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This apple cider donut cake tastes exactly like the warm cinnamon sugar donuts I grab at the apple orchard every fall, except it bakes in one bundt pan instead of a fryer. The outside is coated in buttery cinnamon sugar and the inside is soft, tender, and full of real apple cider flavor. One bite and it is the first cool morning of fall.
I have made this cake for years and it is one of the most loved recipes I have ever shared, with millions of views and close to a thousand five-star reviews. Readers tell me the same thing every fall: the texture comes out like a real cider donut, not a plain slice of cake. That is exactly what I was going for.
What makes this one so easy is that it starts with a box of cake mix, so there is no measuring out a dozen dry ingredients. Real apple cider does the work on flavor, and a quick brush of butter before the cinnamon sugar is what gives it that donut coating. It is the fall cake I reach for when I want a big payoff with almost no fuss.
When I want a fall dessert with even less effort, I make my pumpkin dump cake with spice cake mix, which layers pumpkin pie under a crunchy spice cake crust.
TESTED FAVORITE
Why This Cake Really Does Taste Like a Cider Donut
I keep coming back to this version because it nails that orchard donut taste every single time. The apple cider and applesauce keep the crumb soft and moist with no oil in the batter at all, and brushing the cooled cake with butter before the cinnamon sugar is what makes the coating cling like a real donut. It is the cake my family asks for the second the mornings turn cool.
The Ingredients That Matter
- Boxed cake mix: I use a 15.25 ounce box of spice cake mix now. I started with yellow cake mix, but I moved to spice because it gives the cake a deeper, warmer fall flavor, and it is the version I make every time. Duncan Hines spice is my pick. Yellow cake mix still works if that is what you have, and white cake mix will do in a pinch.
- Apple cider: Use real apple cider, not apple juice and not apple cider vinegar. Cider has the deep, spiced apple flavor that makes this taste like an orchard donut. This is the ingredient that carries the whole cake.
- Applesauce: This is what keeps the cake soft and moist, and it is the reason there is no oil or butter in the batter. I use cinnamon applesauce, not chunky, for a little extra spice.
- Eggs: Room temperature eggs blend in smoothly and give you a more even, tender crumb. Cold eggs straight from the fridge can leave the batter lumpy.
- Cinnamon sugar topping: Melted butter brushed on first, then a cinnamon sugar coating, is what turns a plain bundt into a cider donut. The butter is what helps the sugar cling to the surface instead of soaking in.
How to Make Apple Cider Donut Cake
Step 1: Mix the Batter Beat the dry cake mix, apple cider, applesauce, and eggs in a large bowl until smooth. Add the cinnamon, brown sugar, and vanilla and mix just until combined. Stop as soon as the batter comes together so the cake stays tender.
Step 2: Prep the Pan Grease and flour a 10 or 12 cup bundt pan well. I use a flour-based baking spray so nothing sticks and the cake releases clean.
Step 3: Bake Pour the batter into the pan and bake on the center rack at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes, until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.
Step 4: Cool Let the cake cool on a wire rack for about 20 minutes. It needs to be cool before the butter and cinnamon sugar go on.
Step 5: Make the Cinnamon Sugar Stir the cinnamon and sugar together in a small bowl. This ratio is personal, so use more sugar if you like it milder or more cinnamon if you like it bold. I lean toward two parts sugar to one part cinnamon.
Step 6: Brush and Coat Brush the cooled cake all over with melted butter and let it sit about a minute, so the surface is slightly wet but not soaked. Rub the cinnamon sugar over the whole cake until it is evenly coated.
“I made this again last night for a 2nd time. My family went nuts for it once again. It is super moist and flavorful. I made it with a spice cake mix. I highly recommend this recipe. You won’t be disappointed.“
Making It in Other Pans
You do not have to use a bundt pan. Baked in a mini-muffin pan, fill each cup just short of the top and bake at 350 degrees for about 14 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Let them cool about 15 minutes, loosen the edges with a knife, then brush with butter and dip in the cinnamon sugar. Made this way they come out a lot like my apple cider doughnut holes, just from cake mix.
A 13×9 pan or loaf pans work too. They bake up shallower than a bundt, so start checking for doneness earlier and pull them when a toothpick comes out clean.
Storing Leftovers
This cake is best the day you make it, but it holds up well made a day ahead. Cool it completely and cover it tightly so it stays moist. It keeps covered in the fridge for up to 5 days, and you can freeze it wrapped well for up to 3 months. This is one of the easy cake recipes I make on repeat once fall hits.
More Apple Recipes to Try
- Old fashioned apple crisp
- Easy apple dump cake
- Homemade apple fritters
- Baked apple hand pies
- Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Apple Cider Donut Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1 15.25 ounce box Yellow cake mix or Spice Cake Mix I used Betty Crocker Yellow Super Moist – for a stronger Fall taste use Duncan Hines Spice Cake Mix.
