This delicious date night apple cider cake recipe is the PERFECT cake with a rich apple cider glaze. Made with simple ingredients, there are a variety of fun ways to serve it up! This dessert captures the essence of autumn, blending the sweetness of apples with warm spices and a glaze topping.
Ingredients
This apple cider cake recipe is going to be one that you will want to make again and again. For this recipe you will need:
- apple cider
- apples
- lemon
- butter
- sugar
- eggs
- flour
- baking powder
- baking soda
- salt
- apple pie spice or cinnamon
- heavy cream or milk
- cinnamon
- confectioners’ sugar
You got me! I know this recipe is not a minimal ingredient recipe so if you're looking for some delicious five ingredient or less apple recipes, try our apple spice icebox cake or some apple spice donut holes. If you've got some leftover apples you should try making this ravioli with apple chicken sausage.
Instructions
It's very simple to make this recipe. Here's what you need to do:
- Begin by placing 1 cup of apple cider in a saucepan on the stove. Bring the apple cider to a boil over medium-high heat. Continue heating and stirring occasionally until the cider is reduced to ¼ cup. Set aside to cool.
- While the cider is cooling, core and peel the apples. Cut each apple into slices. Place the apple slices into a pan of water with the juice of one lemon squeezed into it. Submerge the apples in the water and then lay the slices on a plate to dry, setting them aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9x9 inch baking pan or several take-out containers.
- In the bowl of a mixer with a paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar until well mixed on medium speed. Beat until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Turn the mixer to low, then add one egg at a time, beating until smooth. Scrape the sides and beat until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Slowly add in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cream or milk, apple cider, and cinnamon or apple pie spice to the mixture. Stir until combined.
- Pour the batter into the lightly greased pan. Arrange the apple slices, outer edges up, evenly throughout the pan. If using take-out boxes, fill boxes ⅓ of the way full with batter.
- In a small cup, mix sugar with cinnamon and sprinkle it evenly over the top of the cake(s).
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes for take-out boxes and 40-55 minutes for the cake. Remove from the oven when the tops of the cakes spring back when lightly touched.
Glaze Instructions:
- Place the second cup of apple cider on the stove, as before, reducing the mixture down to 2-3 tablespoons.
- In a bowl, mix together the powdered sugar, cream, and reduced apple cider until well combined. For a stronger apple cider presence, omit the butter and add 2 tablespoons of apple cider. Stir until the mixture reaches a pancake batter consistency.
- When the cake(s) are finished cooking, remove them from the oven and cool them to room temperature.
- Drizzle the glaze evenly over the cake(s). Enjoy the delightful combination of moist cake, sweet apple slices, and a luscious apple cider glaze.
Substitutions
There are some simple and easy substitutions that can be made for food allergies, intolerances or preferences.
- Gluten free: Substitute gluten free flour in place of the all purpose flour.
- Dairy free: You will need to use dairy free butter and dairy free milk.
- Vegan: Make sure you use dairy free butter and dairy free milk as well as using egg replacer in place of the egg.
Variations
One fun variation is to bake these cakes in four individual take out boxes. They look beautiful for gifts or a fun date night cake.
Storing
You can store these cakes in the refrigerator for several days or in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw and then glaze.
Equipment
You will need a knife or apple slicer to slice your apples and a cake pan or take out boxes for cooking your cake.
FAQ
Yes, you can use store-bought apple cider. However, if you have access to fresh-pressed apple cider, it can enhance the flavor of the cake.
Absolutely! Apple pie spice is a convenient substitute, providing a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and other complementary spices.
Yes, you can make the cake ahead of time. Store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. Add the glaze just before serving.
Yes, you can freeze the cake without the glaze. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, and store it in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw before adding the glaze.
Apple Cider Cake Recipe
Equipment
- take out boxes optional
- cake pan
Ingredients
- For the Cake:
- 1 cup apple cider cooked and reduced to ¼ cup--see recipe notes below
- 2 cups apples 3 large or 4 small apples (see recipe notes for slicing)
- 1 whole lemon
- ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) softened butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar sugar alternatives like coconut sugar or erithritol can be substituted
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups flour gluten free mix can be used--we used King Arthur
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice or cinnamon
- ½ cup heavy cream
- For the crumb topping:
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- For the glaze:
- 1 cup apple cider reduced (see instruction notes)
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk non dairy alternative is fine to be substituted
- Vanilla Ice Cream optional for serving
Instructions
- To Make the Cake:
- Place 1 cup of apple cider in a saucepan on the stove. Bring apple cider to a boil over medium high heat. Continue heating and stirring occasionally until cider is reduced to ¼ cup.Set aside to cool.
- While the cider is cooling, core and peel the apples and then cut each into slices. Place applies into a pan of water with the juice of one lemon squeezed into it. Place the apples into the water and then place the apple slices onto a plate to dry and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9x9 inch baking pan or several take out containers.
- In the bowl of a mixer with paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar until well mixed on medium speed. Beat until light and fluffy (approximately 2-3 minutes)
- Turn the mixer to low, then add one egg at a time beating until smooth. Scrap sides and beat until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Slowly add in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cream or milk, apple cider and cinnamon or apple pie spice to the mixture. Stir until combined.
- Pour the batter into the lightly greased pan.
- Arrange the apples, outer edges up into the top of the batter evenly throughout the pan. If using take out boxes, fill boxes ⅓ of the way full with batter.
- In a small cup, mix the sugar with cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over the top of the cake(s).
- While the cake is baking, make the glaze.Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes for take out boxes and 40-55 minutes for the cake. Remove from oven when tops of cakes spring back when lightly touched.
- To make the Glaze:
- Place the second cup of apple cider on the stove as before, reducing the mixture down to 2-3 tablespoons.
- In a bowl, mix together the powdered sugar, cream and reduced apple cider into a bowl until mixed well. For a stronger apple cider presence, omit the butter and add 2 tablespoons apple cider. Stir until combined. Mixture should be pancake batter consistency.
- When the cake(s) is finished cooking, remove cakes from oven. cool to room temperature a.
- Drizzle the glaze evenly over the cakes(s).
Flour Me With Love (@FlourMeWithLove)
This not only looks amazing, but sounds like it too! I can't wait to make this, thanks so much for sharing 🙂