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Cozy Apple Cider Donut Cake: Easy Autumn Dessert

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A moist, dense cake that captures the flavor of a cinnamon sugar donut using reduced apple cider. This easy, forgiving recipe is perfect for autumn and requires minimal effort for maximum comfort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (100g) packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240ml) apple cider (reduced to ½ cup)
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar (for topping)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for topping)
  • 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar, sifted (for glaze)
  • 1–2 tablespoons reduced apple cider (for glaze)
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (for glaze)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round cake pan or loaf pan with butter or non-stick spray and dust with flour.
  2. Pour 1 cup of apple cider into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 10-15 minutes until reduced to ½ cup (syrupy consistency). Let cool completely.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk melted butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and the cooled reduced apple cider until smooth.
  5. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Gently mix with a whisk or spatula just until moistened. Do not overmix.
  6. Sprinkle half of the cinnamon sugar topping (mixed from ¼ cup sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon) evenly over the bottom of the prepared pan.
  7. Pour batter into the pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle remaining cinnamon sugar topping over the batter.
  8. Bake for 30-35 minutes for a round pan, or 25-30 minutes for a loaf pan, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  9. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  10. Whisk powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon reduced apple cider, and vanilla extract. Add more cider as needed to reach a drizzle-able consistency.
  11. Drizzle glaze over the completely cooled cake and let set before slicing.

Notes

Reducing the apple cider is crucial for intense flavor and proper texture. Do not overmix the batter to avoid a tough cake. Ensure the cake is completely cool before glazing to prevent the glaze from melting. For a gluten-free version, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. For dairy-free, substitute butter with coconut oil.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple cider cake, donut cake, autumn dessert, cinnamon sugar cake, easy baking, fall recipes, cozy dessert

Find it online: https://tinastirs.com/cozy-apple-cider-donut-cake-easy-autumn-dessert/