Description
This Cozy Mulled Apple Cider Bundt Cake with Spiced Glaze is a moist, tender cake infused with concentrated mulled apple cider and warm spices, topped with a glossy spiced glaze. Perfect for fall baking, it delivers deep apple flavor and a comforting aroma that fills your kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups fresh apple cider
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 whole cloves
- 1 star anise
- 1 strip orange peel (about 2 inches long, no white pith)
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly grated if possible)
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened (1 ½ sticks)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ½ cup reduced mulled cider, cooled
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 2–3 tablespoons reduced mulled cider
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Make the Reduced Mulled Cider: In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups apple cider, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and orange peel. Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes until reduced to about ¾ cup. Remove from heat, let cool slightly, then strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a liquid measuring cup, pressing on solids. Discard spices and peel. Set aside to cool completely. You’ll need ½ cup for the cake and 2-3 tablespoons for…
- Preheat and Prep the Pan: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Position rack in center of oven. Generously grease a 10-12 cup bundt pan with butter or non-stick baking spray containing flour. For extra insurance, dust with a tablespoon of flour, tap around, and knock out excess.
- Whisk the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt for about 20 seconds. Set aside.
- Cream the Butter and Sugars: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), beat softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on medium speed for 3-4 minutes until light, fluffy, and pale. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl halfway through.
- Add the Eggs and Wet Ingredients: Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition (about 30 seconds per egg). Scrape bowl again. Add applesauce, ½ cup cooled reduced cider, and vanilla extract. Beat on low speed until just combined. The mixture may look curdled; that’s normal.
- Combine Wet and Dry: With mixer on low speed, gradually add dry ingredients in three additions, mixing just until flour disappears after each. Stop mixer when a few streaks of flour remain, then finish folding by hand with a rubber spatula until smooth and uniform.
- Bake the Cake: Pour batter into prepared bundt pan and spread evenly. Tap pan gently on counter to release air bubbles. Bake for 45-55 minutes, until a long skewer or toothpick inserted into center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Let cake cool in pan on a wire rack for exactly 15 minutes. Invert onto cooling rack and lift pan off gently. Let cool completely before glazing (about 1-2 hours).
- Make the Spiced Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together sifted powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons remaining reduced cider, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until smooth. If too thick, add another tablespoon of cider; if too thin, add more powdered sugar. Aim for a thick but pourable consistency like heavy cream.
- Glaze and Serve: Place cooled cake on a serving platter. Drizzle glaze over top, letting it cascade down sides and into crevices. Let glaze set for about 15 minutes before slicing. Optionally garnish with a pinch of cinnamon or star anise.
Notes
Don’t rush the cider reduction; low and slow is key. Room temperature ingredients matter for proper creaming. Grease the bundt pan thoroughly to prevent sticking. Let cake cool in pan for exactly 15 minutes before inverting. Use a long skewer to test doneness. Sift powdered sugar for a smooth glaze. The cake tastes even better the next day as flavors meld.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 385
- Sugar: 38
- Sodium: 280
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 57
- Fiber: 1.5
- Protein: 5
Keywords: apple cider bundt cake, mulled apple cider cake, spiced glaze, fall dessert, bundt cake, apple cake, cozy cake