These Mini Bundts Pack All the Flavor of Apple Cider Donuts

A quintessential harbinger of the season, apple cider donuts get the coffee cake treatment in these mini bundt cakes. Cider, applesauce, and warming spices flavor a batter that bakes into a tender crumb. Roll the still-warm cakes in a cinnamon-sugar mixture before serving.

Pan Sizing Tips

Sarah’s original recipe made one full-size bundt cake, but we went mini. If your mini fluted tube pan (or muffin tin) isn’t big enough for all the batter, work in two batches: Keep the remaining batter chilled while the first batch bakes, then cool and wash the pan before using it again. If you want to make one big cake, follow the recipe as directed, but use a 10-cup fluted tube pan greased with butter and bake 45 to 55 minutes.

Ingredients

1. For bundt cakes, preheat the oven to 350°F and generously grease a 12-cavity 1-cup mini fluted tube pan or twelve 3 1/4-inch muffin cups.

2. In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

3. Use a silicone spatula to scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl and add the eggs one at a time, beating well between each addition. Add the vanilla extract and mix well.

4. In a separate mixing bowl, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and 3/4 tsp. salt and whisk to combine.

5. With the mixer on low speed, add in half of the dry ingredients, then all of the apple cider and applesauce, then the remaining half of the dry ingredients. It’s okay if the batter still has a few lumps in it—you don’t want to overmix.

6. Spoon the batter into the prepared cups, spreading evenly. Bake until the mini cakes spring back to the touch and a knife inserted into the middle comes out mostly clean, 18 to 20 minutes.

7. Allow the mini bundt cakes to cool for 20 minutes before turning them out of the pan onto a wire rack.

8. While the cakes cool, make the cinnamon-sugar coating: Mix together the sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Use a pastry brush to brush the cake with the melted butter and (generously) sprinkle or roll the cakes with the cinnamon-sugar to coat the outside. Enjoy warm.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)