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Cozy Salted Caramel Apple Cider Donut Cake

cozy salted caramel apple cider donut cake - featured image
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A soft, tender, buttery cake that tastes just like apple cider donuts from the orchard, but without the deep fryer. It features a hidden ribbon of homemade salted caramel and a crunchy cinnamon sugar coating.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups (360 ml) apple cider
  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar, packed
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups (312 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ cup (120 ml) buttermilk, room temperature
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar (for caramel)
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into cubes (for caramel)
  • ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream, room temperature (for caramel)
  • 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt (for caramel)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (for coating)
  • ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar (for coating)
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (for coating)

Instructions

  1. Reduce the apple cider: Pour 1 ½ cups apple cider into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a steady simmer. Cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about ½ cup. Set aside to cool completely.
  2. Make the salted caramel: In a clean, heavy-bottomed saucepan, spread 1 cup granulated sugar in an even layer. Cook over medium heat, gently swirling the pan, until the sugar melts and turns a deep amber color (6-8 minutes). Remove from heat. Carefully whisk in 6 tablespoons cubed butter until melted. Slowly pour in ½ cup heavy cream while whisking continuously. Whisk until smooth. Stir in 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt. Pour into a heat-safe container and let cool slightly.
  3. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper, leaving overhang on the long sides.
  4. Whisk dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together 2 ½ cups flour, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon nutmeg. Set aside.
  5. Cream butter and sugars: In another large bowl, beat ½ cup softened butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, and ½ cup packed brown sugar until light and fluffy (3-4 minutes). Scrape down sides.
  6. Add wet ingredients: Beat in 2 room-temperature eggs, one at a time. Stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and the cooled reduced apple cider. The mixture may look curdled; that’s normal.
  7. Alternate dry and wet: With mixer on low, add flour mixture in three parts, alternating with ½ cup buttermilk. Start and end with flour. Mix until just combined; do not overmix.
  8. Layer the batter: Pour half the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Drizzle about ⅓ cup of salted caramel over the batter. Swirl gently with a knife.
  9. Add remaining batter: Carefully spoon remaining batter over the caramel layer. Drizzle another 2 tablespoons of caramel on top and give one more gentle swirl.
  10. Bake for 55-65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. If browning too quickly after 40 minutes, tent with foil.
  11. Cool and coat: Let cake cool in pan for 15 minutes. Use parchment sling to lift onto a wire rack. While still warm, brush top with 3 tablespoons melted butter. Mix ¼ cup sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon together and sprinkle generously over the top and sides. Let cool completely before slicing.

Notes

Don’t skip reducing the cider; it concentrates the apple flavor. Room temperature ingredients are important for a tender crumb. The cake may sink slightly in the center if the caramel swirl is heavy; that’s normal. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Freezes well for up to 3 months (without cinnamon sugar coating).

Nutrition

Keywords: apple cider donut cake, salted caramel cake, fall dessert, easy cake recipe, apple cider cake

Find it online: https://tastytuck.com/cozy-salted-caramel-apple-cider-donut-cake-easy-fall-dessert/