- 1 cup apple cider NOT apple juice and NOT apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup apple sauce we used cinnamon apple sauce, not chunky
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- ¼ tsp cinnamon more if you like it really cinnamony!
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
For the Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon depending on how much cinnamon you prefer
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the dry cake mix, apple cider, apple sauce, and eggs. Add in the cinnnamon (¼ tsp,) brown sugar and vanilla to the cake mix batter. (See "recipe options" in notes)1 15.25 ounce box Yellow cake mix or Spice Cake Mix, 1 cup apple cider, ½ cup apple sauce, 3 large eggs, ¼ tsp cinnamon, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp vanilla
- Pour mix into a well greased & floured bundt pan (we used Baker's Joy. This has flour in it to make sure it doesn't stick.)
- Place bundt pan on center rack and bake for 40-45 minutes. Test with a toothpick by sticking into the middle of the cake, if it comes out clean it is ready. Remove from heat and allow to cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes.
- In a separate bowl. Mix cinnamon with sugar.2 tablespoons cinnamon, ¼ cup sugar
- Once the cake has cooled, brush the entire surface with melted butter. Rub cinnamon sugar mixture until evenly coated.¼ cup melted butter
Jenn’s Notes
- Do not overmix the batter. Stir just until it comes together so the cake stays soft, not gummy.
- Use a 10 or 12 cup bundt pan. A bigger pan makes the cake bake up flat instead of rising.
- Brush the cooled cake with butter and let it sit about a minute before adding the cinnamon sugar, so the coating clings instead of soaking in.
Wow…wow…wow! I made this yesterday for a brunch my friend had today. I made exactly as written, with only a few minor changes. Instead of flour to dust the pan, I used cinnamon-sugar mixture (ratio of 1 Tab. cinnamon to 1/2 cup sugar. I used a whole cup of Apple Cider. Took out of oven and let it cool on cooling rack. Flipped it over and cake came right out. No sticking. Put in refrigerator overnight. I took out of fridge and let sit a little bit to take the chill off. Melted butter. Brushed on all of bundt cake and then coated the whole cake, even the bottom with cinnamon-sugar. I did not use the dipping sauce. Everyone loved and raved about the cake. It was so moist and really good. It’s definitely a keeper and I will most definitely be making again!!! Thank you!
I love the idea of dusting the pan with cinnamon sugar!!!
I made this tonight with the Aldi gluten free yellow cake mix. I used 3/4 c apple cider and a 4oz individual size Motts unsweetened applesauce (it’s about 1/3 cup). I used Penzey’s Baking Spice (1/2 t) in the cake and a mix of the baking spice and Penzey’s Apple Pie Spice for the topping. I made mini muffins using mini cupcake liner rather than greasing the muffin tins. I brushed melted butter on the nearly cooled muffins and then dunked the tops in the sugar/spice mix (six at a time worked well).
They came out really tasty. The muffins want to stick to the liners somewhat, next time I’ll give each liner a little shot of cooking spray.
My son said the topping was too sweet, but that the muffins could have been sweeter. I think next time I’ll mix the butter, sugar, and spices to make sort of a streusel (maybe add a bit of some gluten-free flour or cornstarch) and swirl it into each mini muffin. I got 46 mini muffins, if I hadn’t filled some too full, I would have had 48 minis.
Thanks for this excellent recipe.
I made this last night, the flavor was good but not quite apple cider donut. I’m going to try again, but it needs some tweeks. We used homemade apple sauce, but was too chunky, I think it also dried it out. Will try with store bought next time. It was also on the dry side.
Just made this with a King Arthur’s GF yellow cake mix. I used 1 cup apple cider, 1/4 cup cinnamon apple sauce, and 1/4 cup melted butter.
It is delicious! Very moist. Husband and kiddo love it, too!
After reading reviews, I used full cup of cider and a tsp of cinnamon. Found cake to be pretty mild, if not slightly bland. I can see it doing well with a coffee group. It didn’t taste bad, the texture was soft and it was moist too. Had no trouble with the topping, just made it to be like a cinnamon toast topping, probably 1 tbl to 1/4 sugar. Brushed with butter, sprinkled cinnamon mix, then repeated for extra taste on top. Didn’t use the dip because that was not tasty at all.
Can I mix apple chunks within batter?
Well, I made the Bundt cake today and will serve tomorrow. Will let you know how it turned out. I used all cider.
My Husband and I absolutely loved this cake! Will definitely make this again!
Used all cider. Was even better the next day! My husband really liked it.
I made this cake last night it is amazing.