Apple Cider Cake
This BEST Apple Cider Cake is my cozy fall twist on a viral favorite. It’s moist, tender, and filled with sweet bites of fresh apple. After baking, the whole cake gets brushed with melted butter and rolled in a cinnamon-sugar topping with a touch of brown sugar for that warm donut-shop vibe. When I was a little girl, I loved apple cider so much I’d guzzle it at my grandma and grandpa’s house every chance I got. That same nostalgic flavor inspired this cake — it’s pure fall comfort in every bite. If you’re an apple lover, don’t miss my Apple Pie and Apple Cake too! Click here for more recipes like this!
👝 How to Store Leftovers
Store in an airtight container in your fridge for about a week!
Why You’ll Love This Cake
- Bakery-style crumb — sour cream + diced apples make it extra moist.
- Cozy flavor — apple cider + cinnamon sugar = fall in a Bundt pan.
- Easy to make — starts with cake mix but tastes from scratch.
- Crowd-pleasing — perfect centerpiece dessert for gatherings.
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🤔 Common Questions
Yes! It makes the cake even more flavorful.
Peeling gives a smoother bite, but leaving the skin on is fine for a rustic texture.
I used Honeycrisp (my favorite), but Granny Smith and Fuji or a mix of all three are great choices. Honestly, I used one large apple, but you can even add more if you like! Two medium apples would be even more appleiscious!
Apple Cider Cake
Ingredients
- For the cake:
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- ¾ cup apple cider
- ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large apple (I used Honeycrisp) peeled and diced small (about 1 to 1 ½ cups)
- 1 teaspoon flour to toss apples
- For the topping:
- 6 tablespoons melted butter
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a Bundt pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together cake mix, apple cider, applesauce, sour cream, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla until smooth.
- Toss diced apple with 1 teaspoon flour, then fold into the batter.
- Pour batter evenly into prepared Bundt pan.
- Bake 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Let cake cool for 10 minutes, then carefully invert onto a wire rack.
- While still warm, brush melted butter all over the cake.
- Mix granulated sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon together. Sprinkle (or roll) the cake until fully coated.
- Slice and serve warm or at room temp — perfect with a cup of cider! 🍏
Thank you Melissa….. this Apple Cider Cake turned out beautiful. The flavor is perfect.