: 44g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 32mg, Sodium: 280mg, Potassium: 113mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 27g, Vitamin A: 104IU, Vitamin C: 0.3mg, Calcium: 41mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Add-Ins and Variations

Recipe FAQs

How to store this doughnut cake?

It can be kept at room temperature for up to 2 days. Keep it covered in an airtight container so it doesn’t dry out.

Can I freeze it?

Yes, it freezes beautifully. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer bag. Keep it frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving again.