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Kid-Approved Apple Cider Donut Cake with Cinnamon Sugar: Easy Fall Recipe

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This easy apple cider donut cake features a tender, moist crumb with a concentrated apple cider flavor and a crunchy cinnamon-sugar coating. It’s a budget-friendly, kid-approved dessert that comes together in under 15 minutes and is perfect for fall gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (240 ml) apple cider
  • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (1 stick / 113 g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (120 ml) buttermilk
  • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • For the cinnamon-sugar coating:
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 tablespoons (42 g) unsalted butter, melted

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Generously grease a 10-cup bundt pan with butter and dust with flour, tapping out excess.
  2. Pour 1 cup apple cider into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until reduced to about ¼ cup (60 ml), about 12-15 minutes. Set aside to cool.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  4. In a separate bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and reduced apple cider syrup until smooth.
  5. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir with a spatula until just combined (a few lumps are fine). Do not overmix.
  6. Pour batter into prepared bundt pan and spread evenly. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  7. Let cake cool in pan on a wire rack for exactly 15 minutes. Then invert onto rack and cool completely, about 1 hour.
  8. In a small bowl, mix ½ cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon for the coating. Melt 3 tablespoons butter.
  9. Once cake is completely cool, brush entire surface with melted butter. Generously sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture over the buttered cake, pressing gently onto sides. Place a baking sheet under the rack to catch excess.

Notes

Don’t skip reducing the apple cider—it concentrates the flavor and prevents a soggy cake. Use room temperature ingredients to avoid lumps. Grease the pan thoroughly to prevent sticking. Let the cake cool completely before coating with cinnamon sugar to ensure a crunchy crust. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days; do not refrigerate. Freeze uncoated cake for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple cider donut cake, cinnamon sugar cake, fall dessert, easy bundt cake, kid-friendly cake

Find it online: https://willarecipes.com/kid-approved-apple-cider-donut-cake-with-cinnamon-sugar-easy-fall-recipe/